SuomeksiOld Valamo 3 day tour
Departures in 2012:
June: 8.-10.6. July 20-22.7. August 3-5.8.2012.
Price: 285 e
- transfers by an own coach Joensuu-Sortavala-Joensuu,
- boat Sortavala - Valamo - Sortavala,
- accommodation in the hotel 2 nights,
- 2 dinners and breakfasts in pilgrimage dining hall,
- guided tour in the monastery of Transfiguration, the main monastery area, the main church, lower and upper churches, old cemetery of Valamo brothers,
- a small concert of Valamo quartet, Igumens´ cemetery,
- guided tour to St Nicholaos skete,
- boat to St Nicon Bay, guided tour in Jerusalem and Gethsemane sketes, walk to Mount of Olives and Igumens´Ponds, Konevets skete,
- city tour in Sortavala, tour leader,
Other costs: Tour to Holy Island 20 e / person. Boat trip there and back and guide in the skete is included. Visa support 10e / person.
Hotel
Monastery hotel is locating in the main monastery area, in its outer circle in the 2nd and 3rd floor. There are 19 dbl rooms at the hotel. Every room has 2 separate beds, wardrobe, table and chair. Toilet and shower are in the hall. Hotel was constructed in 2003. It is clean and cosy place for overnight. There is no lift in the hotel.
Program
Frist Day
At 10.00 depart from Joensuu bus station (beside the railway station). At 11.00 Kitee railway station. At 12.00 arrvie at Niirala-Värtsilä border station, where passport control. Coffee break after the border in Värtsilä.
Around 16.00 arrvie at Sortavala where depart by hydrofoil to Valamo. After arrival at 17.00 all the luggage will be gathered into the small bus, which gets them to the hotel. Travellers walk. Check-in.
Guided tour in the main monastery visiting the main church of Transfiguration, where are the relics of Valamon founders, St Sergy and Herman. The tour continues to the old cemetery of Valamo brothers. After getting back to the main monastery there is a dinner.
Evening vesper in the main church from 17.00 to 21.00.
Second day
Morning prayers and liturgy 5-9.30. Breakfast. IN the morning possible to take an optional tour to Holy island.
At noon walk to the St Nicholaos skete where is guided tour. In the main monastery a small concert of Valamo quartet before getting by a boat to St Nicon Bay where guided tours in Jerusalem and Gethsemane sketes, Mount of Olives and Igumens´ Ponds. The skete of Konevets Mother of God. Return back to the main monastery, where dinner. Night vigil 19.00 - 1.00.
Third Day
Breakfast. Morning free. At 12.00 hydrofoil to Sortavala arriving at 13.00. It is possible to make shopping before departing for Finland. Passport control in Niirala-Värtsilä border station. Around 18.45 arrive at Kitee railway station where connection train to Helsinki. The bus continues to Joensuu arriving at 20.00.