The White Sea is one of the most beautiful among the seas of northern Russia. The nature here is untouched by man, and the local animal life is rich and unique. Being part of Russia’s inland sea it belongs to the Arctic Ocean basin. Every winter Greenland seals make their rookeries in the northern part of the White Sea and their calves are born there. In summer birds team-up on uninhabited islands to hatch eggs and rear their chicks. The sea is also home to the White whales.
The deserted seashores and numerous uninhabited islands provide scenic panoramas. Steep rocky shores are alternated with flat strips of taiga and mixed forest.

The underwater world of the White Sea boasts excellent scenery and magnificent sea life. You will see soft corals, sponges, starfish, crabs, hermit crabs, sea urchins, shrimps and sea anemones. Underwater rocks provide dwelling places for cod, wolffish, sea perch, butterfish and flounders. In winter lancet fish, tomcod flounder and pinogor will allow you to approach very closely.

The temperature of the water in winter is -0.5°C /23F at the surface and goes down to -3°C/26F at depth. Salinity of the White Sea is 27.5–28 parts per thousand, lower than the mean salinity of the Arctic Ocean. Tides are regular and semi-diurnal. Tide speed varies from 0.1–4m/sec. Water visibility ranges from 15–50m.

The climate of the White Sea is very changeable and unpredictable. The White Sea winter is long and severe. The mean temperature in February is -15°C /5F and may fall as low as -26°C/ -15F, and even -40°C when the Artic air masses take possession of the sea. The ice may be up to 1.5m thick. At times, warm air from the Atlantic raises the air temperature to +6°C/ 42F.

The Solovetski Archipelago treasures a monastery founded in XV century – a holy place for many Russian Orthodox followers. In the 1930s, the ancient Monastery was turned into the first Gulag concentration camp where thousands of people were martyred. The Archipelago was inhabited in the Stone Age, and many Neolithic monuments, labyrinths and dolmens can be seen here.

There are various possibilities to get to the Arctic Lodge.
You can go by train from Moscow and St. Petersburg or fly up to Murmansk.
The most easy way we recommend is to fly via Helsinki to Kusaamo.
Please contact us or your travel agent for international flight reservations, and inform us of your arrival date, time and flight number so that we can book hotel and airport transfers for you.

If you prefer to stay longer in Moscow, St. Petersburg or Kuusamo we will be glad to book accommodation and arrange a special programme for you. This could include, for example, city sightseeing, theatre visits, etc.

Finnair flies directly from London Heathrow to Kuusamo, other flights might have a stopover via Helsinki.
Our representative will meet you at the Kuusamo airport upon your arrival.
We recommend to spend one night in the nice area of Ruka before we take the long drive to the lodge. The transfer will take about 5-6 hours and is a beautiful ride through the wilderness of Finland and Russia. We pass the Finnish/Russian border at Sala.
Transfer prices from Kuusamo airport to the Lodge € 214 one way.

The free baggage allowance varies per airline. Usually it is 30 kg in business class and 20 kg in economy class. Please check with your airline the excess luggage rules as well as the rules for carrying sport- or scuba equipment.