This itinerary offers you an incredible opportunity to discover the Valaam Island with its famous monastery and skits, the ancient village of Mandrogi – and its houses decorated with wood carvings, and Kizhi – the real pearl of Russian architecture.
The small island of Kizhi, located in Lake Onega, is an open-air museum of ethnography and wooden architecture of the 17th and 18th centuries. This unique open-air museum will offer you a collection of ancient Russian buildings: churches, chapels, Russian saunas, houses, barns, and much more.
The outlines of the island are visible from far away – well before arriving near the island. The first thing we see here is the Church of the Transfiguration, with its 22 domes built entirely of wood without having used a single nail.
The Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus, which dates back to the second half of the 14th century, also deserves special attention. It is supposed to be one of the oldest wooden monuments in Russia. In 1993, the Kizhi Museum was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In recent years, Kizhi has become a venue for authentic folk festivals, such as the Days of Traditional Technologies and Crafts. You’ll have an opportunity to listen to Russian folk music and enjoy the singing of young women dressed in Russian national costumes.
Departure from Saint Petersbourg.
Village of Mandrogi. Barbecue with traditional Russian specialties, folk show. Optionally, you can also visit the Vodka Museum and the Moose Farm.
Kizhi Island: excursion “Reserve of Kizhi”.
Excursions “The Skits of Valaam” and “The Valaam Monastery”.
Arrival to Saint Peterburg.
*Please, take note that we reserve the right to change the order of visits.
Level 1 (easy)
Level 4 (active)
