White Sea: hike to see the Northern Lights

My first trip with Pasha: the White Sea, berry madness. The landscape changed every day: we would either be making our way through bushes, walking on rocks, sand, kelp, or moss. It felt like five different hikes! Amazing nature! And what a variety of autumn colors! You completely forget about the backpack on your back when there's such beauty around. And the North does a great job of fulfilling dreams — we saw the northern lights! It wasn't without difficulties: Pasha made us not look under our feet because the berries were everywhere. Oh, those meadows with huge delicious blueberries, lingonberries, and cowberries that a group of 13 people couldn't resist. The hike was also very informative. Before starting, we visited the Kandalaksha Nature Reserve museum to get to know the inhabitants of the region better. Pasha also prepared maps and photos from different years. We even watched documentaries on a projector! Special thanks to the second guide Roma. Under his strict supervision, we managed to enjoy the views, pick mushrooms, keep up with the group, and eat delicious and varied meals. It wasn't a hike, it was a sanatorium! And big thanks to the Tundra! For the beautiful weather and for introducing us to new interesting people. I had a great time on the hike and highly recommend it to everyone!

I want to share my impressions of our mini-adventure, which had plenty of interesting things (strangely enough, there was a sea too), beautiful sights, delicious food, fun, and informative moments! I don't want to talk about the classic excellent organization of all aspects, from the hotel, transfer, route, stops, lunches, stories, and movies, as I don't want to spoil the most pleasant impressions for future tourists. Everything is beyond praise! Pasha does everything четко, on time, and so organically that you don't even notice it. The food on the hike is 'My Respect,' it turns into a gastronomic tour. And the overall atmosphere is as relaxed as possible, giving only positive emotions. In short, I highly recommend it, I advise it, I persuade you. Probably, there's nothing similar anywhere else. Very few people love the nature of the North as much as Pasha and are ready to share it. PS. The northern lights were a great addition to the hike (adventure), but none of us would have been upset if they hadn't been there.

The beauty of nature is incredible: crimson forest, endless White Sea, and crazy sunsets. The route was not difficult, the food was so diverse that I didn't want anything after returning) The tent is a cool tool that can withstand any weather) I'll be back again)

At first, I thought that 6 days of trekking was not enough, but it turned out to be the perfect amount of time for a slight sense of anticipation and the desire to return as soon as possible! I managed to recharge and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city, but I didn't get the feeling of 'emotional oversaturation' from the trek! When preparing for a trek, you expect the weather to be different, and when heading to the North, you unconsciously expect it to be cold! This is the North, after all. We were lucky, and the North greeted us warmly. It was nice that warm thermal underwear and fleece pants didn't come in handy! The North surprised me with the fact that it's beautiful not only around but also underfoot! I would even say especially underfoot! Walking barefoot on a carpet of reindeer moss and moss is a delight for a kinesthetic person! I don't know where else I can 'emotionally charge' my feet like that. And I will definitely remember the crunch of kelp underfoot and how you sink into it a little like in a swamp! And, of course, the Northern Lights. And my personal little delight is paper maps, a guide to animal tracks, and postcards about the life of the Pomors, which complemented the trekking atmosphere, which is perfect. Not a photo from the phone, but postcards! The devil is in the details! Thank you, Pasha, once again for such high-quality organization, from the first call to the final dinner! Special thanks for the sense of security and confidence in you, it's very valuable!

Since childhood, I had a dream - to go on a real trek, with a backpack, tents, and обязательно on foot, and a place that is hard to reach, where you can't get by car =))

As a result, there were no like-minded people in my environment who would support my idea. And then, on the Internet, I came across a video that showed a trek on the Kola Peninsula with guide Pavel Rudenko. I didn't hesitate for long! =))) I wrote to Pavel, filled out the form, we called, and I started preparing for the trek.

I already had some gear, but I had to buy some more. Pavel's checklist for packing was very helpful, top level! I had my own tent, but even if you don't have one, everything is provided, want a single one - no problem, want a double one - no problem! =)) Since it was my first trek, I had more questions than answers, which I received during the trek, from Pavel and from the guys we were trekking with!

