The island of Valaam is part of the Valaam archipelago on one of the largest and most famous lakes in Russia - Ladoga. On the islands is the Valaam Monastery, which attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims from different countries. Geographically, the archipelago is located in the middle of the wide surface of a beautiful and deep lake, which makes access to it difficult and fences the monks from the outside world.
Accommodation and transportation
Nowadays, it is rather difficult to isolate oneself from the world, being in a unique natural and spiritual corner. Every year, more and more foreign and domestic tourists arrive on the island, despite the difficulties of delivery and accommodation. The issue of accommodation for visitors is very acute, as Valaam hotels are small and simply can not accommodate everyone.
You can get to the island during the navigation season by several meteors and ships of the monastery, which are so densely staffed with those who want to get to the monastery, that you can not always find a place there. In winter, the ice cover on the lake becomes expensive. In the off-season, only a helicopter serves as a connection with the outside world. Most visitors come to Valaam for one day, trying to see all the beauties of the islands of the northern archipelago between river transport flights.
Who can count on a place
After the fire in 2016, due to which the "Winter" hotel on the island of Valaam and the "Attic" burned down, the housing situation worsened even more. The monastery does not accept everyone to stay on the island. Since the whole island is the territory of the monastery, the hotels are also under its jurisdiction. Available seats are intended exclusively for:
- pilgrims;
- workers;
- volunteers.
Other tourists get free seats if they are available. It is forbidden to set up tent camps here. Tents can only be accommodated in special campsites.
Where to stay
Valaam hotels are not always particularly convenient. Since the island belongs to the monastery, the corresponding orders apply here. In local hotels you can not find room service, bars, televisions or chic huge beds. Women should not go into the corridors in short skirts and without a scarf. Men, in turn, cannot walk in shorts and T-shirts.
The Igumen Hotel is located next to the Transfiguration Cathedral in buildings designed for monastic cells. It can accommodate only about 40 people. The hotel rooms are double, and men and women cannot be accommodated in the same room. The entire hotel has three sanitary areas - two toilets and one shower per block. So in the morning and in the evening the guests are waiting in line. The rooms are very modestly furnished:
The cost of a room in the Igumen is about 4000 rubles per day.
Valaam hotels are also represented by the Summer and the Admiral Kuznetsov motor ship. The "Summer" hotel is the only one in which all rooms are equipped with amenities. It differs from the others in that it cannot be booked in advance. Rooms at this hotel are provided upon arrival, if available, as guests of honor usually stay here. Its capacity is small - 25 rooms. The price for the room is 5000 rubles.
Floating hotel
The double-decker ship Admiral Kuznetsov docked in the Monastery Bay in 2016 in order to become a floating hotel and replace two Valaam hotels lost in a fire. He can accommodate 215 people in his cabins. In addition to modest economy rooms with shared sanitary facilities, the ship offers single and double cabins, which have their own washbasins. Also equipped with three cabins "Suite" with all amenities. They include:
- air conditioners;
- soft zone.
The interior in other cabins is much more modest.
The cost of living ranges from 800 to 2700 rubles, depending on the type of cabin. Single suite will cost 4000 rubles.
We talked about where you can stay when visiting the Valaam archipelago and should warn that the prices at the hotel in Valaam differ depending on the comfort of the rooms and location. The most economical hotel for a wallet is Admiral Kuznetsov, the most expensive is the Summer Hotel.