MDS1. Volga River Source and Seliger Lake

Volga River is the longest river in Europe. The source of Volga River is in Valdai hills in 400 km to the North-West from Moscow and in 20 km of picturesque road  from the hotel “Vershina Seligera”, located at the shore of  Seliger Lake.

Seliger Lake was formed as a result of glacier melting thousands years ago. It is a chain of up to 180 basins, connected to one another, stretching over 100 kilometers. There are over 160 islands within the lake. The lake is situated at one of the 12 world greatest watersheds. Three major rivers of Europe start here: Volga flows towards East, Dnepr - towards South, Western Dvina - towards North.The lake is frozen 5 months a year, usually from November to May, making snowmobiling, skiing and ice-fishing possible.

On the coast of Seliger Lake you get a fund of vivacity from this silent place among beautiful nature and also an opportunity to get acquainted with local historical and architectural monuments, being property of Russian culture.

 Volga river
 
Type: Discovery
Tour duration: 5 days
Season: All-year-round
Recommended Group Size: 1-8 PAX
Mode of travel:  car/minibus, on foot
   
 Itinerary:
 
Day 1. Arrival at the hotel “Vershina Seligera” (4*) in Shalabaevo village. Accommodation. Leisure  time. Overnight in the hotel.
 
Day 2.  Car/minibus excursion (non-guided) to the source of Volga River around 20 km
 
Day 3. Car/minibus excursion (guided from Ostashkov) to Nilova Pustyn to visit a local monastery. Climbing the Bell Tower to observe landscapes. Leisure  time. Optional activities. Overnight in the hotel.  (BL)
 
Day 4. Walking in the forest, picking up berries, mushrooms, swimming (in  summer), ice-fishing, skiing, skating, tobogganing (in winter). Optional traditional Russian bath (banya) with birch brooms and tea with “baranki”. Overnight in the hotel. (BL)

Day 5. Leisure time. Optional activities. Check out of the hotel after lunch.  (BL)
 

Tour Highlights:
  • Seliger Lake – a calm place with quiet lake surface, fish, pine and broadleaf forests with wild berries, mushrooms and flowers.   
  • Source of Volga River – the longest river in Europe.
  • Nilova Pustyn Monastery - a unique piece of architecture of the 16th-19th century, located on a small island of the Seliger Lake. A spectacular monas­tery, once center of cultural and religious life, is now brought back to life.
  • Church of St.Olga –the church of XIX century, built in Russian traditional stile.   

  


Rates for individual tourists – 2010:
 
Group, PAX 1 2 3 4-5 6-8
Cost per person, EUR 459 341 301 282 262
Discounts for tour operators and travel agents. Please inquire.

Included:
  • TWN accommodation in the hotel "Vershina Seligera"
  • meals per program
  • excursions per program
Not included:
  • arrival and departure transfers
  • donations in the monastery
  • optional activities
Supplements:
  • SGL accommodation + 87 EUR per person
  • Extra day in the hotel (TWN/SGL HB) + 43/65 EUR per person
Optional activities:
  • boat excursions on Lake Seliger  (in summer)
  • Hire a helicopter, enjoy a bird's-eye view of Lake Seliger.
  • Rowboats, motor boats (in summer)
  • Snowmobiling (in winter). Take a ride across the frozen Lake Seliger.
  • Horse riding
  • Skiing and skating (in winter)
  • Fishing and ice-fishing
  • Russian Bath House. Experience a Russian Bath, flail yourself or others with a bundle of birch branches. Bathing tradition includes drinking of tea with baranki.
  • Gathering wild mushrooms and wild berries (July - September)
  • Hunting (in proper seasons)

 

Lakeside resort   «Vershina Seligera» 4*

Vershina Seligera means the top of  Seliger in Russian as the resort is situated at the highest point of  Seliger area.

     

Guest houses: Made of 150 year old hand furnished pine logs using traditional Russian building techniques
Rooms: 19 rooms in 2 guest houses
Resort area: 10 hectares of hilly landscape
Private shoreline: 550 meters
Food: Russian home-style cooking with regional specialties

Free of charge:
  • Car parking
  • Fitness hall
  • Beach equipment
  • Satellite TV
  • Karaoke, billiard
  • Coffee, tea

 How to reach the hotel  “Vershina Seligera”:

1. By car from Moscow through Ostashkov:
From Moscow – along the new Riga highway via Volokolamsk, Rzhev, Selizharovo or along the Leningradsky highway via Tver, Torzhok till Ostashkov town. In and behind Ostashkov - under indexes "Peno camp sites” till the Pyramid (12 km after Ostashkov), then 40 km right up to the village Svapushche, further 6 km under index "Vershina Seligera".  The whole way is around 400 km.
Private transfer from Moscow by car (around 5 hours)  169 EUR per car (one way)

2. By car from St.Petersburg:
From St.Petersburg – along the Moscow highway till Yazhelbitci, then turn on the right for Demyansk, Molvotitci, Rovenitci, Svapushche. In Svapushche turn on the left under the index "Vershina Seligera". The whole way is around 400 km.
 Map for printing
 
3. By scheduled bus through Ostashkov:
Bus Moscow - Ostashkov (departure from Moscow -metro station “Tushinskaya” 07:45 daily; arrival at Ostashkov 14:50)
Bus Ostashkov –Moscow (departure from Ostashkov 15.30 daily, arrival in Moscow 22:25.
Bus ticket Moscow – Ostashkov  (one way): 12  EUR per person.
Private transfer Ostashkov – Vershina Seligera (one way):   43 EUR per group (car)

4. By train through Ostashkov:
Train #604 Moscow - Ostashkov: (departure from Moscow – Leningradsky train station 20:00 on odd days in summer, on MON, WED, FRI in winter; arrival at Ostashkov 07:32 next day).
Train #603 Ostashkov – Moscow (departure from Ostashkov 18:25 on even days in summer, on TUE, THU, SUN in winter; arrival in Moscow at 05.16 next day).
Train ticket Moscow – Ostashkov (one way): 35 EUR per person (2nd class, 4 berths in a compartment)
Private transfer Ostashkov – Vershina Seligera (one way):   43 EUR per group (car)
 

 

 

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