I would especially like to note the organization of the trek, I rate it 10 out of 5 =))) The route is planned so that there are always places where you can replenish water supplies, if you are walking on a more or less flat surface, the distances are longer, if you need to go uphill, then соответственно shorter, for me it was an interesting experience! I imagined the trekking movement a bit differently)))

As for the variety of landscapes and reliefs, everything is so diverse that there were no two places similar to each other, every day you see something new and interesting, either clearings with berries, or reindeer moss fields, or forest lakes, the White Sea, tides and ebbs, and everything is so picturesque that it's hard to put into words. The special delight was, of course, the Northern Lights!!! We saw it when we spent the night on the mountain, open space...mountains...stars...the aurora...and nothing else superfluous, what could be more beautiful?!!!=)))

I also want to highlight our group that went on the trek, on the one hand, complete strangers and there are a lot of them and everyone is different))) And on the other hand, everyone is open, positive, with different trekking experiences, in this regard, it was very interesting to learn something new from them, so my trekking skill improved day by day=))) Heartfelt conversations, chilling on the shore of the White Sea in pleasant company, an incredible number of fun moments that now I recall with a smile on my face =))) Captivating stories over dinner are worth a lot!!!

And yes! I think Pavel will now have another legend, about a tourist who had a completely non-trekking mug!!! Aha! This trek was one of the most amazing, colorful, unforgettable, and amazing adventures in my life!

Pavel, special Respect to you! Thumbs up! The North doesn't let go!=))

The trek was super great! There was so much beauty there, as if no one had reached it yet, and we were the first ones like that.

I'd like to note that for me it was really a mental rest, when you don't have to worry about anything, take care of anything. Except maybe scaring off bears, but by the middle of the trek even that becomes more confident and less scary.

The food was very tasty, Pasha and Roma are super gourmet chefs. Safety was at a high level, I didn't even doubt it.

It was also interesting to study the history of the Kola Peninsula, and how you, Pasha, enthusiastically tell about it yourself and study everything. The team was very cheerful. Two weeks later, I still miss it and want to return to those wonderful northern days in the tundra!

I didn't know what a trek was, I wanted to be somewhere far away in a beautiful place and head towards the sea. Different people were walking next to me, some already knew what a trek was, others were like me. 

They say that in order to convey your idea or feelings, you need to take a person along the same route. And Pavel took us through berries, delicious food, incredible nature, warm evenings, sincere stories, everything was easy and fun as it should be for people who know and love their job with all their hearts.

Thank you and see you on the Ya....)

While watching another video about northern travels on one of the platforms, I learned about Pavel in the comments. I wrote to him the same evening and received an exhaustive answer, which served as a positive impetus for the decision to go on a trek.

I immediately liked Pavel's thorough, informal approach to organizing the trek, there are no small things for him. The route is perfectly planned, taking into account the places for day stops and overnight stays, sources of water, etc. On the trek, I was pleasantly surprised that the travelers were given leisure time after dinner.

Pavel turned on the projector and we watched documentaries and cartoons in our 'dining tent' and discussed the day that had passed. Far from the comforts of civilization, this was very encouraging, it seems to me, for tired tourists.

Assembling a group for the trek is another great merit of Pavel. Our group developed a very warm relationship with each other during the trek. We still continue to communicate in the common chat. And I hope to see my 'tribesmen' again on the next trek!

The trek across the Kola Peninsula left incredible impressions and became a real adventure that will remain a warm memory in my heart. Each morning began with beautiful views of picturesque landscapes, and the days were filled with pleasant conversations with new friends.

The special delight is, of course, the delicious food, which we 'fueled' daily with kilograms of fresh blueberries, lingonberries, and cowberries. Berries on the Kola are an irresistible temptation.

We studied the tracks of various animals — a fascinating part of the journey. I admit, at first it was a bit scary, despite the fact that I am an avid hiker. However, interest and complete confidence in safety prevailed — sometimes I even wanted to see a bear, at least from afar.

But we got to know the unique fauna of the White Sea: we watched seals, found starfish, listened to incredible stories from Pasha — in short, we felt the full depth of this amazing world called the Kola. 

The nights were especially magical: we admired the starry sky and, of course, caught the northern lights. We even ran out of the tents in our 'pajamas' to capture this incredible atmospheric phenomenon. 

I want to thank the people with whom I spent a week almost at the edge of the Earth, and Pasha Rudenko, the guide, who created an atmosphere of coziness and friendliness throughout the route. His care, professionalism, and positivity made our trip safe and comfortable. 

It's very, very sad that everything ended so quickly — there is a huge desire to walk again in the amazing places of the Kola.

The hike to the White Sea was incredible! Pavel surrounds you with care and leads you along animal trails, while Margarita inspires with her skill and calms you in difficult moments.

The North is beautiful, and with good people, it's also cozy even in bad weather.
I'm бесконечно grateful to you for this new experience!

Wonderful hike with Pasha on the White Sea! 

