The Kola Peninsula — a motorcycle journey beyond the Arctic Circle, to whales, Pomors, and the shores of the White and Barents Seas.

Book the tour - 13 Jul - 23 Jul 2026

An exclusive tour by Anton Aleshanov

The overall concept of the tour is simple: we are heading into the Arctic.
Its key highlights include the White and Barents Seas, whale watching in Teriberka, fresh White Sea mussels, the tundras of Lovozero, the traditions and culture of the Sámi and Pomor peoples, ancient villages of the Kola Peninsula, and an unforgettable motorcycle ride along the White Sea shoreline during low tide.

A truly special place on our route is Tetrina Tonya – a private ethnographic museum designed as a fully reconstructed traditional fishing hamlet. It features an izgoy (a small fishermen’s hut), a bathhouse, boat sheds, a salt works, and other historical buildings. This is one of the finest museums we’ve ever visited, with some of the best storytellers we’ve ever heard. A father and son who truly live by the White Sea – fishing, crafting, and recreating the life of their ancestors with their own hands. And the fact that you can reach this place only during low tide, riding along the sandy shore of the White Sea, is the cherry on top.

The Lovozero tundras are no less fascinating - accessible only by boat, which makes the experience even more exclusive. Fishing, endless berries, and breathtaking views of Lake Seydozero and Lake Lovozero – pure bliss!
(And yes, the attentive reader will probably guess who wrote the tour description.)

• Dates for 2026:
  • 1–11 July: Saint Petersburg – Murmansk (fully booked)
  • 13–23 July: Murmansk – Saint Petersburg (available)
  • 1–11 August: Saint Petersburg – Murmansk (holding a reservation for a group of friends)
  • 13–23 August: Murmansk – Saint Petersburg (fully booked)
• Duration: 11 days
• Total distance: 2 430 km
• Start and finish: one–way tour – we depart from Saint Petersburg and finish in Murmansk. The second group rides the reverse direction, Murmansk – Saint Petersburg.
• Difficulty level: medium, with 170 – 180 km of gravel
• Roads: 90% asphalt / 10% unpaved road
• Price with your own motorcycle – 2 500 Euro
• Price with a rental F750GS / F850GS – 3 950 Euro
• Price with a rental R1250GS – 4 750 Euro
• Single room supplement – 850 Euro
• Passenger supplement – 1 500 Euro
• Security deposit – 2 000 Euro for BMW F750GS / F850GS or R1250GS

Included:

• Accommodation in 3–4* hotels (twin rooms)
• Breakfasts
• Fuel (for those on our rental motorcycles)
• Lead guide on a motorcycle
• Support vehicle
• Excursions
• Technical assistance

Not included:

• Lunches and dinners
• Travel logistics to/from Saint Petersburg and Murmansk

Route:

Saint Petersburg – Vytegra – Medvezhyegorsk – Chupa – Umba – Varzuga – Lovozero – Teriberka – Murmansk

Day 1. Arrival in Saint Petersburg

Group meet-up in Saint Petersburg. Introduction, route briefing, motorcycle handover, and paperwork.

Day 2. Saint Petersburg – Vytegra, 420 km (25 km gravel)

We leave Saint Petersburg via the “Kola” highway, passing places such as Novaya Ladoga, Lodeynoye Pole, and Podporozhye. Here we begin exploring the impressive hydraulic transport system connecting the Baltic Sea with the White Sea. Overnight in Vytegra - the key point of the historic Mariinsky Waterway, once the longest in the world.

Day 3. Vytegra – Medvezhyegorsk, 310 km

We enter the Republic of Karelia. In the village of Karshevo, we switch to boats, travel along the Chyornaya River, and enter Lake Onega. We visit Cape Besov Nos to see its lighthouse and the Onega petroglyphs – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A beautiful road then takes us to Medvezhyegorsk, where we overnight on the shores of Lake Onega.

Day 4. Medvezhyegorsk – Chupa, 430 km

We return to the “Kola” highway and head toward Murmansk. Along the way, we may stop in Belomorsk to visit the museum dedicated to the White Sea petroglyphs, and in the settlement of Rabocheostrovsk - the departure point for boats to the Solovetsky Islands.

Our main plan is to reach the coastal settlement of Chupa on the Chupa Inlet of the White Sea and visit a local farm specializing in White Sea mussels. Overnight in cozy cabins in a pine forest right on the shore of the White Sea.

Day 5. Chupa – Umba, 250 km

Today we reach the Kola Peninsula. The “Kola” highway suddenly becomes scenic, with hills, curves, and panoramic views of lakes and bays. We stop in Kandalaksha and ride up Mount Krestovaya for a stunning view of the Kandalaksha Bay.

We arrive in the village of Umba, the oldest settlement on the peninsula, first mentioned in chronicles in 1466. Check in at a hotel on the White Sea and take a walk through the historic village.

Day 6. Umba - Varzuga – Umba, 280 km (140 km gravel)

Today we explore the remote Tersky Coast. We visit the distant village of Varzuga, search for amethysts at Cape Korabl, and see the lighthouse in Kashkarantsy. The highlight of the day is visiting Tetrina Tonya, a Pomor settlement that uniquely combines a private ethnographic museum with an active family fishing camp.

Day 7. Umba – Lovozero, 420 km

Today we ride into the Khibiny mountains! Their maximum elevation is just over 1 000 meters, yet enough to make Kirovsk a major skiing destination. We take a funicular up Mount Aikuaivenchorr (800 m) for a scenic lunch.

We continue toward the Lovozero tundras, home to one of Russia’s small Indigenous peoples – the Sami. In the village of Lovozero, we transfer to a boat and head to the shore of Lake Lovozero, where we stay at a lakeside lodge.

Day 8. Lovozero – Rest day

Swimming, fishing, berry picking, or a light hike to the sacred Lake Seydozero – choose your adventure. In the evening: sauna and campfire stories.

Day 9. Lovozero – Teriberka, 270 km

Today we reach the coast of the Barents Sea. We enjoy the polar day, northern cuisine, and head out into open sea in search of whales.

Day 10. Teriberka – Murmansk, 130 km

Final day of the tour. If whale watching didn’t happen yesterday, we’ll do it today. We arrive in Murmansk, the capital of the Arctic. We stop at the iconic “Alyosha” memorial, towering above the city. Hotel check-in followed by a farewell dinner.

Day 11. Departure from Murmansk