Active sports and recreation in the Arctic

If you have long dreamed of watching whales in their natural habitat, the Murmansk region is the right place for this.

In late spring and early summer in the Barents Sea, you can meet a small striped and humpback whale, which more often than other whales come to the coast of the Kola Peninsula in search of shoals of fish. Killer whales, fin whales, narwhals, belugas, a blue whale and even a sperm whale often appear on the horizon.

Unique photo frames and tons of salty splashes are provided!

➢ Detailed review of "Meeting with whales"

A feature of this sport is the presence of a paddle, thanks to which the surfer controls the board and keeps the balance.

Absolutely everyone can learn this process, regardless of age and level of athletic training. For those who do not have any training at all, there is an alternative way of riding - kneeling or sitting.

Snowboarding is a great way to keep fit, which promotes the development of a sense of balance and control of the body. 

River rafting on catamarans, rafts and canoes is one of the most popular types of outdoor activities on the Kola Peninsula. In a region where several thousand rivers flow, among which there are many stormy ones, all conditions for water routes have been created.

The reservoirs of the Kola Peninsula are located in such a way that during rafting you do not have to travel long distances by land: in one trip you can visit several rivers of the Arctic at once.

The most popular rivers for rafting are Pecha, Varzuga, Umba and Kolvitsa. They are ideal in terms of length and possible route changes. Long hikes with a combination of hiking and water extreme routes are possible on the rivers Iokanga, Ponoy and Pana.

For a family holiday, rafting in the Verkhnetulomsky reservoir area is suitable – a leisurely trip south from the village of Verkhnetulomsky, as well as rafting along the rivers of the southeastern part of the Kola Peninsula on the Indel-Pan-Varzuga route.   

The northern sky, hills, ships, thousands of birds nesting on the rocks... A boat trip will definitely be an excellent option for tourist activity and a good opportunity to get acquainted with the "outer" side of Murmansk!

A walk along the waters of the Kola Bay is available to everyone from mid-May to October, its duration is three hours, on board the ship there is everything necessary for a comfortable and safe pastime for adults and children. 

This is a water sport where you hold on to a rope and race after a boat on a special board. At the same time, the legs are fixed as on a snowboard.  

In May, with the onset of the polar day, the Kola yachting season begins, which lasts until September.

For those who are just planning to take the first steps in sailing, experienced yachtsmen will come to the rescue. 

Sailing holidays are one of the best ways to break away from the hustle and bustle of the city and breathe in the atmosphere of sea romance!

Snowkiting fans are waiting for the appearance of snow puffs every year. An athlete stands on skis or snowboard and drags a tow kite behind him. It is necessary to catch the right wind direction – and you can accelerate to a speed of 70 km /h.

The ideal month for snowkiting on the Kola Peninsula is March

The wind blows 9 days out of 10, the air temperature does not fall below 10 degrees, heavy snowfalls create an ideal puffy for skiing.

And of course, the vast expanses and hilly terrain of the tundra with a height difference of up to 300 m become an excellent platform for demonstrating their capabilities!                            

When ice shackles reservoirs in winter, windsurfers – athletes come out on it, who set themselves movement and direction on a light board with the help of a sail.

A favorite place for windsurfing is Lake Imandra.

Ice-floating is bathing in icy water in a special rescue suit that completely covers the body and keeps it on the surface of the water for up to 6 hours.

The suit is put on your clothes and shoes, you stay absolutely dry and do not freeze in icy water.

Swimming with ice floes in the waters of the White Sea is suitable even for those who do not know how to swim!

Snowshoes are the most ancient device that allows a person to move quickly through deep snow without spending much effort on it.

Snowshoeing is a great way to keep active in winter. You can go hiking on snowshoes with a company of any age and any level of training.

An absolute novelty for the region, gaining popularity all over the world!

Lovers of conquering glaciers have created a separate direction in mountaineering – ice climbing.

The most unusual thing about this type of outdoor activity is that absolutely any high icy objects are at your disposal: from giant icicles to waterfalls and mountains.

The peculiarity of ice climbing is the fragility of ice, so this sport is considered not only unusual, but also very extreme.

Please note: ● Independent lifting is prohibited

● Ice climbing classes are conducted strictly accompanied by a guide

● Classes are conducted by an instructor of the Murmansk Region Mountaineering Federation

Many travel companies offer to get acquainted with the beauty of the winter Kola Peninsula with the help of snowmobile tours. This type of transport allows you to try out snow passes, ascents and descents that are inaccessible to hikers.

The main bonus is the endless picturesque northern expanses, which take your breath away!

The Barents Sea is great for winter surfing.

For example, every winter athletes from all over the region come to Teriberka to catch a wave. Of course, they do it in special water suits so as not to freeze.

Among the snow-covered rocks and the polar beauty, surfing is especially attractive! 

This type of diving is becoming more and more popular among the inhabitants of the Arctic.

The difficulty of diving is given by almost complete darkness – the sun's rays penetrate very weakly through the ice. A flashlight comes to the rescue, which helps to study underwater life and explore ice caves.