✅ Saw the northern lights right from our tent
✅ Watched a bear with cubs (from a safe distance)
✅ Watched the Smeshariki on the projector (!!!) and had a great laugh
✅ Ate enough blueberries and lingonberries for a year ahead
✅ Laid on soft reindeer moss
✅ Listened to the sound of waves from the tent 

It seems to be very difficult to get so many cool impressions in a week somewhere else) So, if you're looking at this hike, I highly recommend it! 

This was my 8th long autonomous hike. I've been with several large well-known and not so well-known tourist clubs, but I liked it much more with Pasha: 

1. There's no race, rush, or constant stress that you need to go faster/get ready/collect water, etc. Here, if your foot starts to hurt, we stop and put on a plaster. If it gets cold/hot, we stop to change clothes. This is all within reason, of course) The group's pace is not lost, we always arrive on time, but it's somehow much calmer than usual)

2. There's time to enjoy nature and have fun! We had stops to eat berries, watch seals (Pasha, by the way, gives a monocular), look at the map, take photos.

3. Pasha is a big fan of the North and an enthusiast of his work. He tells interesting stories about the region, hiking in general, and equipment. It's very inspiring and motivating! You immediately want to walk more, return to the North, and somehow improve your life :) 

4. Pasha will always help if something unpleasant happens: you get sick/it's hard to walk/there's something wrong with the equipment, etc. — it's very nice to know that you can be calm about this) 

5. Great route! Very diverse: first the forest, then the sea shore, then hills with reindeer moss, then a view of the gorgeous lakes from above. The beauty is amazing and you don't have time to get used to it because the landscape changes frequently) We didn't meet other groups on the route, we walked without trails. Cool, the feeling of wild nature.

6. Excellent food! Delicious and varied. At the same time, the weight of the female module (set of food) was 4 kg. Everything is very well thought out — the meat, for example, is dried, which is lighter and tastier. A snack is given to each person right away, so you can eat when you need it, not when it's time for a general snack) 

In general, it seemed that Pasha's hikes are about enjoying nature without suffering. I really like this approach, so I started choosing another Pasha's hike during the trip!

Pasha, thank you very much for an interesting week on the White Sea!  

I especially want to note:
- excellent planning and organization of the hike. The situation with the injury of one of the participants was handled very professionally, first aid was provided, evacuation was organized, and further medical assistance. 

I was on a hike with Pasha for the first time, but the feeling that you can fully trust the guides appeared very quickly, everything is thought out, provided for, and safe. Of course, you need to listen carefully and do what you're told:))) 

- a fairly simple, calm, and at the same time eventful route — an introduction to the North: forest, sea, hills, tundra, northern lights, watching animals, and the silence of wild nature.
  
- super detailed and useful tips on choosing equipment for the hike! 

- care for each participant, thank you for finding time for everyone: to talk, take a picture, suggest something useful at the moment.

- the projector and movies on the hike about the North! That's wow!

Thanks to Rita for the delicious food and for not rushing anywhere)) Thanks to Anya for the delicious turkey))) 

I watched Pasha's lecture about hikes in the Kola Peninsula and was amazed by how enthusiastically he spoke about this region.
Unfortunately, all the groups were already full that year, and I couldn't join.

This year, I finally managed to join Pasha's hike 'White Sea – Chasing the Northern Lights.' And I can say that it left a vivid impression. In 6 days, it felt like I lived a whole little life. We saw everything: taiga, the sea coast, tundra. We caught the northern lights, met seals, a double rainbow, and even a bear with cubs (at a safe distance, don't worry).

The North impressed me with its power, calmness, and bright colors.

As for the organization, Pasha is a perfectionist. The entire hike was thought out to the smallest detail. He sincerely loves the North, knows a lot about gear, and thinks through organizational issues to the maximum. It's very inspiring to see a person who is passionate about their work – it 100% reflects on the result.

I sincerely recommend everyone to experience the magic of the northern nature. And Pasha will definitely help you with that.

Pasha, thank you very much to you and your assistants for your professionalism!

Excellent organization and quality: everything is thought out precisely, structurally, and systematized: logistics, route, schedule, food, safety, information support, additional program before and after the hike. I really appreciate the attention and care for each participant.

Thank you for openly sharing your expertise and experience, constantly looking for and implementing improvements. Perhaps the best organization you could find. Sincerely, we received a lot of enjoyment and pleasant impressions!

We are very glad to have met the nature of the North, we will definitely meet again!

Hiking with Pasha to the White Sea is my coolest and most memorable experience!

I have quite a lot of experience with long autonomous hikes: from trips with friends to large and popular tourist clubs. But I've never had such a complete, pleasant, and comfortable experience.

