European North

This is the land of a harsh and voiceless tundra and endless taiga forests. This is the land of numerous lakes (among them the two largest in Europe –Ladoga and Onega), rough Karelian rivers, islands and fjords of the White Sea.

And in spring and autumn, this place becomes a gathering spot for migratory water birds, ducks in particular. In summer, one can easily meet a common eider there, it’s also possible to watch colonies of sea birds nesting on numerous islets, the largest one is located on the territory of the Kandalaksha Nature Reserve.  

That is why this place has always been very popular among ecotourists and water sportsfans.

The region is extremely rich in historical and cultural monuments, including the Valaam Monastery, Kizhi, monasteries and the remains of Stalin's camps on the Solovetsky Islands. Countless islands and the rich underwater world of the White Sea, swimming and hiking in untouched corners of virgin nature. One will be able to see beluga colonies gliding along the water surface next to you.

One will get a marvellous chance to visit the true pearls of this area: Pinezhsky, Nizhnesvirsky, Laplandsky and Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserves, the last one is by the way a part of the World Heritage Site "Virgin Komi Forests".

All these nature reserves, as well as the Biological Station of the Moscow University and the Institute of Oceanology, will happily organize student internships, ornithological or botanical excursions, seatrips, or even winter safaris, mineralogical tours, mountain biking at your request.