Tourists from Moscow can now travel to Karelia by train without transfers: last week, Russian Railways launched a direct train from the capital to Sortavala.
As TRN has learned, trains depart from Leningradsky Station daily at 9:05 p.m. Travel time will be at 17:30. In Moscow, it will arrive at 15:29.
According to Dmitry Pegov, Deputy Head of Russian Railways, the option of launching another route from Moscow via St. Petersburg and Sortavala is currently being considered. The final destination will be Petrozavodsk. It's possible that if the direct route in its current form proves popular, trains via St. Petersburg will begin operating as early as the end of 2019.
It's worth noting that on June 1st of this year, steam locomotive service was launched on the Sortavala-Ruskeala Mountain Park route. From then on, tourists could reach one of Karelia's most famous landmarks in less than an hour.
Incidentally, the park's main attraction is the Marble Canyon, a water-filled canyon with equipment carts at its bottom. In winter, this spot is especially popular with divers.
The canyon's unique acoustics make it a popular venue for classical music concerts. For example, from August 9th to 11th, the open-air Ruskeala Symphony festival was a successful success in Ruskeala Park.
It's no surprise that the park's visitor numbers are growing year after year. Since the beginning of 2019, more than 350,000 people have visited. These visitors include not only Russians but also foreigners, including residents of Finland, Germany, Sweden, and China.
Near Ruskeala lies another attraction—a natural waterfall. It's a pleasant place to relax, enjoy the beauty and power of nature, and take great photos and selfies.
Another iconic site in Karelia is Valaam Island, home to the Valaam Stavropegic Monastery. From the Sortavala pier across Lake Ladoga, Meteor-class passenger ships take travelers and pilgrims to the island in less than an hour, where they can enjoy a tour of the monastery grounds and church.
Source: trn-news.ru