When you join one of our trips, we want you to have peace of mind. In response to COVID-19, we’ve:
In the snow-dusted forests of northern Russia, the night sky routinely transforms into a canvas for neon green-and-pink bands of light hovering just above the treetops. Widely known as the Northern Lights, this display of light from sun-borne particles has captivated people for centuries—and we’re journeying out to one of the best places in the world to watch it. Beginning in Saint Petersburg, we’ll board an overnight train to Murmansk, the capital of the Arctic, where we’ll learn about life on the Kola Peninsula. We’ll mount snowmobiles, visit frozen waterfalls, sleep in glass-roofed cabins, and delve into the Soviet history of Arctic exploration—learning from local experts about this stunning northern corner of the world. We’ll traverse tundra and taiga, learn about reindeer herding from a Saami community, and soak in a traditional Russian banya. The highlight of this trip, however, comes each night after sundown, when we’ll cast our gaze to the sky in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the aurora's otherworldly glow.
Arrive in Saint Petersburg, a bustling port city overlooking the Baltic Sea. After checking in at our charming hotel, we’ll gather in the lobby and walk to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner. We’ll get to know our guide and fellow travelers over traditional Russian fare and raise a glass to the adventures to come!
Talon Imperial Hotel, Saint Petersburg
Welcome Dinner
We’ll kick off the day with a trip to the Arctic and Antarctic Museum, where we’ll dive into the history of Russian and Soviet polar expeditions. After lunch near the museum, we’ll take a walking tour of the city and discover some of the secrets behind the spellbinding architecture of Saint Petersburg. Our walk will conclude at the Ladozhsky Railway Station, where we’ll climb aboard an overnight train and head toward Murmansk, crossing the Polar Circle. In cozy, four-person compartments, we’ll toast to the scenic journey ahead of us. Settle in, get some food, and mingle with fellow passengers as our kupe speeds north through the quiet night.
Overnight on the Train, Second Class (Kupe, four-person compartment)
Breakfast
Wake up in our comfortable compartment aboard the train and sample some traditional samovar while watching the sun light up the splendid, snow-covered landscape. Consider spending some time this afternoon reading, playing a game of chess, or trying your hand at a few Russian board games such as Durak or Mafia—perhaps with a bit of vodka and some smoked fish. We’ll arrive in Murmansk in the early evening, where our guide will meet us and drive us to a nearby chalet. Once we settle in, we’ll tuck into a hearty dinner together and, depending on the weather, prepare for our first Northern Lights excursion. This majestic display of light is a breathtaking natural phenomenon in which, due to charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere, the sky lights up with dancing bands of neon green and pink. Though tracking down this otherworldly wonder is often a four-to-six-hour endeavor, witnessing this larger-than-life spectacle of the sun is beyond worth it.
Chalet, Close to Murmansk
Dinner
After breakfast at the chalet, we’ll depart Murmansk and head northeast to Teriberka—about a two-and-a-half-hour drive. Teriberka is a small village on the Kola Peninsula that sits on the shores of the Barents Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean. As you wander the village, you may recognize scenes from Leviathan, the widely acclaimed film shot here in 2014. While much of Teriberka has been abandoned, it’s retained an atmosphere of quiet vitality. We’ll visit a ship graveyard, where the half-submerged skeletons of massive wooden vessels have begun to decay, then hop on snowmobiles and speed off to a frozen waterfall, where we’ll pause to take in the astonishing sight against the backdrop of the Arctic Ocean. Then it’s off to Dragon Egg Beach, where we'll walk along a shoreline made of countless, satisfyingly ovaliform stones—and, if we're lucky, we might catch a glimpse of whales and orcas. Later in the afternoon, we’ll head to Teriberka’s sole restaurant, where we'll chow down while taking in stunning views of the Arctic Ocean. Tonight we'll head to Aurora Village, where we’ll stay in glass-roofed cabins that offer the possibility of falling asleep directly beneath the Northern Lights.
