Where to go in Karelia by car, as a savage, in summer, winter, fishing, with a child. Top interesting places

The unique Republic of Karelia

The Republic of Karelia is located in northwestern Russia, on the border with Finland. It is an amazing corner of preserved pristine nature; forests cover more than half of its area, and a quarter is occupied by bodies of water, including many lakes. In the mountains and northern regions of Karelia, lichens, mosses and dwarf conifers characteristic of the tundra grow.

Karelia is home to large and small mammals that are characteristic of the taiga. The richness of the local fauna is ensured by a large number of rivers and lakes. The republic has 818 settlements, but only 13 of them have city status.

The largest cities are:

• Petrozavodsk (the largest city and capital);
• Sortavala;
• Kondopoga;
• Segezha;
• Kostomuksha.

The climate of Karelia can be described as transitional from marine to continental. The close proximity of three seas and a large number of reservoirs causes high air humidity and a significant amount of precipitation.

What are the benefits of a holiday in Karelia?

Thousands of tourists think about where to go in Karelia every year, which explains the huge number of different tours that last from 1 day to a week.

There are three main reasons that attract people to this area:

1. The untouched nature is amazingly beautiful: majestic ancient forests, meadows, picturesque lakes, rivers and waterfalls. In Karelia you can take part in picking wild berries and mushrooms, and many holiday homes provide the opportunity to go fishing under the guidance of experienced specialists.
2. Ecological situation. Even when compared with the neighboring Leningrad region, Karelia has an excellent ecology. This is one of the few places in Russia that has been touched by civilization without having a major impact on the purity of air and water. Many tourists go there solely to improve their health and take a break from the noisy, polluted and dusty city, which negatively affects the state of the body. For this purpose, you can spend 1-2 weeks in Karelia.
3. Attractions. The republic has more than 4 thousand cultural, historical and natural sites. By visiting them, you can learn the legends of this ancient region, get acquainted with unique examples of wooden architecture, and take pictures of natural and man-made attractions.

Relaxation by the lakes

For sophisticated tourists, there is no better holiday than pitching your tent on the shore of a beautiful lake. These, for example, include Lake Janisjärvi. This is one of the best places to relax with a tent in Karelia. The water in the lake is so clean that a fairly large depth can be seen. There is a large amount of fish in it: bream, pike, grayling, palia, perch. Tourists are attracted to relax by this lake by virgin, ancient forests and rare vegetation.

A great option to relax near the quiet forest lake Pobednoye (Kannelyarvi). There is no massive influx of tourists to these areas even in summer. People try to come to the lake for a few days and live in a tent in the lap of nature. Not far from the lake there are local attractions - the abandoned villa of Alfred Nobel's son-in-law.

In the most picturesque place - the Karelian Isthmus, it’s a good idea to set up tents and spend a few days enjoying the natural beauty of this place. If you are going to Karelia on holiday with tents by car, you should take an inflatable boat with you. It won't take up much space, but it will come in handy in the lake district. A boat ride past the rocky islands and fishing in these areas on vacation will leave you with an unforgettable experience. A landmark of the Karelian Isthmus is the Korela fortress.

When is the best time to go to Karelia?

The tourist season in Karelia lasts all year round, thanks to a large number of summer and winter entertainment. During the cold season, you can go skiing, snowboarding or dog sledding.

In the summer - go along a tourist route of any complexity, swim in the lakes, rent a boat. The nature of Karelia is amazingly beautiful in autumn, when you can simultaneously see evergreen conifers, bright deciduous plants, as well as centuries-old mosses.

Route selection

Karelia is attractive to many tourists. This is the cherished dream of people who are captivated by the beauty of northern nature with its undertones and charm. Families and groups of friends come here to relax by the picturesque Karelian rivers and lakes, where you can sit with a fishing rod by the pond, taking a break from the noise of big cities.

The choice of places to go with a tent in Karelia and where to stay is large. There are places with already equipped tent campsites, in the vicinity of which there are hunting grounds and places for fishing. But sophisticated tourists and romantics prefer to pitch their own tent by the lake. The southern part of Karelia is considered the most beautiful. It is all covered with lakes, the distance between which is no more than a kilometer.

