When planning your trip to Karelia, the question often arises: when is the best time to go? Within the framework of this article, I will try to show that Karelia is always beautiful, but in different periods of time it has its own, special charm.

Karelia is an amazingly beautiful, original, hospitable region. We are always glad to see everyone who comes to enjoy our nature, relax in peace and tranquility from the bustle of the city, catch their beautiful fish, get acquainted with our sights, and discover something new. However, Karelia is different at different times of the year. But always beautiful! :)

So, Let's start with the New Year! New Year's holidays are 10 days long - great option relax and go fishing in Karelia. Usually by January there is already ice on most lakes (except for large ones like Onega and Ladoga), and there is enough snow in the forest. Interest is active winter holidays skiing, skating, snowmobiling. In the evening - a bathhouse with swimming in an ice hole! There is a special charm in winter silence, beauty, purity, and peace.

The main risk in winter holidays is frost. Is it true, recent years winter comes to us a little late. However, in January - February the thermometer often drops to -30, and in the northern regions - to -40 degrees. It is also important to note that in winter the daylight hours are short, usually lasting 5-7 hours. Take board games and laptops with you so that in the evening, after active rest in nature, to entertain yourself.

For fishing: usually the fish are most active in the first and the last ice. In the fishing community, it is customary to call the winter period (until March) “dead winter”: the fish are little active, you have to look for them and interest them. This takes time and the days are short. Therefore, the catches are not as rich as the fisherman would like. However, it is in February that burbot spawns, which is actively caught on traps in severe frosts.

But then March comes, spring comes! The day is getting longer, the sun is getting brighter and warmer. You can get a better tan while fishing than in the south. The closer May gets, the more active the fish become, and the hungrier they become before spawning. As a rule, there are no severe frosts in the spring, unless there are slight frosts at night. The day lasts almost 12 hours. In April, when the ice lasts, fishermen are especially interested in catching lively grayling. March–April is the most optimal period for active snow holiday in Karelia.

However, it is worth noting that real spring comes in different ways in Karelia. For example, ice in South Karelia may disappear by the end of April, and in North Karelia it may begin to float at the beginning of June. This is important to consider when planning your trip. But as experience shows, by the end of April, active recreation and ice fishing come to an end throughout Karelia. Behavioral safety precautions thin ice comes to the fore! You shouldn't risk your life for the sake of a catch, take care of yourself!

May is the onset of real spring, warmth. In the first ten days of May, pike and perch spawn. At this time, fishing is limited to float fishing for white fish, which, in turn, spawns in late May - early June with the arrival of the first warm days. With the melting of ice, trolling for salmon on Lake Onega is also relevant.

The first half of May is the opening of the migratory bird hunting season. Therefore, fishing during the May holidays can be successfully combined with hunting. The end of May is the beginning of truly active recreation and fishing. open water! After spawning, with the arrival of the first warm days, perch and pike become more active. In June – pike perch, grayling. Red fish, on the contrary, love cold water more, so catches are noticeably reduced. At the end of May, with the onset of warmth, mosquitoes appear, so stock up on sprays. Blood-sucking activity subsides as autumn approaches.

Summer is an excellent period for any type of active recreation in Karelia. Successful fishing can be combined with sightseeing. Including visiting such brands of Karelia as Valaam, Kizhi, Solovki, Kivach waterfall, Paanayarvi park, etc.

The hottest period in Karelia is the second half of June - July, when it is quite comfortable to go out into nature with a tent and actively swim in the lakes. It is June-July that is the period of the legendary, most beautiful white nights, when on vacation night and day can easily be confused! With the onset of August, the nights become longer, the temperature drops noticeably, and night frosts are possible in some areas of Karelia.

However, it is August that is most popular with us. After all, this is a period of not only active fishing and the opening of hunting (usually the 2nd or 3rd Saturday of August), but also a period of picking berries and mushrooms. True, berries begin to appear in mid-July (cloudberries, strawberries), and in warm, rainy weather, mushrooms appear earlier than August. But again, it all depends on the specific year.

The closer autumn is, the less predictable the weather in Karelia: winds and rains occur more and more often. Fluctuations in weather affect fishing success. Remember, Karelia is not the Lower Volga, where fish bite in any weather. True, the colder and more unstable the weather, the better the red fish are caught by trolling.
September is a fabulous period when the forest turns into motley bright colors. Indian summer until the middle of the month is a “velvet period”, when there are still mushrooms, berries, fishing, and hunting. And the daytime temperature is comfortable enough for outdoor activities.