Aurora Village
Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, we’ll drive to the Arctic city of Murmansk. With a population of 300,000, Murmansk is the largest city in the Polar Circle. It was also once home to the soviet Northern Fleet—this would later become the Russian Northern Fleet—which earned Murmansk the status of Hero-City after World War II. This military heritage is present throughout the city, from its museums to its massive military monuments. We’ll take a walking tour, visiting the memorial for the seamen-submariners and the Church of the Savior-on-the-Waters, then break for lunch at a restaurant where we can sample local delicacies such as reindeer, northern fish, and bear. We’ll take a tour of the vessel-turned-museum that honors the world’s first nuclear-powered surface ship and the first nuclear-powered civilian vessel, erected in the 1950s. Later in the evening, we’ll relax in a private northern Russian banya, where the brave among us can opt to jump into the snow after emerging from the steamy room.
Chalet, Close to Murmansk
Breakfast, Dinner
This morning takes us deep into the forest, where we'll arrive by snowmobile at a Saami basecamp near Lovozero Lake. The Saami, or Lopari, are the indigenous people of the Murmansk region, as well as northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland. We’ll spend the morning at the camp, chatting with local families, glimpsing reindeer (they're incredibly respected here on the Kola Peninsula), and hanging out with friendly Siberian huskies. We’ll have the opportunity to dog-sled around the camp and across a frozen swamp. Поехали! With the guidance of local experts, we’ll learn how to fish beneath the ice, a Russian tradition and a particularly crucial skill in this arctic region. Tonight, if we’re lucky, we’ll be able to watch the Northern Lights as they float over the frozen lake, setting the starry sky ablaze in stunning shades of green and pink.
Chalet, Close to Murmansk
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The cost of this trip is $3,830, based on double occupancy (and one night in a four-person compartment on an overnight train).
You’re in good company. Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the core of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip. For most of the trip, we have two options for you:
(1) Shared Room (subject to the latest Covid-19 guidelines): You’ll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.
(2) Private room: Have your own room, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $580. After booking your trip, please request a private room when you fill out your traveler information form and we’ll add the option to your booking and final balance.
Our group will spend one night on a sleeper train en route from Saint Petersburg to Murmansk. One ticket for a bed in a second-class compartment is included in the cost of the trip. Second-class accommodations on Russian trains include a bed in a four-person compartment (two sets of bunk beds).
First-class compartments offer the same level of comfort, but sleep two people (one bunk bed). A first-class compartment can be reserved, subject to availability, at an additional cost of $125 per person if shared with your travel companion, or $290 for a private compartment.
The train is comfortable and most travelers sleep well. There are toilets in each car, but please be advised there are no showers aboard the train. One of the most exciting aspects of overnight trains is that they can be quite social; you'll have the opportunity to meet locals and get to know your fellow travelers. In the restaurant car, you'll likely encounter plenty of friendly Russians who will be happy to join you for a meal, drink, or chat.
Our trip begins with a walk to Stroganoff Restaurant on Day 1. We recommend you arrive in Saint Petersburg at 2 p.m. on Day 1 so that you can settle in at the hotel and meet our guide and group in time for dinner. Our trip concludes in the morning on Day 7. If leaving directly after our trip, we recommend departing any time that day. If you'd like to extend your trip, we’d be more than happy to provide suggestions for things to do and see in Russia on your own.
Travelers should feel comfortable walking two to four miles over the course of each day, spending time in nature, remaining on their feet for long periods of time, walking on uneven terrain, and (for the overnight train) climbing onto the upper level of a bunk bed. You should be prepared to spend some time in the cold, in appropriate attire, though you'll always have the option to stay in the minivan.
Northern Russia is known to have warm, dry summers and cold, dry winters, with temperatures sometimes dipping below -20°F. From November to March, temperatures typically range from 8°F to 35°F.
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated, though in most cases ingredients can't be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. If you have a severe allergy, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.
Visa requirements for Russia vary depending on traveler citizenship. Please check requirements for travel to Russia and any countries passed through in transit. A passport is required for international travel. We recommend your passport expire at least six months after your return home. Please note that the e-visas recently implemented by the Russian government for the region of Saint Petersburg can't be used for this trip, as we'll be leaving the city and visiting the Murmansk region.
Our private banya experience will include all travelers who wish to participate. Though most people opt to wear only a towel, you’re welcome to wear a bathing suit if you’d like.
By participating in this trip, you'll help bring visibility and tourism dollars to sites, individuals, and communities often excluded from traditional tourism—such as the Murmansk region of northern Russia, long home to the Saami people. You can increase your impact by sharing stories from your journey with friends, family, and your community back at home, and, if you wish, by purchasing local goods during the trip.