Paanajarvi: Russia’s Winter Wonderland

As I never tire of admiring winter landscapes, three days in Karelia was something of a dream for me! We spent three days there, riding snowmobiles through Paanajarvi National Park.

Picturesque Karelia view

Driving snowmobile

Forest view in Karelia

Amazing view aroun in Karelia

The first few minutes riding over the lake were quite scary but it didn’t take long for me to get an adrenalin buzz! Everything you see around you is stunning; endless expanses of pure, untouched nature.

White snow view

Karelia nature winter

Relaxing outside in winter

Snow view Karelia

A wild elk in Karelia

Paanajarvi is located in the north-west of the Republic of Karelia in Russia. The Park’s melodious name comes from the unique lake, Paanajarvi, the deepest of the smaller lakes of Fennoscandia, which was formed in the bedrock rift.

A breath-taking view of Karelia

Kivakovski waterfall

Enjoying the views of Karelia

The park itself is amazingly picturesque - mountain ridges split by deep gorges, numerous lakes and various mires, fast streams with frothing rapids and waterfalls break up the terrain.

Pine trees in Karelia

Selfie in Karelia

Night-time view of Karelia

The slopes of the hills and valleys are covered with pristine almost untouched forest, dominated by spruce trees. But, as a picture is worth a thousand words, I’ll let Paanajarvi speak for itself!

Like this post?

Chat with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter or share it with your friends.

    You might also be interested in:

  • To visit America and to see one of the real natural wonders - the Grand Canyon - was the dream of my life. But I never even dreamt about flying over it. A helicopter tour appeared to be something really amazing and a must have experience.

  • With the days getting shorter and a distinct autumn chill in the air, it seems like the glorious summer days are behind us. But that's nothing to be sad about! We've put together a list of the top ten places to visit this autumn, so whether you want to extend your summer, experience gorgeous golden leaves, or simply go somewhere you've never been before, you'll find something on our list to suit you.

  • This winter, the TripTemptation team were lucky enough to be invited to explore, and enjoy, the Bardonecchia Ski Resort; a cozy, and small, Italian town, located in the province of Turin in the western part of the Italian Alps. Its history began at the start of the 20th century, and since then it has become one of the most popular ski resorts in the whole Alpine region.

  • For a vacation that the whole family will enjoy, opt for a resort with plenty of facilities and a wide variety of activities.

  • Not many people know that not far from the capital city of Riga, Latvia, lies such a unique and truly beautiful place. I just happened to stumble upon it after a long bike ride with my husband. I can’t say I’d recommend going to Ķemeri Park on a bike though – the wooden trails are so narrow, I fell off my bike straight into the swamp! With my bike and camera… Of course this added entertainment value but I’d rather not repeat the experience!

  • Switzerland is popular not only for its cheese and watches, but also for its unbelievable scenery so, when we went to Zurich, we decided it would be a shame to spend the whole weekend in one city.


Written by

There are two things in my life that I love the most – traveling and photography They go together perfectly. Traveling always inspires me to capture the best moments, to show my feelings and emotions through pictures. And it’s always exciting for me that my feelings and emotions are interesting for thousands of people, who read my blog on Live Journal.

Want to write for us?

We write about the most luxurious, unique, amazing travel experience. If you are really passionate about traveling and can provide good quality pictures, let's talk.