Is it possible to visit Valaam on your own without a tour? When is the best time to visit Valaam? Traditional excursion routes provide the opportunity to see three monasteries

Get to I wanted it for a very long time, even during summer trips from my native Moscow to St. Petersburg, where my mother and I went as part of a tourist group. However, not a single attempt was successful due to weather conditions. And so, a few years later, when I moved to the city on the Neva to study and work, I decided to visit this famous island.

We went with my colleague, who had also heard a lot about this place. And this time on one's own visit We didn’t succeed right away - again due to weather conditions, there was a storm on Lake Ladoga. We postponed the trip for a week, and for the second time we were lucky with the weather. Our little independent the journey took only one day, we got there from the city of Sortavala on a slow-moving vehicle, their movement is organized by the service at the monastery.

At the time of our trip (May 2015), the cost was 900 rubles one way (this is weekdays, on weekends - 1000 rubles).

Since we were returning back in the evening, we did not book a hotel, but there are many different accommodation options on the island itself. Of course, you need to take care of this in advance, since the influx of tourists is very large. Many, in order to save on living expenses, negotiate with the monastery for help with the housework, but one should not count on this option either - in the high season, places in the cells are occupied by workers, that is, those who come to the monastery not for the purpose of saving, but for spiritual cleanse. Workers live at the monasteries for a long time and perform feasible physical work.

by is licensed under CC BY

The beauty of Valaam, of course, cannot fail to inspire. It's a completely different aesthetic beauty of the north, cold, harsh, but very alluring. We regretted that we came here only for one day; there was a lot left unexplored and unexamined. On the other hand, the visit itself the main attraction of the island - the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery— left an ambivalent feeling. Of course, it is difficult not to admire the amazing architecture of the complex, its holy icons, the atmosphere of piety... which is completely destroyed due to the influx of tourists. Unfortunately, the culture of visiting such places has not yet been instilled in many of our travelers. And, of course, in my opinion, pilgrims should not feel entirely comfortable here. Tourist buses are constantly arriving, many are dressed more than inappropriately, some are drinking alcohol (!), guides are rushing their groups to “quickly examine the holy icons.” In general, we were glad that we came to Valaam not as part of a group and went for a walk around the island.

May 15-17, 2015, Trip to Valaam by Saint-Petersburg Theological Academy is licensed under CC BY

Nature delights with its beauty and relative untouchedness in the interior of the island. And the further you go from the main attractions, the more you feel its grandeur and, at the same time, a kind of hospitality. On many small beautiful lakes, many flowers that can withstand the harsh climate. By the way, in the depths of the island there are no less beautiful churches with rich architecture and history. So, after a long walk along a road dotted with tree roots, we came across Gethsemane Monastery. Its pearl is the Church of the Assumption.

Another vivid impression from independent trip on Valaam - this is Observation deck , from which an amazing view of Malaya Nikonovskaya Bay, the spectacle is absolutely “postcard”. Near the observation deck there is Igumenskoye Lake, also quite original and picturesque, but that’s not where its interest lies. As tourists accidentally met told us, a long time ago on the shores of the lake lived Abbot Damascene (a symbolic figure for Valaam). Now in place of his cells there are boards around the perimeter - this is how the abbot’s former home is marked.

May 15-17, 2015, Trip to Valaam by Saint-Petersburg Theological Academy is licensed under CC BY

We barely made it on the way back - the distance was rather large, and the desire to go around everything and see the stronger, the further behind the crowds of tourists remain. Of course, I will definitely come to the island again, this time looking at accommodation options. And I recommend everyone to visit this amazing island, which has preserved so much of our culture and history. Valam is a place that has absorbed all the beauty of the Russian north!

When planning such a trip, you need to start from the fact that you can only get to the island by water, and even then not all year round. Tourists have this opportunity only in the warm season; storms begin in August and many flights are cancelled, and in winter the island is almost completely cut off from big land. In this case, mosquitoes and other insects that you mentioned in your question fade into the background. In addition, it is not at all necessary to go to this island with an excursion; you can do it on your own and get to know the main attractions of the island in just a few days.

The most convenient way to get to this island on your own is through Priozersk or Sortavala. You can get from Sortavala to Valaam by meteor, but in high season it is advisable to book in advance. Travel time is about 50 minutes and for such a short trip you need to pay at least a thousand rubles (even more expensive on holidays and weekends).

A meteor ticket from Priozersk will cost about 1,500 rubles, but the travel time is slightly longer - 1 hour 15 minutes. You can save 300-400 rubles and go by slow-moving vehicle, but then the one-way trip will take three and a half hours. All ships arrive at Monastyrskaya Bay.

Before your trip, you should carefully read the weather forecast for several days, since the island of Valaam is located on Lake Ladoga, which in turn is known for its storms, which is why ship flights are often cancelled, especially for slow-moving ships.

Still, you shouldn’t completely discard the option of a tour. Purchasing an excursion guarantees you the availability of space on the boat, and as for the frequency and cost of excursion tours, they directly depend on the size of the tourist group. From Sortavala, the cost of the excursion, taking into account the road there and back, will be approximately three thousand rubles, and from Priozersk a thousand more. Again, on weekends and holidays prices may increase by 10-20%. You can sign up for excursions at the offices located directly on the piers.

If you know geography well or have simply studied in detail the issue of a trip to Valaam, then you have probably noticed that the lake can be reached by ferries directly from St. Petersburg. This is due to the fact that the Neva River flows directly from Lake Ladoga. In St. Petersburg, many companies organize such tours; they can vary in duration, cost and routes. But taking into account the fact that the journey is not close, usually ferries leave St. Petersburg in the evening or at night and arrive on the island early in the morning, where they spend the whole day, and set off on their way back in the evening. St. Petersburg ships use Bolshaya Nikonovskaya Bay as a berth.

Tourists who come to this island have several accommodation options, but in the warm season you can save on hotels and stay in a tent, which you should take with you in advance. But this does not mean that everyone can put up a tent wherever he wants. For this purpose, there are six special tourist sites with equipped fireplaces and firewood. On the island it is possible to rent a bicycle and this way you can get to know this place, its attractions and features much faster.

But with nutrition the situation is somewhat more complicated. Although there are not many cafes on the island, they do exist. You shouldn’t count on a large assortment of dishes, and at the same time you need to be prepared for the fact that the prices will be much higher, but when there is no other alternative, you have to buy what is available at the offered prices.

"Valaam, trip to Valaam on your own, route, photos and videos."

At the end of the article there is a video for the first part "."

Since the description of an independent trip to Valaam turned out to be voluminous (I literally wrote an entire epic), the article is divided into four parts.

The photo is a bit short, but because a lot of photos take a long time to load, so read the honors. Yes, keep in mind that Valaam is an island, so there is no way to get to Valaam specifically. 🙂

So, I decided to go to Valaam on my own (well, I’m not a supporter of group visits). Let me make a reservation right away that I do not consider myself a religious fanatic. But, as it happens, I visited almost everything, as my wife says, “at places of worship.”

Information on "Valaam, trip to Valaam on your own, route, photos and videos", surprisingly, not so much, but maybe I was looking for everything about "Valaam, trip to Valaam on your own, route, photos and videos" in a hurry. From what I found, I realized that you can get to Valaam from three places. Let's start with the furthest ones. From St. Petersburg - more than 200 km to the city of Sortavala (old name Serdobol), from it 42 km by water. I will immediately warn you in advance that it is better not to go this route. The road from Priozersk to Sortoval is, let’s say, rather bad. And when you sail on a rocket to Valaam from Sortoval, the time of arrival and departure is not optimal, you will be rushing around Valaam like mad, in my opinion it’s only four hours to be on the island, if not less. Although if you need to visit Kizhi, then Sortoval is optimal. From St. Petersburg, I didn’t consider this option at all, but in fact for some it is the best, we got to St. Petersburg, boarded the ship and set off, in the sense of a “cruise”. The minimum ticket price for 2012 is 5600 rubles. The price includes: round trip passage, meals, excursion services, but most importantly - attendance at church services, which one day tour It's almost impossible to do. If desired, you can also from Moscow, sightseeing tours organized, I know what is possible, but I don’t know where to do what and how, such travelers met on the island.

We stopped on the third route, from Priozersk. For those who decide to go by car to Valaam, this is the place. The population of the town is about 20,000 people. What can you say? Subjectively, there is no one in the town, located 142 km north of St. Petersburg. At the first stage, the task was to get to Priozersk. And from there to Valaam.

our route St. Petersburg-Priozersk-Valaam

I was completely unprepared for the trip. We went spontaneously. Tired of the south, we sat down and went to Valaam. But nevertheless, I took 3 fishing rods from my son. “Retreat”: I used only one, and successfully, the locals looked at the catch with envy, their mouths wide open, but more on that later. If you want to fish, take your fishing rods, there will be fish.

My car is a modest VAZ-2112. But it's perfect for traveling. I take a mattress with me (an ordinary one from 1.5 beds), folded the back row, unscrewed the seat cushions to make the sleeping place longer, installed a mattress, two pillows and a blanket, where it was a little cold where we were going. I put in a collapsible grill, a bucket of shish kebab, charcoal, a couple of bottles of water, and a little bit of everything.

