In Kovdor, local history and a remarkable mineralogical collection meet routes in the area around Vars Hill. The local history museum and the different trails offer two distinct focal points for planning your stay: exhibitions and collection items on the one hand, and hiking routes and ski runs on the other.

Local History and Minerals at the Museum

The local history museum in Kovdor features 19 exhibitions on the history of the town and its surroundings. Topics include rare exhibits from the late 19th century, as well as objects relating to the everyday lives and activities of the region’s early settlers, including the Sámi. The collections comprise more than 7,000 objects in total.

Minerals from the Kovdor Massif are a separate focus. The museum describes Kovdorskite, Girvasite, Yonite, and Rimkorolgite as endemic minerals that were first found and described in Kovdor and occur nowhere else in the world. The museum’s collections thus highlight both the history of the town and its early inhabitants, and the region’s mineralogy.

Hiking Trails and Ski Runs at Vars

Near Kovdor, in the area around Vars Hill, runs the «Po sledu polyarnoy sovy» eco-trail. It has three routes measuring 3, 6, and 12 kilometres. The entrance to the ecological hiking and educational trail is at the foot of the hill; the route is described as a summer trail. The three distances give you a specific choice when planning a walk or a longer hike.

Vars is also home to the «Vars» ski complex, with a 630-metre main run and a 1.2-kilometre forest run. The figures distinguish two ski runs from the eco-trail’s three route lengths, allowing you to compare hiking and skiing options in the area by their stated distances. Check the ski complex’s current operating conditions before visiting.

More Places to Explore in Murmansk Oblast

Murmansk Oblast also offers distinctive cultural and natural attractions. In Umba, the exhibition at the Museum of History, Culture and Everyday Life of the Tersky Pomors covers occupations from the 18th to the early 20th century, including fishing, hunting marine mammals, shipbuilding, and pearl fishing. Other exhibition topics include carpentry and joinery, woodworking, shoemaking, and women’s crafts and needlework.

The 5.5-kilometre «Starinnaya pomorskaya derevnya Umba» hiking trail also runs through Umba. It follows a river to the sea and offers insights into northern wooden architecture and the everyday life of the Pomors. Seven information boards along the trail cover the history of the settlement, the Pomors, their occupations, and their daily lives. The guided route must be booked at least two days in advance; check the current arrangements beforehand.

Another natural attraction in the region is Teriberka Nature Park. It protects nesting sites for rare bird species, including two colonies of kittiwakes and rare cormorants, as well as plants listed in the Red Data Book and natural landmarks such as the cliffs of Teriberka. At Batereysky Waterfall, water from Lake Maloye Batareyskoye plunges over steep rocks and flows into the Barents Sea. Visiting the nature park requires a permit applied for online and an entrance fee; check the current procedure beforehand.

Discover More Destinations

Kolvitsa, Kildinstroy, Kandalaksha, Loparskaya, Apatity, Pirenga, Zelenoborsky, Murmansk

For the main travel overview: Murmansk Oblast.