In October it is already much cooler, the weather is unpredictable, and there are often frosts. Fishing is unstable. You can only pick cranberries in the forest. Karelia is preparing for winter, late autumn is coming.

Winter in Karelia usually comes in November. In the last few years, there has been a shift in the timing of the onset of cold weather. The first ice can appear both in November and December, including on New Year’s Eve. On the first ice, fishing is most active until the fish go into hibernation. Well, I already mentioned the delights of winter active recreation at the beginning of this article.

As you can see, holidays in Karelia are always interesting, varied and exciting. You can find something beautiful at any time of the year! Come to us and appreciate for yourself all the delights of an amazingly beautiful and hospitable land- Karelia.

Sincerely, Evgeniy Miroshka (c), 2012.

I would like to summarize my past road trip in Karelia with an article about how much a holiday in Karelia costs, what this Karelia is like as a savage and from the point of view of an independent tourist, and I will also tell you briefly about the condition of the roads, where to live there and where to eat.

But at the beginning I want to say some basic truths - when planning an independent, and especially your first trip to Karelia, be sure to build routes based on the reviews of other people. Not in terms of places to visit, but in transport logistics. Our original plan changed almost every day. And it's all because of time. Somewhere it is required more because road conditions, somewhere along the way there is something not from the plan, but no less interesting and it would be a sin not to stop by, and sometimes, when planning, we did not take into account the sunset and our physical fatigue, which did not allow us to go further.

Everyone chooses for themselves what to see in Karelia. A savage vacation is possible in the most economical option - on foot, with an overnight stay in tents near lakes and exploring the exceptional beauty of Karelian nature. My vacation option was by car, so the travel plan itself, as well as further costs and expenses, one way or another revolve around the car.

We had a week left. More precisely, plus or minus a few days, since no one really pushed me to return by a specific date. And all plans, in the end, were adjusted by money.

The holiday route in Karelia turned out like this (below are links to detailed articles):

Saint Petersburg - Priozersk — Sortavala

Petrozavodsk — Kivach waterfall— Kondopoga — Kem — Rabocheostrovsk

Solovetsky Islands

Search hotels in major cities, Priozersk, Sortavala and Petrozavodsk, you need to visit the roomguru website. There you can compare prices on different sites and book where the price will be lower.

Cost of boats to the islands

Undoubtedly, when drawing up a plan for Karelia, we could not help but include a visit to the island of Valaam, the Kizhi nature reserve and the Solovetsky Islands.

Kizhi

During a more detailed discussion, Kizhi had to be abandoned. The cost of a round-trip ticket is 2500 and entrance fee is 400 rubles, plus to eat there, since according to the schedule the boat goes there for almost the whole day, and, of course, buying some souvenirs could take almost 4 thousand out of your wallet. In the end, you can go here separately, on a weekend, for example. They are not that far from St. Petersburg.

Balaam

As I wrote earlier, almost all places on Valaam for meteors are purchased by travel agencies during the season. And, as a rule, there is only one option left - buy a ferry ticket without excursions from local agents. But the price they ask for is 300 rubles one way more than the meteor captain charges. Therefore, count on a minimum of 1800 per ticket purchased on the meteor itself (private sellers are ready to take you there/back for at least 2 thousand, I found out), or get ready to fork out for the same 2500 buying from a travel agency. Unlike the ferry to Solovki, in meteors it is not customary to take on board more people than there are seats. Everyone goes inside, since there is simply nowhere and nowhere to park outside.

Solovetsky Islands

Here the price tag for the ferry is still the same - 1000 rubles for a one-way ticket, purchased at the tourist center Pier, from which the ferry rents this very pier. How much the captain’s ticket costs is not very clear, but it is important to understand that everyone with tickets is seated first, and those who buy and negotiate with the captain are seated outside, which means there is a high probability that they will have to travel for 2 hours in the cold wind under rain if you are unlucky with the weather. Unlike the meteor to Valaam, this ferry takes more people, than can be placed in the cabin.

This is what the Metel-4 ferry looks like, for example (the Vasily Kosyakov still sails during the season). Metel can accommodate 120 people.

Thus, it took me another 3800 rubles.