Geographically, we are located in Bronnitsy, a town in the Moscow region on the M-5 highway. We had to leave on Friday (it just so happened), the day of summer residents. Traffic jams - "Mama don't worry"! We figured it out and decided to doze off before the road. As a rule, I always leave at night. While there are few cars on the highway to drive along the empty highway. We set off somewhere around one in the morning. Take M-5 to Moscow, exit to the Moscow Ring Road, to Leningrad, and then follow the signs to St. Petersburg, highway M-10. I’m not a racer, but after 8 and a half hours we approached the St. Petersburg Ring Road. Not far from St. Petersburg, a barbecue was prepared in a grill. The mood is wonderful. The road to St. Petersburg fits the definition of very good to good. Where there is a good one, as a rule, repairs are underway. Two lanes in both directions. In some areas there are two lanes + one that changes periodically. So there are no problems with overtaking. And on average, trucks go from 80 to 100 on the highway. So the track is fast, the sections are straight, just roll and roll. If you go during the day, traffic jams are guaranteed.

This is my first time in St. Petersburg, local drivers advised me to take the Ring Road through Kronstadt to avoid traffic jams

Ring Road Kronstadt Gulf of Finland

(During the entire drive I got into one, a kilometer or two long, due to road repairs on the way back. But it moves quite quickly, there are few people driving along the side of the road), so it’s so far from Moscow traffic jams, St. Petersburg traffic jams are so far away. Well, I’m driving around St. Petersburg along the Ring Road on the left to Novopriozerskoye Highway, crossing Kronstadt, we decided to stop by. For some reason, what I remember most from school was the sailors' uprising. I don’t know if any monuments have been preserved from that time?! The locals persistently direct you to the Naval Cathedral (a very grandiose building, in this moment is under restoration). The photo does not convey the grandeur of the structure.

On the shore of the Italian Pond there are cannons with corks with monograms, then to the pier (something like an open-air museum).

The muzzles of the guns are filled with corks with the monograms of emperors and empresses

On the banks of the Peter the Great Canal to the left and right there are naval guns removed from ships that took part in the Second World War (or maybe not).

Abandoned guns stand on the bank of the Peter the Great Canal

A pier stretches from the canal, where warships are moored, but there is no access to it - a military zone. But you can look at the moored ships. The majority of people do just that. It becomes clear that we don’t have a navy, that’s for sure in the Baltic...

A pier stretches from the canal where warships are moored. It becomes clear that we do not have a navy, that’s for sure in the Baltic.

Zero of the Kronstadt footing rod, mark on the Kronstadt footing rod mounted on the abutment of the bridge over the Obvodny Canal in Kronstadt.

The monument to Peter I, the founder of Kronstadt, in Petrovsky Park, is depicted for the first time in full height and on foot.

For special chic on Navy Day, Peter I is dressed in a striped vest and the balls of the Bronze Horseman's horse are polished. But this is already in St. Petersburg itself. 🙂

On Navy Day, Peter I is dressed in a vest and the balls of the Bronze Horseman's horse are polished, but this is already in St. Petersburg itself

The town itself is small and cozy. You drive into it and it’s as if you’ve arrived at the end of the 19th century - the beginning of the 20th century. And time stood still. The houses are 2 or 3 stories high, several modern high-rise buildings look like foreign bodies. There is practically no traffic (maybe because it’s Saturday), people cross the pedestrian crossing, as in the southern resort towns without looking around. But there is a persistent feeling that only temples and churches are developing, the rest is in complete decline. The picture is the same as throughout Russia, 20 km from the Moscow Ring Road and you are like in another state. The country feels like it’s after a pogrom, and it’s not recovering. In about two and a half hours I’m leaving Kronstadt. I cross the Vyborg highway and turn at the sign for Priozersk, Sosnovo. The track is wonderful, the surface is smooth, in some places sharp turns, gentle descents and ascents.

In two hours we arrive in Priozersk. It can be done faster. But here and there you stop, then take a photo, then ask how much lingonberries or blueberries are (after driving into the forest, both are like dirt, if you stop far from the villages and go into the forest, a little deeper than a hundred meters). In mid-August, 5 liters of blueberries cost from 500 rubles to 800 rubles. Didn't stop anymore. We took two 5-liter buckets for 500 rubles, but lingonberries everywhere cost approximately the same 800 or 1000 rubles for five liters. We also bought two buckets, filled everything with sugar and continued on our way.

They also sell saffron milk caps everywhere, and only those. I didn't see any other mushrooms. I suspect that somewhere they are grown industrially, there are too many of them, and they all have saffron milk caps; you can’t find them in the forest during the day with fire. By the way, in the Moscow region at the moment the picture is the same (saffron milk caps have been sold for months in the same places), but there are none in the forest. :-(.
A little video for the first part "Valaam, trip to Valaam on your own, route, photos and videos."

“A snowflake flies over the fire like a huge gray-haired helicopter...”

Valaam - how many unique mysterious things this word hides. I will tell you about this mysterious, secluded, spiritual place, located in the harsh northern waters of Lake Ladoga among other islands of the Valaam archipelago.

I remember this land as a real stronghold of Orthodoxy and a focus of inexhaustible spiritual power. Being in the surrounding forests on bright, fine days, you can feel peace (if not to say “divine presence”), a desire to know yourself and the futility, meaninglessness of the bustle of the metropolis.

The territory owes its beauty and improvement to the brethren of the monastery, who cultivated the lands entrusted to them with tireless warmth and good intentions. The monastery contains a stable and a farm; cultivate gardens and vegetable gardens; are conducting construction; trout are bred on a fish farm (seen in the photo below).

More than a hundred people provide the work of the forge, various workshops, bakeries, transport, and so on. Until now, there has almost always been local government. The monastery has been stauropegial (that is, subordinate to the Russian Patriarch) only since 1990. Therefore, the world here is like a state within a state - almost like in Italy. I was impressed that for centuries monks and good people built amazingly beautiful churches here and created living conditions for themselves, without fear of new raids by barbarians and wars, which continually robbed and destroyed the monastery.

The fruits of the monastic labors were repeatedly destroyed completely, and yet spiritual life here seemed to be reborn from the ashes again and again. The island is covered mainly by rocky soil; To grow food for themselves, the people who lived here brought land from the mainland. So the monks cultivated gardens of amazing beauty. This land belonged either to Russia or to Finland.

The character of this region is as harsh as its surroundings. Worldly life and entertainment are not held in high esteem here. Only about 800 people live on the island - mostly monks. The territory is small (area - 36 square kilometers) and is completely covered with dense forest.

Not every monk can cope with the harsh local life, not to mention the romantically inclined inhabitants (note to those who want to stay here to live). Of course, everything described above takes place, but do not forget: people were sent into exile here.

This is not a city with developed infrastructure and navigation capabilities, so it’s sometimes difficult to get to the mainland (especially in winter time) very difficult to get to. Some monasteries are closed to entry and even the indigenous residents are going to be resettled on the mainland, where houses have been built for them so that the monks can live peacefully in solitude on the holy land.

In any case, I believe that this place should be visited by everyone without exception. You just have to behave in accordance with the established rules, understanding where and why you are going. A trip to Valaam will leave a deep impression, so I recommend that even non-churched people gather here.

An island with a charming wildlife among the vast space pure water, quiet peaceful life away from the bustle of the city, natural food, peace and grace - heaven on earth. This trip gives an impetus to spiritual development and relaxes, removes negativity and makes you rethink something in your life.

No entertainment like fishing or going to a museum will give such an effect. There are places in Russia where you need to visit at least once, because it is part of our culture.

How to get there

Since Valaam is an island surrounded on all sides by the waters of Lake Ladoga, it is accessible by direct water transport from the following cities:

• , the closest city on the mainland to Valaam (42 kilometers);
• Priozersk (50 kilometers);
• (220 kilometers);
• Lahdenpokhya (55 kilometers);
• Pitkyaranta (60 km from Valaam);

Air communication with the island is carried out only by helicopter.

From Moscow it is more convenient to either fly by plane or travel by any by land transport to St. Petersburg, and from there go towards the cities on Lake Ladoga to sail to Valaam. There are also water cruises from Moscow with a stop at Valaam.

From Priozersk and other cities with which there is no air connection, you can also travel by bus, train or car to the departure points of water transport to Valaam. The most convenient way to travel to Valaam is to take a tour that includes travel, meals and accommodation. Solo travel, may be overshadowed by the lack of available seats on water transport from the cities closest to Valaam.

They are bought by organized tourist groups. The same applies to hotels on the island. This happens because tourism and pilgrimage to Valaam are designed for organized groups - this makes it easier to introduce people to life on the island, which has its own customs. Do not forget that this is primarily a holy land, where mainly monks live.

You can make hotel reservations through the hotel service of the Valaam Monastery. And buy a secular tour or a pilgrimage voucher through the pilgrimage service of the Valaam Monastery. In addition, it is convenient to buy vouchers immediately at the piers at the departure points of direct water transport to Valaam. Most often, tours are taken in St. Petersburg and Priozersk. They sail from these same cities.

Independent travelers for the most part sail to Valaam from the nearest cities - and Priozersk, because it is cheaper and transport runs there more often.

