In Belichye, two water activities with different planning requirements can be distinguished: a SUP route that depends on the season and water levels, and a three-day kayaking tour. The Belichye base is in the village, 180 metres from Lake Vuoksa. This distance offers a specific point of reference for anyone considering the lake’s proximity when choosing where to stay.

Scenery and location in Belichye

Near Belich’ye, the mouth of the Vuoksa widens into a large lake with numerous islands. Old pines, birches and fruit trees grow on the grounds of the Belichye base; there is also a pond fed by underground springs. A boat dock is located on the grounds by the shore. These landmarks operate on different scales: the lake and islands describe the landscape around Belichye, while the trees, pond and dock are part of the base’s grounds.

SUP: Take water levels and season into account

The linear SUP route along the Belichya Protoka ends at the bridge in Belichye. When water levels are high, the Belichya Protoka is comfortably navigable on SUP boards from early May until the first half of June. Planning therefore depends on two conditions: the seasonal window and high water levels. The calendar alone does not guarantee suitable water conditions; check them before finalising your SUP plans.

This makes the SUP option particularly dependent on when you travel. If you have a particular week in mind for your stay, take water levels into account along with the stated period. This keeps the seasonal limitation part of your decision, rather than treating the time frame as a general guarantee for every outing.

Kayaking tour: three days and around 45 to 50 kilometres

The three-day kayaking tour “Malaya Krugosvetka No. 2” starts at the road bridge in Belichye. It first follows the Belichyi protoki towards Vasilievo. The tour is about 45 to 50 kilometres long. With its stated duration and approximate distance, it is a multi-day option that can be planned differently from a SUP outing, which depends on the season and water levels.

Choosing between the two activities therefore involves different planning questions: does a three-day route of around 45 to 50 kilometres fit into your trip, or would you prefer to check whether SUP is possible during the seasonal water-level window? For the kayaking tour, confirm current dates and availability with the operator, as tour details may change.

Further natural attractions in Leningrad Oblast

In the wider destination of Leningrad Oblast, Vepsian Forest Nature Park offers its own regional natural highlights. It lies in the far eastern part of Leningrad Oblast and includes seven protected areas with particularly strict conservation rules. Numerous lakes define the park; the largest is Lake Lerinskoye, in the protected area of the same name.

Among the nature park’s special features are the preserved old spruce and pine forests in the “Vepsskiy les” and “Ashchozyorskiy” protected areas. They are important for numerous organisms that can survive only in forests undisturbed by economic activity. The Vepsians also traditionally live in the nature park: a small people of Russia with their own culture and traditions. These regional natural and cultural themes add to the picture of Belichye’s waterscape without conflating it with the features of the village itself.

Discover more destinations: Vyra, Terebochevo, Kingissepp, Sinyovo, Ogonki, Ushaki, Pervomayskoye, Runovo

For the wider travel guide: Leningrad Oblast.