The tourist season in Karelia lasts all year round. Tourists do not limit their vacation to living in a tent. They also use organized services. Many people go to see such unique sights as Kizhi, Valaam, Solovki and the Ruskeala Marble Canyon. Avid fishermen and hunters come to Karelia for fishing and hunting. When going to Karelia with tents, it is easy to change your location by car, moving from one place to another. It is possible to set up tents in Paanajärvi Park, but accommodation in this area will be paid.

Read Fishing with a feeder on the river, how to fish in the current

General recommendations for travelers

The following recommendations will tell you where to go in Karelia and what to do during your vacation there:

1. As in St. Petersburg, you can see white nights in Karelia. They last from mid-May to the end of June. The sun sets behind the horizon for just a few hours, allowing you not only to enjoy the beauty of nature for a long time, but also to travel through deserted places as safely as possible.
2. The nature of this area is changeable: clouds may immediately follow the bright sun. Therefore, it is recommended to have warm clothes and protection from rain with you, especially if you plan to spend the night. In winter, temperatures can be very low and thermometer readings can be deceiving due to high humidity.
3. The water in local reservoirs is very clean, and in the summer it warms up enough for swimming. But you shouldn’t take a running dive into it, as you can get injured on pitfalls and snags.
4. If you are going to spend a lot of time outdoors, it is better to get insect protection. It is recommended to be vaccinated against ticks, which are often found in the forests of Karelia.
5. If you need to buy medicine or take advantage of a medical examination, you should go to Petrozavodsk. The capital has a large number of pharmacies and hospitals. But essential medicines, as on any trip, are better to have with you.
6. You can easily get lost in the forests of Karelia, and communication in the wilderness does not work. Therefore, it is recommended to stick to a group, have an analogue map of the area with you, and remain vigilant.

Types of camping in Karelia

There are more and more people who, when mentioning the republic, form a clear associative chain “Karelia-vacation-camping”.

Camping is an open-air tourist camp. It usually consists of a large electrified area with toilets and other infrastructure.

In most cases, camping in Karelia is chosen by those who like camping, fishermen, and hunters. But now there are special parking lots for motorhomes, which are not very common in Russia, but popular among Europeans. Now, owners of this type of transport can explore the whole of Karelia, making stops in equipped places.

There are about 20 campsites open in the region, some of them located quite close to the capital.

How to get to Karelia

There are several types of transport with which you can get to Karelia:

1. Bus. Buses run constantly from St. Petersburg to Petrozavodsk and back. There are both regular scheduled and tourist ones, the purchase of a ticket for which includes one-day or two-day excursions with an overnight stay in Sortavala. Travel time to Petrozavodsk is 7.5-9 hours. You can also get there by bus from Veliky Novgorod, but it will take almost a day.

2. Airplane. There is only one airport in Karelia, located in the capital. Direct flights are usually only available from Moscow and the flight takes approximately 1.5 hours. You can travel from the airport to the city by cheap bus or taxi; the trip will take about half an hour.
3. Train. Petrozavodsk has railway connections with Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities. Trains from Moscow run several times a day, the journey time is about 15 hours. You can get from St. Petersburg either by a regular train or by the more convenient Lastochka, which takes 5 hours.
4. Automobile. One of the most convenient ways to get to Karelia for an independent traveler is with your own or rented car. The road from St. Petersburg will take about 6 hours, from Moscow – 13 hours, but allowances should be made for the traffic situation and the driver’s skills. Until recently, the road to Petrozavodsk was much worse, and the journey not only took much longer, but was also less safe.

How to get around Karelia

The republic has a dense network of railways, highways and waterways. While vacationing in Karelia, you can use one or all methods of travel at once. Having assessed the planned route, you can choose the option that involves the least number of changes in modes of transport. As with any other trip, having your own car gives you maximum freedom.

If you want to visit the islands, you can use watercraft, and in winter you can ride a hovercraft. If your budget allows, you can also cross by helicopter.