Thank you so much, Pasha, for your sincere love for the Kola North, which you share wholeheartedly with each participant of the hike. And his campfire stories about an eventful hiking life are a separate art form!

During the hike, we learned a lot about the nature and people of these places, were inspired by Pasha's enthusiasm for adventure, and enjoyed the breathtaking views thanks to the excellent route.

Along the way, we saw the White Sea, beautiful northern forest, and stunning tundras with mosses of all shapes and colors. Despite this, the route itself is not difficult, with mandatory stops to admire the views and enjoy the northern berries.

So if you're just planning to go on your first hike or, on the contrary, are tired of exhausting tests of your strength, then the opportunity to go on a hike to the White Sea with Pasha Rudenko is the best news!

Here you will definitely get great pleasure from nature, company, and new impressions!

First of all, I would like to note the excellent service and high level of overall organization.

The trek was very comfortable, and this becomes clear right after booking. The guides will easily tell you how best to get there and what to bring with you, and this is a case where the recommendations are completely practical).

All personal additional gear / food turned out to be completely unnecessary. Accommodation and leisure before and after the trek are also well organized.

The route itself is visually very beautiful. The nature is wild and diverse. It becomes even more interesting to go after the lecture in the museum about the fauna that we can see.

Pasha was able to plan the movement in such a way that you can look around, not under your feet. The distances and ascents are also well chosen.

I would also like to note the organization of the group in motion, no one was running, the group was not stretched out. Breaks were taken exactly when they were needed.

Pasha is the kind of guide with whom you can just follow the route without worrying about anything.

This was my first time on the Kola Peninsula and on an autumn trek. I fell in love with and embraced the North thanks to Pasha and Anya.

The organization of all stages of the trek was professional. Full support and involvement from the moment of planning personal gear, equipment consultations to the final dinner of the trip.

A well-thought-out author's route - within a week, the landscapes, views, flora, fauna, and even weather conditions changed. Care and attention in any weather and, most importantly, the attitude - positive and friendly, even to the hundred-thousandth question. How do they manage it?! Although I didn't have plans to return to the Kola Peninsula at the start, they appeared.

With Pasha and Anya, it's interesting to embark on a new route and continue to discover the North for myself.

P.S. Pasha, we took turns and organized дежурство on your website to not miss the new season's calendar. I feel there will be a fight for the treks!

The first thing I want to write about is safety on the hike. 
A feeling that envelops you right away and doesn't leave, neither during the day nor at night. Everything was thought out and provided for. 

I was impressed by the route! 
A walk along the White Sea coast, damp mossy bogs, a bright autumn forest, a comfortable ascent to the hills along soft reindeer moss. It's hard to believe that you can see such diversity in just 6 days of travel! 

An abnormal drought made some adjustments, but alternative routes were known in advance and explored on site, so we didn't lose anything in terms of the beauty or comfort of the campsites.

It wasn't difficult to walk. Thanks to two guides, the leader and the rear guard, you could choose a relaxed pace or, conversely, speed up. So, it doesn't matter who you are — Achilles or a turtle, you will still meet! 

Comfortable daily routine. Everything was clear and agreed upon in advance, there was always time to rest, to pack without fuss and haste.

We formed a very friendly team. It's great that the north attracts so many different and interesting people! Our guides organized the evening leisure activities great. It was warm and fun in any weather!

Not least, the good mood was contributed by the menu. Every day it seems that nothing can surpass this dinner, but then the next day comes... Special thanks for the delicious coffee! 

Kola, we've seen you! You're beautiful! You're with us for life!

Pasha and Anya, thank you so much.

"To brand on the heart with iron red-hot
Four hot words — 'I want to be in love forever'"

That's how I would describe the feeling when I return to the north!

From the first day, you fall in love with the простор of the tundra, the nature of the Kola Peninsula, soft reindeer moss underfoot, harsh wind, and cold sea!

It's a real Arctic fever, and I was lucky to experience it on hikes with Pasha — a person without whom this incredible story would not exist! Do you want to feel the real 'warmth' of the north? Then you need to go on a hike with him!

Pavel Rudenko is a love for his work, nature, and the history of the Kola Peninsula, as well as for the people he leads through the endless tundra! 

You can talk about food on a hike forever — it's delicious, varied, and nutritious! And Pasha also has a cozy vezhha that warms the company in the evening. 

Pasha always takes an individual approach to everyone, to their preparation, and will definitely help to choose the right gear for the hike. If you want to know my opinion, hikes with Pavel are the best!

