Traveling to Valaam is not only the lot of Orthodox pilgrims. Interesting here are both beautiful churches and amazingly beautiful nature - lakes with warm water, pine forest, sheer cliffs.
You can go to Valaam as part of an excursion group, or you can go on an independent trip.
How to get to the island?
There are several routes for an independent trip.
- Priozersk. The Valaam motor ship departs from here every day (with rare exceptions). Departure time - 9.30. Duration - three and a half hours. Another possibility is a ride on the Meteor. It leaves at 11 pm, but here you will need to negotiate separately.
- Sortavala. A regular motor ship departs from here on Monday and Friday. The duration of the trip is two and a half hours. The excursion boat also goes from here, but it does not have a timetable. You can buy a ticket immediately after boarding.
- Cruise ships also operate from St. Petersburg. You cannot buy a ticket in advance. They begin to sell vacant seats almost before the dispatch.
What you need to know
If you do not buy tickets to the return end in advance, then there is a high probability that you will have to spend the night on Valaam. The fact is that it is the tourist (organized) groups that have the advantage of boarding motor ships. And only then pilgrims and "wild" tourists can climb aboard. If there is no ticket, then there may simply not be enough space. Alternatively, you can conclude an agreement with the owner of the motorboat.
Do not forget that Valaam is an island. Ladoga is often very restless, and in the event of a storm, it will not be possible to get out of the island.
If you wish, you can go on a trip to Valaam by car. The price of a ferry crossing reaches fifteen thousand rubles in one direction only. The option is not cheap, but extremely attractive.
Useful Tips
It is strictly forbidden to set up a tent camp on the island, since Valaam is a nature reserve. With a lot of luck, you can get a room in one of two local hotels.
Do not forget that the territory of Valaam is a functioning monastery. This is why you need to dress appropriately. Women should wear headscarves and long skirts. Men only in trousers, shorts are prohibited.
There are no shops here, so you need to take food and water with you.
Video and photography are prohibited in many places. That is why, in order to avoid unpleasant situations, you should always ask permission.
Rest on Valaam means sightseeing. Therefore, you will have to walk a lot. That is why you need to take care of comfortable shoes.
