Expedition to the “Onezhskoye Pomorye” National Park

You will be accompanied by an EMERCOM (Ministry of Emergency) officer and a marine mammal biologist during your trips to the ice floe to observe the seal cubs. The biologist will also be giving lectures at the hotel.

The price includes three meals a day in the hotel restaurant. A snack with hot tea and sandwiches will be provided for you on the ice floe.

Children over 4 years old can go on this trip. There is a 10% discount for children 4-12 years old for an extra bed in the room.

It is difficult to accurately predict the weather conditions: ice floes with baby seals can be located both at the mouth of the White sea and to the south birection. Definitely you should be prepared for a fairly cold wind and wet conditions, because communication with the baby seals takes place in the open space. The temperature ranges from 0°C to -25°C.

• warm membrane hooded jacket and pants
• warm water-proof boots
• fleece jacket (thin and warm)
• thermal underwear
• 2 waterproof hats (one thin and one warmer)
• gloves
• mittens/warm gloves
• sunglasses
• ski mask (recommended for wind protection)

Items should be packed in a backpack or a duffel bag.

Prior to departure, an ice reconnaissance will be conducted in advance. On the ice floes, on which the seals with their pups are found, a radio beacon is set up and the coordinates are recorded. This assures maximum probability of the seals to be observed during the tou
 
 
The flight to the ice takes place under favorable weather conditions by light Eurocopter (capacity - 6 passengers) and Robinson R-44 (capacity - 3 passengers) helicopters. Two to four helicopters can be flying simultaneously.
The advantages of light-engine helicopter flights on ice are an excellent view and comfort during the flight, and safety, because the helicopter stays on the ice with tourists (unlike the MI-8, which drop the passengers off on the ice, fly back to the shore, and then return to pick up the tourists).
The program duration is 3-3,5 hours (2 hours of flight time +1-1,5 hours on the ice floe).
During the program we provide sandwiches with hot tea or coffee (a full lunch on ice can be organized upon request).

Participants should understand that, despite the clear organization of the trip, wildlife lives by its own laws. When you fly on a drifting ice floe in the middle of the White sea, seals can only begin giving birth or finish doing it. Therefore, the final decision about the expedition is taken based on ice reconnaissance two days prior to departure of the group. The probability of transferring the expedition is very small, but it can occur. Therefore, you should buy tickets to Arkhangelsk with a return rate.

We can offer the following variants of transfer from Arkhangelsk to Letnyaya Zolotitsa for groups:

• by a Robinson (R44) helicopter for groups up to 3 persons — around 1500 EURO  per group one way, departing from Severodvinsk
• by Eurocopter for groups of up to 6 persons — around 2750 EURO per group, departing from the settlement of Lajsky Dock
• by a MI-8 helicopter for groups up to 18 persons -— around 4875 EURO one way, departing from Vaskovo airport (travel time is 1 hour) 
• by an AN-2 plane (charter flight for a group of up to 12 people) — around 2500 EURO per group, departing from Vaskovo airport

Note, that the transfer from Talagi airport in Arkhangelsk to the departure locations (Vaskovo airport, Severodvinsk and Laysky Dock settlement) is paid for separately.
Helicopter pickup from Moscow and Saint-Petersburg can be organized upon request.
Note: helicopter transfers and AN-2 charters require advanced booking and payment. The time of flight from Arkhangelsk and back is discussed individually.

1. Helicopter trip to the Solovetsky Islands (duration - 4,5 hours)

You will take off from your hotel towards the Solovetsky Islands, where an on-foot excursion awaits you. The flight will take you above the coast of the White Sea, you will see Chesmensky and Orlovsky lighthouses from altitude. On arrival to the Solovetsky Islands, you will visit the central complex of the monastery and the active churches with a guide, learn the history of the monastery, and see the monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You will also visit the GULAG museum and Anzer Island, where the Holy Trinity and Golgotha-Raspyatsky sketes are located. The program includes lunch.

Cost of the tour:

• by a Robinson (R44) helicopter — 79 000 rubles for a group of 3 persons
• by a MI-8 helicopter — 393 500 rubles for a group of up to 18 people
• in a Eurocopter — 158 000 rubles for a group of up to 6 people.

2. Snowmobile rides

You can rent a snowmobile and ride it yourself around the hotel or go on a group snowmobile ride accompanied by an instructor guide.

The cost of snowmobile rent is 5000 rubles/hour for an adult and 2000 rubles/hour for children aged 4-12 (children's Arctic Cat snowmobiles).

Available routes for group snowmobile trip:

• along the ice of the White Sea along the coast with exploration of fishing huts
• through the taiga forest with riding on the frozen  lakes

You can either drive the snowmobile yourself or be a passenger. On request, you will be provided with the necessary equipment (snowmobile overalls, shoes and helmet, 6 sets available). It is possible to take children from 4 years old on group routes, but only as passengers (i.e. the child rides the snowmobile with the parent, not on the kids’ snowmobile).