Entrance fees to museums and fortresses

We’re not particularly big fans of going to museums, but sometimes there’s no other way. At some points it’s really interesting, but at other times they take money just to “look at the nature” for which you came. On average, the price of an entrance ticket was 100 rubles, plus or minus 10 or 20. For the entire trip it turned out like this:

Korela Fortress in Priozersk - 120 rubles

Marble Canyon— 150 rubles

Kivach waterfall - 120 rubles

Church in Kondopoga - 120 rubles

Girvas Volcano - 100 rubles

Fortress in Staraya Ladoga— 20 rubles just for entry and 150 with a visit to the wall and museums on the wall.

During the season, many excursions are offered on Solovki; on our visit there was only a sightseeing tour and it cost 400 rubles for 3 hours. We didn’t take it and walked around everything ourselves. Then I rented a bike to go to distant places, for 250 rubles for 2.5 hours (100 rubles per hour).

The total result was neither more nor less 880 rubles for entrance tickets. However.

Food on the road

This item can be significantly cut down, and on what, you can save on food. After all, when renting apartments with a kitchen, you can always cook yourself. But there are some individual characteristics of tourists and travelers.

For example, my fellow travelers are fish lovers. In Moscow they don’t sell Karelian trout, which I eat often enough to go to a cafe for it.

When traveling long distances between cities, there is simply no time to cook on the road. I took my JetBoil burner with me, but we never even boiled tea for ourselves. We bought coffee at a gas station for 50 rubles and off we went! Therefore, on the road we ate in a cafe for truckers, and in the cities we cooked ourselves a couple of times (In Petrozavodsk, because there was a normal store with Spar products next to the house, in the rest there was even nowhere to look for where to buy food in the evenings).

Therefore, either plan, like a hiker, the menu in advance and purchase food before the trip, or include the purchase of everything in the cost item. In the same Petrozavodsk there was simply no oil for frying in the apartment on the second night.

On average, I spent 500-600 rubles a day on food. I personally decided on a budget for myself and tried to stick to it, choosing something from the menu within the planned amount, but without infringing on myself. There is a huge choice in cafes for truckers. But for me personally, such food is very heavy, but there was nothing left. The average bill, as I already said, is 250-300 rubles. Plus, somewhere coffee at a gas station costs from 50 to 100 rubles. Even in the only working cafe on Solovki, I ate for 250 rubles.

Total for food, including the purchase of water, smoked fish on Valaam at a price of 1000 rubles per kilogram (I bought a 300 gram piece, which I divided between lunch and breakfast), 4500 rubles.

Something a tourist can’t live without

Everyone has their own different souvenirs to take home. But I don’t know a single traveler who would not bring anything back from a trip as a souvenir, limiting himself only to photographs. At least a magnet or a postcard to take home.

It took me about two thousand. I don’t know how this happened)

Magnets cost an average of 100 rubles. Postcard home 100, including 20 rubles for stamps. The most expensive brands in Russia - from the Solovetsky Islands!)

I’m also a fan of buying signs with street names or just wooden panels, and I couldn’t help but buy a cut of Karelian birch, their prices start from 700.

Guide to petroglyphs 100 rubles. And everything like that.

By the way, a jar of cloudberries grated with sugar cost 300 rubles for 150 grams, they gave it away at a discount. You can also buy cranberries and lingonberries on the way home; they will be offered to you as soon as you get off the ferry from Solovki.

In total, with the current composition of 3 people in a 4wd car, the trip personally cost me 17 thousand rubles. I don't even know if this is a lot or a little. My assessment of traveling in Russia is now ambiguous. On the one hand, this is not much cheaper than some Turkish-Greek tour packages, on the other hand, this is a completely different type of vacation.

How to always be online when traveling?

Buy a euro card for internet and calls. I personally have an Orange card choose a card and tariff

How do I save on hotels?

It’s very simple - look not only on booking. I prefer the search engine RoomGuru. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and on 70 other booking sites.

Karelia is a land of forests and lakes, world-famous sights and beautiful natural parks, ancient petroglyphs and mountain resorts, great fishing and mineral springs. Clean air and stunningly beautiful nature - business card republics at any time of the year. And when to go on vacation in, tourists decide on their own.

Types of tourist seasons in Karelia

High season

High season It's definitely summer. In Karelia it can be called the season of excursions. The main attractions are located so that they can only be reached by water. Navigation is open from May to September, which is when traffic peaks.

