Activities in Northern European Russia
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Blue Water Holidays
Murmansk is the starting point for July and August cruises to the North Pole and Arctic islands on Russian icebreakers, an exotic and expensive experience where passengers see dramatic seascapes and, with luck, Arctic wildlife (the voyages last around two weeks). You will need to book well in advance and many agencies include flights from Helsinki or Moscow to Murmansk in their packages.
Cruise to the North Pole in one of Russia's nuclear icebreakers, or take a trip to dramatic Franz Josef Land or Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya in non-nuclear icebreakers. The ships are fitted out for passengers and some of the profits go towards the upkeep of Russia's icebreaker fleet…
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Quark Expeditions
Murmansk is the starting point for July and August cruises to the North Pole and Arctic islands, an experience where passengers see dramatic seascapes and scenery and, with luck, a good deal of Arctic wildlife. Book well in advance (many agencies include flights from Helsinki or Moscow to Murmansk in their packages). Voyages last around two weeks to the North Pole itself or to Franz Josef Land or Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya.
The ships are fitted out for passengers and some of the profits go towards the upkeep of Russia's icebreaker fleet.
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Arcturus
Cruises to the North Pole and Arctic islands on Russian icebreakers are an expensive experience, but worth it, if it's your thing. You'll see dramatic seascapes and scenery and, with luck, Arctic wildlife. (Book well in advance). You'll either travel in one of Russia's nuclear icebreakers - to the North Pole itself; or in a non-nuclear icebreaker - to one of the Arctic islands. The ships are fitted out for passengers and some of the profits go to the upkeep of Russia's icebreaker fleet.
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Poseidon
Murmansk is the starting point for July and August cruises to the North Pole and Arctic islands (Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, Severnaya Zemlya) on Russian icebreakers. The voyages last around two weeks and you'll see dramatic seascapes and Arctic wildlife. Book well in advance. The ships - either a nuclear icebreaker or non-nuclear ship - are fitted out for passengers and at least some of the profits go towards the upkeep of the fleet.
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Kola Travel
The main reason to come to this prosperous nickel-smelting city is to engage the services of experienced, multilingual Kola Travel, a Russo-Dutch travel firm offering an inspiring selection of Kola adventures including hiking, biking, rock-hunting, snowmobile safaris. Their 4WD trips include one to a middle-of-nowhere village where you can sleep in a comfy but traditionally styled turf hut.
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Hiking
In summer (about mid-June to mid-September) the Khibiny mountains provide the best hiking in northwestern Russia, in an expanse of flat-topped mountains divided by deep valleys, swift rivers and lakes. The highest point, Yudychvumchorr, rises 1200m above sea level. Don't treat these hills lightly: avalanches happen and the weather can be extreme, even in summer, so don't wander off without a guide.
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Old Ski Station
There are two main ski stations, on the north and south slopes of Aykuayvenchorr mountain at the foot of which the town stands. The lengths and steepness of the runs are comparable at both - good for both beginners and experienced skiers. The old ski station, on Aykuayvenchorr's northern slopes immediately above the town, is a little cheaper. Take your passport as ID to rent equipment.
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Yug Kola
Experienced tour firm Yug Kola can get you into additional museums, including the interesting two-room North-Russian Exploration Museum. Yug Kola also offers tailor-made mineral collecting, snowmobile and fishing tours. Its office is within Apatity’s conveniently central Hotel Ametist
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Bolshoy Vudyavr Ski Station
Bolshoy Vudyavr ski station, just across the mountain east of Kirovsk but 12km away by road, is the best of three ski stations with modern lifts (R40 to R50 per ride) and half a dozen downhill runs. Bring ID: you’ll need it to hire equipment.
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Marina Barandina
Marina Barandina speaks English extremely well and is an expert on Vologda's history and places of interest. At weekends (only) she conducts excellent general city tours, tours to Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery and day trips to Kirillov and Ferapontovo.
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Pomor Tur
City and regional excursions including themed tours to the Solovetsky Islands and one-week paddle-steamer cruises to Kotlas/Veliky Ustyug.
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Geographic Bureau
The St Petersburg-based Geographic Bureau offer guided treks. The Khibiny are also a very happy hunting ground for rockhounds.
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Bolshoy Vudyavr Bowling Centre
The Bolshoy Vudyavr Bowling Centre has a café-bar, billiards and a weekend disco.
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X-Stream Bowling Centre
The X-Stream Bowling Centre in Hotel Spasskaya is popular night and day, and has billiards too.
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Delfin Swimming Pool
For more urban pleasures there’s the modern Delfin Swimming Pool
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