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The Russian North is a traditional common name for the Northern regions of the European part of Russia including the Murmansk Region (Kola),the Republic of Karelia, the Arkhangelsk and Vologda Regions.
The territory ofthe Russian North is mostly covered with taiga as well as the northern parts of the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Regions. Water covers a significant part of the surface. Numerous rivers, lakes and shores of the Beloye (White) and Barents Seas, belonging to the Arctic Ocean, whimsically interweave with surface and create the magnificent scenery. The White Nights in summer and the Northern Lights in winter make this Northern area peculiarly charming.
Climate of the Russian North is comparatively mild. The summer is cool and pretty short (the average temperature in July is +12…17C, in tundra about +8C, though the day temperature sometimes is +30C is) and the winter is rather mild (covered with snow for 160…220 days a year).
Special feature ofthe Russian North is a significant quantity of memorials of the Russian history and architecture, which are nicely combined with the natural landscapes. The Kyrillo-Belozersky, Ferapontov and Solovetsky Monasteries stand out for the stone structures. A lot of ancient wooden secular and cult constructions are spread all over the region. Some part of them belongs to the museums of the wooden architecture- Kizhi Pogost in Karelia and Malye Korely near Arkhangelsk.
Khibinskiye and Lovozerskiye Tundras are not high (up to 1200m) mountain massifs in the Kola Peninsula.
In addition to the impressive landscapes of the mountainous tundra that gives good opportunities for trekking and skiing, the place is also famous for its great variety of minerals. Many of them are endemic. Reach collections of local minerals are kept in the mineralogical museums of Kirovsk and Revda.
This trip gives a chance to see the majestic polar nature and to deep into distinctive culture of the indigenous people of Kola Peninsula – the Samis.
Lapland is a vast area in the Northern Europe beyond the Arctic Circle which covers the most northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Kola Peninsula in Russia. Thank to the warm Gulf Stream the climate is much milder than you may think of. Winter lasts for 5 months from November till March in Kola Peninsula but the average temperature in January does not go below -14 C. So you have a chance to look at winter in tundra and taiga, to deep into darkness of the Polar Nights with their majestic Northern Lights and stay in usual climatic conditions of the central parts of the European Russia.
The Samis (the Lapps) are indigenous people of Lapland. Kola Peninsula is populated with the East branch of the Samis. Their traditional occupations are hunting, fishing and reindeer breeding. There are only about 2,000 of the Samis in the Russian Lapland but they keep their language and folklore. In the Scandinavian legends these people are called “The midnight dwarfs”. You will learn about their life style, language, customs and traditions and working conditions. On the route you will see not only the way they live, but also to stay overnight by the fireplace, to sleep on the deer skin in yaranga and taste the national food (you can keep some recipes you like). You may also ride the deer carriage, ski doos, and to ski. Evening is the time to listen to the national lore and tales.
Type: Discovery
Tour duration: 4 days
Season: November – March
Recommended Group Size: 2-8 PAX
Mode of travel: minibus, reindeer and snowmobile sledges.
Itinerary
Day 1. Departure from Moscow (5H-555, 13:05, Sheremetyevo-1). Arrival in Murmansk (15:25). Transfer (180 km) to the Lovozero settlement – the capital of the Russian Lapps. Accommodation in the hotel Virma. You can see the Northern Lights every evening here if the weather is clear. (D)
Day 2. Excursions to the Museum of the Local Lore, to the Center of the Lappish Culture and to a fur workshop. Souvenirs. Optional Lappish folklore show (extra charge). Driving a snowmobile-towed sledges to the “Lappish Village” at the Lovozero Lake. Seeing national Lappish dwellings (kuvaksa). The National Lappish customs and games. Lunch. Reindeer sledding. Snowmobile riding. Bofire. Dinner in the chum (yaranga) with dishes of the national Lappish cuisine. Return to the hotel (or upon request staying overnight in the chum sleeping on the reindeer skin in sleeping bags). (B, L, D)
Day 3. Driving (1.5 h) a snowmobile-towed sledges to the holy Seidozero Lake in the middle of the Lovozersky Tundras mountain massif. Visiting the holy Kuyva rock. The Lappish national stories, legends and fairy tales. Outdoor lunch. Return to Lovozero. Accommodation in the hotel Virma. (B, L, D)
Day 4. Transfer (30 km) to Revda town. Excursion to the Mineralogical Museum. Transfer (160 km) to the Murmansk airport. Departure from Murmansk (5H-556, 16:50). Arrival in Moscow (19:10, Sheremetyevo-1). (B, L)
Tour Highlights:
- Polar Night
- Northern Lights
- Lovozersky Tundras – one of the three main mountain massifs of Kola Peninsula
- Seidozero Lake – a picturesque lake in the middle of Lovozersky Tundras, a sacral spot for the Lapps
- Culture and traditions of the Lapps
- Mineralogical Museum in Revda
Included:
- DBL accommodation
- meals per program
- excursions per program with entrance fees
- all transfers per program
- local English speaking guide/interpreter
- rent of sleeping bags and reindeer skin for staying overnight in chums
Not included:
- air tickets
- insurance
- shaman show
- Lapp folklore show
- ice-fishing
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