Polar hiking holiday in Khibiny Mountains (8 days)

Hiking tour in Khibiny Mountains itinerary:

Day 1, Sunday: Arrive in Monchegorsk. Hotel check-in upon arrival. Guide will come to the hotel in the evening to meet you and check equipment. Dinner in a restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2, Monday: Breakfast at the hotel. Travel by motor-boat down Imandra Lake to Nifeliny Peski Station (10 km). From there hike on the forest path to the ravine Aku-Aku and make camp. The Ravine’s entrance is guided by tall pine-trees and the walls look like an old broken castle. There is a picturesque lake among the cliffs, and numerous streams - one with a small waterfall, and lonely standing rocks like trolls turned into stones. We climb the west slope and watch the wonderful view of the Imandra Lake and the faraway tundra behind it. Distance of hike: 8 km.

Day 3, Tuesday: Follow the bottom of the Ravine Aku-Aku up to Yumyekorr Pass, a narrow pass squeezed between two rock cliffs. Yumyekorr means “Ravine of Dead Men”. According to legend the Saami battled Swedes here at the end of the 16th century. Hike down to the Meridian Stream through a grove of northern birches. Proceed along it to the Chasnaiok River ("The Woodpecker’s River") and make camp. Overnight in tents. Distance of hike: 10 km.

Day 4, Wednesday: Follow the path along the Chasnaiok River to the South Chorgorr Pass. We can watch the steep slopes of the Lidichwumchorr Mountains on which there are fantastic rock outcrops. The South Chorgorr Pass is smooth wide lowering of the crest ( 820 m). At lower elevations there is a stunning rock circle with a jewel-like lake. Proceed down through the pass to the Petrelius River and make camp.
Distance of hike: 14 km.

Day 5, Thursday:This day is for rest. Leave heavy things at the camp and hike to the Northern Rischorr Pass located in the east part of Khibiny tundra or we can look for some samples of rare minerals not far from the camp or just stay in the camp and walk in forest in neighbourhood. Distance of hike depends on your choice: 5 to 12 km.

Day 6, Friday: Walk to the Zapadnyi Petrelius Pass through a stone circle with a lake and ascend to the top of the pass. Proceed down to the valley of the Malaya Belaya River and to a stone circle with "moon" craters on its bottom. Follow the Malaya Belaya River up to the Ramzai Ravine and make camp. Distance of hike: 14 km.

Day 7, Saturday: Walk up on the path to the Ramzai Ravine, a narrow pass squeezed between two rock cliffs. Snow can be kept in the ravine up to the autumn. Proceed down along the Pochaiok River ("The Reindeer’s River") to the Malyi Vudyavr Lake where our bus is waiting. Distance of hike: 10 km. Transfer to Apatity city. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8, Sunday: Breakfast at the hotel. Departure.

Hiking tour in Khibiny Mountains details

This hiking tour in Khibiny Mountains can be extended with with following optionals:

• Rental of light weight 2-persons tents (2,5 kg) packed in 2 bags: EUR 7,--/day
• Monchegorsk:
  • Entrance tickets museums: approx. 50 roubles per person
  • 2 hour yacht excursion on the biggest lake of Kola peninsula named Imandra. Up to 8 persons.
  • One day hiking tour to the waterfall Devichyi Kosi (Girl's plaits) in Monche Tundra with campfire lunch.
  • One day bicycling tour in hilly area with campfire lunch.
  • Karting centre in Monchegorsk.
  • Cross-country skiing in Monchegorsk suburbs (winter).
  • Skating in Ice stadion in Monchegorsk (winter).
  • See link above for more info.
• Murmansk:
  • Guided excursions in Murmansk.
  • Tickets for museums and museum excursions cost between RUB 25,-- and RUB 400,-- per person.
  • Entrance ticket to Atomic Icebreaker to join an excursion in Russian language: RUR 150 pp. Individual excursion to Atomic Icebreaker with a lecture in English language can be arranged.
  • Trip to Saami settlement.
  • Trip to the Barents sea shore.
  • Trip to Husky Farm.
  • Trip to Lovozero village: price depends on group size
  • Rent a car from Kola Travel and get the best rate, quality and service!
    Read more >> >> Rent-a-car
  • Trip to Lovozero village; Capital of the Saami.
  • See link above for more info.
• Train/plane/bus tickets in or outside Russian Federation.
• Transfers from/to KuusamoIvalo/Rovaniemi and Kirkenes airports.