• Although it is only an hour's sail from the nearest town to Valaam, this does not mean that you can return back at any time: nature sometimes throws surprises. It’s worth planning your time wisely and having at least a couple of extra free days.
• Take warm clothes with you, an umbrella, a raincoat, comfortable shoes: it can be cold here even in summer. Or, given the nature of the terrain, it may rain.
• Take with you everything you need and what you find difficult to live without. For example, diapers for the baby, a special baby formula, some pills, comfortable shoes, food, and the like. Not on Valaam shopping centers and large stores, so you will find what you need, but it is unlikely that you will find exclusive goods.

The red building in the photo is the only store on the island.

And I told you more about how to get to Valaam in.

By train

The trains will be convenient for independent travelers from Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. By train and commuter trains you can get to the departure points for ships to Valaam.

By bus

There are frequent services from Moscow and other cities to St. Petersburg Shuttle Buses. From St. Petersburg and Priozersk you can also take a bus to Sortavala and Priozersk.

By car

By your car you can drive from any city in our country to Lake Ladoga and at the piers in Sortavala and Priozersk you can safely leave your car in a paid parking lot.

By ferry

This is the most important transport for sending to Valaam.

Why do people travel from St. Petersburg on their own to cities on Lake Ladoga, if they can buy a tour in St. Petersburg and sail only 12 hours without transfers to Valaam itself - as do travelers who do not want to buy an all-inclusive tour. Traveling on your own is not much, but cheaper.

Clue:

Valaam - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 0

Kazan 0

Samara 1

Ekaterinburg 2

Novosibirsk 4

Vladivostok 7

When is the season? When is the best time to go

The temperament of Karelia and monastic life are interesting to me at any time of the year. Valaam has always been and will be good in its own way in any weather. But still, the ideal time to travel is summer.

I will explain: this is due to the navigation season. It is often stormy, so for safety reasons, come from the end of May to September - and even then, in September, it happens that the weather begins to deteriorate. In general, navigation on Lake Ladoga is open from May to October.

But, despite the beautiful pictures that your imagination paints, I would not recommend going in the first and last weeks of the season. The northern waters are extremely turbulent, so there is a risk of being stuck for a long time on the island, with which there is no air communication except by helicopter.

Late fall and early spring are also not good time for a trip: firstly, there is little transport, and secondly, activity freezes travel companies and the tour guides leave the island. Plus slush on unpaved roads and always gray and rainy days. I think you understand why I am sure that it is better to go to Valaam in the summer during the tourist season.

Of course, during the season the influx of tourists increases and there may not be room in hotels, but I don’t consider this a disadvantage compared to the fact that there is an opportunity to see Valaam in all its glory, and also buy souvenirs on the island, take a walk, and even swim to the mainland will be easier for you.

Valaam in summer

As I already said, summer is the most attractive time of year to visit Valaam, because the flora and fauna of Karelia appears in a pleasing frame solar heat and light. Although the temperature in summer rarely goes above 25 °C.

At this time, transport runs regularly, so getting to and from the island is easiest. The influx of tourists increases during this period. However, precisely because there is something to see here during this period.

I love summer on Valaam because life is in full swing everywhere and the lively life of the island will appear before you in all its glory. It’s nice to walk through the forests on a fine day and the architecture looks more expressive. In addition, on this gloomy northern land, the sun is most abundant in the summer, and it, apparently trying to compensate for its long absence, joyfully illuminates the fabulous hills of Valaam.

Local natural Park"Valaam Archipelago" provides various services, including rental of bicycles (150 rubles for 1 hour, 360 - from 1 to 6 hours, 600 - from 6 to 10 hours) and rowing boats (400 rubles for 4 hours), as well as excursions in various price category.

The countryside is pleasing to the eye, fragrant herbs bloom and smell fragrant. I love to taste the aromatic healing Valaam tea here, which is more pleasant to drink in the summer, when everything around you is in the right mood.

Valaam in autumn

I have always considered autumn to be an attractive time of year, and on Valaam it is surprisingly magical. Local forests will let you feel the sentimentality of this region, and you will be able to deeply breathe in the thick pine aroma of the passing summer.

Perhaps the monastery servants will treat you to the gifts of this land. In addition, the onset of cold weather on the island is slightly delayed: this is due to the rare type of stone, which is the main component of the island’s soil. It is called gabbro-diabase. This breed is able to accumulate heat during the summer and then release it, which allows you to enjoy warm days on Valaam longer.

And despite the fact that I praise autumn so much, here its joys are relevant only in the first month. Then gloomy, cold everyday life sets in, frequent rains begin to fall and the waters of Ladoga become downright dangerous, so navigation stops. A trip here in bad weather may result in you getting stuck on the island during a storm.

Due to the weather, there are fewer activities for tourists, but on the island at any time there are divine services, choral church singing and various religious festivals, which are sometimes celebrated quite magnificently.

October to December are the windiest months. The temperature in October averages about 7 °C, and in November it no longer rises above 3 °C. I don't recommend going at this time at all. Then severe cold sets in - the harbingers of winter and the guests of Valaam leave the island until the new season.

Valaam in the spring

Valaam is very beautiful in spring. In the city I love watching how nature blossoms, but on Valaam it’s as if nature itself is watching you blossom, looking at its young shoots and spring primroses.
One has only to look at the blossoming Valaam Gardens, and you will not be able to take your eyes off them for a long time. There is a feeling of special grace here, and the air around is clear and fresh. Look at these photos - isn’t spring on Valaam wonderful?
It is best to go in late spring, since navigation is still closed in March-April, and it is cold on the island. In March there is sub-zero temperature, high humidity and very little sunny days. But I think even people who don’t really like flowers will appreciate the blooming of local nature.

In April, things are no better: the temperature is about 4 °C. But May is already pleasing with the number of sunny days and warmth - as much as 10 °C. And all living things begin to remind themselves of themselves actively using a beautiful, bright palette of colors.

In spring, you will be delighted by the awakening of amazing vegetation far from civilization.

Valaam in winter

Despite the fact that winter is a beautiful time of year, I always preferred to watch it from the window of a warm room. But on Valaam in winter it’s good to attend magnificent Orthodox services and listen to the ringing of bells, as if frozen in the cold.

Valaam winter is a charming, magnificent and captivating spectacle. There are practically no tourists. And celebrating the Nativity of Christ in Valaam churches is an unusual experience. There are very rich and strong-willed services here that are truly worth visiting.

By the way, it is easier to get to Valaam in winter than in the off-season. As I already said, you can take a hovercraft from Sortavala when the ice stops. There are travel agencies that organize winter trips.

There is no frost, but it is chilly, cold and very humid. The average temperature in winter is -10-13 °C. It is rare for the temperature to drop below -15 °C. But I would not recommend staying here for a long time at this time of year: firstly, the weather is changeable and spending the winter on a frozen island in the middle of Lake Ladoga is not the best side of tourism, and secondly, apart from the above, there is nothing else here.

But if you still love winter, then don’t miss the Valaam version.

Valaam - weather by month

Clue:

Valaam - weather by month

Where is the best place to live?

I can say with confidence that at any time of the year, accommodation on the island should be booked in advance, because there may not be room available. This is especially true for independent travelers: hotels are often occupied by groups of tourists and pilgrims. I would like to point out right away that there is not much favor here for those who want to stay long term, because there is really nowhere to live. Therefore, before you decide to stay and live on Valaam, ask yourself why you need it. Maybe it’s better to come again next season, when it gets warmer?

There is a monastery on the island with its own charters and rules, its own life is in full swing, where there is no place for worldly things. This is a special place, and we need to respect local rules, without being offended by the fact that here it is not the way we are used to. Not in a good way: quiet, peaceful and calm.

Try to be attentive to other people's peace of mind. It is not possible to walk everywhere - for example, along the paths leading to some cells. Accordingly, it is forbidden to climb into monastic gardens. If someone did not allow you to do something or was not very happy with your presence, do not be offended. The fact is that the island of Valaam is a holy land, and not just a museum open to everyone. The fact that tourists come here was the result of the decision of the monastery residents to show other people their way of life, but not something that goes without saying, as many people think.

For a tourist who wishes to visit the island of Valaam alone, I can recommend staying at the Admiral Nikolai Kuznetsov hotel.

Hotels on Valaam

There are few hotels on the island - now there are only four:

• “Admiral Nikolay Kuznetsov” is a two-deck motor ship afloat in Monastyrskaya Bay. He appeared as a temporary one after two hotels on the island burned down. The rooms are predominantly economy class, designed for 215 people. Here you can rent a single cabin, among others. This is a good option for accommodation with children: there are all necessary communications. The cheapest bed in the hold costs 1,000 rubles.
• "Igumenskaya" - located near the Transfiguration Cathedral. The rooms are located in converted monastic cells - in the outer square to the right of the church and Paul. The square is a complex of buildings built in a continuous rectangle along the perimeter of the monastery in two parallel rows. Accordingly, a distinction is made between an internal square (built in the 18th century) and an external one. The hotel can accommodate 39 people and has only one single room. This place is most convenient for pilgrims. The price will be 3,800 rubles per day for a double room and 3,400 for a single room. Meals separately - 300 rubles. The cheapest room in this hotel can be rented for 2,000 rubles per day per person.
• “Slavyanskaya” - located outside the monastery complex directly behind the building of the former Zimnyaya hotel. The hotel has simple rooms priced from 2,000 rubles. Rooms must be reserved in advance by telephone or email. Phone number for reservation: +7-921-462-96-52.
• “Hotel at the Holy Gates” - located in the active cells of the outer square on the left side of the gate church and St. Paul. However, it is not intended to accommodate everyone, because it is located in close proximity from the residence of priests and other clergy of the monastery. For this reason, only female workers are settled here (that’s why they are sometimes called female workers) and, with rare exceptions (with the blessing), pilgrims and deeply churched people. Tourists are not accommodated in this hotel. Accommodation is provided by the pilgrimage service of the Valaam Monastery.

