Lake Velje is located in the center of the Valdai National Park, 50 kilometers south of the city of Valdai. It is one of the largest lakes of the Valdai upland and is connected by several channels with the even larger Lake Seliger. Tourists come to Lake Velje for fishing and camping from all over the European part of Russia.
Like all lakes of the Valdai Upland, the Valley has a rugged coastline. The lake stretches for 25 kilometers from north to south, its area is 34.7 km2. There are about 200 islands on Lake Velje with a large number of channels between them. Due to the size of the lake, there are a lot of convenient places for camping on the shore, so thousands of outdoor’s holiday lovers come here every summer. They all find places to go swimming and fishing. According to the conclusion of ecologists, the water in Lake Velje is so pure that it can be drunk.
A high-quality paved road runs along the western shore of Lake Velje. Here, houses are rented in all villages for tourists who prefer a comfortable stay on the lake shore. As a rule, houses are rented for large companies or families. During the day, you can swim, SUP-board, and fish. In the evening, go to the sauna and have a picnic. Given the magnificent ecology of these places, such a holiday is very popular.
The eastern and southern shores of Lake Velje are difficult to reach for ordinary tourists. There is a road here, but it is a dirt road of very poor quality. It can only be driven by off-road vehicles. It is easier to reach some villages by boat from the opposite shore. If you do not have a specially prepared SUV, then it is easier to sail to the camp areas of the east coast from the west coast in any case.
If you have a wish to walk along the Great Valdai trail, then you can do it near the village of Myslovichi. It is located near the northern shore of Lake Velje. From this village, you can take a short walk along the trail and see two natural attractions marked on the website of the Valdai National Park.
800 meters from the village there is one of the equipped camp area of the Valdai Trail near Lake Mokhovoe. If you walk a few hundred meters further, you will see a Bridge over the beaver dam. The dam itself is no longer there, but the place is very picturesque. If you go even further, you will reach the tower at the top of Mount Ryzhokha. You can climb it to see the forest expanses of the Valdai National Park. Mount Ryzhokha is located 3.2 kilometers from the village of Myslovichi. Thus, the walk to Ryzhokha and back will be 6.5 kilometers.
