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- Valdai Hills lookout points: Rolling, glacially sculpted hills give short-but-sweet panoramas over forests and lakes — the best spots for sunrise, quick photo stops, and to get a sense of why this landscape feels so layered and ancient.
- Lake Valday: The park’s largest and most photogenic lake with clear water, small islands and sandy/pebble shores — great for paddling, wild swimming (on a warm day) and calm evening reflections.
- Chain of glacial lakes (the “blue” lakes): A string of smaller, jewel-like lakes with striking blue or green water and sandy bottoms; they make for lovely short hikes between swimming spots and excellent natural swimming holes.
- Bogs and peatlands: Wide, quiet wetlands threaded with boardwalks and viewing platforms — botanically interesting, great for spotting dragonflies
- Valdai Hills lookout points: Rolling, glacially sculpted hills give short-but-sweet panoramas over forests and lakes — the best spots for sunrise, quick photo stops, and to get a sense of why this landscape feels so layered and ancient.
- Lake Valday: The park’s largest and most photogenic lake with clear water, small islands and sandy/pebble shores — great for paddling, wild swimming (on a warm day) and calm evening reflections.
- Chain of glacial lakes (the “blue” lakes): A string of smaller, jewel-like lakes with striking blue or green water and sandy bottoms; they make for lovely short hikes between swimming spots and excellent natural swimming holes.
- Bogs and peatlands: Wide, quiet wetlands threaded with boardwalks and viewing platforms — botanically interesting, great for spotting dragonflies and unusual bog plants, and a different kind of landscape contrast to the woods and open lakes.
- Old-growth mixed forests: Long stretches of pine, spruce and birch where you can pick berries and mushrooms in season, listen to capercaillie and warblers, and feel properly away from it all on shady walking trails.
- Wildlife watching: The park hosts beaver-active streams, waterfowl and raptors like osprey, and larger mammals such as elk and roe deer — best seen at dawn or dusk if you’re patient and quiet.
- Marked hiking and canoe routes: A practical network of day loops and multi-day trails plus canoe/kayak routes that let you combine forest walks with paddling across narrow channels — the easiest way to explore different moods of the park without needing specialized gear.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.