General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Karelia. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they took this tour. Although we do our best to make sure what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
TRAVEL TO KARELIA: This tour is organized by our British company, Sunbird, and starts and ends in London. The cost of the group flights between London and Helsinki and St. Petersburg and London are included in the tour cost. We strongly recommend that you join the tour in London as it removes a range of possible problems that might occur if you attempt to meet the group in the tour country. Please read the Important Travel Information for Participants on Sunbird Tours.
ENTERING FINLAND AND RUSSIA: United States citizens will need a valid passport. A visa is not required for Finland but one is required for Russia. Visas can be applied for at the Russian Embassy in Washington DC or through a visa service such as CIBT Your passport, as a general rule, should be valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Finland and Russia in the University of Texas series here and here respectively. You can adjust size by clicking in the lower right corner of the map. You can review the U.S. Department of State background notes on Finland and Russia here and here respectively.
HEALTH: There are no compulsory vaccinations required to enter either country but the Centers for Disease Control recommend that your routine vaccinations— measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, etc. are up to date. They also recommend vaccinations for Hepatitis A and typhoid.
Otherwise there are no unusual health hazards. Mosquitoes are likely to be numerous.
CLIMATE: The weather can be extremely variable at this time of year but nice weather usually predominates. Temperatures normally vary from 11°C to 19°C (51°F to 65°F) during the day, with only slightly lower temperatures at night. Rain is possible at any time.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: This tour is not a strenuous one, although a couple of the drives are long and on poor roads, and there will be optional birding excursions after dinner. Leisurely walking, occasionally over moderately rough terrain, is the only physical requirement, and anybody with a reasonable degree of physical fitness can fully participate in this tour. Because of the long hours of daylight at this latitude and beacuse one of the highlights of birding Karelia at the time of our visit is witnessing the marshes when they are most active (around dusk and the early hours), some of our birding days may be long. However on these long days, besides the usual breaks for meals, we’ll arrange later starts and/or a break in the middle of the day. Evening dinners are usually around 8 p.m., and are followed by the birdlist.
ACCOMMODATION: All our hotels will have private facilities (toilet, shower, etc.) in the room.
FOOD: Normal Western standards apply in Finland. Lunches will be eaten at roadside restaurants or as picnic lunches, according to our preference each day. In Russia the food is slightly more bland; although still palatable, but you may wish to bring a few cereal bars to supplement meals (especially breakfast).
DRESS: Dress is informal throughout the tour.
TRANSPORT: Our transport will be minibuses driven by the leaders for maximum flexibility.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered in the field or for meals, checklists etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Karelia will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
Updated: October 2007