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Program: Biking / Cycling >>KTBI03 |
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Cycling tour specifications:
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Total length: 1800 km
Asphalt roads: 1800 km
Unpaved roads: 0 km
Smallest daily cycling distance: 100 km
Largest daily cycling distance: 175 km
Average daily cycling distance: 145 km
Lowest point of the route: 0 meter
Highest point of the route: 300 meter
Amount of active cycling days: 13 days
Amount of overnights: 12 nights
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Long distance cycling tour from St-Petersburg through Karelia
to Murmansk on the Kola Peninsula
(minimal 13 days depending on your interests) |
We prepared for long distance cyclists this alternative route through
Northwest Russia to the North of Europe! It combines perfect with a visit to the
North Cape in Norway. The cycling route brings you to three seas;
■ Baltic Sea (Leningrad region)
■ White Sea (Karelia and Kola Peninsula)
■ Barents Sea (Murmansk region and Norway).
Cycle 1 800 km in minimal 13 days, or spend more days staying longer in the
most interesting cities on the way. This cycle tour gives you a unique chance to
see the real Russia, not from a bus window but with a panoramic view from your
bicycle saddle. You will meet ordinary Russians and experience their
hospitality. You will enjoy an unhurried cycle tour with picturesque views and
through hilly landscapes, breathing the fragrances of fields and forests, with gentle
breezes caressing your face, knowing that your places for overnight are reserved
for you. Additionally we can reserve excursions and activities on your way. We organize this cycling tour during summer up
to early autumn.
For your cycling tour we provide you with:
Visa support.Registration at Migration Service after arrival.Information about crossing the Russian border.Information about documents and insurances required for your trip.Information how to travel with dogs.Camping sites or other accommodations.City maps indicating points of interests (POI).Recommendations about what to see, where to eat, where to get drinking water and most of all where to relax.Detailed roadbooks with photos explanations and including GPS coordinates (tracks).Information about prices of local excursions and food/meals.Free use of the Kola Travel’s stand-by telephone numbers, should you require assistance during your trip
We do our best to make your cycling tour in Northwest Russia successful, pleasant, hassle-free and unforgettable!
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Cycling
tour description: |
Day 1: Finland – Narva or Vyborg - Pushkin . (145 km)
Cycle to Pushkin, a suburb south in Saint-Petersburg if you arrive from south
like border crossing point Narva.
Stay at a motel in Pushkin town. Or:
If you cycle via Finland and Vyborg crossing point, you can stay the night
north of Saint Petersburg in Kingisepp town or in Volocovo town.
Optional opportunity: Day of excursions in Pushkin.
Pushkin is a beautiful town with lots picturesque parks and historical sights,
which make the town
of Pushkin a great historical and cultural treasure. The town is obliged by
its fame to some generations of poets, writers, the genius representatives of
the Russian culture, who lived, worked or just were inspired by its beauty.
Pushkin is also called "The Town of Muses".
Take a cycle ride through beautiful
alleys and be inspired too.
Optional opportunity: Day of excursions in Saint Petersburg.
Pushkin is located just 24 km south from the centre of Saint Petersburg. You
can explore Saint-Petersburg on your own or take a Guided excursion in St.
Petersburg (see Optional). Saint Petersburg is recognized as one of the most
beautiful cities in the world. The city was always in the high road of Russian
history - during two centuries it was the Capital of the Russian State. Now
the city won a good name as a Culture Capital of Russia and plays an essential
part in Russian cultural and scientific life.
All your luggage and bicycle can
be left safe in the hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 2: Pushkin - Staraya Ladoga. (150 km)
After breakfast you can cycle from Pushkin to Staraya Ladoga town. This city is perhaps the oldest Russian city, which
once was one of the ten biggest cities in Russia. In 2003 Staraya Ladoga
celebrated its 1250th anniversary. Here you can visit the Staraya Ladoga
Museum of Local History and Tradition Preserves and the Nikolo-Medvedsky (St.
Nicolas) Monastery.
Day 3: Staraya Ladoga / Syastroy – Olonets (150 km)
Cycle to Olonets city. Check in at the hotel. Explore Olonets city and the park
by foot. Visit the historical museum: it has a model of the Old Fortress, where
now the park and museum is located. Also you can visit the beautiful
Smolensky Cathedral on an island in a lake of the city. Stay overnight at a
hotel in Olonets.
Day 4: Olonets to Petrozavodsk. (150 km)
Cycle to Petrozavodsk city, which is the capital of Karelia Republic and
has the status of “historical” city of Karelia. It has gorgeous architecture
and the square along with a nearby park offer great walking and biking
opportunities. Overnight in a hotel in Petrozavodsk.
Optional opportunity: Excursions to Kizhi Island.
Hike through this beautiful city to the harbour and
board a boat to Kizhi Island; a peaceful
and undisturbed island, which serves as an outdoor museum of 18th-century wooden
architecture. You can be met by a guide to show you the Kizhi Island (see
Optional). You will be back in Petrozavodsk at 17:00 (see Optional).
