Winter Landscapes Photo Tour

Meeting at the train station of Petrozavodsk in the morning.
After transfer to the waterfront of Petrozavodsk, we board a hovercraft and depart to the area of Kizhi.
Kizhi Island is one of the most interesting Russian photo sights, featuring beautiful natural landscapes and authentic old wooden churches.
We make a stop en-route to observe icy landscapes of Onego Lake and settle at the guesthouse in the area of Kizhi.
After lunch we travel to Kizhi Island for the evening light photography tour. We walk around the southern part of the Island and take photos of the architectural ensemble of the historical wooden monuments of the 16th-19th Centuries such as churches of the Transfiguration and Intercession, Church of Lazar of Murom, traditional Russian wooden houses, a chapel and a windmill.
Return to the guesthouse and dinner.
Overnight at the guesthouse.
(L, D)

Breakfast.
In the morning we return to Kizhi Island for the morning light photography. We walk along the southern part of Kizhi and continue to the middle part of the Island. There we observe the villages of Vassilyevo and Yamka where monuments of 17-19th Centuries are located - traditional houses, chapels, a windmill and a barn.
After lunch we leave back for Petrozavodsk by the hovercraft.
En-route we make a stop to observe the chapel in the village of Korba (18th Century) and walk in the small village of Sennaya Guba, taking photos of the village houses and abandoned stone church of St. Nicholas (19th Century).
Accommodation and overnight at the hotel in Petrozavodsk.
(B, L)

Breakfast.
In the morning we explore the centre of Petrozavodsk and continue with a transfer to the traditional Karelian village of Kinerma (100 km).
Upon arrival we are invited to the historical wooden house for lunch, including meals of local cuisine. The hostess shows us the process of baking traditional Karelian pies called "kalitki".
After the walking tour of the village and observation of Karelian houses and chapel of Our Lady of Smolensk (19th Century) we start driving back to Petrozavodsk. Photo stops are made at the villages of Vedlozero and Manga.
In Vedlozero we can see typical countryside houses and a newly made Church of St. Ilya located by the lake shore.
Manga is a small picturesque village with the dominating Chapel of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (18th Century) overlooking the village from the top of the hill.
Overnight at the hotel in Petrozavodsk.
(B, L)

After breakfast we drive to Kivach Nature Reserve (90 km).
We observe Kivach Waterfalls and the visitor's area of the Reserve. Afterwards we walk into the forest along the ecological trail where we can enjoy forest landscapes and take photos of the wintering birds.
Transfer to the town of Kondopoga.
Lunch.
Observation and visit of the wooden Church of the Assumption (18th Century) which is situated by the lake shore.
Proceed to Petrozavodsk.
A farewell dinner is served at a restaurant in Petrozavodsk.
Transfer to the train station.
(B, L, D)

1. Accommodation at the comfortable guesthouse at Ersnevo village near Kizhi and at the hotel "Onego Palace" in Petrozavodsk.
2. Bus and hovercraft transfers as per itinerary;
3. Meals as per itinerary (B - breakfast, L - lunch, D - dinner);
4. Entrance fees and tours as per itinerary;
5. English-speaking tour leader services.