Tour Overview
Russian winters are famously cold and harsh. But did you know it is also a winter wonderland with lights and sights you may have only seen in pictures? Untouched natural beauty, frozen landscapes and the magic of Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are just some of the wonders that await you on an adventure to the Russian north! The trip starts in St Petersburg and ends in Murmansk. Our 4x4 fleet of the tried and tested SUVs running on snow tyres will enable you to conquer the snowy terrain. The MotoRover team will lead the convoy in a lead car with our local team to ensure everyone stays safe and on course. There will be periodical guidance on snow driving, both before and during the journey and well-equipped mechanic will be on board to overcome the challenges en route.
Besides the stunning landscapes and visit to Teriberka on the northern edge of Russia, you will enjoy winter experiences like riding a snowmobile on the tundra, a visit to the world’s first nuclear-powered ice-breaker and furry encounters at the Husky Park, photo ops at the brilliant ice sculpture museum and so on and at a much lesser price compared to European winter holidays. The tour price covers all the experiences and living costs while you’re in Russia and we shall also assist you in obtaining a Russian visa and the documents necessary for it. So what are you waiting for? Sign up and make a rocking start to the year with us in Russia! IMPORTANT NOTE: Russia Winter Adventure 2027 is an extreme adventure in harsh winter conditions. The temperature range can be between Zero degrees Celsius to -30 degrees Celsius or even more extreme. Bookings are open for participants in the age group 05 to 65 years only. Participant must be physically fit and should not be suffering from any medical conditions that may aggravate in extremely cold weather.
Route Map
Day-by-Day Itinerary
| Day | Date | Route | Activity | Meals | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tue, 23 Feb 2027 | Arrival at St Petersburg | Airport pickup and a guided walking tour of the city. Participants should arrive by 11:00 hrs, as the city tour begins at 16:00 hrs. Tour briefing and welcome dinner. | Meals included — Dinner | 0 km |
| Day 2 | Wed, 24 Feb 2027 | St Petersburg → Sortavala | Vehicle handover, then a visit to Ruskeala Nature Reserve and Lake Ladoga. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | 300 km |
| Day 3 | Thu, 25 Feb 2027 | Sortavala → Petrozavodsk | A visit to a husky farm with husky sledding, lunch in the chum, a visit to Karjala Park and a cultural folklore programme. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | 300 km |
| Day 4 | Fri, 26 Feb 2027 | Day trip to Kizhi Island | Visit Lake Onega, ride a hovercraft to Kizhi Island and see its wooden architectural open-air museum. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | 80 km |
| Day 5 | Sat, 27 Feb 2027 | Petrozavodsk → Segezha | Off-roading in snow, Kivach Falls, the Karelian nature reserve and Girvas crater. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | 265 km |
| Day 6 | Sun, 28 Feb 2027 | Segezha → Kirovsk | Off-roading in snow and a stop at Povenets, with a chance to see the Aurora Lights (subject to weather conditions). | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | 540 km |
| Day 7 | Mon, 01 Mar 2027 | Exploring Kirovsk | A visit to the Snow Village and a snowmobile ride, with a chance to see the Aurora Lights (subject to weather conditions). | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | 60 km |
| Day 8 | Tue, 02 Mar 2027 | Kirovsk → Lapland Village | Off-roading in snow and arrival at Lapland Village, with a chance to see the Aurora Lights (subject to weather conditions). | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | 230 km |
| Day 9 | Wed, 03 Mar 2027 | Day trip to Teriberka | A day trip to the Arctic Ocean, with the dinosaur eggs beach, the open-air zoo and the cemetery of abandoned ships (all subject to weather conditions). | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | 280 km |
| Day 10 | Thu, 04 Mar 2027 | Lapland Village → Murmansk | Visit the Alyosha Monument and the Lenin icebreaker (subject to weather conditions), then the vehicle handover and a farewell dinner. | Meals included — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | 40 km |
| Day 11 | Fri, 05 Mar 2027 | Departure from Murmansk | Time to say goodbye, with an airport drop as per flight schedule. | Meals included — Breakfast | 0 km |
Vehicle Options
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GWM Tank 300 Automatic Transmission
Tour Inclusions
- 08 nights stay on twin-sharing basis in 3/4/5 star hotels (single room upgrade available)
- 02 nights stay in a Glass Igloo (only on twin room sharing basis)
- All Breakfasts, Lunches and Dinners as per the itinerary
- Airport pickup in St Petersburg and drop in Murmansk
- Rental SUV with third party and limited liability insurance
- Expenses for sightseeing and experiences as per the tour program
- MotoRover support car
- MotoRover tour manager
- English-speaking local guide
- Mechanic & driver
- Snowmobile ride (two people on one snowmobile)
- Husky sledding
- Hovercraft ride
- Northern Lights hunting
- Tour information booklet
- Tour merchandise
- Russian visa support documents
- Medical assistance
Optional Services
- Single room supplement RUB 60,500
- Hermitage Museum (with audio guide) RUB 2,200 pp
- eVisa application INR 8,000
- Additional night stay in Moscow On request
- Additional night stay in St Petersburg On request
- Additional night stay in Murmansk On request
The Hermitage Museum is closed on Mondays. Participants interested in visiting the museum need to plan their arrival accordingly. Contact our team for more information about additional night stays.