Previously, there were also hotels “Mansarda” and “Zimnyaya” on the island, but they burned down, and after restoration there are no plans to house anyone there. The building will house the spiritual and educational center “Valaam”.

In the summer, during the holidays, they set up a hotel at the local school, because sometimes there are not enough rooms for everyone. In winter, when there are no tourists in Valaam, it is easier to rent rooms and hotels offer discounts.

Booking a hotel room in Valaam is easy - to do this, you just need to call the hotel service of the Valaam Monastery listed on their official website. They will advise you over the phone and explain how to proceed. You can also book an apartment by calling the pilgrimage service of the Valaam Monastery or purchase through this service a ready-made excursion package, which includes round-trip travel on the Meteor, accommodation on the island, meals and excursions.

Options for excursion packages may be different and the price varies from 2500 to 5000 rubles.

Useful official resources related to living on the island of Valaam:

• Pilgrimage service of the Valaam Monastery, where you can find out about hotel accommodation in Valaam, find all contacts, look at photos, find out prices and be able to negotiate hotel accommodation as part of the tour. The office of this service is located on the Monastyrskaya pier, within walking distance from the pier, in a house with a green roof.
• The hotel service of the Valaam monastery is a section of the official website of the Valaam monastery, where it is indicated detailed information about hotels, there are duplicated contacts through which you can book rooms. There is also important information Various nuances are spelled out about places of accommodation for workers, pilgrims and tourists.

Rented housing

There are very few local residents here, and tourists usually do not live with them. But the people here are open, simple, and what is very important, they exist for each other. Therefore, you can try to negotiate with someone local and rent housing in the private sector. Certainly special conditions not worth the wait. They don’t live well here, but they will have a roof over their heads. True, this option for renting housing is the most unreliable: few people use mobile phones here, the rhythm of life is different and people for the most part are not so anxious and obligatory. Many don't work.

There is a possibility that the person with whom you agreed may leave, drink, forget, and so on. So I do not recommend relying on this method of accommodation in advance; try to book accommodation in advance.

Accommodation in cells

Tourist groups and single travelers who come for a walk are not accommodated in the cells. They also do not accommodate travelers with small children (the conditions and strictness of the regulations do not allow). Workers, brothers of the monastery and people who have an indirect or direct connection to the monastery and whose goal is prayer live in the cells. As I already said above, the “Hotel at the Holy Gates” is located in existing cells, this is one of the options. The second option is to settle in cells in the Resurrection Skete, which is located in another part of the island near Nikon Bay.

The monastery’s pilgrimage service is also located there and tour guides live there. As a last resort, you can be placed there, but this is at the discretion of the pilgrimage service.

Hotels in Sortavala

In case there is absolutely no available housing on Valaam, I think you can rent a hotel room in the city of Sortavala. There are always free places, because there are many hotels, but I would advise you to book in advance: suddenly, by the time you arrive, a particular room will no longer be available. True, this is not the most convenient option, if you take into account the road to Valaam and travel costs.

Booking accommodation in Sortavala is very easy with the help of, and there are quite a lot of options there. However, first you should compare prices for accommodation.

Accommodation prices range from 1,500 rubles per day (simple single room) to 5,000 rubles per day (single room with increased comfort), but average price about 2500 rubles per person. The most budget option would be to stay in a hostel - from 700 rubles per day per person. During the season, prices usually increase (I indicated current prices for tourist season prices), and in winter most often they offer discounts of 15-30% on rooms. However, if you want to stay in Valaam for several days, and your budget is limited, I do not recommend renting an apartment in Sortavala in order to go to Valaam in the morning, because it is expensive.

Camping on Valaam

In my opinion, putting up a tent is a good idea, especially if you want to save money on your trip or just love this type of vacation. True, this option is not the best for tourists with small children. The Valaam Nature Park organizes camping and creates conditions for educational tourism on the island. Parking costs approximately 150–200 rubles per day.

The only thing is, if you have your own tent with you, then you can go deeper into the impassable part of the island and stand there, but the main thing is that this does not interfere with the inhabitants of the island (as you remember, it is small). Due to these circumstances, I advise you to discuss all issues with the administration in advance natural park or the pilgrimage service of the Valaam Monastery.

There are already six parking lots on the island (previously there were four). These places are indicated on the map below. The letter "A" marks the place where issues related to camping, bicycle rental and secular tourism on the island are regulated. Tents can only be set up in places marked on the map - in all other places you cannot officially set up tents.

By the way, the tents that you took with you can be left for storage in the carriage house and stables, so that you can calmly walk around the surrounding area without carrying everything with you. This brick building is located on the Monastic pier directly behind the ancient chapel in honor of the Annunciation Icon of the Mother of God.

By the way, this chapel is the oldest building on the island, which was not destroyed either during the First World War (1914-1918) or during the Second World War (1939-1945). She also experienced a “peaceful” time, when Valaam was part of the USSR and many religious objects were destroyed on the island. She also survived a time of peace, when Valaam was part of the USSR and many religious objects were destroyed on the island.

You can also leave tents at the office of the pilgrimage service of the Valaam Monastery, which is located in the monastery bay - I marked it on the map above.

Become a tour guide

You can become a tour guide for the summer. To do this, you need to complete a training course over several months and pass an exam. Then you can live here for a whole season: food and housing are provided. Information is available on the official website of the monastery - this issue is dealt with by the hotel service.

Cooperation

You can sign up as a worker (helper) of the monastery or as a volunteer. In this case, it is important to be a sincerely religious person, to help the monastery, to go to services. You can't just be lazy. You can find out more details and sign up on the monastery’s official website.

The worker's responsibilities include cleaning the area, caring for flower beds and lawns, and many difficult tasks that are not always possible for women and the sick or elderly. For this reason, only adults who are physically healthy people(with the necessary medical certificates) and only citizens of the Russian Federation. They don't pay for this, but they will provide you with housing and food. This is not work or vacation, but helping the monastery.

What are the prices for holidays?

• Hotel accommodation costs from 900 and above, but on average - 2,500 rubles.
• Eating in hotel cafes and refectories costs from 200–300 rubles.
• One day of parking in a tent camp - 150–200 rubles per person.
• Most excursions cost around 650 rubles.
• Personal guide services cost from 500 to 1,450 rubles per hour.
• Souvenirs cost around 500 rubles.
• Taxi - from 100 to 500 rubles.
• Excursion on a private boat - from 500 (through the internal channels of the island) to 5,000 rubles per hour, but on average 2,500 rubles.

5,000 rubles was enough for my trip. For the first time, I took a tour for several days at an agency at the St. Petersburg pier.

You can also choose a tour at a price that suits you. Tours range from 5,000-10,000 rubles (small ships, modest cabins and two or three meals a day) and more expensive ones with comfort beyond 100,000 rubles. You can also take an excursion package (essentially the same tour) from the pilgrimage service of the Valaam Monastery and get to the city of Sortavala or Priozersk yourself. This package will include round-trip travel to Valaam by water, accommodation and meals on the island - ordered through the pilgrimage service.

I recommend taking a large reserve of money with you - at least 20,000. This is if you plan to stay for a long time, live in a hotel. This reserve is also needed so that in case of unforeseen weather vagaries and delays on Valaam, you can continue to pay for your accommodation and food or hire transport to leave the island.

Main attractions. What to see

Valaam has spiritual, historical and natural attractions. For myself, I noted undeniable advantages in each of these categories.

If you are an experienced traveler, then you will not have any difficulties in planning your own route. I am sure that you will be able to highlight for yourself the most interesting places and you will be satisfied with them. The photo below shows the iconostasis of St. Vladimir's Church.

While walking along the local forest paths, I had the feeling that I was in a vacuum - surrounded by silence and tranquility, leaving everything earthly somewhere very far away. It seemed as if I had suddenly gotten rid of all my troubles and difficulties at once. I must say, a rather pleasant feeling that comes while contemplating the surface of the water or the endless expanses of heaven.

In my opinion, the island itself is one continuous attraction. Here you can feel like a child with wide eyes, deeply inhaling the aroma of the forest, with pure bright thoughts. In the photo is the chapel of Sergius and Herman of Valaam and All the Shining Saints on Valaam.

Here there is a desire to explore the world, exploring forests, hills, streams, hills and paths. And it’s better to do this with a map - I highly recommend purchasing or downloading it. Otherwise, walking around the island, you can get lost.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

After I first visited Valaam, my collection of words was replenished with new ones - I learned what the word “skete” means. After the monastery, this is the second most strict place of hermitage, remote from prying eyes and worldly bustle. By the way, the third and last is the desert, where hermits, or elders, live. Now on Valaam this type of asceticism has been lost.

