Rafting along the rivers of Karelia. Best Routes

Rafting along the rivers of Karelia is "hiking" and excursions full of adventures. It can be short weekend tours and many days trips. Types of alloy are also different. This rafting, trekking in the water on a catamaran or kayak, and it happens that tourists use different means of their own making, such as homemade rafts. Who can take part in such tours? Brief alloys like rafting are available to almost everyone, and long trips are fond of active people, accustomed to not being afraid of difficulties and rejoice at obstacles. The features of such excursions, the necessary information and the best routes we will try to provide you with below.

Karelia, rafting along the rivers. Features

To participate in most waterway routes , one can be normal in every respect by a city dweller. No special preparation is needed. But, of course, you should follow certain safety rules. In addition, you need to be ready to suffer certain difficulties and discomfort. Spend the night during such hikes, usually in the field, in tents and sleeping bags, cooked by the fire. Although on some routes there are camp sites where you can eat a hot lunch or dinner and take a shower. Sleeping bags, tents and other camping accessories can take their own, and if you do not have such things, then you will be given all this kind of rental. Three meals a day is included in the cost of such trips. Organized by the alloys of tour operators, which are sent with travelers by experienced instructors who have repeatedly participated in rafting along the rivers. Karelia can provide different options for the complexity of such hikes. Some routes are quite feasible for children, but there are also those where only extreme men and seasoned rafters take. Before each journey, the instructors conduct special brief courses on managing the raft, kayak or other means.

Routes

Alloys along the rivers (Karelia) are of different length and complexity. For example, one-day trips on rafts are popular. They last two to three hours. Often they are practiced on the river Shuya. The most popular routes are three days. Beginners usually prefer hiking in Shuya, because this river is the most full and easy to overcome rapids. Nevertheless, after visiting it, you will see all the classical beauties of Karelia. And the longest routes are designed for 11-12 days. There go those who do not regret the time and effort to see the most beautiful lakes, to overcome turbulent rivers (for example, "ride" 60 kilometers in Vonge or 110 in Piste) and then swim in the White Sea. On the way, as a rule, there are many thresholds. They are complex, but quite safe. There are thresholds combined, extended, cascade, and to them it is necessary to concern attentively. In addition to short and long hikes, there are many other routes. The most interesting of them we describe below. Usually they are planned so that tourists can not only "swallow" adrenaline, but also relax on the beautiful, almost unspoilt sandy beaches, fish among reeds, admire the lakes and other beautiful landscapes and even gather mushrooms and berries in a pine forest.

At what time is it better to organize rafting along the rivers of Karelia

These places are most suitable for water hikes in the late spring. When snow melts in late April, the small Karelian rivers suddenly turn into huge turbulent streams. Traveling on them is not only pleasant, but also safe. Therefore, the best month to organize rafting on the river in Karelia is May. And the truth is, what to gather for a picnic with shish kebabs? Do not you better ride a raft, kayak or catamaran on vices and rapids, especially since high water will give you the opportunity to do this without too much effort? And experienced tourists and newcomers try not to miss such a chance. It's not for nothing that the May holidays are a time when lovers of rafting along the rivers of Karelia rush to calm Shuyu, insidious Uksu or stormy Tohma. You can limit this tour by two or three days, or you can stretch it for the entire first half of May. It depends on what means and time you have. However, the May alloy requires attention and caution. Wild waters can overturn a kayak or a raft, and the temperature at this time is low. Therefore, it is better to have a wet suit, a splashproof jacket and pants, and a warm sleeping bag.

Uksa

This trip is often an extreme tour. Therefore, there are often taken only adults, at least tourists over 16 years old. This is the river where you get an adrenaline rush. Rafting along the river Uksa (Karelia) is only available in late spring and early summer. The fact that the water level with the onset of the heat drops sharply and the journey becomes impossible. The length of the route is about forty kilometers. Most of the time the groups leave the bridge across the river. On the way tourists have a lot of steep rapids - Mostovoy, Ladder, Kolokoski, Saucer, Salmon, Pink Elephant, Mill and others. In order to go through all these breathtaking water cliffs, it takes two or three days. Ends the trip to the tourist center "Three Elements".

