How to get to the Ladoga skerries: all routes and life hacks for

The Ladoga skerries are one of the most mysterious and beautiful places in the Leningrad region, where wild nature is combined with unique rock formations created by the glacier. This archipelago of 650 islands on Lake Ladoga attracts tourists with opportunities for secluded recreation, fishing, kayaking and hiking along pristine trails. However, getting here is not as easy as getting to popular resorts: the lack of direct train connections and limited transport infrastructure require careful preparation.

In this article we will look at all current ways to get to the Ladoga Skerries in 2026 - from routes by personal car, taking into account parking and ferries, to options with public transport, water taxis and organized tours. We will pay special attention logistical nuances: where to leave the car, how to save on transport, and what Hidden fees may await you on ferries and at campsites. If you are planning a trip with children, a tent or a bicycle, you will find answers to specific questions here.

1. By car: routes, parking and pitfalls

Traveling by car is the most flexible option, but has a number of special features. Basic starting points for routes: St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk or Priozersk. Let's consider both directions.

Route from St. Petersburg (≈220 km, 3–4 hours):

• 🚗 Highway E18 (Scandinavian highway) to Vyborg → turn to P21 "Priozerskoye Highway" to the side Priozersk.
• ⛴️ B Priozersk - ferry crossing to Valaam Islands (if the goal is the northern skerries) or further along 41K-016 up to Kurkijoki village for southern routes.
• ⚠️ Critical point: plot Priozersk — Kurkiyoki (30 km gravel) - higher ground clearance or careful driving required.

Route from Petrozavodsk (≈180 km, 3 hours):

• 🚗 Route P21 ("Sortavala") to Pitkyaranta village → turn to 41K-015 to the side Lahdenpokhya.
• 🏕️ From Lahdenpokhya - dirt road to Haapalampi bays (a popular launching point for kayakers).
• ⚠️ Attention: on site Pitkyaranta - Lakhdenpokhya There are speed limit zones (40 km/h) with cameras.

Where to leave the car:

Item	Parking cost (2026)	Features
Priozersk (port)	300–500 ₽/day	Secure parking, cafes and toilets nearby
Kurkijoki (beach)	Free	Wild parking, spaces are limited during the season
Lakhdenpokhya (center)	200 ₽/day	Close to shops but far from the water
Vasilyevsky Island (St. Petersburg)	150 ₽/hour	For those traveling by ferry from the city

⚠️ Attention: In parking lots near the piers Valaam and Konevets There is a system of fines for exceeding parking time (from 1,000 ₽). Use the app Parking lots in the Leningrad region for payment.

2. Public transport: buses and trains

If you don't have a car, you can get to Skerries by a combination of trains and buses. The main disadvantage is no direct message: you will have to make transfers and walk to the piers.

From St. Petersburg:

• 🚆 Electric train up to Petrozavodsk-Pass station. (≈5 hours, 1,200 ₽).
• 🚌 From Petrozavodsk station - bus number 501 up to Pitkäranta (2 hours, 400 ₽).
• 🚶 Next - a walk (5 km) or a taxi to Haapalampi bays (800 ₽).

From Priozersk:

• 🚌 Bus No. 850 St. Petersburg — Priozersk (3 hours, 600 ₽).
• 🚤 From the bus station - walk to pier "Ladoga" (1.5 km) for the ferry to Valaam.

Bus schedules change seasonally. See the website for current information avtovokzaly.ru or in the app Transport St. Petersburg. In summer (June–August) flights are added to Kurkijoki and Lahdenpokhya, but it is better to book your ticket in advance.

3. Water transport: ferries, boats and private transport

The most spectacular, but also the most expensive way to get to the skerries is by water. There are three main options here: regular ferries, private boats and boat rental.

Regular ferries (2026):

• ⛴️ Priozersk - Valaam - Konevets: from 1,800 ₽ one way, travel time 1.5–2 hours. Schedule: ladoga-flot.ru.
• 🚤 St. Petersburg (Vasilievsky Island) - Valaam: from 2,500 ₽, 5 hours. Weekends only (May–September).
• ⚓ Pitkäranta - Empty Island: 1,200 ₽, 40 minutes (seasonal route, July–August).

Private transportation:

• 📞 You can order a boat through groups in VKontakte (search for "Ladoga skerries crossing"). Average price: 5,000–8,000 RUR per boat (up to 6 people).
• ⚠️ Beware of unlicensed carriers — check the availability of life jackets and vessel registration.

Check the weather (if the wave is >1 m, the crossing is dangerous)

Agree on the exact landing point (many islands have no piers)

Take cash with you (the terminals do not work on the islands)

Check availability of life jackets (especially for children) -->

Renting a boat will cost 3,000–6,000 RUB/day. Popular rental points:

• 🏝️ Base "Ladoga Skerries" (Kurkijoki) - kayaks and motor boats.
• ⛵ Yacht club "Valaam" (Priozersk) - sailing yachts with a captain.

4. Organized tours: pros and pitfalls

For those who do not want to plan their own route, organized tours are suitable. They are divided into three types:

1. Day trips (from St. Petersburg):

• 🚌 Bus + ferry: from 3,500 ₽/person. (includes transfer, crossing to Valaam, tour of the monastery).
• 🚁 Helicopter: 12,000 ₽/person. (20 minute flight, landing on Valaam).

2. Multi-day hikes:

• 🏕️ Kayaking tours (3–5 days): from RUB 15,000/person. (includes equipment, instructor, food). Popular operators: Ladoga Kayak, Skerries.ru.
• 🎣 Fishing with an overnight stay: from 10,000 ₽/person. (boat, tent, gear).