Reviews about fishing in Karelia

Every year we go fishing with friends to Karelia for one or two weeks. We pass by lakes. The catches are usually impressive. The specimens are large, and there are trophy species of pike. We live in a tent, cook on a gas camp stove, and travel in an SUV. The road, of course, leaves much to be desired, but nature and fisherman cannot be compared with anything. Grade:

Eugene

We came for the spring bite. Since spring comes late in Karelia, predatory fish are actively caught at the end of May. We fish with live bait, artificial spoons, spinners are doing well. But you need to know that predatory fish are active here and you won’t be able to get them out without a fight. Grade:

Sergey

For several years now we have been going fishing to the same place - to the Olonets region, where there are many forest lakes. Very beautiful, simply mesmerizing nature. We usually pitch a tent and spend several nights. The family is relaxing, and I’m carrying fish on a float rod, everyone is happy. Grade:

Andrey

On Lake Onega at the beginning of autumn it’s already a little cold for swimming, but fishing is just the thing! Very good bites, pike perch were actively caught. We caught several fairly large specimens. Grade:

Oleg

Every year we go with friends, wives and gramophones to Syamozero. The nature is most picturesque! Very beautiful shores and forest. We take boats and move around numerous islands. We pitch our tents on the shore. In the evenings we sing songs with a guitar and fry fish on the fire. Grayling, perch, and roach are actively caught. They also pulled out whitefish, quite good specimens. Grade:

Alexei

Lake Ladoga is rich in fish. We come here for trout and salmon, sometimes for an overnight stay, and almost never leave empty-handed. True, it is better to fish here from a boat - in some places it is impossible to approach the shore. Grade:

Semyon

Having visited Karelia once, it is then impossible to force yourself to forget this wonderful land. The nature here is magnificent. And what lakes! What a variety of fish! It is impossible to talk about it, you just need to feel it. My advice to you: when going fishing in Karelia for the first time, use the services of guides to the reservoirs. They will suggest the best places, and then you definitely won’t go home without a catch. And of course, prepare thoroughly: warm clothes and an SUV are necessary here. It is impossible to get to some shores; you will have to walk.

Grade:

Alexei

Architectural sights of Karelia

Many lovers of cultural recreation wonder where to go in Karelia to see architectural monuments.

Among the many attractions, the most popular are:

1. Kizhi churchyard. It is one of the most striking architectural ensembles in Russia, annually included in various ratings, as well as on the pages of guidebooks. The buildings were erected over the course of the 17th-19th centuries, but ultimately formed a unique ensemble with recognizable outlines. Kizhi Pogost is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can get to it by “Comet” from Petro src=”https://touristam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/kuda-poehat-v-karelii-7.jpg” class=”aligncenter” width= "600″ height="338″[/img]
2. Village of Kinerma. It is located 2 km from Lake Vedlozero, in the depths of the Pryazhinsky district. It was founded more than 400 years ago, but has retained its unique appearance to this day. 10 of the 17 houses located in it are considered architectural monuments. Guests of the village can stay in a special tourist house or rent a house.
3. Village of Rubchoila. Located 6 km from the village of Essoila, you can get there by car. The village was founded in the 18th century, and initially consisted of fairly wealthy private households. At the moment, 8 buildings are classified as monuments of Karelian architecture.
4. Konchezersky copper smelter. This historical monument is located near the village of Konchezero, which dates back to the 18th century. At the moment it is difficult to visit the plant, but you can admire it from the outside.
5. Petrozavodsk railway station. Located in the central part of the city and is one of its most recognizable features.

Natural attractions

When visiting Karelia, you cannot ignore its natural attractions.

Among the most recognizable and interesting of them are:

1. Ruskeala Mountain Park. The man-made marble canyon, which has a very interesting history, has today been turned into a tourist park. During the tour, you can learn about marble mining and what buildings it was used to create. You can ride on rented rowing boats on a small body of water. If you wish, you can go down into the mines and see with your own eyes the places where mining was carried out. The mountain park is beautiful at any time of the year, but especially in autumn.