The strictest and most difficult type of hermitage is the hermitage (this way of life was practiced by saints and elders). It was widespread on Valaam for a long time, but unfortunately has not reached our days. At the beginning, a person comes to a monastery, where he lives according to strict rules - so after tonsure (dedication, if I may say so, and renunciation of the world), he becomes a monk.

And after a while, when the monk becomes more experienced, the abbot of the monastery can transfer him to a monastery. As I wrote above, the monastery is the second strictest stage of a monk’s life. In a skete, monks usually live in a small group and remain in strict prayer. And extremely rarely, only the most experienced monk who has reached spiritual maturity can go into the desert and become a hermit.

The monk finds a secluded place, not occupied by anyone (a cave, for example), creates a prayer place for himself there and lives there alone and prays. Sometimes a monastery was erected in such places of prayer and it retained the word desert in its name, but at the same time such a monastery performed the functions of a monastery.

Only experienced monks can live in the monastery according to strict rules and in numbers not exceeding three or four people. They should not be disturbed: monks live in solitude in fasting and prayer, many of them are laconic and try not to contact people, for this reason, entry to most of the holy places of the island is possible only for deeply churched people (pilgrims) and with the blessing of the abbot - often only on great holidays . On the territory of the monastery there are usually cells, the main temple, a vegetable garden and outbuildings. In the photo - the monastery of All Saints on the island of Skitsky.

Almost all the monasteries on the island are active, except for the Resurrection Monastery - guides live there and services are held for everyone, and tourists can also be there, while almost all other monasteries are not allowed.

I am glad that the old traditions of worship services, Valaam Znamenny chants (definitely worth listening to), bell ringing and icon painting techniques are currently being revived.

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery

This is the main architectural and spiritual pearl of the island. I especially like the view from up close: the bell tower seems to go into the sky, and the mighty walls seem to expand.

It must be said that the island of Valaam embodies the idea of ​​the New Jerusalem. So, the mountain on which the monastery was built is called Tabor - in honor of the original Mount Tabor in Israel. Climbing this mountain symbolizes reunification with God and cleansing from all earthly passions. That is why it is very important to visit this place - the center of Orthodoxy in Russia.

The territory of the monastery includes a complex of buildings where you can go to services, buy souvenirs, eat and live, and also book an excursion. Transport runs to it from Nikonovskaya Bay: taxis, minibuses, cabs. They are easy to spot: they are located right next to the piers.

I can say that this is the busiest place on the island. The monastery was founded almost in the 10th century, although the monastery records indicate the year 1407. Of course, after so many centuries it was rebuilt many times. The Transfiguration Cathedral has two churches: the upper (summer) and lower (heated in winter). The photo shows the upper temple.

The latter is usually shown to pilgrims who come in winter, and it is in it that the relics of the founders of monasticism on Valaam, Sergius and Herman of Valaam, rest - the main shrine of the island. The photo shows the lower temple in honor of Sergius and Herman of Valaam.

Resurrection Skete

The Resurrection (Red) Skete is also called New Jerusalem Skete. On the territory there is a refectory and several cell buildings, in one of which guides live.

In the lower church in honor of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called there is a cuvuklia - a man-made grotto made of gray marble, in which a piece of the Holy Sepulcher is kept.

The word “edicule” is used only in two places in the world - in Israel and on Valaam. In a room with this name in Jerusalem lies the Holy Sepulcher - the greatest shrine of Christianity. And on Valaam, in the lower church of the Resurrection Skete, they built a similarity of this cuvuklia, where a particle of that very Tomb is located.

St. Vladimir's Skete

The youngest skete, the residence of the patriarch.

There is also a museum of Patriarch Alexy II, an icon-painting workshop and a library, and inside the church there is an altar of unearthly beauty made of white marble.

Gethsemane Monastery

The Gethsemane monastery is also called the yellow monastery. On its territory is the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This skete also has active monastic cells, outbuildings, and a vegetable garden. It is easy to find, despite the fact that it is located in the forest at the intersection of the main road and the path leading to the farm. You cannot enter the territory.

Nikolsky Skete

Nikolsky Monastery is located on the island of the same name. Usually tourists do not visit it because, like most other hermitages on the island, it is active.

It is easier to reach it by water. But there is also a bridge used by clergy and monks. Tourists are not allowed to enter, but many of them disembark from the boat directly onto the island to take photographs. Although now they do this much less often, because it is prohibited, and organized groups are not brought there. Photos are taken only from the deck.

The exception is some pilgrims who take the blessing of the abbot. The brethren of the monastery themselves painted the walls and dome, the theme: the life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Skete of All Saints

Men should visit the White Skete of All Saints. It has always been distinguished by the strictness of its regulations - women can visit it only on the Feast of All Saints (a moveable holiday: every year the date is different, like Easter or Trinity).

Men can only get here with the blessing of the abbot of the monastery. Ordinary tourists are not allowed to enter here because it is Holy place, not a museum. This is the oldest monastery on the island - the 18th century. It is located on Skitsky Island and is connected to the main land by a bridge and road.

Konevsky monastery

A simple wooden church, cells and chapel. It is located in the forest on the shore of a wonderful lake. Everything around is quite simple, but I liked this monastery more than all the others. Firstly, inside it there is a miraculous icon of the Mother of God, which fulfills wishes, and secondly, it is in picturesque place on the shore of a beautiful reservoir.

Most often they are not allowed into the Konevsky monastery, but there are exceptions - mainly for pilgrims. For example, I got inside when I came for the first time with a tour group.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

In addition to temples, there are many interesting museums and in its own way monuments.

Parks

There are no secular cultivated parks on Valaam, but I think this is not a problem: the beauty is that everything here is real, not spoiled by human influence. In the photo - Vladimirsky Bridge on the main road in the very center of the island.

The quiet splash of water, the rustle of falling leaves, the rare singing of birds and the subtle movement of the wind will calm you down and be remembered for a long time. From the man-made, here you can see the magnificent gardens created by the monks, in which there are from 60 to 80 varieties of fruits and countless wonderful flowers.

Tourist streets

There is only one street on the island, and its name is appropriate - Central.

It is a continuation of the main monastery road near the monastery and is not of particular tourist interest.

What to see in 1 day

There are two main routes, depending on the bay you arrive at, but they are generally identical. The route is indicated in blue on the map, which I will describe in detail below. An additional route is indicated in green, provided that if you want to rent a boat - it goes through the water, but you may not have enough time for it, or you may simply be tired; then it can be safely excluded.

Let's assume that you arrived on the island on your own at 10:00 in the morning and found yourself in Bolshaya Nikonovskaya Bay - ships from St. Petersburg often arrive here, because it is best equipped to receive large ships.

• 10:05 - Resurrection Skete. To explore everything, 1 hour will be enough for you. Through the eastern gate, which is located between two one-story buildings, you will exit onto the main monastery road. If you do not go straight along the main road, but after exiting the gate, immediately turn right and walk for 10 minutes, you will come to the weather station and see the Red Cape.
• 11:20 - weather station and Red Cape. It will take you about 30 minutes to see everything. Then return the same way you came to the beginning of the main road. The road is wide, you won’t confuse it with anything else.
  Go straight along it and after 15 minutes you will see the Gethsemane monastery on the left side of the road. And on the right there will be a chapel of Prayer for the Chalice.
• 12:15 - Gefismansky monastery and chapel Prayer for the chalice. You can read more about the Gethsemane monastery in. Here you will spend about 10 minutes. Then follow the path that goes around the monastery on the left (you will definitely see it - there are signs) further into the forest to Mount Olivet. The ascent takes only 5 minutes. At the top you will find observation deck and benches. Stands nearby chapel in honor of the Ascension of the Lord.
• 12:30 - chapel in honor of the Ascension of the Lord and observation deck. You can stay here for about 20 minutes. Near the chapel there is only one road that goes deep into the forest. Follow it for 15-20 minutes and it will lead you to the Konevsky monastery.
• 13:00 - Konevsky monastery. 30 minutes is enough to see everything here. From the Konevsky monastery, the road along which you walked continues, going to the right. Follow it without turning anywhere and in 20-30 minutes you will come to the monastery farm.
• 14:00 - monastery farm. It will take 40 minutes to visit the farm. The road along which you walked to the farm goes further away from it in the direction of the main monastery road, from which you once turned in the direction of the Gethsemane monastery and to which you are now returning. Walk to the main road for 10-15 minutes. And when you finally reach the main road (it will be 14:55), follow it straight towards the monastery - it’s to the left. In 5 minutes, you will meet the Tikhvin Chapel, next to the Tikhvin Bridge.
• 15:00 - Tikhvin Chapel and Tikhvin Bridge. At one time, 10 minutes was enough for me to examine. Continue on for another 15 minutes in the same direction and you will see the first turn to the left. This branch in 5 minutes will lead you to St. Vladimir's monastery.
• 15:30 - St. Vladimir's monastery. Inspecting this place may take you 1.5 hours.
  Back on the main road you return the same way you came here. Well, as usual, when you reach it, turn left and walk along the main road towards the monastery without turning anywhere for about 30 minutes. On the way you will see the Chapel of St. Constantine and Helen, and at the end - the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.
• 17:35 - Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. You will spend at least 1 hour here.
• After you have rested, I recommend that you go to the Monastery pier and arrange with the captain of a ship there to take you on an excursion around the island. If you have already planned transport to the mainland, then most likely you should hurry to get there (if you are leaving from Nikon Bay, you can take a taxi at the pier of the Monastery Bay), and if tickets have not yet been purchased, then you can still take an excursion and then leave for the mainland on a private boat. At 18:40 you will begin an excursion that lasts 1 hour and on it you will see the St. Nicholas Monastery on the island of the same name, the chapel of the Valaam Icon of the Mother of God, the Monastery of All Saints, the Smolensk Monastery. You will also be able to take excellent shots of Valaam from the water and get a better look at the island from all sides.
• 19:40 - the excursion ends in Nikon Bay.

