Arrival in Murmansk and travelling

During the season 2010 Varzina Trout program starts and ends on Thursdays from Murmansk via Lovozero Lovozero whereas Varzina Main Lodge program starts and ends on Saturdays from Murmansk. Most clients arrive to Murmansk or directly to Lovozero village by Finnish bus on Thursdays. Rovaniemi-Salla-Lovozero-Salla-Rovaniemi bus trip + possible hotel overnight on the way are not included in the trip price and are invoiced separately by us. On Thursdays those trout camp clients who have arrived in Murmansk will be taken by bus from Murmansk to Lovozero village (2,5-3 hours) for further helicopter transfer to Varzina Trout Camp (35 minutes). This Murmansk-Lovozero-Murmansk bus trip includes in the price of the trip.

In most cases Varzina Trout clients travel to Lovozero via Finnish cities Helsinki - Rovaniemi - Salla (flight + bus to Lovozero)or they come directly to Salla border station customer parking area by private cars and leave their cars there for the whole week. All clients need to book their flight tickets/train tickets to Rovaniemi/Salla and back independently.Please check with your air carrier about the flight schedules and ticket prices as well as weight & other limitations for luggage and items that are classified as dangerous (for example how to pack the hooks, scissors etc. for your flights). The basic rule for bus transportation between Finland and Lovozero is that the bus always starts from Rovaniemi around 04-05 am on Thursday mornings and comes back on next week´s Thursday if there has not been any delays in helicopter schedules due to inclement weather. If it seems the bus cannot reach the national border by the time border station closes, we will stay overnight in some hotel in the Russian side of the border. In this case decision is always made by the bus driver. In such delays caused by force majeure factors (bad weather) all extra costs (hotels, food etc.) will be paid by client himself

We do not recommend Trout camp clients to plan to arrive in Murmansk from St. Petersburg or Moscow as Russian domestic flights are subject to cancellations and delays and frequently start at strange hours and this could cause being late for further helicopter transportation. If you, however, plan to book flights via Russia due to for example some work visit to Russia on your way, please send us by email your exact trip route plan/flight schedule as early as possible before the trip. We need to know your time of arrival in Murmansk in order to be prepared for it.

PLEASE DO NOT BOOK ANY HELSINKI-ROVANIEMI-HELSINKI FLIGHTS BEFORE YOU HAVE CONSULTED US ABOUT MORE DETAILS ON BUS SCHEDULES!

At the Russian Customs

All trout clients traveling to Lovozero by bus from Rovaniemi through the Customs in Salla. The Customs opening hours are from 07am to 21pm Finnish time. When entering the Customs you will have to fill out a special Customs Declaration Form if you have currency in the amount of 3000 US dollars or more OR if you have such special or valuable items along that need to be marked down (See Downloads and list of such items on the declaration sheet). If you have less than 3000 USD and not any special items with you there is no need to fill up the Declaration form. Usually the only special items that fishermen have taken along as extra and are sometimes good to mark down are the cameras, mobile phones and different kinds of players. These are so called "Items temporarily taken into Russia" (see declaration form chapter 3.11). If you make a cross in the chapter 3.11, please write the exact item name with details also on the chapter 4.1 on the declaration form.

This is just to show that you have had these items with you when you enter Russia and later, if your item will be for example stolen during the trip, this Form could act as an evidence for you and Russian officials that you have had this item with you on your arrival to Russia. Customs Declaration Form is handed to the customs official, who then stamps it and hands it back. Please keep this form with you for the whole duration of your trip. On your departure at the Customs you must fill in a new declaration form and give both of them to the customs officer. Sometimes Russian Customs just stamps the one you have filled in on your entry and there is no need to fill in a new form. Always follow the latest instructions given at the Customs on your arrival

Clients travelling into border by bus need to go inside the Customs and take the luggage and passport with you. Sometimes this needs not to be done if some Russian Customs officer comes to check your group inside your bus. Before entering the Customs on entry to Russia you will also have to fill in a special Migration Card. These cards are available only prior to Customs and can not be downloaded elsewhere before the trip. Please fill in carefully both upper and lower part of the Migration Card. Your host organization in Murmansk is called "OOO SPORTFISH TOUR" and this information will be asked on the Migration card

After you pass the Customs in Salla, the bus will take you to Lovozero (approx.5-6 hours drive) where the further helicopter (MI-8) transportation (approx. 35 minutes depending on the weather) to Varzina Trout camp starts in the late afternoon on Thursdays. In Lovozero you will be met by our Russian representatives and they will give you more details on further schedule and up-to-date weather conditions in the area. If you have travelled from your home directly to Murmansk (and not traveling by bus from Rovaniemi-Salla) the transportation to Lovozero will be organized for you (included in the price) by our Russian staff members from Murmansk (Murmansk-Lovozero is about 3 hours´ drive). Our Russian tour organizer always tries to make the flight as comfortable for the clients as possible but taking along good hearing protectors is not any bad idea.

Please note! Keep on eye on your luggage all the time and especially when on Russian side of the border.Do not leave it for a minute without surveillance. If staying overnight in hotel please carry your own luggage from the bus into your hotel room and same way back in the morning. We do not have Varzina staff members to help you in the hotels in Rovaniemi, Salla or any Russian cities.

A word of caution about the Murmansk Airport: small but valuable items, such as cameras and reels, have a nasty habit of disappearing from bags´ side pockets. VRC urges you to pack all such items in you carry-on bag and carefully lock other bags. Duffel bags are even best to be taped shut, as they are relatively easy to open even when locked unless they are completely full.