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SIGHTSEEING TOURS: KARGOPOL CITY AND THE SURROUNDING LANDS
(6 days, 5 nights)
This tour is a great chance to see the finest examples of stone and wooden architecture of the Russian North and the Kargopol region – a territory, which still preserves most types of Northern Russian wooden churches and chapels in their natural environment.
The guests of this tour usually find themselves marvelling at the sheer multitude of architectural monuments, at the painted “skies” of the temples, the unspoilt wilderness of the surrounding lands and the peaceful ways of the Northern coast villages and towns.
At the ancient town of Kargopol you will experience the traditional Russian crafts, taste the wonderful cuisine of the Russian Northern coast and probably find yourself overwhelmed by the surrounding landscapes – stunning in their primeval might and beauty.
Tour itinerary:
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Day 1 |
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Departure from Moscow at 19:35, train No. 316/318 Moscow – Severodvinsk/Arkhangelsk from the Yaroslavsky train terminal. Departure from St. Petersburg at 20:00 train No. 390 St. Petersburg – Arkhangelsk from the Ladozhsky train terminal. |
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Day 2 |
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10:35 – Train No. 318 from Moscow arrives at the Nyandoma train station.
13:55 – Train 390 from St. Petersburg arrives at the Nyandoma train station. (Should you wish to take a different train to Nyandoma, which arrives at a later point in the day, certain parts of the itinerary for the first and the last days of the tour will have to be changed.)
10:40 – Transfer to Kargopol (70 km).
11:50 – Arrival in Kargopol. Check in at the hotel «Kargopol» (DBL rooms comfort class).
12:30 – Lunch at the restaurant «Svoboda».
13:00 – Guided walking tour around the town with stops at the church of Christmas of the Virgin (its interior hides a wonderful five-tiered iconostasis) and the Cathedral Belfry, from where one obtains the most wonderful view of the town.
18:00 – A visit at the private House-museum of the Kargopol clay toys followed by some time at the souvenir shop specialized on articles made of birch bark, which are very traditional for this region.
20:00 – Dinner at the restaurant «Svoboda». |
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Day 3 |
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08:30 – Breakfast at the restaurant «Svoboda».
09:00 – Guided bus tour to the Kenozersky National Park (90 km).
10:50 – Guided tour «The Northern Equator» - its destination is the church of Alexander Svirsky (18th c.), which stands on top of Khizhgora Hill – the watershed between the White Sea and the Baltic Seas.
13:30 – Country picnic on the Maselgskoe lake cordon where you can taste a variety of typical northern liqueurs and berry spirits followed by a short rest on the lakeside.
16:00 – Transfer to the village of Bolshye Liadiny.
17:00 – Visit at the triple wooden ensemble of Liadiny: the tent-roofed Church of the Intercession (1743), the Church of Epiphany with its semicircular terrace steps (1793) and the tent-roofed belfry. The Church of the Intercession still has a wonderful painted “skies”.
17:40 – Visit at the local school ethnographic museum – workshop, which is currently focused on reviving the local linen craft, where you will have a chance to hear some of the best traditional local music performed by the folklore music ensemble “Slavutnitsy”.
18:30 – Departure to Kargopol.
19:30 – Dinner at the restaurant «Svoboda». |
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Day 4 |
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08:30 – Breakfast at the restaurant «Svoboda».
09:00 – Short trip to the village of Saunino (5 km) to see the ancient wooden church of St. John Chrysostom (1665) and its tent-roofed belfry with an observation platform. The church interior also features the typical painted “skies”.
10:30 – Bus tour to Oshevenskaya settlement (55 km), where you will have a look at the church of Epiphany (1787), the St. George chapel, the disappearing river Khalui with its pledge crosses and the worship stone. You will also have a chance to bathe in the Holy lake.
13:30 – Departure to Kargopol.
14:30 – Lunch at the restaurant «Svoboda».
15:30 – Visit at the exhibition “Kargopol merchantry” in the onetime church of Presentation.
16:30 - Visit at the Center for folk crafts and applied arts “Bereginya”.
18:00 – Dinner at the restaurant «Svoboda».
19:00 – Optionally, you can attend a service at the church of Christmas of the Virgin. |
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Day 5 |
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09:00 – Breakfast at the restaurant «Svoboda».
10:00 – A guided tour of the exhibition of northern Russian icon painting “Old Kargopol heritage” at the onetime church the Solovki miracle workers Saints Zosimus and Savvaty.
11:00 – Concert of the Christian Orthodox choir «Svetilen».
13:00 – Lunch at the restaurant «Svoboda».
14:00 – Free reign of the souvenir shop.
16:30 – Hotel check-out.
17:00 – Transfer Kargopol – Nyandoma.
19:12 – Departure train number 315/317 Severodvinsk/Arkhangelsk – Moscow. Departure to St. Petersburg - train number 389 Arkhangelsk – St. Petersburg at 17:03 (guests departing to St. Petersburg will have an earlier transfer time from Kargopol to Nyandoma). |
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Day 6 |
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10:12 – Arrival in Moscow / Otherwise 10:39 – Arrival in St. Petersburg. |
THE TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:Full board, all guided sightseeing tours according to the itinerary. Hotel accommodations at the Kargopol Hotel (DBL rooms comfort class). Transportation according to the itinerary. Tour guide services.
Hotel description: : Kargopol Hotel is situated in a 2-storeyed brick building at the centre of the town of Kargopol. It can accommodate up to 40 guests. All rooms are double and comfortable. In the ground floor hall you will find a café, a hairdresser, billiard and a sauna. The hotel has a parking space available for guests.
THE TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:: Return train tickets from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Nyandoma. Interpreter’s services
NOTE: This tour can be organized for groups of at least 5 people. Prior booking at least 14 days before the starting day of tour is required!
DATES: on request.
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