Red

This river does not like beginners. She prefers experienced tourists. Rafting along the Krasnenkaya River (Karelia) is often combined with travel on other water streams - mostly Kutsayoki and Tumche. Such trips are most often committed in the summer. Conquer these rivers on catamarans, less often - on kayaks. In such a hike the severe northern beauty opens. You will see powerful waterfalls and inaccessible rocks, and a trip to the vices of Krasnenka will make you feel like real heroes, winners of the stormy elements. Here there are sites of the 5th category of complexity. Especially interesting are the rapids Rocky, Ostrovnoy, Leap, Caucasian. It is not for nothing that Krasnenkaya is often compared with the Altai Bashkaus. During this rafting, tourists visit the blue Lake Pyhäjärvi. The campaign lasts a week or more, and the route ends at the beautiful reservoir of Ivovsk in Karelia.

Whitefish

This river is quite shallow water. Its length is about 55 kilometers. Sports rafting on the river Sig (Karelia), as a rule, is not practiced. But here is a good fishing. The places along which this river flows are sparsely populated. It has only recently attracted the attention of tourists and fans of rafting. The rapids here are quite complex, but the lakes and shores are extremely picturesque. Tourists recommend to raft on this river in May-June, because it is then that the flood comes. Shig falls into the White Sea. But you can go into it on a kayak only if there is high water. The fact is that she falls into the sea steps. Therefore, it is necessary to overcome the thresholds to the very end. And the last rides will lead you actually to the sea.

Keret

Many trails on the water are glorious Karelia. The river Keret, the alloy on which is considered the most popular among tourists, is one of the most interesting. This route usually takes place in summer and autumn. The name of the river comes from the Sami word, which in translation means "mountain peak". The length of the route is 120 kilometers. It begins from the lake Varlamovo. Overcome it on catamarans and rafts with a motor, and also on kayaks. During the trip there are many rapids from 400 meters to 3 km. But since there is a lot of calm water between them, all these sections are passed under the motor. This lake is Nameless, Krivoye, Varatsky. It is in this journey that tourists can not only express themselves, but also admire the fairytale nature of forest Karelia. And the expedition ends, as a rule, with an outlet to the White Sea and a visit to its islands. There is often organized a good fishing. Particularly good rest on the White Sea on the islands of Keret and Oleny. This alloy lasts from 3 to 7-8 days, depending on how many tourists have time.

Pisto

One of the most interesting routes, where all the charms of Karelia (rafting along the rivers) are combined is rafting along the border zone. There flows the river Pisto, which originates in Finland. There are also practically no cities, no villages, and the area is ecologically clean. The route along this river has a length of 85 kilometers, and on the way there are 25-30 rapids. Although this direction is more complicated than other similar campaigns in Carrelia, the journey through this water flow is performed by both extremals and newcomers. The latter use rafts with a motor. As the alloy passes in deaf and hard-to-reach places, instructors have a satellite connection, necessary means for medical care, and even a portable bath. Photoshoot in the most beautiful corners provided. Such a trip takes 9-10 days.

Reviews

When tourists describe the experience of rafting along the rivers of Karelia, they first of all recall the forests from the harsh and mysterious northern nature, the splashing of water or its rapid spinning, rest at the fire after a tiring day of a hike, fried fish or fresh fish soup. Romance, the opportunity to plunge into a forgotten sense of relaxation from the bustle, a touch to the pristine nature - all this amazes travelers who have visited rafting. They are full of impressions of the beauties of Karelia. Some reviews compare water trips in the north and in the central part of Russia. Tourists write that they chose not only the route of rafting in Karelia. The river Senga (the tributary of the Klyazma), for example, is also good for water trips in May holidays. But it is more flat and designed for a short rest.