Tourists from all over the world are eager to see the museum under open air- a monument of traditional wooden architecture. The heart of the reserve is the tall Transfiguration Church, built without a single nail, 37 meters high with 22 domes. It is surrounded by ancient houses and chapels, barns and mills, and other temples, creating fabulous beauty and harmony architectural ensemble. The museum is located on Kizhi Island in Lake Onega. You can get there by water transport. In summer, boat excursions are organized to visit and neighboring islands. They also preserved architectural and cultural monuments.

On the second lake of Karelia, Ladoga, there is another object of pilgrimage for tourists - the island. The island is a unique nature reserve, with coniferous forest and small inland lakes. Here you can see coniferous trees that are 300 years old. Valaam is a nesting place for 200 species of birds, including many from the Red Book. The pearl of Valaam is the Transfiguration Monastery, founded in the first millennium and for many centuries the spiritual center of Russian Orthodoxy. You can also get there by boat.

In the White Sea, which washes north coast Karelia, located Solovetsky Archipelago, the so-called Solovki. This place with a tragic history today, like Kizhi and Valaam, is included in the UNESCO list of cultural and natural heritage. Today people visit the active Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery and the beautiful Botanical Garden. The ship sails to Solovki throughout the entire navigation period, with the exception of stormy days.

The unique and famous Marble Canyon can also be seen only in summer. An abandoned stone quarry looks like a huge marble bowl filled with the purest, emerald-colored water. The canyon is surrounded by a mountain park with rare species shrubs and mosses.

Low season

The decline in tourist activity occurs in winter; the longest Karelian season is from mid-October to April. Rivers open only at the end of April, lakes - in May. Although it is during the low season that Karelia attracts lovers of active recreation. Winter temperatures are quite gentle - no higher than 13-15 degrees below zero. But, in conditions of constant high humidity, the cold is felt more strongly. The frosts begin suddenly, and the thaw comes just as suddenly. In winter there are frequent winds and heavy snowfalls. It sometimes snows for several days. But its abundance becomes a paradise for skiers and snowboarders, as well as luge runners and biathlon lovers.

In winter, a beautiful ski tour to Valaam is offered, designed for trained skiers. This kind of pilgrimage leaves unforgettable experience and is considered the “highlight” of the low season.

Sports season

Six ski resorts They offer trails of varying degrees of difficulty. Snowmobile and dog sled tours are available. On New Year holidays Karelia offers active programs with mountain skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. This is a chance to see the beauty of winter northern nature.

In May, numerous rivers of Karelia are especially full-flowing. This month is considered the best for rafting and kayaking. Water sports routes are laid along the Onda, Vodli, Okhta and many other Karelian rivers. Moreover, in May there are still no annoying midges, and the spring sun gives a magnificent tan. The rafting season lasts until September, but it is in May that it is considered the most attractive and extreme.

Wellness season

During the low season, you can take advantage of the same low prices for treatment. The first resort appeared here under Peter I. He personally tried on himself the healing properties of the local sulfide-silt mud and Karelian mineral waters. The resort became the first in and was named “Marcial Waters”. It still works today. Now, along with this hospital, the sanatoriums “Belye Klyuchi”, “Kivach” and “Palaces” operate. Diseases of the skeletal and vascular systems, respiratory and digestive organs, and endocrine diseases are successfully treated. Except mineral waters and mud, the famous shungite is used for medical purposes. And, of course, the purest forest air.

Shungite treatment is a local calling card. Its main reserves in the country are located in Zaonezhye. This Karelian healer is considered unique due to special molecules that act as an antioxidant.

In local sanatoriums, a wide variety of ailments are treated using a wide range of procedures using stones, stone chips and shungite water:

• massage of feet and other areas with shungite crumbs;
• applications based on shungite;
• different kinds relaxing procedures with shungite;
• inhalation and rinsing with shungite water;
• baths made of shungite powder.

The treatment of Karelian mineral water. It is not stored. It can only be consumed fresh, and therefore only in local health resorts.

Climate of Karelia

The climate is typical for both the Northern and Russian North - with relatively warm winters and cool summers. It can be called transitional from marine to temperate continental. The North Atlantic and Arctic have a decisive influence. A characteristic feature of Karelia is high humidity at any time of the year, due to the abundance of rivers and lakes.

Summer is short, and winter, although mild, is long and unstable - with transitions from snowfall to thaw. The island of Valaam is considered the warmest place. A specially mild lake microclimate has been formed here. Lake Ladoga.

