Excursion trip: The secrets of the White Sea coast (5 days)

Day 1: Stone Labyrinth Babylon
Morning arrival at Murmansk airport. Meeting and transportation to Krestovaya Gora hotel in Kandalaksha. Meeting with the guide at 3:00 PM. Transport to the pier in Kandalaksha harbor for the boat trip to one of the most mysterious wonders of the White Sea: the Babylon Labyrinth. The labyrinth dates from the 3rd century BC and is made of stones, in which the local residents performed their magical rituals. The environment of the Labyrinth is magically beautiful: islands, pine trees and a flowery shore. Picnic on the beach. In the evening you return to the hotel in Kandalaksha. Stay overnight in the hotel (P).

Day 2: Ethnographic open-air museum Tetrina Tonya.
After breakfast we start our journey along the coast to Tetrina Tonya. A "Tonya" is a place where a fishing family lives. Tetrina Tonya has retained its original shape over the centuries. The house and outbuildings function just as they did 5 centuries ago. Nowadays a fishing family still lives there and they are very hospitable. For lunch we are offered White sea herring, prepared in the traditional way, grilled salmon and other delicacies from the Pomor cuisine. After lunch we continue our journey. If the weather is nice, we can stop to swim in the White Sea. Further on we will visit an ancient village of Kashkarantsy, which has preserved the special architectural style inherent in the Pomor villages of the north. We visit the "Chapel of an Unknown Monk", whose legend borders on mysticism, and a healing spring nearby. In the evening we arrive in the village of Varzuga and check into a rural hotel. Dinner (B,L,D).

Day 3: Arctic Desert, Amethyst mine and Stave Church
Breakfast at 8:00 am. At 9:00 AM we go with the guide to the ancient village of Kuzomen at the mouth of the Varzuga River. A dirt road leads to the village and is only suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles. The pine forest ends in a real (Arctic) desert with sand dunes. We explore the village on foot. We walk along wooden sidewalks, view the traditional buildings and observe daily rural life. Wild horses may be seen in the vicinity of the village. We continue our way and drive along the beach at low tide to a place where amethyst was mined in Soviet times. The open mine is located deep in the forest. We will also try to find a lucky stone. Return to the hotel at 2:00 PM for lunch. After lunch we will visit the village of Varzuga on foot. Visit to the renovated wooden stave church, which was built in 1674 without nails. The village is divided into two parts by the river of the same name. A ferryman takes us to the other side where we make a small pilgrimage to a holy source. The path leads through a beautiful forest, over hills with small lakes and has been completely worn out over the centuries. Return to the hotel around 7:00 PM. Dinner at 8 p.m. Stay overnight in the hotel (B,L,D).

Day 4: Welcome in Murmansk
Breakfast at 07:00. At 8:00 am we leave Varzuga for Murmansk. We have lunch in Kandalaksha. After lunch we travel to Murmansk for a city tour with sights such as the Alyosha memorial, viewpoint over the city, perfect for taking panoramic photos and we visit World's first nuclear icebreaker "Lenin". Then we check in at the Meridian Hotel. Dinner in a recommended restaurant. Overnight stay in hotel (B,L).

Day 5: Farewell to Kola Peninsula
Breakfast. Transfer to Murmansk airport (B).

This excursion trip can be expanded with the following options:

• Murmansk:
  • Tickets for museums and museum excursions cost between RUB 100 and RUB 1000 per person.
  • Entrance ticket to Atomic Icebreaker to join an excursion in Russian language: RUR 600 pp. Individual excursion to Atomic Icebreaker with a lecture in English language can be arranged.
  • City excursion in Hero city Murmansk.
  • Trip to Husky kennel close to Murmansk.
  • Trip to Saami Settlement close to Lovozero.
  • Trip to Teriberka and the Barents sea shore.
  • Trip to Husky Park close to Lovozero.
  • Trip to Lovozero village; Capital of the Saami.