3. Individual tours:

• 🗺️ Personal guide: from 5,000 ₽/day (routing, history of places, photo sessions).

⚠️ Attention: When booking a tour, please check if it is included in the price environmental fee (300–500 ₽/person) - they are often asked to pay on the spot. Also check if the operator has tourism license (can be checked on the website russiatourism.ru).

What is usually NOT included in the tour price?

- Meals (except those indicated "all inclusive")

- Rent of sleeping bags and mats (even on “camping” tours)

- Fuel for boats (if the route involves self-driving)

- Medical insurance (required for water trips!)

5. Bicycle and walking routes: how to get there without a motor

Ladoga skerries are a paradise for cyclists and hikers. Main advantage: free access to most attractions. However, there are nuances:

Cycling routes:

• 🚴 Priozersk - Kurkiyoki - Lakhdenpokhya: 80 km, mixed surface (asphalt + gravel).
• 🌲 Pitkäranta - Empty Island: 25 km to the pier + 3 km walk around the island.

Hiking trails:

• 🥾 Trail to Konevets Island: from the pier 3 km through the forest (there are navigation signs).
• 🏔️ Climbing the Dinosaur Rock (Riekkalansaari island): 1.5 km with a steep climb.

Where to stay overnight:

• 🏕️ Wild sites: allowed on the islands Empty, Riekkalansaari (free, but you need to remove the trash).
• 🏡 Guest houses: in Kurkijoki and Lahdenpokhya (from 1,500 ₽/day).
• ⛺ Campings: Base "Skerries" (300 ₽/tent), Eco-village "Ladoga" (500 ₽/person).

6. Life hacks and savings: how to save on transport and housing

A trip to the Ladoga skerries can cost a pretty penny, but there are ways to cut costs:

By transport:

• 🚗 Car sharing: take the car to Delimobile or SquirrelCar for 1–2 days (from RUB 1,200/day). Suitable for groups of up to 4 people.
• 🚌 Hitchhiker: a popular way among tourists to get from Priozersk to Kurkijoki (usually local fishermen give a lift).
• ⛴️ Ferries discounts: when purchasing tickets online for ladoga-flot.ru Cashback 5% applies.

For housing:

• 🏕️ Wild camping: free, but you need to have a tent and sleeping bag (the nights are cold even in summer).
• 🏠 Houses for daily rent: through Cyan or Avito (from 2,000 ₽/day for a house for 4–6 people).
• 🤝 Shared trips: look for travel companions in groups VKontakte (“Ladoga skerries: fellow travelers and companies”).

On food:

• 🛒 Buy products in Priozersk or Pitkärante (in shops on the islands prices are 30–50% higher).
• 🎣 Fish: amateur fishing is allowed on the skerries (a fishing rod and a permit are required if you fish with nets).

7. What to take with you: mandatory checklist

The Ladoga skerries are a place with unpredictable weather and limited infrastructure. That's it necessarily Must have in your backpack:

Documents (passport, license, insurance)

Sleeping bag and mat (nights are cold even in summer)

Mosquito and tick repellent (summer 2026 promises to be “fruitful”)

Powerbank and charging (there are no sockets on the islands)

Navigator or offline maps (connection is poor) -->

Additionally:

• 🧴 Sunscreen (it’s easy to get sunburned on water and rocks).
• 💧 Water filter or purification tablets (drinking water is taken from the lake).
• 🔦 Flashlight (there is no street lighting on the islands).
• 📱 SIM card "Tele2" (best fishing in this region).

If you are traveling with children:

• 👶 Life jacket (even if the child does not swim).
• 🧸 Warm clothes (the wind on the lake is cold).
• 🎨 Board games (there is nothing to do on the islands in the evenings).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about a trip to Ladoga Skerries

Do I need a visa or permit to visit the islands?

No visa is needed - the Ladoga skerries are located on Russian territory. However, to visit Valaam Islands (where the monastery is located) required pass, which is issued at the pier in Priozersk or online on the monastery website. For other islands a pass is not required, but a fee may be required. environmental fee (300–500 ₽).

Is it possible to get to Skerries in winter?

Yes, but only for snowmobile or skis on the ice of Ladoga. Ice crossings are not officially organized, so it is dangerous! Local guides offer winter tours (from 10,000 ₽/person), but check the reviews - there were cases of ice collapse in 2023. Alternative - ski routes along the lake shore (for example, from Pitkäranta up to Haapalampi bays).

Where is the best place to fish?

Best fishing spots:

• 🐟 Empty Island - pike perch and pike (from a boat).
• 🎣 Haapalampi Bay — perch and bream (from the shore).
• 🐠 Strait between the islands of Riekkalansaari and Konevets — salmon (license required).

Season: May–September. In June–July there are restrictions on catching some species (check on the website rybnadzor.gov.ru).

Are there mobile communications and internet on the islands?

The connection is catching unstable:

• 📶 "Tele2" - best coverage (3G on Valaam and Konevets).
• 📵 MTS/Beeline - only in some bays (for example, Haapalampi).
• 🌐 Internet: on Valaam there is Wi-Fi in the monastery hotel (200 ₽/hour).

We recommend downloading offline maps Yandex.Maps or Maps.me in advance.

Is it possible to rent a boat without a license?

Yes, but with reservations:

• 🚤 Boats up to 5 hp (oars, small motors) - no license required.
• ⛵ Boats from 5 hp - required rights to a small boat (or rent with captain).
• ⚠️ On some bases (for example, "Ladoga Skerries") ask insurance (can be issued on the spot for 500 ₽).