Winter in Karelia

December is quite warm, but chilly due to high humidity. In January during the day, sub-zero temperatures reach 12-15 degrees, but sometimes cold temperatures are possible. In some years, January frosts reach –25°C. February is considered the coldest month, it is snowy and windy.

Winter in the north of Karelia is northern lights and drifting ice floes White Sea. And, of course, the polar nights in northern territories republics. The downside is that in winter you cannot see the unique beauty of the numerous Karelian lakes - they are covered with ice. But on the strengthened ice, winter fishing begins. Burbot is caught until February.

In winter, hunting enthusiasts come to Karelia. Here is one of the few places where there is rich hunting for elk, bear, hare and fox. And also for fur-bearing animals - muskrat, beaver, mink, marten and ermine. Wild boar hunting is still ongoing in December. As a rule, even experienced hunters book tours - local rangers know the territory and the peculiarities of the habits of the local animal better.

Spring in Karelia

Spring comes late, in the south of the republic - in mid-April, and in the northern part the cold returns almost until June. What is considered " in early spring", in Karelia continues until May. But the daylight hours are starting to increase. In March, the sun is already bright and the snow is heavy. Organizers of ski trips and winter fishing take advantage of this. In April, the forests are covered in snow, and the ice on the reservoirs is just beginning to melt.

May is considered the beginning of real spring. The time when nature awakens allows you to appreciate the true beauty of lakes and forests. The temperature during the day rises to +15°C; in the south it can be even warmer. The nights are still cold, with temperatures just above zero. WITH May holidays The tourist season begins to rise. The kayakers arrive first.

Starts at the end of May active fishing on open water.

Summer in Karelia

The main highlight of the Karelian summer is the white nights. The calendar summer here is short. In June, the awakening of nature continues. The hottest month is July, when you can definitely swim. August can also be hot, but the nights are already cool. But mosquitoes disappear. In any case, you need to remember that summer in the north of the country is different from middle zone. In addition to summer clothes, tourists should stock up on warm clothes and waterproof shoes.

Summer is the main season for sport fishing. In Karelia, which is rich in reservoirs, pike, salmon, roach, and ide are caught. During evening fishing, large bream bite well. And, of course, summer is the period for catching the legendary steam perch, a classic for northern reservoirs.

At the end of July, Lake Onega, cold for swimming, gathers yachtsmen from all over the country for a sailing regatta. cruising yachts. It’s not just yacht owners who want to attend the national sailing championship. Many people specially time their vacation to coincide with this spectacular holiday.

The only downside of summer is insects. In the Russian north, this is a real scourge: mosquitoes, midges and ticks. Before your trip, it is better to get vaccinated against ticks and arm yourself with mosquito repellents.

Autumn in Karelia

Autumn in the north of the republic begins at the end of August. But September is considered one of the best months: It’s still warm, there’s no more midges, but cranberries and lingonberries and mushrooms are ripening. Autumn in Karelia is famous as the season of mushrooms and berries. People even come for them from neighboring regions.

Fishing is successful and the hunting season opens. Hunting tours for ducks, wood grouse, and black grouse are very popular. The trophies of successful hunters can be woodcock, hazel grouse, goose and partridge.

In October frosts begin and the weather becomes unpredictable. The fish go deeper, but pike and Onega perch are still caught. And in November on some reservoirs it will already start winter fishing.

Conclusion: you can go on holiday to Karelia in any season. You need to rely on forecasts from weather forecasters and your own preferences.

When is the best time to go to Karelia?

Karelia is a magical, enchanted, reserved land. You can spend all day exploring its corners and finding more and more new locations, discovering places of enchanting beauty. But when is the best time to go to Karelia? Still, this is not the south of the country: the weather in Karelia can be capricious and capricious. And you don’t want to ruin the whole impression of your trip because of heavy rain or severe wind. That is why we have prepared a small educational program on when it is better to go, what to wear and what to take.

Karelia in different seasons

Winter, spring, summer, autumn - each of these seasons is beautiful in its own way. Karelia changes its outfits all year round and each time appears new, mysterious and beautiful before enchanted wanderers.

Summer, of course, is considered a favorite among tourists. This is connected not only with comfort and joy from gentle sun, but also with the fact that some attractions of Karelia can only be reached by water. Among such places are Kizhi, Valaam, Solovki - you must agree, they are not the last items on the list to visit! The navigation season opens in mid-May and closes in mid-September. Therefore, if you want to book an excursion or go on a tour of the main attractions, it is better to plan your trip for the summer.