Tour Exclusions
- International and internal air tickets
- Visa cost
- Rental deposit for SUV: USD 500 per car (to be paid in cash)
- Personal travel insurance (mandatory)
- Personal expenses like alcohol, tips, shopping and laundry
- Medical and emergency expenses
- Anything not mentioned under Inclusions
- 5% GST and 2% TCS (TCS refundable in your next ITR)
Tour Details
Food and Water
All Breakfasts, Lunches and Dinners as per the itinerary
Accommodation
3*/4*/5* hotels for 08 nights. Glass Igloo stay for 02 nights
Total Travel Distance
Approx. 2000 kms
Driving Time
4-6 hrs every day with multiple breaks
Terrain
Paved roads, tarmac roads, forest roads and off-roading in snow
Air Connectivity
St Petersburg has connecting flights via Moscow from Delhi and also from other major cities via Muscat and Bahrain.
Weather Forecast
The average temperature during February is around -3 degrees Celsius with an average low of -10 degrees Celsius.
Additional Costs
Airfare – Approx INR 70,000
Visa Expense – Approx INR 8,000
Personal Travel Insurance – Approx INR 2,000
Tour Video
Tour Gallery
Our Traveller Testimonials
Real, verified Google reviews from travellers who have toured with MotoRover.
Once you sign up, MotoRover takes away all your worries. I have done my second driving adventure with this family to Russia during the winters, the first being the Summer Baltic Tour. The tour managers are well trained and go out of their way to look after and pamper us. What I like best is they drive us through county roads as much as possible instead of the highways — this makes the drive a lot more scenic and you get a better feel of the country you are visiting. MotoRover feeds us very well, too well in fact, and the hotels they pick are amongst the best.
This was my first ever self-drive tour experience and I am glad my wife reached out to MotoRover for the Balkan Self-Drive Tour. Route planning (detours through National Parks), properties selected for night stays, coffee breaks and meals couldn't have been better. The local guide was an experienced professional, very passionate about giving us the best experience with safety first as his guiding principle. The ever-smiling tour manager from India added to the quality of experience. But the final takeaway was the awesome camaraderie that blossomed among fellow travellers — the best return on investment! Cheers to Kabir and Piyush.
This Russia 2024 Snow Drive with MotoRover has been by far the best experience for us. From fun to adventure and getting the best weather each day made the trip just amazing. Huskies, hovercraft, snow ATV, walks on a frozen lake, a stay in igloos, reaching the edge of the world, great local food, and so much more. Also making 16 friends who were unknown before and are now like family. BIG SHOUT to team MotoRover. This Russia Tour is a MUST do before you kick the bucket!
The self-drive trip in Kyrgyzstan in June 2024 with MotoRover was an exquisite experience. The unparalleled natural beauty of Kyrgyzstan was perfectly complemented by the meticulous planning and execution of the expedition by MotoRover and its team. Pragyesh, Simon, Luda, and the other members of the team put forth their best efforts to make the entire trip memorable for all of us.
Excellent tour management and hospitality. The team really cares about its customers and goes out of the way to ensure customer comfort and experience are maintained with high benchmarks. I have been with them on the Central Asia road trip and had the best experience from booking to arrival back in India. Customers are briefed well in advance regarding itinerary, routes, travel arrangements and vehicle support — the whole experience was seamless. The biggest highlight was two 70-year-old ladies who accompanied us; Piyush and his team took extra care to ensure their comfort was a top priority. A true example of customer-first thinking. Kudos to MotoRover!