At the Talviukko estate in Chalna, exhibitions and a curated Sámi presentation come together with activities involving sled dogs and reindeer. The “Tuomi” Ethnocultural Centre also offers handicraft courses and music groups. Chalna therefore offers a range of cultural and active experiences to consider when planning your trip.

Exhibitions and Sámi Culture

At Lumikki Palace on the Talviukko estate, the “Armas Karjala” exhibition showcases sights in Karelia. “Skazochnaya strana” is also on display in the palace. The Sámi village on the estate features faithful replicas of dismantlable Kuuvak dwellings. Visitors can learn about Sámi life and culture there and visit a Sámi family. The site is a curated visitor presentation, not a historical Sámi settlement.

Courses and Music at the “Tuomi” Centre

The “Tuomi” Ethnocultural Centre offers courses in weaving, patchwork sewing, artistic painting and birch-bark weaving. Other topics include making traditional dolls and national costumes. The centre is also home to the Finnish vocal ensemble “Tuomi” and the Karelian group “Besedaine”. If you would like to plan for a specific course, check the date with the centre in advance; no performance dates are listed for the groups.

Huskies, Eco-Trail and Reindeer

The Talviukko sporting sled-dog kennel is home to Alaskan Huskies, Samoyeds, Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies. Visitors can meet and photograph the dogs. It is recommended that you go with a guide when visiting the kennel.

The eco-trail starts and ends at the kennel; between the two, it runs along the edge of the estate beside a forest and loops back. After an introduction to sled dogs and a safety briefing, visitors can ride in a husky-pulled cart or try dog trekking. At the reindeer farm, visitors can meet the reindeer and feed them lichen as part of the Northern Saga excursion. For activities at Talviukko, it is advisable to check current visitor options in advance.

Getting There by Bus

Chalna can be reached by suburban buses that travel along Suoyarvi Road. Check the current bus timetable before setting out to make sure your arrival fits the planned visiting times.

More Destinations in the Republic of Karelia

Beyond Chalna, the Republic of Karelia offers other distinct nature and culture experiences. A general excursion in the Kivach Nature Reserve includes an outdoor walk to the waterfall, as well as visits to the arboretum and the nature museum. The waterfall is on the Suna River in central Karelia, is 10.7 metres high and is considered Europe’s second-largest lowland waterfall after the Rhine Falls. A 1,000-metre circular trail passes through a wooded area on the banks of the Suna, near the excursion zone. You can allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the excursion; check visiting conditions and booking options with the nature reserve.

The “Kizhi” Museum Reserve displays 89 monuments of traditional wooden architecture in the open air, including chapels, houses, mills, granaries, threshing barns and drying racks. Visitors can see inside the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God and peasant houses; traditional peasant crafts are demonstrated in the houses. The Republic of Karelia thus brings together a range of experiences: nature and excursions in the Kivach area, and wooden architecture and crafts at the Kizhi Museum Reserve.

Discover more destinations: Pedaselga, Uzheselga, Sofporog, Kindasovo, Medvezhyegorsk, Yashëzero, Tungozero, Velikaya Guba

For the broader travel overview: Republic of Karelia.