2. Kivach State Nature Reserve. The oldest national park in Karelia, along which an ecological trail is laid. The visiting card of the reserve is a small waterfall, near which beautiful photographs are taken.
3. Ruskeala waterfalls . In fact, they are small thresholds. The water in them has a reddish tint due to metal impurities. There are wooden paths through the small coniferous park, convenient for walking.
4. White Bridges Waterfall . One of the most famous waterfalls in Karelia is located about 4 km from Pitkäranta. It is recommended to visit it during the period of high water, that is, in the spring.
5. Ladoga lake. The largest freshwater lake in Europe. Recommended for visiting in summer.

Camping in Karelia on the shores of Ladoga and in the south of the republic

The most popular among lovers of outdoor recreation are campsites in Karelia on the shores of Lake Ladoga. In the south of the republic, near the cities of Olonets, Sortavala, Pitkyaranta, Lakhdenpokhya, you can find camping for every taste and budget.

Camping near Rautalahti

Located near the village of Rautalahti, 48 km from Pitkäranta. There is a shower, kitchen, toilet. At the entrance there is a bus cafe where you can have a snack.

Tourists can rent a motorhome, rooms or tents. There are gazebos with barbecues on the territory. Fishing enthusiasts can rent a boat.

2. Glamping “Camp Rock” at the recreation center “Khutor Salokylya”

It is located in the Lakhdenpokhsky district of Karelia, 18 km from the regional center.

Glamping, that is, “glamorous camping,” means relaxing in tents, but with the comfort of a country hotel. Guests are offered accommodation on the picturesque shores of the Ladoga skerries in tents with beds, heaters, other furniture and decorative items. In spring and autumn, fireplace stoves and heated beds are installed. The tents are equipped with mosquito nets and there is cold and hot water.

Soul Camp

This glamping is located in the Lakhdenpokh district on the shore of the lake. Paikjärvi.

Tents for camp guests are equipped with double beds. Tourists can go fishing or rent a boat. On the territory of the camp there is a separate tent for master classes, a cinema area, and a bathhouse.

Finnish mill

The camping is located near the Ruskeala park, in a picturesque location on the banks of the river. Tohmajoki. It got its name because the foundation and a fragment of the wall of the old mill have been preserved from the 19th century. Suitable for families: no noise allowed after 10 pm. Guests have at their disposal: a shower, a toilet, a table under a tent, a kitchen with everything you need, including a kettle and a microwave. Vacationers can use drinking water in cans. There are places for making fires and gazebos on the territory. You can rent a boat. Flooring has been prepared for tents.

Famous islands of Karelia

Where to go in Karelia during the sailing period:

1. Kizhi Island. On a small island, famous peasant buildings are collected, forming a museum-reserve of the same name. It is one of the most visited places in Karelia.

   
   Kizhi Island - here's where to go in Karelia

2. Solovetsky Islands. A small archipelago located in the White Sea. On the largest of them is the ancient Solovetsky Monastery. The Solovetsky Islands combine unique nature, archaeological and architectural monuments, attracting numerous tourists.
3. Valaam Island. It is distinguished by its landscape and architectural complex, built in the 10th-11th centuries, the central building of which is the Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration.

The best places for fishing in Karelia

Karelia is rich in various bodies of water - both lakes and rivers. Here are the most interesting fishing spots in this region.

Lakes

Choosing a lake in Karelia for fishing is quite a difficult task. After all, there are about sixty thousand freshwater lakes in Karelia - from small to quite large, for example:

• Ladoga lake,
• Lake Onega,
• Vygozero,
• Topozero,
• Segozero,
• Pyaozero.

By the way, these popular places for recreation and fishing, as well as other lakes, have good access to the shores. You can also find fishing bases here with convenient boat ramps.

If you want to catch an impressive trophy, then you can get to less accessible bodies of water that cannot be reached by transport, even in a jeep. You will have to walk part of the way, and in some places through a swamp or rocks.