  

The second route is an inversion of the first. Let's say you arrive at Monastyrskaya Bay at 10:00 am. It is not at all necessary to hire a boat at the beginning of the route to see the places just listed, because you can find a boat in Nikonovskaya Bay at the end of this route. And from there you can start your excursion and have a good rest on the deck after a long walk. The route order will be as follows:

• 10:05 - Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery with all the above attractions;
• Chapel of St. Constantine and Helena;
• 11:40 - St. Vladimir's monastery and the museum of Patriarch Alexy II in it;
• 13:30 - Tikhvin Chapel near the Tikhvin Bridge;
• 14:00 - farm;
• 15:10 - Konevsky monastery;
• Chapel of the Ascension and observation deck nearby;
• 16:00 - Gethsemane monastery;
• Chapel of Prayer for the Chalice;
• 16:50 - weather station and Red Cape;
• Finnish defensive structures;
• 17:35 - Resurrection Skete.

And after you get acquainted with all these sights, you can have a snack in the refectory of the Resurrection Skete and find yourself a boat in Nikon Bay.

Some tips:

• download, print or buy a map;
• wear comfortable shoes: you will have to walk about 7–10 km on bumpy terrain;
• take some water and keep in mind that the oxygen may make you dizzy: the air here is very clean and fresh;
• Write down the phone number of the taxi at the pier in case for some reason you need to return or feel unwell.

What to see in the area

The surroundings of Valaam can give you many vivid impressions: on the nearest small islands there are secluded hermitages.

Below - detailed map islands with islands located in close proximity to the center of Valaam. On it you can see the exact location of the Predtechensky, Smolensky, Svyatoostrovsky monasteries and the Mannerheim Line.

Nearby Islands

The Valaam archipelago has approximately 50 islands, of which Valaam is the largest. Some islands are very tiny, others a little larger, but most of them are completely uninhabited. And, to be honest, when I looked at them from the deck of the boat, I never once had the desire to become the local Robinson Crusoe: they are too small and uninhabited.

For tourists the most interesting will be:

• Putsaari Island- the Sergius monastery is located there (it is located next to the mainland not far from Sortavala);
• Holy Island- there is the monastery of St. Alexander of Svirsky (quite close to Valaam);
• Lembos island- Ilyinsky monastery (located a little further from land than Holy Island);
• Avraamievsky Island- Avraamievsky monastery was built there (the island is located not far from Valaam);
• Oboronny Island(or Sukhoi) - the famous Mannerheim Defense Lines are located there (located next to Avraamievsky Island).

Food. What to try

I recommend trying the fragrant Valaam tea made from medicinal herbs, hand-picked from the hills and glades. Taste the homemade cheese made by devotees who have their own real village farm. It is prepared from the milk of cows grazing right there in the meadows.

And how nice it is to try the soft ruddy bread baked by the cell attendants on the road! And the apples here are divine, without exaggeration: in well-fertilized orchards, once brought from afar, the rarest varieties ripen.

I also liked the smoked trout caught from Lake Ladoga.

The map below does not show the cafe in Nikon Bay and the refectory in the Resurrection Skete, because they are located in another part of the island.

There are cafes on the piers:

• The largest establishment on the island is located in Monastyrskaya Bay - it is a modern building with the sign “Valaam Pilgrim”. During the season there are always a lot of people here, but everyone can have a bite to eat.

• A small cafe in Nikonovskaya Bay is also aimed at everyone.

Hotel cafes:

• “Igumenskaya” - mainly guests and organized groups eat here (for which food is prepared in advance), so it will be problematic for a lonely traveler to have a snack here.

• “Slavyanskaya” - meals cost from 300 rubles.

True, the cafes here are only summer ones - in winter, when there are no tourists, they are covered with snow.

And, of course, there are refectories here (they are aimed at the brethren of the monastery, pilgrims and workers):

• In the Resurrection Skete - in a two-story building with cell buildings for guides.
• At the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.
• In the garden of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.

The cost of lunch at these establishments is 300-500 rubles. There are no restaurants or fast food complexes, and this is of no use: the inhabitants (people who inhabit this or that place - in our case, these are monks) cook no worse than French chefs.

I bought food myself in a shop near the central estate. Visit the cheese production of the Valaam ascetics - it tastes like a creamy delicacy, in my opinion.

Holidays

I would advise you to come to Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery July 11, the day of remembrance of the founders of the monastery - Saints Sergius and Herman. The patriarch is often present at services in honor of the holiday.

In addition to the Russian elder Orthodox Church, Vladimirovich Putin also attended the service on Valaam.

What can we say - even Emperor Nicholas II came to Valaam with his family. In honor of this event, a chapel was erected near the monastery in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”.

Holidays on Valaam are mainly church holidays. The main ones, I think, of course:

• Easter(late March - early April) - a moving holiday.
• Nativity- Jan. 7;
• Revival of the Transfiguration Monastery- December 14;
• Finding of the Valaam Icon of the Mother of God-the 14 th of July. Currently, the icon is in Finland and is an important shrine in the Transfiguration Cathedral of the New Valaam Monastery (so named by the monks who fled to Finland across the ice during persecution in the 20th century and founded New Valaam there);
• Feast of the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God- July 23;
• Day of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called- December 13, new style and November 30, old style;
• Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary- August 28 according to the new style and August 15 according to the old style. Altar in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Gethsemane monastery;
• All Saints' Day- a moving holiday. Altar in the temple of the monastery in honor of All Saints;

Safety. What to watch out for

Valaam is perhaps the safest place in Russia. There are small children left on the island local residents they calmly return home alone when the stars have been burning in the sky for a long time.

But it is worth remembering the following things:

• there are ticks and snakes on Valaam;
• due to bad weather, you may stay on the island longer than planned;
• for installing a tent in the wrong place and littering there is a fine, this is monitored by a forester;

Things to do

In addition to forest walks, visiting shrines and museums, you can rent a bicycle and ride around the island, exploring the surrounding area. Or rent a boat to sail with the breeze along the rocky firma covered with luxurious pine needles. Valaam is a great place to replenish your collection of rare photographs.

I liked the bell tower of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery; there is another one in the Resurrection Skete. Visit a local farm and icon painting workshop. It is worth listening to the church choir at the monastery.

The Holy Land is not a place where active entertainment, but if you are overwhelmed with energy and the desire to put it somewhere urgently, then you can help the monastery: for example, chop wood, work in the garden or do something else. On this issue, you need to talk with the abbot of the monastery, Bishop Pankratiy, who can be found in the central complex of the Transfiguration Monastery by asking the church workers.

There is another option - talk to the leaders of the pilgrimage service, who are located in a house with a green roof on the monastery pier. But most people get hired as assistants through the Valaam Monastery website, filling out the appropriate form there and sending an email describing the assistance offered.

Shopping and shops

At the piers there are stalls with all kinds of local crafts and souvenirs.

In the central estate there is a store (the only one on the entire island) where you can buy food, alcohol and essential goods. But, of course, the choice there is not comparable to supermarkets in big cities. Prices here are the same as in St. Petersburg and Moscow. The store belongs to the monastery and is open from 10:00 to 20:00.

And, of course, don’t forget about the monastery shops, which also sell a lot of interesting things, for example:

• icons painted by the monks of the monastery;
• consecrated religious objects;
• fragrant consecrated incense;
• beautiful incense burners;
• porcelain cups for holy water;
• hand-painted thin silk shawls and stoles.

Clubs and nightlife

There will be a little history here. The only club in the entire history of the island was here in the post-war years, when the island ceded to the USSR - in the central church of the Transfiguration Cathedral.

There was also a dance floor in the upper church of the Resurrection Skete in honor of the Resurrection of Christ.

Of course, now all this is gone.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Among the local residents there are real craftsmen and handicraftsmen. Personally, I really liked the fragrant pillows with juniper sewn on the island: they help with headaches and smell just wonderful.

In addition, on the pier I found a very beautiful set of silver jewelry: earrings and a ring with a beautiful stone.

Top 5 most best gifts from Valaam:

1. A tea blend made from local herbs, hand-picked.
2. Disc with chants of the choir of the Valaam Monastery.
3. The icon of the local workshop is located in the St. Vladimir Skete.
4. An album compiled by the brethren of the monastery and containing amazing photographs of the nature of the island, familiar only to local residents, and paintings by famous artists who came here. In my opinion, it’s like taking Valaam with you and showing it to all your relatives so that they can appreciate it too. You can buy it at the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.
5. Products from a local dairy farm. In addition to the fact that they are natural, they are also tasty and not like those sold in city stores.

