NEW YEAR / CHRISTMAS in Saami village Krasnoschelye

NEW YEAR / CHRISTMAS in Saami village Krasnoschelye

Day 1, 30.12 (04.01): In the morning transfer from Murmansk to Lovozero village to the start point of the tour. Lunch. After Lunch: a brief introduction and instructing, packing luggage, dressing up in warm clothing (Sovik, a coat of reindeer fur) and felt boots. Then we start to move on a sled behind a snowmobile to village Krasnoshchelye. On the way we will stop for a rest and a photo / video shooting from time to time. The route runs 140 km along the winter road via the forest and tundra, on the frozen lakes and swamps. Check-in at a guest house surrounded by pine trees upon arrival in Krasnoschelye. Dinner of traditional Saami dishes. Saun. Overnight. Those who wish can spend the evening sitting at the campfire place in the national dwelling KUVAKSA or at the outside campfire watching possible Northern Lights. (LD)

Day 2, 31.12 (05.01): Breakfast. At 10.00 we start the excursion program. We will visit the local museum and ethno-cultural center as well as the Christmas Fair with its souvenirs made of leather, bone, wood, burl, beads, and so on and shop of culinary products of local craftsmen. We will watch the photo exhibition of an aboriginal photographer. And we will walk around the village meeting the life of locals. Lunch at 14:00. After Lunch we start to prepare for sauna. Those who like may participate in splitting firewood and bringing water from the well. When it is ready, enjoy the Russian sauna with birch and juniper twigs. Then you need some rest before the night celebration of the New Year. Dinner is in the national dwelling KUVAKSA. Celebration, games and fun around the big campfire outside. (BLD)

Day 3, 01.01 (06.01): Breakfast. Then we start to make preparation for Shashlyk party. We will participate in national sport games and in the Christmas dances around the Christmas tree. We will watch traditional ceremonies and ancient divination. Then the national folk Komi ensemble starts their colorful show. Traditional tea drinking from a samovar heated by coals; snowmobiling, sledding. The northern festive clothes are provided for photo/video shooting. Dinner is in the national dwelling KUVAKSA. Celebration, games and fun around the big campfire outside. (BLD)

Day 4: Breakfast. Riding a reindeer sleds on the frozen lakes and tundra, meeting reindeer herders, making photo/video shooting put on national costumes. At 14:00 dinner under the national ceremonies, around the campfire. Then we visit the ethno-cultural center and watch a performance of the folk Komi ensemble. In the evening we have dinner of just caught fish from the Ponoy River. (BLD)

Day 5: Breakfast. Preparing for leaving, packing luggage, dreesing in warm clothes. Then we start to move on a sled behind a snowmobile to Lovozero village. Lunch on the way. From time to time we will stop for a rest and a photo / video shooting. After arrival in Lovozero we will be transferred to Murmansk by a mini bus. (BL)

This NEW YEAR / CHRISTMAS in Saami village Krasnoschelye can be extended with the following optionals:

• Single- or double-entry invitations for Russian visa request.
• 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.
• How to travel to Murmansk?
  • By own means of transport from Saint Petersburg or Finland and Norway.
  • Regular busses from Finland or Norway.
  • By airplane; Murmansk has an international and domestic airport.
• What to see in Murmansk:
  • The city has a Regional Historical Museum, where you can listen to an excursion in English language. The museum includes historical, mineralogical, nature, cultural and other exhibitions.
  • You can visit the Picture-museum; exhibitions of different painters or the Sport Museum where you will know about the famous sportsmen and a story of the development of the Northern sports.
  • In the Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography (PINRO) you will meet the fascinating world of the dwellers of the sea bottom.
  • The Museum of Northern Navy will show you different models of military ships and submarines, uniforms of the Russian navy military and many other things connected to Northern Russian Navy.
  • Nuclear Icebreaker "Lenin". Watch Worlds first nuclear icebreaker in the passenger harbour. Everyday free excursion on board. See Murmansk by the Captains eye from the bridge, the cabins and engine room.
  • Regional Centre of Folk Arts may interest you in the special for Russia kind of handicraft.
  • You can visit Russian Orthodox Temples and enjoy listening to a nice church choir.
  • You will see the enormous Memorial of a Warrior named by citizens 'Alyosha' which dominates above the city like a huge tower.
  • Memorial of the sunken submarine Kursk. It sunk the 12th August 2000, all 118 Seamen died. The Kursk memorial you can find on the territory of the Memorial Complex to the Soldiers and Seamen Who Died in Peaceful Time.
  • You can have a walk in the shining with lights city in Winter time, or under the never setting sun in Summer.
  • And at night you can have dinner in a restaurant with a nice variety show.
• Train/plane/bus tickets in or outside Russian Federation.
• Transfers from/to KuusamoIvalo/Rovaniemi and Kirkenes airports.