In winter, spring and autumn it is better to go to Karelia for relaxing holiday: get treatment in a sanatorium or rent a cottage on the lake. You can also go and see the power of the Kivach waterfall, visit the Marcial Waters, famous since Peter’s times, stroll through the exhibitions of Petrozavodsk museums, and admire the animals in Karelian zoo complexes.

It’s especially magical in Karelia under New Year and on January holidays. You can choose one from many excursion programs and visit the Assumption Church, zoo complex, Petrozavodsk, Kivach waterfall, go to Karelian Santa Claus. This is not to mention the traditional winter activities: cheesecake skiing, skiing, snowmobiling and many others.

When is the best time to go fishing in Karelia?

May

You can go without waiting until summer: then you won’t be bothered by annoying mosquitoes. At the same time, the sun will warm you up and give you a pleasant natural tan. At the beginning of the month you can catch the last ice and go fishing, but you need to do this very carefully. It’s better not to risk it and fish for roach and bream from the shore using a float rod.

Let us remind you that in early May pike and perch are spawning. After it they are especially active, so fishermen should be prepared. And the pike, in addition, begins to eat, and it becomes easier to catch it. Around the same time, a bream comes into the bay right up to the houses, and it’s often possible to pull out a big guy weighing 2 kilograms from the shore!

After the ice melts, it is time for active salmon trolling (lane fishing). This is an ancient fishing method that is still very popular and effective. Don’t forget that fishing in early May can be combined with hunting for migratory birds. That's when the season opens.

Summer months

In summer, Karelia has wonderful weather for fishing. In addition, it will be nice to combine it with a visit to various attractions.

At the end of June, the famous white nights arrive, when nature is especially beautiful and open to travelers. On such days, it seems that the sun does not want to go beyond the horizon, and it constantly keeps an eye on the beauties of the protected region. This is a great time for evening fishing. It is in the evenings that large bream swim closer to the shore to feed. In addition to it, pike, roach, ide, perch and salmon are also objects of fishing.

When July comes, the rivers of Karelia become so warm that you can stay out of them for days. You can swim all day long. But we know that this will not tempt fishermen: after all, it is in July that it is good to catch steam perch on the luds. Steam perch is a classic of northern reservoirs. It is in the summer, when it gets hot, that there are especially many perches. At the same time, they greedily peck at any filling: from a worm to a spinner.

The heat can last until August, after which it becomes a little cooler. The nights are getting longer and the annoying mosquitoes are disappearing. Usually, during this season, mushroom pickers and hunters become more active, and real freedom begins for them. There is also plenty of fish, for example the pike that swims very close to the shore in the evening.

Beginning of autumn

In September it is already cool for swimming, but it is an excellent time for fishing. The bite is still good, there are no midges anymore, and the air is quite warm. In October it becomes noticeably colder, and late autumn is slowly coming into its own. At this time, fishing is unstable, you can try to catch perch, but it will be much more pleasant to sit by the fireplace, read a good book or admire the views from the window.

When is the best time to have an active holiday in Karelia?

For those who do not really like sitting for hours with a fishing rod, and who prefer an active pastime, we recommend visiting Karelia in the warm months (from May to September) or during the winter holidays.

Alloys

There are many lakes and rivers in Karelia (more than 59,000 and 26,000 respectively). Therefore, water routes, excursions, and tourist activities are developed in these parts. For those who want to connect their leisure time with rivers and lakes, an important factor will be the lack of ice on the water. As we mentioned above, surf water surfaces Karelia is possible from May to September.

The rafting season begins in spring. It is better for beginners not to go out on the water at this time, the rivers are still too stormy. But experienced “watermen” will enjoy such tests. For rafting on spring water, you need a special suit made of neoprene - porous rubber. It will prevent the tourist from freezing by letting a little water through and allowing it to warm up from body heat.

But in the summer you can go rafting, even if you have no experience at all. There are plenty to choose from: routes on catamarans, kayaks, rafting. Choose the duration (from 1 day to 2 weeks) and complexity of the route and give yourself a wonderful adventure that will be remembered for a long time.

Jeep tours

The adventurer can move not only on water. When he arrives in Karelia, endless ribbons of roads stretch out in front of him: inaccessible and mysterious. But they can also be curbed if you have a prepared SUV at your disposal.

It is worth noting that you won’t be able to see some sights without a jeep: some waterfalls in the Ladoga region and villages in Zaonezhie. You can travel by car from May to September.