Many people will be pleased to receive food as a gift:

• locally made cheese;
• monastery bread;
• apples from local orchards;

Of course, there are also many religious items:

• incense;
• images;
• icons;
• books about Valaam;
• Holy water;
• incense;
• prosphora;
• illuminated aromatic natural oil.

How to get around the island

Throughout Valaam, tourists of all ages travel on foot. There will be a lot of walking, and given the nature of the area, the trails will be off-road or in rural areas. It’s impossible otherwise, because you’ll see all the most interesting things along the way. In addition, the island is very small, you can walk around it in a day.

Transport is used here only when absolutely necessary - the roads are sandy but smooth. But what’s most interesting is that electric cars are common on the island, and among them there are minibuses. Several power stations for recharging and a service center were specially organized for them. So Valaam is also the first electric car island in Russia.

But if necessary, you can also move around the island by:

• your car;
• electric car;
• cab driver;
• minibus;
• Taxi;
• cycling;
• by bus (it is not a regular bus, but sometimes tourist groups book it);
• boat (you can quickly sail from one bay to another, going around the island);
• personal boat or rented somewhere on the mainland;
• boat (it is convenient to view the island from the water, but this type of movement is more aesthetically pleasing than practically useful), the boat can be with or without a motor.

Taxi. What features exist

The taxis here are not yellow checkered ones, but regular ones. The choice is not great since it is not used often and the fare ranges from 100 rubles for 2 km and 500 rubles for 8 kilometers. Cash payment.

You can find telephone numbers at the pier. And the cars themselves are usually parked in places where tourists gather (as, indeed, everywhere - there are constant things in the world):

• central estate;
• monastery;
• Monastery Bay;
• Nikonovskaya Bay;

At the administration of the natural park, you can hire transport to move around the island, costing from 300 to 600 rubles per hour, depending on the type of car (GAZ Sobol car, all-terrain vehicle, etc.).

Cab driver (horse taxi)

This type of travel will be especially interesting for travelers with children. Many tourists here use this type of transport, so sometimes it’s not easy to even see it.

The usual anchorages are at the piers and at the monastery. You can also meet such an unusual taxi at some point on its main route - that is, on the main road going from Nikon Bay to the monastery.

The cost of services fluctuates around 800 rubles per person per hour; depending on the route, the price may be a little less or a little more.

Buses and minibuses

Bus

Not long ago, one bus was put into operation. But it is not a regular one - that is, it does not run between stops, but more often carries organized groups. His route is the main road from the monastery to Big Nikon Bay.

He transports people for donations (who will give how much). He also does not have a specific schedule, and you can find him mainly at the monastery.

Minibus

They do not have any specific schedule or stops. Like taxis, they are most often where there are the most people, but most of them are near the monastery and Nikon Bay - next to the shopping arcades.

All minibuses belong to the monastery. The fare is 50 rubles one way. As a rule, they are carried by groups of people and their main route is the central estate and pier of Bolshaya Nikonovskaya Bay. You can also catch them on the main monastery road and sometimes near the Gethsemane monastery. The route is written on their insert next to the glass. The minibuses themselves can be distinguished by their characteristic blue color.

The monastery also operates electric minibuses, which are also used for the needs of tourists, but their services are used mainly by tourist groups. The price is negotiable and depends on the route.

Transport rental

Transport rental is handled by the administration of the natural park. But since most of the buildings on the island belong to the monastery, this question can be clarified with the pilgrimage service of the Valaam Monastery.

Bike

The bicycle here is one of the best ways movement because it is inexpensive, fast, convenient and, in a sense, personal. You can find bicycles for rental at the administration of the natural park. The building in which the administration is located has a sign “Police” - that’s how it should be, you don’t care to go there - it’s on the territory of the central estate on the right side of the main monastery road if you go towards the monastery.

Here are the rates:

1 hour - 100 rubles;

from 1 to 6 hours - 300 rubles;

from 6 to 10 hours - 500 rubles;

for the whole day - 600 rubles;

Boat

The best means of transportation on water. It can be rented in three places:

• Monastyrskaya Bay pier;
• berth of Nikonovskaya Bay;
• in the administration of the natural park;

You can take a guide with you to any pier. You can also find a guide at the monastery or at the Resurrection Skete. The cost of services is 1,450 rubles per hour. Renting a boat with a captain will cost approximately 2,500 rubles per hour (but it can be more or less expensive) depending on which excursion you choose.

Personal boat or mainland boat

If you decide to moor to Valaam on your ship, then it is better to coordinate this in advance with the abbot or check by e-mail on the website of the Valaam Monastery. Every now and then you can see signs on the island stating that mooring is permitted with the blessing of the abbot or is completely prohibited.

There are parking areas where you can more or less officially stop if you do not have an agreement with the monastery. But it is quite possible that the island’s leadership will react negatively to this.

Hand or motor boat

Boats are most often rented from the park administration or at the piers - they are designed for 3-4 people. Motorized boats are faster, but rowing boats create a unique atmosphere. Issue price:

• 500 rubles - 4 hours;
• 600 rubles - up to 6 hours;
• 1000 rubles - up to 10 hours;

Can be ordered group excursion by boat for at least 2,000 rubles for 2 hours (right at the pier). This is the most cheap option for four people, including a guide. There is also an option for 2,500 - up to 5 people. There is also a third option - you take a boat separately and look for a tour guide separately; it's usually more expensive.

In Priozersk, you can negotiate with a barge that will transport your car to the island for 15,000 rubles one way.

But it makes sense to ask the Hegumen’s blessing or clarify this issue with the administration of the natural park before deciding to cross a personal car, because it is unknown how the traffic police on the island will react to this.

All local buildings, roads, resting places, and so on are perceived by locals as “handmade” - that is, as objects that need to be treated with care. In the city, many of us are not used to this, but not many people live here and the maintenance of the territories is carried out by workers, volunteers, monks - in general, the same people who come here specifically for these purposes. Therefore, do not be surprised if the guide says that you need to walk only on paths so as not to trample the soil. Here and there you can find announcements that the passage is closed. And then there is no access to some attractions; you will have to leave the car right on the road in the forest.

There are no car services here and gasoline is brought from the mainland. In addition, the roads here are not paved, so I still think that you shouldn’t test your car’s strength far from civilization.

Valaam: holidays with children

Children under 7 years old can board some ships for free in Sortavala and Priozersk, as long as they do not occupy a separate seat! One adult travels accompanied. Be sure to take with you a photocopy of the child’s birth certificate, which will need to be given to the captain. Children from 7 to 12 - 50% discount. Due to the fact that the island is not crowded in winter, many churches are not heated and there are no hospital conditions as such - I do not recommend planning such a trip with a child at this time of year.

Near the walls of the monastery there is an outpatient clinic with remote consultation (communication with the doctor is carried out via computer), and in Sortavala there is a hospital and dentistry.

Some facts:

• in almost all hotels in Valaam it is not customary to accommodate infants;
• monks do not baptize or perform weddings because they have taken a vow of renunciation of the world (these services are available at the monastery courtyard in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sortavala);
• the store may not have baby formula, soap, diapers, and so on: this is not a huge supermarket, but an average good store, but, of course, the choice there is limited, and if you run out of something, you will have to go to the nearest city on the mainland;
• The pharmacy here, by the way, also does not shine with its assortment: something is there, something is not, it’s always different, but most often there is not what you need (even in a metropolis this happens - let alone Valaam).

Friends, you often ask, so we remind you! 😉

Flights- you can compare prices from all airlines and agencies!

Hotels- don’t forget to check prices from booking sites! Don't overpay. This !

Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!

Since childhood, I have treated the holy Orthodox monasteries with special trepidation and reverence. You enter the temple, look into the dim light of the candle, and your soul becomes somehow warm and calm. Moreover, it is amazing that you will not find identical temples anywhere. Each of them is special and unique, each has its own soul.

Karelia is famous throughout the world for the strength of its Orthodox monasteries. Believers come here to receive help, healing of mental and physical ailments, to communicate with God and to find themselves again. Tourists - admire the marvelous nature and architecture, get acquainted with the Orthodox faith and try to better understand the soul of the Russian people. Of course, the brightest in the pearl necklace of Karelian monasteries is the Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, which is located on the island of the same name Valaam in the north of Lake Ladoga. That's where we're heading today.

The question of whether to go to Valaam or not when planning our trip to Karelia did not arise at all. Definitely go! One might even say that it was the persistent desire to visit the Valaam monastery that prompted us to spend our vacation in Karelia.

As I said above, Valaam is an island in Lake Ladoga, so the answer to the question “How to get to Valaam?” very simple: you can only get there by water or air.

Boat cruises from St. Petersburg are very popular among tourists. True, as you might guess, this is not the cheapest pleasure. And on the way you will have to spend the whole night there and the night back.

In addition, from St. Petersburg they go to Valaam and “Meteora” - high-speed hydrofoil boats. On Meteora you can reach the island in just 4 hours.