Lake Onega

This reservoir is known for the presence of a large number of fish of the salmon family. However, salmon fishing is only possible with sporting licenses.

The average weight of an individual is five to seven kilograms.

Also, in addition to salmon, fishermen can please themselves with catches of the following species:

• pike,
• pike perch,
• perch

Ladoga lake

This lake is the largest in Karelia. It is home to about 50 species of fish. So, here you can catch the following types of fish:

• roach,
• bream,
• pike,
• pike perch,
• palyu,
• whitefish,
• salmon,
• trout.

Basically, fishermen go to Lake Ladoga for trout and salmon. It is best to fish here from a boat, but fishing from the shore is not possible everywhere due to difficult accessibility. People fish here. They fish mainly in skerries - straits and bays of various islands off the coast.

In the south of the lake, where there is shallow water, pike perch are caught. In the north, the luckiest fishermen may catch sterlet, sturgeon, and palia.

Syamozero

This large lake located in the south of Karelia has about 80 islands, many bays and bays. In Syamozero you can catch:

• whitefish,
• vendace,
• grayling,
• perch,
• roach,
• pike,
• pike perch,
• ide,
• chub,
• bream,
• blue,
• guster,
• ruff.

So, for example, perch is caught almost everywhere, with some individuals exceeding the mass of one kilogram. They usually live in deep sea areas.

Pyaozero

This reservoir is the largest lake in the north of Karelia. The average depth here is sixteen meters, and the maximum is about fifty.

Here you can catch the following types of fish:

• brown trout,
• whitefish,
• trout,
• grayling,
• pike (some specimens reach a mass of twenty kilograms),
• ide.

Topozero

Fishermen come here who love to hunt grayling. This fish is found here in large numbers, and some specimens reach one kilogram.

In addition, this reservoir is inhabited by the same species of fish as in Pyaozero, because both reservoirs are part of the Kum reservoir system.

Rivers

Chirka-Kem

This river, located in the north of Karelia, is quite stormy, has a lot of bends, turns, and also rapids, because its path runs through places where there are breaks in rocks.

The river begins at the borders of Finland and Russia and is the longest in Karelia. It is better to get to the river from Petrozavodsk.

Elma

Previously, this river was used to float wood. You can get to Yelma through the Nadvoitsy station, from which you should go to Lake Yelmozero, and then follow along this body of water until it reaches its source - Yelma.

Shuya

This is one of the most beautiful and fish-rich rivers in this picturesque natural region. You can get to Shuya by car or by train. However, due to the fact that there are sometimes difficult-to-pass forests along the banks of the river, you can only get to the shore on foot.

Temples

In Karelia you can see a huge number of religious monuments.

Some of the most famous temples and churches are:

1. Peter and Paul Church in the village of Virma. Made in the form of a wooden frame, dating back to the 16th century.
2. Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. Located on the island of Valaam. Its exact date of construction is unknown, but the first monastic settlement on the island was already in the 10th century. There are so many people who want to visit this place that the monastery management has developed special regulations for visiting the island.
3. Church of St. Peter the Apostle. Located in the village of Marcialnye Vody. According to legend, it was built according to the design of Peter I himself. At the moment, the church is considered operational, but services are held in it only once a year.
4. Smolensky Cathedral. Located in the city of Olonets, on the island of Mariam. According to legend, before its construction, a miraculous icon of the Mother of God was found on the island. At the moment, the cathedral is operational and can be visited.

5. Wooden Roadside Chapel in Typinitsy. The ancient chapel was built in the 19th century, but it has preserved the traditional 18th-century iconostasis. This place is of particular interest to believers.

Features of family holidays in Karelia

Despite the fact that Karelia is beautiful at any time of the year, it is better to go there with children in the summer and early autumn, when there is much more entertainment for the whole family. These include picnics on the shore of the lake, swimming in clean water, exciting hikes, exciting trips to the beautiful corners of the region.

Recreation centers located on the shores of Lake Ladoga are well suited for a relaxing family holiday. Children are offered relaxing boat trips, small and not tiring trips to pick berries and mushrooms with experienced instructors. Camping with tents is recommended only for adult travelers.

