Experience a unique Husky Tour

Dog-sledding is an exciting winter adventure and also a perfect way to explore the awe-inspiring snowy landscape of Karelia. Husky dogs are adorable and friendly, and the whole experience gives you the happy chances to get closer to nature.
There are many kennels with sled dogs in Karelia. Mainly these are husky and Alaskan malamute dogs. Unlike the Moscow region, Karelia has more opportunities for long-distance rides. You may try a half-day trip or join a multi-day dog sled expedition.
While planning your dog-sled tour, it's good to remember a few things:

Do not book a multi-day expedition if you never tried dog-sledding
Short rides (1-4 km) are perfect for families with kids. If you choose a longer ride, most likely, you'll have to learn how to be a musher. Each tour includes 30 min – 1-hour training on how to navigate the dog sled.
Dog-sledding is a popular business in Karelia, but unfortunately, not all kennels treat dogs well. Take time to investigate and choose a reliable kennel where the owner takes good care of the dogs.

Learn to make local crafts

While planning your winter holiday, keep in mind that it gets dark pretty earlier.
If you plan a family vacation, we’d recommend you take a masterclass. Our kids loved the master class on making amulets. The master class is held in the tent by the fire.
 You can also learn how to make traditional kalitkas – small, open-faced, oval pasties made with rye flour. They can be savory or sweet and are usually filled with potato, groats, or cottage cheese.

Experience Russian banya

Isn't it rewarding to finish your winter adventure in a steamy Russian banya?
Compared to the Finish sauna, traditional Russian banya has less heat, but the air is not so dry. However, these days Russians are very much used to Finish sauna, so it might be better to check with your hotel what type of banya they offer.
Some Karelian villages even preserved old-style banyas heated "po-chernomy" when the chimney is inside the bath-house, filling it with smoke. Remarkably few banyas like that survived to our days, and such an experience would be exotic even for the locals.

Ride a Snowmobile

Snowmobiling is a popular activity in Karela and also a traditional way of transportation in the North. A scenic drive through the winter wilderness might appear the most memorable part of your trip. You can choose from a wide range of snowmobile activities, from short beginner's rides to long-distance multi-day expeditions.

We'd recommend you to book long-distance rides only if you tried snowmobiling before. A half-day ride might be perfect for the start.

Explore Paanajarvi National Park

Located on the northernmost part of Karelia on the border with Finland, Paanajärvi park is the land of pristine nature and stunning winter landscapes. The park is not easy to get to, but tourists' absence adds charm to this land of untouched nature. The best way to explore the park in winter is on snowmobiles. You might also try cross-country skiing and winter fishing. The park is not far from the Arctic Circle, and here the chances to see the Northern Lights are much higher. The best time for a winter tour in Paanajärvi is from February to April inclusive. Warm clothing and waterproof shoes are essential.

Visit the magnificent Kizhi Island

Discover the most iconic Karelian attraction in winter and admire the Transfiguration Church's silver domes under the snow.

Kizhi Pogost is open to visitors 365 days a year, yet it is more difficult to reach in winter. What are the ways to get to the island in winter?
 

1.You can reach the island by hovercraft from Petrozavodsk. The journey lasts about 1,5 hours. It's good to know that the trip is available only when the ice is reliable enough. Usually, you can safely cross Lake Onega lake from mid–January to mid-March.

2. If the ice on Lake Onega is not reliable enough you'll need to drive 300 km from Petrozavodsk to Velikaya Guba. A transfer to the island from Velikaya Guba by hovercraft (30 min) is available in all weather conditions. However, the trip to Kizhi island via Velikaya Guba lasts much longer. It'll always be safe to keep in mind both alternatives. These days no one can safely predict the weather, and it might be too warm even in February. While a trip from Petrozavodsk to Kizhi and back usually lasts about 6 hours, a longer alternative might take around 15 hours. It'll be safe to have enough time for both options.

3. You may reach the island by snowmobiles or on a dog sled. Most tours last 2-3 days. You might plan a 1 -day snowmobile trip to the island, but it might be rather tiring. These options are also available only when the lake is completely frozen.

Visit traditional Karelian villages

While in Karela, you can find several authentic villages that preserved their traditional way of living. An excellent spot to discover how Karelians lived hundreds of years ago is Kinerma village, located about 100 kilometers from Petrozavodsk.

This historic small village was founded in the 16th century and is now home to less than ten people!

But there are plenty of historical and cultural monuments here, including an old church and a village museum. In 2016, the village was recognized as the most beautiful village in Russia.
While visiting the village, you will meet friendly locals, learn about the village's everyday life, try national dishes and learn how to cook traditional Karelian cuisine. You might also stay overnight in a small guest house.
 

Try Winter Fishing

Winter fishing is a popular hobby in Karelia. You can experience ice fishing on Lakes Onega and Ladoga and on numerous smaller Karelia lakes that will be close to your hotel or guest house. You can catch perch, roach, pike, whitefish, and, of course, burbot, which is active during the cold season. Each year Vodlozersky National Park hosts the festival of burbot ice fishing festival, a popular event among the locals. Ice fishing isn't only about catching a fish. It's also about enjoying nature, peace, and silence.

Admire the Northern Lights

In addition to Paanajärvi Park, the northern lights in Karelia can be seen closer to Petrozavodsk, for example, in Medvezhyegorsk, provided the weather is frosty and clear.
In general, the closer to the Arctic Circle you are, the more intense and brighter this natural miracle will be.