The summer wonders of the Kola Peninsula (6 days)

Day 1: Welcome to Murmansk
Arrival at Murmansk airport. Meeting and transfer to Meridian hotel**** in the city center. Check in. Dinner is recommended at a hotel restaurant. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2: Teriberka on the Barents Sea
Breakfast. At 9:00 AM a guide will pick you up for a day excursion to the village of Teriberka (1523) on the coast of the Barents Sea. The route takes you over the peaks of the mountain tundra and through the specific landscape of the country above the Arctic Circle. We make photo stops at a "Forest" of hundreds of handmade stone pyramids and at a construction of water locks with an irresistible view over a lake and valley. Teriberka is a mix of the mystical pre-Soviet and Soviet heritage. We will visit the filming location of the famous movie 'Leviathan' and visit the village. Lunch at a restaurant on the beach of the Barents Sea. Then we continue to the ship cemetery with the faded glory of Teriberka, the coast with fjords, a bay with large round stones called "the dragon egg beach", a waterfall that falls from a rock into the sea and to a place where the old cannons from the Second World War are still standing to guard the coast. You will be back in Murmansk at 6:00 PM. Time for yourself. Dinner is recommended at a hotel restaurant. Overnight stay at the hotel. (B,L).

Day 3: Kayaking trip to Lake Imandra
Breakfast and check-out. At 09:00 transfer to the center of the Kola Peninsula; the town of Monchegorsk at the foot of Monche Tundra. Check-in at the Laplandia hotel. At 11:30 AM, a guide will meet you in the hotel lobby to take you to the starting point of the kayak tour. After a short briefing and equipment check, we board two- and three-seater kayaks. We paddle through the Bay of Monchegorsk to the largest lake of the Kola Peninsula Imandra (812 square kilometers). There it will reveal its charm, the calm clear water in the light of the setting sun, the bizarre coasts – now low, now high, the magical view of the Khibiny mountain tundra, the dozens of islands and the untouched nature of the northern country – you will see it all during this kayaking tour. We have lunch around a campfire on one of the many islands. After lunch we return to Monchegorsk. Dinner in a recommended restaurant. Overnight stay at the Laplandia hotel (B,L).

Day 4: Walking excursion to waterfall
Breakfast. At 9:30 AM the guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. Transfer to the start of the hiking tour, which is located 10 km outside the city on the slope of Monche Tundra. We follow a path that runs parallel to the tree line, past dwarf birches, fragrant juniper bushes, colorful mosses and mountain flowers. Then we come to a tectonic rift through which a river flows. There is the transparent waterfall "Devichi Kosi" (Girls' Braids) which divides into many small streams over several stone "steps" falls down. We will have a wilderness lunch at the waterfall. Then we return to the place where we will be met for the transfer to the city. Dinner in a recommended restaurant. Overnight stay at the Laplandia hotel (B,L).

Day 5: Excursion to a Saami settlement.
Breakfast and check-out. At 8:30 AM, meet the guide and depart for a Saami village. The owner of the village will tell you about the history, culture and epic of the Saami. You can make a wish while standing in front of one of the 9 Sami amulets: wooden idols that symbolize natural elements that the Saami believe in. Various northern animals can be seen in the village: raccoons, arctic foxes, rabbits, husky dogs and of course reindeer. You can feed the animals, pet them and take photos with them. You will visit a mysterious lake that was created by a meteorite impact. The Sami believe that the water of this lake has healing powers and that the Master of the lake grants cherished wishes. Then there are various Saami games: lasso throwing with a Nyarta, playing Saami ball (a kind of football), tug of war between 'Wolves' and 'Reindeer' and others games. Instead of a winter reindeer sleigh ride, you can drive yourself on the summer mode of transport of modern Saami - 4x4 Quads. If you want, you can dress in national clothing and take a photo with the Saami guide, the tents or with reindeer. Of course there are also souvenirs and handmade magical amulets for sale. Following the hospitality customs of the Saami people, you will be treated to a lunch of traditional dishes: salmon chowder, reindeer meat and berry cheesecake with Saami Pakula tea. At 1:30 PM you will board the bus again for the transfer to Murmansk for a city tour. We visit the Alyesha memorial which also has a beautiful view over the city and have an excursion on board the world's first nuclear icebreaker "Lenin". Estimated check-in at the Meridian hotel is around 6:30 PM. Dinner is recommended at the hotel restaurant. Overnight stay at the hotel (B,L).

Day 6: Farewell to the 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 25,-- and RUB 400,-- per person.
  • Entrance ticket to Atomic Icebreaker to join an excursion in Russian language: RUR 150 pp. Individual excursion to Atomic Icebreaker with a lecture in English language can be arranged.
  • City excursions in Hero city Murmansk.
  • Trip to Husky Farm close to Murmansk (year round).
  • Trip to Saami settlement close to Lovozero.
  • Trip to Teriberka and the Barents sea shore.
  • Trip to Husky Park close to Lovozero (only in winter).
  • Trip to Lovozero village; Capital of the Saami.