Along the “Starinnaja pomorskaja derewnja Umba” (Old Pomor Village of Umba) walking trail in Umba, seven information boards tell the story of the settlement, the Pomors, their livelihoods and everyday life. The guided trail is 5.5 kilometers long, runs alongside a river and leads to the sea; along the way, it offers insights into northern wooden architecture. The guided walk must be booked at least two days in advance. Check the current arrangements before your visit.
Pomor Culture and Museums in Umba
The Museum of the History, Culture and Daily Life of the Tersky Pomors offers a deeper look at the region’s history of life and work. Its exhibition covers the livelihoods of the Tersky Pomors from the 18th to the early 20th century: fishing, hunting marine mammals, shipbuilding and pearl fishing. It also focuses on crafts and trades, including carpentry and joinery, woodworking, shoemaking, women’s crafts and needlework. The exhibition thus ranges from the coastal economy to the materials and skills of everyday life.
The open-air Tonia “Tetrina” complex, documented since the 15th century, offers another way to explore history and ethnography. Umba is also home to a literary museum dedicated to Dmitry Balashov, located in the Tersky Intermunicipal Library. The Amethyst Museum explores the deposit at Cape Korabl, natural and artificial types of quartz, and amethysts from deposits across Russia and the world. Check current access arrangements before visiting the literary or amethyst museum.
Kanozero: Water Route and Rock Art
A water route along the Umba passes through Kanozero to the Kanozero Petroglyphs complex. During a season, up to several thousand water tourists travel along the Umba through Kanozero. The Kanozero Petroglyphs Museum Reserve offers a trip to the lake, where islands feature a complex of rock art designated a cultural heritage site of federal significance. Check the current dates and conditions for this excursion.
Nature Destinations with Specific Visiting Requirements
Teriberka Nature Park protects nesting sites of rare bird species and two bird colonies of black-legged kittiwakes and rare cormorants. Protected natural features also include plants listed in the Red Data Book and natural landmarks such as the cliffs of Teriberka. The Batereysky Waterfall is another striking natural feature: water from Lake Maloye Batareyskoye plunges over steep cliffs and flows via the waterfall into the Barents Sea. Visiting the nature park requires a permit, which must be applied for online, and payment of an entrance fee. Check the current process before your trip.
The Lapland Nature Reserve is in the central part of Murmansk Oblast, seven kilometers from Monchegorsk. Visits are possible only with prior approval; this also applies to independent walks. Confirm the requirements before you arrive. This makes planning a visit to the reserve different from hiking the Umba trail, where the key requirement is to book the guided tour in good time.
Regional Routes with Different Focuses
The national route “Zapoljarnyj kalejdoskop” (Polar Kaleidoscope) presents the history of Murmansk Oblast, from the exploration of the Kola Arctic by Indigenous peoples to the present day. Another national route, “Ot Barenzewa do Belogo” (From the Barents Sea to the White Sea), is described as a week-long tour through the north of the Kola Peninsula that leads to the Khibiny Plateau. The routes therefore have different focuses: one follows a historical arc through the region, while the other provides the framework for a multi-day tour. Check the current route before planning your trip around it.
Discover more destinations: Kirovsk, Kandalaksha, Monchegorsk, Kirovsk, Murmansk, Kandalaksha, City of Monchegorsk, Fedoseyevka, Murmansk, Pirenga, Apatity, Lovozero, Shonguy, Pushnoy, Polyarnye Zori, Kolvitsa, Verkhnetulomsky, Loparskaya, Kovdor, Kildinstroy, Zelenoborsky, Zapolyarny, Teriberka, Tersky District, Tersky District, Severomorsk, City of Olenegorsk, Kola District, Pechengsky District.
For the overview of the wider region: Russia.