What to take with you?

The temperature in Karelia is always unpredictable, no matter when you decide to visit it: winter, spring, summer or autumn. Today the warm sun may smile at you, and tomorrow it will be replaced by biting rain - you need to be prepared for this.

So, what is important to take with you?

Cloth

Windbreaker for protection from cloudy days, warm sweater, sweatpants, light clothing for warm weather (shorts, T-shirts), swimsuits. If you're visiting during the colder months, consider a jacket, thick socks and layered layers.

Shoes

Sports shoes (for everyday wear), sandals (for hot weather), rubber boots (for fishing).

Headdress

What it will be is not so important. The main thing is that you do not get sunstroke.

Backpack

It's easy to carry everything you need. For example, a sweater is for sudden cold snaps.

Remedies for midges

If you are traveling to Karelia on hot days (late June - early July), you should take mosquito repellent with you. Also, be aware of ticks.

I have been to Petrozavodsk more than once, however, last year in October I was lucky to spend a wonderful ten days of my vacation. In this, of course, beautiful city there were a lot of my acquaintances and friends, as well as my sister and her family, so there was someone to spend time with, and the entertainment program in the city was at the highest level.

Autumn weather in Petrozavodsk

It’s difficult to adequately assess the weather, because after a warm summer it’s extremely difficult to go straight into a cold autumn, even if a month of adaptation has already passed, however, the cold is very difficult to bear, maybe it’s just me, but still.

There are quite a lot of sunny days, however, the sun does not warm at all, on sunny days the air temperature is often about +7 degrees, sometimes even less, although at this temperature it is still tolerable outside, because there are no strong winds here, so it is at least a little warm in the sun , when compared with a shadow. It’s always very cold in the morning, but towards lunch it becomes much nicer. You should always dress warmly, because as soon as the sun goes behind the clouds, it becomes cooler. The streets of the city are very beautiful, the yellow leaves of the trees create an incredible atmosphere, and in sunny weather you feel like you are in a fairy tale.

Rainy days not much, however, the rains at this time are very persistent, often it can rain throughout the whole day, if not more. Light and very nasty rain usually makes you depressed, you don’t even want to go outside, everything is so disgusting and gloomy. The air temperature is less than +5, but it is terribly cold. If the sky is overcast, I don’t recommend going out without an umbrella; rain can start at any minute.

The evenings are cool and there are often frosts at night. The normal temperature for October is -3 degrees. In this weather, night walks are cancelled, at least I didn’t want to go out anywhere in such cold weather. Frost is visible on the grass and trees, and it is terribly cold outside. WITH Lake Onega It often blows cool, which creates some discomfort.

Seasonal food

But what is 100% local is the fish. Here it is sold both in markets and in various shops in the city, because in the fall fish are caught, and, believe me, there is plenty of it here. I bought smoked fish, it’s very tasty with beer, and not only that. The variety of types of fish and methods of preparing it is simply amazing; it is immediately clear that fishing here is at a very good level.

There are also a lot of mushrooms in this area, because the city in the west is surrounded by forests, and after the rains there is simply a paradise for a true mushroom picker. They sell mushrooms at the market, because for many city residents this is a good additional income.

Entertainment

You definitely won’t be bored in Petrozavodsk, because the city has many interesting restaurants and cafes, as well as discos, night clubs, concert halls, cinemas and entertainment centers. Every day you can find something interesting for yourself. I highly recommend visiting National Theater Karelia.

From mass events nothing special happens in the city in October, because it’s already quite cold outside, although there are no concerts in different places mass passes. I was attracted by only one event, this was the concert of the DDT group, which featured all the best hits during the existence of the group. The fact is that the city used to host the Reboot rock festival, however, they decided not to hold it this year. But for fans of the festival, of whom there are a lot, a concert was organized by the DDT group. Something tells me that next year a similar story awaits us.

Tourists in Karelia

There are significantly fewer tourists in October than in summer or the Velvet season. Here everyone can find a holiday to suit every taste. For lovers of extreme recreation, there are hikes to the pine forest, where you can fish, hunt and have fun. ATV rides are also available. In the city itself are held walking tours. From Petrozavodsk you can go anywhere in Karelia and see the incredible beauty with your own eyes, which is why many tourists from different parts come here.

I had a very interesting and informative time. Karelia amazed me with its beauty, and will remain in my memory for a long time.