Optional opportunity: Excursion
In Petrozavodsk city
You can visit museums including the Museum of replicas of
old ships, and the Smithy work shop. Or you can take a local guide to
accompany you (see Optional). You can take two hour sailing trip on the old replica
ship. You can study how to sail and how to rule the ship and even shoot from cannons. (see
Optional).
Day 5: Petrozavodsk to Medvezhegorsk (164 km)
You continue your way to the North. After breakfast you start to cycle to Medvezhegorsk city which is located on the
north shore of the Onega
lake. It is surrounded by coniferous forests and enchanting cliffs.
On the way
you will have an opportunity to visit Kivach waterfalls. Nice and beautiful
place, only 5 km from the main road M18. The Kivach Waterfalls, are the second
large in Europe (the first one is Rhein Waterfalls).
Stay overnight in a cottage hotel.
Day 6: Medvezhegorsk to Segezha. (110 km)
Cycle to Segezha direction. The whole day is devoted to cycling. It gives you an
opportunity to look around, enjoy the trip and see how the northern nature
defers from even that which you have seen at the beginning of your adventure.
Stay overnight in a hotel.
Day 7: Segezha to Kem. (164 km)
Start to cycle to Kem direction. Kem has a picturesque setting where the Kem
River empties into the Kemskaya Bay of the White Sea. Kem used to belong to the Solovetsky
monastery and has always had a close connection with the islands. During the
1920s and 1930s, the Solovetsky camps' administration was based in Kem and
prisoners bound for the islands would be herded through the transit camp here.
You can also visit the Museum about Gulag’s. Today, Kem is a relaxed low-rise
town of mainly wooden houses, with plenty of open spaces and greenery in
summer. Overnight in a hotel in Kem town.
Optional opportunity: Excursion to Solovetsky Island.
Take a boat trip to Solovetsky Islands (from 8:00 –till 20:00 ) You can take
excursions to Solovetsky Monastery and Gulag Museum with a guide (see Optional).
Rowing boat tour on the channels (see Optional). Return by 18.00 boat to Kem
with arrival at 19.50. You can have dinner in the hotel. Overnight in the hotel. All your belongings and bicycle can be left in the hotel in Kem
to be sure they are in a safe place.
If you like you can expand your stay on Solovetsky Island with one or more
days.
Day 8: Kem to Loukhi. (175 km)
Cycle to Kola Peninsula direction to Loukhi. Immovable northern nature will
accompany you the whole day. Stay overnight in a hotel in the centre of Loukhi
village. On you way there are some truckers cafés for having lunch.
Day 9: Loukhi to Kandalaksha. (145 km)
Cycle to Kola Peninsula direction. On the way visit Kovda village and the
famous wooden Kovda church. The landscape becomes more hilly and you will
enjoy the nice panoramic view that opens in front of you.
Stay overnight in a hotel in the centre of Kandalaksha. Dinner in recommended
restaurant.
Day 10: Kandalaksha – Monchegorsk. (110 km)
Today will be a pretty heavy day. The hills become higher and steeper. But
when on top you will forget the work you have done to reach it. Take your time
look around and enjoy the low drives downhill. We will put you in bed in a
brand new and nice hotel in the centre of one of the most beautiful and green
city of Monchegorsk .
After a rest you can explore the city. Monchegorsk is build on three blue
lakes which divide the city in islands. Here you can find the biggest Orthodox
Cathedral of Murmansk region is one of major places of interest in Monchegorsk
city. You can learn more about the history of Monchegorsk when you visit the
local Historical museum. Also you will visit the Museum of Coloured Stones. It
consists of outstanding collection of minerals and items from the whole
Russia. You can have dinner in the hotel or in a recommended restaurant.
Optional: 2 hour yacht cruise on the biggest lake of Kola peninsula named
Imandra.
Optional: Expand your holiday with an extra day for a hiking tour to the waterfall Devichyi Kosi (Girl’s plaits) in Monche tundra with campfire lunch.
Day 11: Monchegorsk – Murmansk. (140 km)
Today you will cross the 69th parallel and meet Worlds Biggest city above
Polar circle; Murmansk. You hotel will be in the centre of the city. Murmansk
as the most northern harbour played a mayor role in the provisions of the
armies defending Russia in the First and Second World. One of highlights of
the city is Second World War Memorial “ALESHA”. This majestic monument for The
Defenders of the Arctic was installed on a high hill above Murmansk in 1974; a
figure of a watchman with a rifle of a height of 34 meters, which is visible
almost from any point of the city. There are a number of interesting places to
visit that are related to the sea and maritime culture. These include the
First Nuclear Icebreaker “Lenin”, the Naval Museum, the Ship Company Museum,
and the Oceanarium. We suggest you to visit the Regional Historical Museum, the
Art Museum and the Folk Art Center.
Optional opportunity: Stay more days in Murmansk to explore the city on your
own following the route maps and descriptions from us or by a guided city tour (see below).
Day 12: Murmansk – Titovka (100 km)
Today you cross the Kola Bay by the new bridge and cycle through a huge tundra
area without any civilisation. Notice that trees are converting into bushes,
because of the hard climate. On your way you will see many war memorials
because of the battlefields of the defenders of Russia. After 100 km you will
come in Titovka, a very small village in an oasis of birch trees, which is
halfway to the Norwegian border. You will stay in a simple motel with small café.
