Tour Kandalakshskiy Vavilon: Murmansk

ID169TypeCulture and historyWhereMurmansk (Russia)Meeting pointMurmansk, transfer from accommodationDuration13 hFormatGroupDifficultyEasy: suitable for children and seniorsScheduleDuration: 1 day; season: SummerLanguagesRussian, English

The excursion

From the very morning, the road to Kandalaksha becomes the first impression — endless tundra and the cold waters of Kola Bay drift past the window, and the North begins to captivate you even before reaching the city. The first location is a climb up Volosyanaya Hill. The panorama of the Kandalaksha Bay with its islands takes your breath away: the North does not intimidate, but embraces. Then you are treated to a hearty lunch, after which the journey continues. You head to Monastyrsky Navolok and the stone labyrinth "Babylon" on the shore of Guba Maly Pitkul. You just want to walk along the spiral that is four thousand years old and believe that the ancient Pomors were right — here the boundaries between worlds truly thin out. At the cape, you stand by the foundation of a 16th-century church, breathe in the salty air of the White Sea, and feel how times have intertwined: an ancient Pomor cemetery, a memorial to victims of intervention, and a monument to war heroes — such proximity gives you goosebumps. After this, you go to the embankment, cross the river via the suspension bridge, and meet the statue of Gregory the Seal. Kandalaksha is the only city in the region where Greenland seals swim right within the city limits. You rub Gregory's nose, make a wish, and know for sure: you will want to return here.

Show originalHide original · Machine translation from Russian

С самого утра дорога до Кандалакши становится первым впечатлением — за окном проплывают бескрайняя тундра и холодные воды Кольского залива, и Север начинает завораживать ещё на подъезде к городу. Первая локация — вы поднимаетесь на сопку Волосяную. Панорама Кандалакшского залива с его островами перехватывает дыхание: Север не запугивает, а обнимает. Затем вас ждёт сытный обед, после которого путешествие продолжается. Вы отправляетесь к Монастырскому наволоку и каменному лабиринту «Вавилон» на берегу губы Малый Питкуль. Хочется просто идти по спирали, которой четыре тысячи лет, и верить, что древние поморы правы — здесь действительно истончаются границы миров. А на мысе вы стоите у фундамента церкви XVI века, вдыхаете солёный воздух Белого моря и чувствуете, как сплелись времена: древнее поморское кладбище, мемориал жертвам интервенции и памятник героям войны — такое соседство трогает до мурашек. После этого вы выходите на набережную, переходите реку по подвесному мосту и встречаетесь с памятником тюленю Григорию. Кандалакша — единственный город области, где гренландские тюлени плавают прямо в черте города. Вы трёте Грише нос, загадываете желание и уже точно знаете: сюда хочется вернуться.

See: labyrinths, hills, and the sea

Itinerary

Day 1. Kandalakshskiy Vavilon
08:00 – Departure from Murmansk
Group assembly, boarding a comfortable vehicle. The trip to Kandalaksha takes about 3 hours with scenic views of Kola Bay and the tundra.
11:00 – Kandalaksha and panoramic Volosyanaya Hill
Climbing the hill. A view opens onto the city, the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea, and the islands.
Above Kandalaksha rises Mount Volosyanaya — a stern and silent guardian of the North. Its slopes covered in moss and dwarf birches, where pines occasionally appear, seem to have sealed within themselves the ancient northern breath. Guests are greeted quite differently at "Double House": here reigns a special atmosphere of comfort and modern relaxation. Against the backdrop of wild nature, this corner looks like a warm island of light where one can forget the external harshness.
13:00 – Lunch
A delicious, hearty lunch at the popular restaurant "Prichal No. 11".
Panoramic windows offer a view of the bay, the chain of islands of the Kandalaksha Reserve, and ships moving slowly. The menu of "Prichal No. 11" cuisine features the true character of the Arctic: fresh fish and seafood from the White and Barents Seas, venison and elk meat, everything the local land provides, as well as desserts with northern berries.
15:00 Historical Monastyrskiy Navolok, eco-trail, and Babylon
You will arrive at the ancient cape Monastyrskiy Navolok, where under the open sky the foundation of a 16th-century church has been preserved, and nearby stands a Veneration Cross commemorating the destroyed monastery. Here you will see how milestones of history intertwine on a small patch of land: an ancient Pomor cemetery, a memorial to victims of intervention, and a monument to heroes of the Great Patriotic War.
We will take a walking tour along the ecological trail through a forest mass with towering pines and reach the "Babylon" labyrinth.
You will feel part of a mystery that is four thousand years old when you find yourself at the stone labyrinth "Babylon" on the shore of Guba Maly Pitkul. You will sense how ancient beliefs and scientific hypotheses — from fishing traps to rituals holding souls of the deceased — weave into a single unsolved riddle. And perhaps, for a moment, you will believe that the tangled stone spirals truly point to the boundary between our world and something else, as the Pomors once believed.
17:30 – Suspension bridge, embankment, and Seal Monument
Crossing the suspension bridge over the river. Photo with the Seal Gregory monument — the symbol of the city. Kandalaksha is the only city in Murmansk Oblast where you can observe real Greenland seals right within the city limits. They say that if you rub Gregory's nose, your wish will surely come true.
18:30 – Departure to Murmansk
Return trip.
21:30 – Arrival in Murmansk
End of the tour.
Program duration: 11-13 hours.

Included

Transfer Murmansk – Kandalaksha – Murmansk;
Guide services;
Walking tour covering all program points.

Paid separately

Air or rail tickets to/from Murmansk
Accommodation
Lunch
Personal expenses

Organized by:

Arktik Tim

verified

· ID E-19

View the meeting point on the map ↓

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost?

≈ €128 (11,500 RUB) per person.

How long does it take?

About 13 hours.

What is included?

Transfer Murmansk – Kandalaksha – Murmansk; Guide services; Walking tour covering all program points.

Where is the meeting point?

Murmansk, transfer from accommodation.

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