The land of thousand lakes, virgin forests and fairytale harbors, of small spits and numerous rocky islands stretches between the southern coast of the White Sea and the lake Ladoga. This is one of the most picturesque areas of Russia. Its nature is sterner than in the central part of the country but not as scanty and severe as it is beyond the Polar Circle. But it is the North of Russia with the typical Russian winter, with the amazing spring white nights, and with the pale palette of the northern landscape. This region has been renowned for centuries due to its amazing and unique monuments of the wooden architecture that were left to the descendants by the ancient Northern Russia, and make a harmonious architectural ensemble of the earliest time. One can hardly define how the antiquity merges into the soul of poetry. All the churches of Kizhi as well as the nameless chapels in the forests with ancient modestly colored icon paintings, the small faded wattle baskets - everything one can see in this wonderful northern land gives an idea of the fascinating mastership of the folk. The guests are offered an opportunity to make acquaintance with the customs and traditions of the local people, and to get distracted from their own problems and troubles.

Day 1

Arrival in St. Petersburg by 15:00 (local time), transfer to river port to board a ship that sails off at about 08 p.m. Dinner on board.

Day 2

Breakfast, arrival at Upper Mandrogi, the village that is situated 270 km away to the north-east on the bank of the Svir River. This is a picturesque site with pure ecology, abundant flora and fauna, part of the Leningrad region. In 1996 a museum of the old wooden architecture was built here, a Russian village with a complex of wooden houses, to acquaint visitors with the everyday life, customs and traditions of the Russian people. The guests can visit here a 'vodka museum' and have vodka tasting, an elk farm, and a windmill. They have also an opportunity to visit various handicraft shops and make some Russian souvenirs with their own hands. Picnic with the Russian folklore show, dinner on board. The ship sails off at about 17:30.

Day 3

Breakfast, at 8:00 - arrival at the Kizhi Island in the Onega Lake. The name 'Kizhi' in the old local dialect means a place for games or for worshipping. It's here that the unique wooden churches built without a single nail can be seen. The ship sails off at 12:00. Lunch and dinner on board.

Day 4

Breakfast, time at leisure. At 15:00 - arrival at the Valaam Island to visit the Valaam Monastery, and the churches built in the 14th century and initiated the construction of the monastery. In 1990 the Monastery resumed functioning under the Russian Orthodox Church.The pearl of the Russian North, this picturesque rocky island lies in front of the beautiful bay of Lake Ladoga. The island is about 30 sq. km large, and all covered with forests spreading a unique microclimate over the whole island, and making the nature of the island a fairytale. It used to attract here artists, writers and composers for centuries. The ship sails off at 21:00. Dinner on board.

Day 5

Arrival in St. Petersburg, breakfast in a city restaurant, sightseeing tour of the city including a visit to the Peter & Paul Cathedral, lunch in a city restaurant, transfer to hotel, check-in, dinner.

Day 6

Breakfast, excursion to the Hermitage Museum, lunch in a city restaurant, excursion to the St. Isaac's Cathedral, dinner at hotel.

Day 7

Breakfast, tour of Pushkin and Pavlovsk, lunch with a Russian folklore show, time at leisure, dinner at hotel.

Day 8

Breakfast, transfer to the airport