A child in Karelia can not only see wild animals and birds live, but also learn to fish. Such close acquaintance with the fauna, impossible in a metropolis, is highly valued by travelers.

When traveling with children, it is recommended to plan at least one full overnight stay to ensure that your vacation is as comfortable as possible.

Syamozero

If you decide to travel with the whole family with tents, then the best place to come with children is Syamozero. There is a beach on the coast and the water is not so cold. The lake is located between two large lakes - Onega and Ladoga.

Fishermen also like this place. The lake offers good fishing for pike, salmon, bream, perch, pike perch and ruff. You need to arrange a place for a tent and fish for your own pleasure. There are many islands and bays in Syamozero. There are recreation centers around it, where you can also set up a tent and park your car. People come to this corner of the fascinating nature of South Karelia to relax with a tent by their own car along the A-133 Petrozavodsk - Suojärvi highway, or by train to Essoila station.

Features of a savage holiday

Where exactly to go in Karelia, everyone decides for himself, and many experienced travelers prefer an independent holiday like a savage. This sparsely populated region, covered in forests, is well suited for traveling without the help of travel agencies.

When planning such a trip, you should consider the following nuances:

1. You should definitely have a first aid kit with you. The likelihood that it will be useful is very small, but in the wild it is better not to neglect this precaution. For the same reason, it is recommended to travel with at least two people.

2. It is important to take care of gasoline; it is better to take a canister in reserve. If there are many gas stations on the highway and in the cities of Karelia, it is not easy to find them between small settlements.
3. To spend the night in a tent, a mosquito net and repellent are required: there are a lot of mosquitoes and midges in Karelia.
4. Even in summer, you should definitely take care of warm clothes and waterproof shoes, since the weather in the region is very changeable.
5. You should not be afraid of wild animals and snakes; the likelihood of a dangerous encounter with them is minimal.

Almost any region of Karelia is suitable for a savage holiday, depending on the personal preferences of the traveler.

Features and tips for fishing in Karelia

Here are tips for organizing a fishing trip in this picturesque natural area:

• Due to the fact that there are a great many lakes and rivers here, it is necessary to draw up a travel route in advance. However, remember: it is unlikely that you will be able to visit all the places.
• Talk to more experienced fishermen who have already been to these places and listen to their advice.
• If this is your first time at the reservoir, it is best to use the services of a guide. He will show you which places are best to fish and also give valuable advice.
• Not all roads here have good surface. It is better to go to Karelia by SUV.
• Take a boat with you to reach hard-to-reach places by water... Then you are guaranteed big trophies.
• Be sure to take care of protection from insects - mosquitoes, horseflies, midges, ticks. Their season is from the end of the year to the beginning of autumn. Regularly inspect yourself for an attached tick, and if you find one, seek medical help.
• Warm clothes when fishing in Karelia are required.
• There are nasty things in Karelia. Try to be attentive and not disturb them, then you will not feel any discomfort from such proximity.
• If you are going fishing in the north of the region, then arm yourself with a navigator.
• Remember that in Karelia a license is required to catch certain salmon fish.
• To preserve fish longer after catching, it is best to salt it.
• Remember that many plants and animals of this nature reserve are in the Red Book of Russia. Treat them with care. Also, do not litter, clean up after yourself, and preserve the beauty of this picturesque region.

Winter tourism

Karelia opens up for tourists in a new way when it is covered with snow. At this time, it turns into an excellent place for fans of active recreation.

Travel companies offer the following entertainment:

• snowmobile tours with professional instructors;
• dog sled tours;
• walking expeditions;
• skiing and snowboarding.

It is also possible to combine activities in any combination. Fans of a more relaxing family holiday can spend time at winter camp sites, celebrate New Year and Christmas in this area, enjoy clean air, and go sledding down the slopes.

Karelia is rich in natural and man-made attractions, which are distributed throughout its territory. Where exactly to go in Karelia, each traveler decides for himself, but the trip in any case will give a unique experience.

Article design: Vladimir the Great