Weekend Biking Tour in the Vetluga River Area

 Duration of the trip: 3 days

The biking tour takes place in the Nizhny Novgorod region, in the area around the Vetluga river. One of the key points of interest in the area is the Svetloyar lake.

Svetloyar has long been the subject of legends and tales. This lake, almost perfectly oval in shape and filled with cold, clear water, is unlike anything else in the landscape of the forests beyond the VolgaRiver. Scientists do not agree on how the lake was formed; some geologists believe that Svetloyar was created by an earthquake, while others argue that the lake sits in the crater of a prehistoric meteorite. According to an ancient tale, the mythical city of Kitezh, sometimes called “the Russian Atlantis”, submerged itself in the Svetloyar lake in order to escape the Tatar invasion. The unique energy and mythology of the lake attracts thousands of Christian Orthodox and Old Believers yearly.

There are other sights near Svetloyar that are worth visiting: the Kibelek spring, the tomb of the three bogatyrs (medieval Russian warriors), and the lakeNestiyar. The Kibelek spring is considered a sacred spring, with its water having healing qualities. The lakeNestiyar is not as well-known as Svetloyar, but is as beautiful and remarkable.

Day 1. 9.00: Departure from the Team Gorky office. Bus transfer to Bokovaya village (120 km or 75 miles along the Nizhny Novgorod – Kirov route). Beginning of the biking tour: cycling from Bokovaya village to Vladimirskoye settlement (10 km or 6 miles). Lunch. Guided tour to the legendary Svetloyar lake and the Kibelek spring. Cycling through Voskresenskoye village to the recreational center “Sunflowers” (30 km or 18 miles). Accommodation in log cabins. Dinner.

Day 2. After breakfast – cycling to the mytical lake of Nestiar (35 km or 22 miles). Lunch at the lake. Return to the recreational center. Russian banya. Dinner.

Day 3. After breakfast – cycling to Troitskoye settlement on the Vetluga river (40 km or 25 miles). Viewing of an ancient wooden church. Continuation of the biking trip in the direction of Krasnye Baky. At around 17.00 — departure to Nizhny Novgorod by bus (140 km or 87 miles).

Price: 18 900 rubles per person (for a group of 10 people or more). 30% discount for children under 12.

The price includes:

—         support bus accompanying you during the entire trip;

—         accommodation in log cabins at the recreational center;

—         3 meals a day during the tour;

—         still bottled water;

—         all the necessary equipment, including mountain bikes;

—         Team Gorky guides accompanying you during the entire trip;

—         Insurance.

The price does not include: additional services at the recreational center, banya, alcoholic drinks.

—         Log banya cabin, capacity — maximum 10 people – 1 600 rubles for 2 hours. The price includes bedsheets, tea, banya besoms.