Residents and guests of Karelia choose a different route, the starting point of which is the border city of Sortavala. On Mondays and Fridays, regular ships depart from here to the island, and on other days you can use the fast Meteor. Unfortunately, there is no clear schedule for the movement of Meteors to Valaam. An approximate schedule can be found. You can get there from Sortavala by motor ship in 2.5 hours, and by Meteor – in just 50 minutes.

The “Reverend Seraphim” meteor arrived in Sortavala to take us to the island of Valaam

The best way to go to Valaam Island is with a tour. It is the excursion groups that board Meteor first. Then, if seats are available, local residents and independent travelers are seated. During the high season, there is a risk that there will not be enough seats for everyone on Meteora. You will have to wait at the pier for several hours, which is not very convenient.

Excursions can be booked in Sortavala itself (there is a small kiosk next to the pier), or you can come with. True, Sortavala is separated by 250 km, so you should be prepared for the fact that you will have to spend an extra 5-5.5 hours on the way, which means you will have a very early departure and a late return. If this option is not suitable, come to Sortavala (regular buses run from Petrozavodsk) for 2-3 days, see the city itself and the surrounding area, and on one of the days plan a trip to Valaam.

In addition, to organize an excursion, you can contact the pilgrimage service of the monastery itself, or go to the island as a pilgrim, worker or volunteer, live there for several days or weeks, and then return back. You can even do military service on the island! It is best to find out all the necessary information about organizing such a trip on the official website of the monastery.

It's also worth remembering that Ladoga lake not always calm. Storms are not uncommon in these parts. On such days, navigation is closed, and no ships go to Valaam. If you are suddenly “lucky” to get caught in a storm, you will either be offered to reschedule your trip to another date or your money will be returned. Therefore, always leave one or two free days in reserve in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Sights of Valaam. What to see in 1 day?

I would like to say right away that one day is terribly short for Valaam. The maximum that you will be able to see is the central part of the monastery and 1-2 monasteries.

On a note! Valaam Monastery is active monastery. Before entering its territory, you must take care of the appropriate appearance. Women must enter the monastery territory in a skirt below the knee with their shoulders and head covered, men - in trousers and shirts covering their shoulders. T-shirts and shorts are not allowed on the territory of the Orthodox monastery!

In fact, Valaam is not just an island, it is an entire archipelago of 50 islands. It is called northern Athos, because monks from Greece, the Monks Herman and Sergius, began to develop these lands back in the 10th century, laying the foundation for the northern monastery.

Already when approaching the island, you will be greeted by golden domes Nikolsky monastery, like a beacon illuminating the way for wanderers and travelers.

A couple more minutes and you will find yourself in Monastyrskaya Bay. This is where all Meteora arrives with pilgrims and tourists.

The bay is decorated with several chapels: Intercession, Annunciation and the chapel of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow.” The last one is the brightest and most picturesque. It is lined with red Valaam brick and trimmed with black and red granite, mined here on the shores of Ladoga.

Chapels in Monastyrskaya Bay: Intercession (left), Annunciation (center) and the chapel in the name of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” (right)

In Monastyrskaya Bay, arriving tourists are met by representatives of the monastery’s pilgrimage service. As on, all visitors are divided into small groups and accompanied by local guides.

Detailed map of Valaam Island (click to enlarge)

First of all, our escort Natalya takes us to monastery garden. The gardens on Valaam are an amazing phenomenon. You can hardly find fruit trees anywhere else in northern latitudes. And even more so on the island, where there is no soil at all, only lifeless volcanic rocks, covered with a thin layer of earth no more than 10 cm thick. To grow apples and pears here, the monks manually imported soil from the mainland and created an artificial hill.

Everything in the gardens is thought out to the smallest detail. From the icy ones northern winds cultivated trees are protected by majestic inaccessible cliffs on one side, and coniferous giants on the other. Some of the apple trees in the monastery garden are over 100 years old, and they continue to bloom and delight the brethren with their fruits.

In general, many names on Valaam echo the names on the Holy Land of Israel. In addition to Favor, there is also Mount of Olives, and the Kidron Gorge and the Jordan River. The names of temples and monasteries also echo the Holy Land. So it stands on the Mount of Olives Gethsemane Monastery, and Mount Tabor is decorated with a handsome man Transfiguration Cathedral. That's where we'll head now.

Along the way, it is not difficult to notice two more sights of Valaam, reminiscent of the visit of the island by the august persons from the Romanov family - these are memorial obelisk And Znamenskaya Chapel, built from local marble in honor of the stay of Emperor Alexander II on Valaam in 1858.

In memory of the stay of the august persons from the Romanov family on Valaam, a memorial obelisk and a chapel of the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” were erected.

A few more steps and we find ourselves at Holy gates, leading to the main Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the monastery.

Monday morning, and we ended up on the island on Monday, July 11, turned out to be clear and sunny. By an amazing coincidence, we arrived on the island on the day of the patronal feast - in honor of the founders of the monastery, St. Herman and Sergius of Valaam. This is the only day of the year when His Holiness the Patriarch visits the island. This is one of the few days when our President V.V. was on the island along with the Patriarch. Putin. Unfortunately, we were never able to see them. The President flew to Moscow even before our arrival, and the Patriarch was protected from curious tourists by several police cordons with metal detectors. We were led around in circles in roundabout ways until the distinguished guests left the holy monastery.

Well-fed Valaam cats greet guests in the courtyard. No wonder they are so well-fed here. The monks of the monastery are engaged in breeding and harvesting trout, and they also have their own dairy production. Insanely delicious ice cream with berries is made from milk on Valaam, as well as cheese according to old Italian recipes.

On a note! Smoked trout on Valaam is the most delicious fish I have ever tried in my life. Moderately fatty, juicy, literally melts in your mouth. You won't taste such deliciousness anywhere else! I highly recommend buying it. The price for a fish starts from 1000 rubles and depends on its weight.

Along the cell buildings we go to Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” and the Life-Giving Trinity.

Dome of the church in honor of the Life-Giving Spring icon

It is in this small temple that the Valaam choir sings for tourist and pilgrimage groups. Here you can also buy recordings of church chants performed by the choir. Real divine music! Listen for yourself!

In the monastery courtyard, you should definitely visit the Transfiguration Cathedral itself. In fact, two temples were “hidden” in the cathedral. The upper one is consecrated in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the lower one is consecrated in honor of St. Sergius and Herman of Valaam.

From the shrines in the Transfiguration Cathedral, you can venerate the shrine with the incorruptible relics of the founders of the monastery, St. Sergius and Herman of Valaam, to the relics of St. Antipas of Valaam (Athos), as well as several miraculous icons. The most famous image is the Mother of God of Valaam, painted by the monk Alipius in 1878.

Interesting fact! It is this image from lower temple Transfiguration Cathedral was sent to the ISS. Together with the cosmonauts, the face of the Most Holy Theotokos made a complete flight around the Earth 488 times, and then was returned back to the monastery.

In addition to the Valaam Icon of the Mother of God, the copy from the Athonite Icon of Righteous Anna, the foremother of Christ, which grants healing from infertility, as well as the image of the Mother of God “The All-Tsarina”, which helps in the healing of cancer, are especially revered.

In addition to the Transfiguration Cathedral, among the attractions of Valaam one can highlight the monastic hermitages. There are many of them and they are scattered throughout different islands. Some monasteries in the recent past were connected to the main island by small bridges, so most can be reached on foot, without the use of boats.

The excursion will definitely include a visit to one of the monasteries (there is unlikely to be enough time and energy for more). Within walking distance from the cathedral are Gethsemane, Resurrection and St. Nicholas monasteries.

So we were taken to the Nikolsky monastery, the road to which one way is about 1.5-2 km. Along the way, the guide introduced in more detail the history of the monastery, its past and present, the life of the laity on the island, because Valaam is not only a monastery, and also spoke about amazing nature this northern region.

Another attraction of Valaam is the stage of the annual concert festival of sacred music “Illuminator”

The nature here is truly amazing. Inaccessible cliffs of volcanic gabbro-diabase, cut by numerous bays, straits and rivulets, covered on all sides with coniferous forest, and the blue surface of a harsh northern lake, merging in the distance with a soft blue sky covered with white clouds. Mighty waves along the shores exposed lifeless, impregnable rocks, and a few steps away there is a shady forest where birds sing so loudly.

Interesting fact! More than 480 species of various plants grow on the island, and almost 200 species of birds and small mammals live. From large animals to pine forests In Valaam you can only find elk.

A leisurely walk along the beaten path and now we are standing at the Nikolsky Skete, sparkling with golden domes. In addition to the small temple near the monastery, you will definitely come across a worship cross and a small flower garden with a vegetable garden where the brethren grow various vegetables and berries.

Here, in the depths of the island, where there are not as many people as in its heart, you feel a special peace and breathe so easily that you involuntarily understand that this is exactly the place where you want to return again and again...

Well, the time has come for us to say goodbye to the Valaam monastery. Inspired by the grace of this holy place, filled with a lot of impressions, we returned back to. After all, our amazing journey through Karelia is not over yet. Very soon we will get acquainted with the second largest city in Karelia - Sortavala, and also go to admire marble canyon and picturesque waterfalls. Don't miss new posts 😉