The Kola North is a place that you can't visit once and not think about returning. This is what happened to me, no matter how many times I visited it, you leave with a sad heart, it doesn't let you go, this is what happened this year as well.

Having explored a little of the northern part of the Kola Peninsula and the coast of the Barents Sea, I decided to see what's there in the south, because there's also a sea there, the White Sea, and who else but Pavel Rudenko can take you there, to walk through impassable forests, swamps, immerse yourself in mosses, walk on reindeer moss and eat berries to your heart's content and reach the seashore. The decision was made and the trek should happen.

The weather in the Kola Peninsula made the impossible possible, the lack of rain and high temperatures made it possible to trek in boots, as the moisture decreased significantly, the forest is dry, the temperature is comfortable, the almost complete absence of rain made this trek as relaxing as possible. But this will not always be the case and it is important to know, the Kola Peninsula does not forgive mistakes and does not like relaxed tourists, so you need to get ready thoroughly.

The Tersky coast amazed with its diverse nature, it differs from the northern coast, the forest is overgrown with fallen trees, in the center of which there are fantastic reindeer moss fields, a lot of berries, no mice or other small rodents and, as a result, no predators (foxes) that can put on a show in the camp at night for careless tourists. Unreal views from the hills to the sea and islands, and after we reached the shore and walked for two days along the low tide, it's just out of this world.

The sea is full of colorful jellyfish, kelp and other marine flora and fauna under your feet, and ahead, among the stones, you can observe those who feed on all these gifts, the owner of the taiga, the Brown bear, who slowly wanders along the shore and does not pay attention to tourists, but you should not relax, after all, it's a wild and very large animal, but not conflict, and therefore, having made some noise, we sent him into the forest for berries, and went further ourselves.

The sea is calmer and quieter than the Barents Sea, but it also has its own power, on the way we met sea seals, swimming in a large company, they sometimes looked at us, how we walk and watch them with monoculars, by the way, all the equipment for safety and observation is provided by the guide and it's just an incredibly convenient service.

Food on the route is a whole different story, the cuisine is diverse and very nutritious, if you want to lose weight on a trek, it's not about Pasha and Anya. These two people cooked such dishes that some participants lost their speech. I won't tell you about the menu, you'll see everything for yourself.

The campsites are organized with the best views of all the beauty of the nature of the north and with the possibility of radial walks without backpacks. The route is absolutely not stressful and very beautiful, the locations change one another as in a movie, first the forest, then the sea, then the forest again, then the hills, lakes and of course the aurora, otherwise it wouldn't be the Kola Peninsula.

Sometimes it seems that the trek with Pavel Rudenko has a certain scenario and everything happens as if according to it, first a bear, then ptarmigans, then the aurora, then a meteor shower and it's very cool when it happens like that.

I highly recommend this trek as a way to clear your head of unnecessary clutter and just relax your soul and body.
The north is in the blood, the fire is in the chest.

It was an amazing trek! The Kola Peninsula is beautiful!

I fulfilled a long-held dream — to see the autumn tundra. We had a very eventful adventure: we saw bears, sea seals, the northern lights, the White Sea, swam in the seas of lingonberries and blueberries, experienced harsh northern weather (thankfully, just for one day).

I especially enjoyed the people! The team was diverse and interesting.

But the main discovery of this trek — Pasha and Anya! I'm delighted with the guys as professionals and as people. Perfect organization, attention to detail, impressive depth of expertise, great sense of humor, openness, sincerity, sensitivity.

I'm incredibly glad that I had the chance to meet such amazing people. I'm under a huge impression from our trip and looking forward to the next season.

I'm very glad that I went on a hike through the tundras of the White Sea.

It's a great way to end the season and the aftertaste is just amazing! The organization is top notch, confidence in everything - I had a backpack record for self-supported hikes (13.5 kg including food), while still taking everything I needed; a very balanced route - uniform load by day, my knee didn't even bother me (usually hurts by the middle of the hike).

The route is diverse - you don't have time to get used to the views, you walk through the forest / along the coast / on hills, the stops are top.
Safety is top notch - everyone understands how to act, there are flares, survival blankets. The most vivid emotions are, of course, the northern lights and watching a bear. I liked our evenings in the chum.

The food was delicious, the instructors were attentive and empathetic, and it's also good that the final day is added for rest/restaurant/shopping and a trip to the museum. The team is selected perfectly, we didn't stretch out and walked at a fairly fast pace, breaks on time (and in the right blueberry-cowberry place).

In general, there will be something to nostalgia about on winter evenings =)