TREKKING IN KARELIA NEAR THE WATERFALLS AND VOLCANOES

Top 3 Russian North Hiking Trails

Russian North attracts travelers not only from the very heart of Russia. Every year thousands of nomads seeking extreme experience and new emotions come to enjoy Karelian wild nature: touch the stones that are thousands years old, feel the energy of Russian forests, get inspired by the Northern lights, White nights… If you believe that to start speaking Russian you need only to bone up on the grammar you probably haven’t seen the way Enjoy Russian students live in Karelia. We travel all over the Russian North and practice Russian language with the locals! If you feel like making Russian learning special, take a look at the best hiking routes in Karelia and come!

Learn Russian and stop the time

When a bus takes you to the start of your route you really think that the time stops. No any irritating apps notifications, endless flow of tasks from your boss or thoughts about what to put into the kids lunch boxes. It’s only you and the Nature. Wild, Russian and Nordic. Depending on your vacation you may choose 3-4-day route or enjoy the real journey for 2 weeks. Professional local guides will show you the hidden places and teach how to get lost in the atmosphere (not physically but mentally).

Route 1. To the volcano

Karelia is a land of tranquility and piece. Never ever had anyone witnessed here earthquakes or storms. But ancient volcano Girvas that is 3 billion years old definitely deserves mentioning. This is the oldest sightseeing attraction in Karelia and a place of interest for many archeologists. Solidified lava, earth materials, multicolored stones will catch your attention from the very beginning. Even though the volcanic neck is hardly distinguishable you will feel the uniqueness of the place. When on a track your guide takes you to the highest viewpoints and shows steep cliffs and rocks.

Route 2. Red stones and waterfall in the National Park of Karelia

Trekking in Paanajarvi park is a great opportunity to follow the  traces of an earthquake that occurred here many years ago. Here between the rocks you may find the deepest lake in whole Scandinavia and Kola Peninsula. Get ready to the breathtaking views of deep canyons, fast rivers and singing waterfalls. Even locals will tell you that taking this route is a good way to get familiar with Karelian flora and fauna and to hear the call of the wild. Usually guides are happy to stop a group and take a break with Russian banya and traditional dinner and to share some stories about mysterious Karelian lands.

Route 3. The lake of mountain spirits

According to the Saami people legends, lake Seydozero has always been a sacred place where everyone could meet mountain spirits. That is the place where the oldest mankind civilization’s evidence was found – ancient fortifications, sanctuaries and astronomical objects. Nowadays the trekking path goes through the famous large meadow under which scientists and archeologist dedicatedly try to find the cave. Some say it was clearly seen on one picture taken in 1920-s. Since then no one actually knows if this fact is true. Come to Karelia and try to find out!

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