Day 13: Titovka – Kirkenes (120 km)
Your last day on Russian Territory! From Titovka you cycle 100 km on the tundra
almost without any trees. You will pass some military villages and 25 km
before the border the landscape change from tundra to a beautiful pine tree
forest area. You will cross the border close to Kirkenes. In village Hesseng
(15km from the border) there is an not expensive good Motel and in Kirkenes
(25 km from the border) are many hotels.
If you like we can book this too for you.
This long distance cycle tour is done by solo biker Leo Plank in 2011.
We can imagine that the daily distances are quite long, so if you want shorter
distances, to add some days of rest or days for visits / excursions please feel
free to ask us.
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Cycling tour details |
Accommodation: |
• 12 nights in standard class hotels |
Level: |
The participant must have experience in long distances cycling in hilly and stony areas and must have a good condition.
Knowledge about repairing bicycle on the route is preferable.
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Group size: |
From 1 person |
Duration: |
Minimum is 13 days + extra days as extension |
Dates: |
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Price: |
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Price includes: |
• Mentioned accommodations
• Detailed information about the routes and cities (incl. road book)
• visa invitation• Migration registration |
Optional: |
• Saint Petersburg Overview |
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Folklore program in Nickolaevsky
Palace ”Feel yourself Russian” incl. traditional Russian snacks |
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Guided hiking excursions in
Saint-Petersburg |
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Guided bus excursion in
Saint-PetersburgEntrance tickets for Hermitage |
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Local guide-interpreter: |
EUR 75,-- per the first hour,
EUR 45,-- per the second hour,
EUR 15,-- per the third hour as well as for each next one |
• Petrozavodsk Overview |
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Sailing on the replica of old
wooden ship. Offered per hour per group. Group will be taught to sail and
rule the ship and shoot from cannons. |
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Boat excursion to Kizhi Open air Museum
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Local guide-interpreter: |
EUR 40,-- per the first hour,
EUR 25,-- per the second hour,
EUR 10,-- per the third hour as well as for each next one |
• Kizhi Open air museum Overview |
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Boat ticket to Kizhi (two ways).
Entrance fee to Kizhi Island.
English speaking guide in Kizhi Island: Price per group
Audio guide possible. For more information and possible excursions >>
Kizhi |
• Solovetsky Islands Excursions |
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Two-way boat tickets
Entrance tickets to expositions
Guided excursions for groupsFor more information and possible
excursions >> Solovetsky islands |
• Monchegorsk Overview |
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Entrance tickets museums: about 50 roubles per person
Yachting on Imandra Lake. Pricing per hour and group for max 8 persons.
One day hiking tour in Monche-tundra.
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Sightseeing Murmansk; World's biggest city above the Polar circle
What can you see in Murmansk?
Everything what you will prefer!
- The city has a Region Historical Museum, where you can listen to an excursion in English language. The museum includes
historical, mineralogical, nature, cultural and other exhibitions.
- You can visit the Pictures’ exhibitions of different painters or the Sport Museum where you will know about the famous
sportsmen and a story of the development of the Northern sports.
- In the Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography you will meet the fascinating world of the dwellers of the sea bottom.
- The Museum of Northern Navy will show you different models of military ships and submarines, uniforms of the Russian
navy military and many other things connected to Northern Russian Navy.
- Regional Centre of Folk Arts may interest you in the special for Russia kind of handicraft.
- You can visit Russian Orthodox Temples and enjoy listening to a nice church choir.
- You will see the enormous Memorial of a Warrior named by citizens ‘Alesha’ which dominates above the city like a huge tower.
- You can have a walk in the shining with lights city in Winter time, or under the never setting sun in Summer.
- And at night you can have dinner in a restaurant with a nice variety show.
How to come to Murmansk? You can easily reach this northern Russian city
by own car, regular busses from Finland or Norway, or by airplane; Murmansk has
an international and domestic airport.
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Documents: |
• Passport must be valid at least 6 months after date of return. A visa is required. We handle the tourist invitation.
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Insurance:
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• The participant must possess medical insurance that at very least covers the European part of the Russian Federation.
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Program Overview Cycling tours: |
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Code
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Name |
Days |
Group |
Departure data (dd.mm.yy) |
Activity |
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Cycling on the Kola Peninsula behind the Polar Circle
with luggage transport and guide on the bike. |
7 |
3-11 |
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Active
Adventure
Discovery
Culture |
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Cycling along the White Sea Coast on Kola Peninsula
with luggage transport and guide on the bike. |
6 |
3-11 |
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Active
Adventure
Discovery
Culture |
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Cycling in Northwest Russia:
Individual cycling tour from St-Petersburg to Murmansk with roadbook and background support! |
13+ |
From 1 |
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Active
Adventure
Discovery
Culture |
| Legend: |
Blue=departure dates,
Green=guaranteed departure dates,
Orange=some places free,
Red=fully booked |
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In General:
