The most useful things about Mount Vottovaara in Karelia: where it is, how to get there by car and what to see. Map with the route to the mountain, information about the recreation center, guide, transfer and other useful tips for tourists.
And stood at the gate
Gnarled Christmas trees
We walked there without worries
Gnarled wolves.
"Crooked Song", Korney Chukovsky.
Suppose there are no wolves on Vottovaar, but there are trees, snakes, swamps, giant stones on small "legs" and almost dead silence.
Why you should go to Vottovaara
Vottovaara is a famous place among esotericists. All guides parasitize on a bike about the mystery of the mountain and call it the Karelian Stonehenge. However, on the "mystical" mountain Vottovaara electronic devices and compasses do not go crazy, but people go crazy - from the beauty and endless blueberry fields. At least that was the case with us.
Okay, if you want to believe in mysticism, believe, but we did not feel anything like that. In general, the place is really cool and special - it is worth taking time for it. We have never seen anything like it!
Twisted, twisted, crippled bare trees, like a giant in a rage forks ropes from them and turns them upside down. The figures turn out to be bizarre - there is where the imagination can play out. Probably, at dusk on the mountain is really uncomfortable! And all this is surrounded by huge seids-boulders and pacifying silence.
However, I would not call the mountain dead: there are many birds, squirrels, insects. We even met a snake on the trail - go more carefully. There are healthy trees, loads of sweet blueberries and sour lingonberries.
What to see on Vottovaar
There are several notable places on the mountain:
Seydy - these are such giant stones on "legs" - small stones. They were worshiped by the Sami. It is believed that the seids were formed due to the melting of the glacier or they were built by the Sami - no one knows for sure.
"Amphitheater" with a lake. In the lowland near the top of the mountain there is a dead lake, and further on there is a beautiful amphitheater made of stones that seem to have been folded by hand.
A beautiful swamp. If on the way back after the amphitheater you slightly deviate to the left of the main path, you will come to a picturesque swamp.
Vertex (417 meters). There is a wonderful view of the amphitheater, lake and taiga from there.
"Stairway to Heaven" - protrusions in the stone, like steps. Lead to the cliff. There are several of them on the mountain, some are poorly visible.
Stone pool - like a rectangular well cut by a man, filled with water. Located near the amphitheater.
How long does it take to travel
Plan your trip to Vottovaara Mountain in advance and agree on accommodation in the village of Gimoly - you can't manage it in one day, you have to spend the night somewhere. Keep in mind that only from the highway to Gimol you need to drive about 3 hours on a bumpy dirt road.
It took us two full days and one night to complete everything: the first day - arrival at the base and check-in, the second day - a walk along the mountain and departure. On the way to Gimols, we also saw the Girvas paleovolcano, but you don't have to waste time on it.
From Gimol to the parking lot at the foot of the mountain - 1 hour by car, the same way back. The ascent, descent and walk along Vottovaare are easy - it will take half a day or daylight hours, if you do not see the whole mountain, take a lot of pictures and fanatically eat blueberries. Even one day is hardly enough for the whole thing! For example, our minimum program took 4 hours, and in total on the mountain and the road - 6 hours. Usually tourists spend the whole day on the mountain and the road back to the base in Gimolah.
Where to live on Vottovaar
We stayed at the Votto-Tour tourist center in the village of Gimoly, 30 km from the mountain. The base resembles a children's camp. It is clean and comfortable, there is a lake nearby where you can fish. The staff are friendly.
Price - 800 rubles per person. Heat, hot water. Our room had its own bathroom, table, chairs, wardrobe and bedside table. On the downside, there is no Wi-Fi and no sound insulation.
In the dining room you can buy dinner or breakfast for 300 rubles per person. For dinner - first, second, salad and drink.
By the way, they also have an apartment for three for 3000 rubles a day - check.
There are a lot of tourists on weekends, so we recommend staying on weekdays. If you do come for the weekend, book your room in advance by phone. Tele2 does not work in the village, but there is a Megafon signal (and even a slow mobile Internet).
Contacts of the tourist center "Votto-Tour":
- Irina's administrator phone: +79216201330.
- You can read the reviews in the VKontakte group.
Do you want to live in a tent? On Vottovaar, it can be parked in special parking lots. Choose locations that are not windy. The water will have to be carried from the foot of the mountain. Learn more about camping savage vacation in Karelia.
How to get to Vottovaara by car
From Saint-Petersburg by car to Vottovaara - about 550 km. Drive through Sortavala, turn onto the A-121 highway towards Petrozavodsk. Drive along the Kola highway past it and Kondopoga and turn left onto Girvas.
From Petrozavodsk by car to Vottovaara - about 250 km. Drive along the Kola highway past Kondopoga and turn left towards Girvas.
After turning to Girvas any car can reach the village of Gimola. From the Kola highway, from the turn to Girvas, to the last parking lot at the foot of Vottovaara - about 160 km. First - good asphalt, then it gets killed. Drive in the direction of Yustozero village. Then turn towards the sign to Prosozero - there is already a dirt road. A grader passes through it, so it feels like you are driving on a grater. Further - to Gimols. In the village itself there will be signs to the mountain and the Votto-Tur tourist center, which is located outside of it.
Further the road is bad and passable only for SUV with high ground clearance! If you have a car, it is better to ask at the hostel to take you up the mountain. We drove a UAZ "Patriot".
If there was no rain the day before, then the road is simple, and even a crossover can handle it. Just be careful with puddles. They are quite deep, especially one. You will immediately see her - in front of her, on a tree, twisted and lost license plates are nailed. If you do not have a snorkel, drive carefully along the edge of the puddles and be guided by the tracks of other cars. The bottom of the puddles is hard, it is impossible to get bogged down, but there are large cobblestones hiding in the water!
So, how to get from the base to Vottovaara by your car:
- We leave the base, turn right and drive on a grater for about 4.4 km without turning anywhere.
- After the quarry, which will remain on the left, a bad section of the road with stones and holes will begin - about 1-2 km.
- Then the road goes through the forest and past the swamps. It is more or less rolled and flat, there are not very sections. Here you can relax, just drive carefully through the puddles and bridges. The bridges are strong.
- We drive along a wide main road, and after about 13 km we run into the last parking lot. Cars are usually parked there, there is a stand with information. From there, the path upward is only on foot.
Tours and transfers to Vottovaara
If you don't have your own car, you can get to Gimol by train. And already from the base "Votto-Tour" ask for a transfer to the mountain. It costs 2,000 rubles per car (accommodates 5-6 people) + 500 rubles for guide services to Vottovaara.
There are tours to Vottovaara. From Petrozavodsk, the tour costs from 4700 rubles per person.
