In English
Pilgrimage to Solovetsk monastery
Date: 12-17.6.2012. Duration: 6 days and 5 nights,
Route: Joensuu - Kolinportti - Nurmes - Kajaani - Vartius border station - Kem - Solovetsk - yskyjärvi - Kostamus - Vartius border station - Kajaani - Nurmes - Kolinportti - Joensuu.
Price: 635 e
- accommodation in the hotel Solo 3 nights dbl room (sgl spl 25 e/night), hotel Prichal in Kem 1 nights and Jyskyjärvi in families 1 night,
- breakfast and 4 meals,
- boat from/to Kem - Solovetsk,
- Kem monastery, old wooden church, Solovetsk podvorje,
- guided tour in Solovetsk monastery and island,
- tour to Segirnaja Hill,
- in Jyskyjärvi tour in the village, Karelian traditional sauna,
- Kostamus orthodox church,
- transfers by an own coach, tour leader,
- orthodox priest from Finland
- services in the monastery,
Other costs: visa support 10 e/person. Tour to Anzerski or Hare island, price will be later. Dinner in Viena Kem 10-12 e/person.
For the extra price it is possible to make a tour to Valasniemi to watch white whales. This depends on the water level of the tide. First you go by car/ bus, 8 kms and then the last 6 km need to hike to get to the cape.
Hotels:
Hotel Prichal locaets in Kem town, on the shore of White Sea. It is in the harbour where Solovetsk boats depart daily. There are 4 separate houses where the rooms are as well as the restaurant and reception. In rooms there are toilet and shower.
Hotel Solo locates near the monastery in Solovetsk village, not far from the harbour. Hotel was built already in the 1970´s, but have constructed five years ago and now there are double rooms with toilet and shower. Rooms are in two floors and there is no lift in the hotel. There is a restaurant and bar and for an order it is possible to have sauna in the evening.
Karelian families in Jyskyjärvi are typical farm houses, where you are more as a guest than a tourist. Accommodation is in a guest room or living room, 1-2 persons in a room. Houses are old family farms, which have been built and settled few hundred years ago. There is a main house, barn house and sauna which works as a main washing room as well. Toilets are outside.
Itinerary
Tuesday12.6.2012 At 7.00 depart from Joensuu bus station. At 8.00 stop in Kolinportti (coffee break). There is a stop in Nurmes bus station if needed on the way to Kajaani bus station arriving around 10.30. Lunch break after Kajaani in Kontiomäki gas station around 11-12.00.
After Kontiomäki we drive to Vartius border station, where passport control and possible to change money. From the border drive to Kem, which will take around 5 hours. In Kem we visit the monastery before getting to the hotel for overnight.
Wednesday13.6.2012 After breakfast walk to the harbour where boat to Solovetsk departs at 8.00. It will take 2,5 hours to get there. In Solovetsk transfer to the hotel, where check in the rooms. After a rest depart by a bus to Segirnaja Hill, where visit the Asumption church and old cemetery, where also were found the graves of GULAG time. Drive back to the monastery where late lunch. Evening vesper at the monastery.
Tursday14.6.2012 Matins and liturgy in the monastery. Breakfast. After breakfast we make a tour in the monastery, in its churches, honor the holy relics and icons. After coffee break it is possible to make an extra tour either to Muskalma, to monastic farm or to Hare island. Dinner beforethe vesper at the church.
Friday 15.6.2012 After breakfast depart by a boat to Anzerski island, where are two sketes; Crucifixtion and Holy Trinity sketes. Saint Job built a wooden skete on the Hill of Golgotha in the 18th century and named it after Crucifixtion. Here in GULAG time were kept orthodox bishops and priests as a prisoner.
Holy Trinity skete is on the shore of White Sea. During Stalins time Catholic priests were sent here as prisoners.
It will take 11 hours the whole Anzerksi tour. After the tour dinner at the hotel.
Saturday 16.6.2012 After morning services and breakfast at 11.00 boat to Kem, where visit the wooden church of Kem monastery and food shop before getting to Jyskyjärvi. It will take 4 hours to get to Jyskyjärvi, where accommodation in families. Dinner and sauna.
Sunday17.6.2012 After breakfasf depart for Kostamus where visit the Orthodox church. After shopping drive via border station and passport control to Kajaani arriving around 16-17.00. After a lunch break drive via Nurmes and Kolinportti to Joensuu arriving around 21-22.00.
