What's Included in the Tour

The Russian Winter Adventure.

If you ask me, I have to tell you. No one ever bother to see the North of Russia. Most people would land on St. Petersburg, spend few days around, then take the train to Moscow, spend some days there as well and, that's it. That's the tour most people do. The thing is, this is not a tour for most people. This is a tour for those looking for more than just the usual stuff.

We begin in St. Petersburg, a city famous for its flamboyant architecture with over-indulgent splashes of gold noticeable on almost every building. If you ever wonder about Russians love for all things glitter, here is your answer and It began with the Tzar's daughter, Elizabeth Petrovna. Peter the Great might have built St. Petersburg on top of a marshland but Elizabeth, fond of all things western-European, teamed up with Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli and transformed St. Petersburg into what we can see today. A golden fusion of Russian and Baroque architecture.

In the winter St. Petersburg is an explosion of lights, perhaps to accentuate the gold all over the city, when the sun is down and the days are short. By the way, yes, it's cold. But hey, you know what they say: there is no bad weather only bad clothes, so come prepared.

Leaving St. Petersburg, we take our coach Northbound to the Republic of Karelia. Located between the Finnish border and the White Sea, this territory has been disputed ever since the XII century. First Swedish, then Russian, then Finnish, and then, Russian again. Now it is divided between Finland and Russia. The status of Karelia continues to be somewhat disputed to this date, with some people still hoping for its unification. Who knows, perhaps someday.

We arrive in Karelia's capital, Petrozavodsk. Here we'll find numerous examples of Russian architecture like the village of Kinerma and the Chapel of St. Mary. Russian wooden architecture is very special with intricate carved details. In some cases they use no nails or any type of metal connections, only pieces of wood cleverly assembled to form a complete self-supported structure.

The Republic of Karelia is popular for its vast beautiful natural landscapes, but perhaps the most interesting attraction would be Kizhi Island. With just six kilometres in length, this island contains the national open air museum with about 80 ancient wooden structures, which include the Pogost, made UNESCO World Heritage site 1990. This is one of the most remarkable examples of Russian wooden architecture. To this day it has been carefully preserved by specialised artisans who take care in maintaining the building by using the exact same techniques employed by its original builders more than five centuries ago.

On our fifth day, we break up with the cultural sightseeing and get ready to enjoy a bit of action. We start with a visit to the Husky farm. The noble Husky dogs have been of critical importance to the peoples living above the Arctic Circle. They are friendly, dependable and resilient, but also loyal company and great helpers in time of need. We'll learn how to prepare a dog sleigh and of course, take it for a ride!

In the afternoon, and after a well deserved local lunch, we get prepare for the second ride of the day, this time on snowmobiles. Here in the North, this vehicles replaced the sleigh as the number-one form of transportation (which is great for the dogs!). Also, snowmobiles are the best way to see more of the Karelian winter forests.

All in all, the Republic of Karelia offers an opportunity to discover Russia afresh, beyond the stereotypes and deeply rooted in its traditions. Non-urban Russia is, in many ways, the real Russia. And I know, some people might feel a bit uneasy to come here just because of the cold weather (most Hollywood movies portray Russia as a cold dreary place), but in reality you would be so fascinated by all the things around you that you'll barely think of cold at all. Just put some proper winter clothes on, and go!