Russian Border Hike to Boris Gleb Church

Join us on a full-day hike along the Norwegian–Russian border, leading to the historic Boris Gleb Church, a place that shaped the border 200 years ago.

We start with a 20-minute drive from Kirkenes to the trailhead before heading into Arctic wilderness. The route follows a varied landscape of birch forest, rocky terrain and small lakes. As we gain elevation, the scenery opens up to wide views across the border zone.

During the hike, we walk along the actual border line between Norway and Russia, passing viewpoints overlooking the Pasvik river and the church. One slightly “thrilling” moment is when we cross a fence along the border. It feels quite dramatic at first, as we’ve been walking next to what looks like a strict border fence for a while. In reality, it is a reindeer fence, but it definitely adds a bit of excitement to the experience.

As we continue, we make our way behind the Boris Gleb Church, where we get a beautiful and rather unique perspective of this historic site and the surrounding landscape. The church itself dates back to 1565 and is one of the key landmarks that shaped the border between Norway and Russia in 1826. It sits in a remote and atmospheric area, which makes the whole experience feel quite special.

We take our time, including breaks for snacks and photos, allowing around 7 hours in total. Along the way, we share insights into World War II history, Cold War tensions, and the influence of current Russia–NATO relations on life in this borderland today.