Frequent departures, year-round

 

The tour takes you beyond the two great capitals - Moscow and St. Petersburg - and allows to explore the country's rich cultural Heritage.

Besides the two Russian capitals, you will visit the historic Sergiev Posad, the ancient Vladimir,

Suzdal and Yaroslavl,

the history-filled towns of the legendary Golden Ring region  

Itinerary: 

 Moscow (3 nights) - Day train - Vladimir & Suzdal (2 nights) - van/coach to Yaroslavl (1 night) - 1st class overnight train (1 night) - St. Petersburg (2 nights)  

Itinerary Overview:  

Day 1   Arrive in Moscow, car transfer, check-in at hotel for 3 nights 
Day 2   Moscow, sightseeing (B) 
Day 3   Moscow, sightseeing (B) 
Day 4   Moscow. Sightseeing and Bullet day train to Vladimir. Transfer to Suzdal for 2 nights (B,L) 
Day 5   Sightseeing in Suzdal & Vladimir. Bogolyubovo village (B,L,D)  
Day 6   Suzdal -to- Yaroslavl, by van or coach. Overnight at the Ring Premier Hotel (D) 
Day 7   Yaroslavl. Sightseeing. PM: 1st class overnight train to St. Petersburg (L,D) 
Day 8   Arrive St. Petersburg for a 2 nights' stay. Half-day sightseeing (B)  
Day 9   St. Petersburg, full day sightseeing (B)  
Day 10  Depart St. Petersburg (B) 

Tour Features: 

● Accommodations at central 3 & 4-star hotels:
      in Moscow:  Novotel Moscow Centre hotel ****
      in Suzdal:    Veliy Boutique hotel or similar ***(*)
      in Yaroslavl:  Ring Premier Hotel **** 
      in St. Petersburg: Grand Catherine Hotel ****

● Breakfast daily; three meals in Vladimir & Suzdal
● High Speed day train, Moscow – Vladimir, a regular sitting category, dep 15.30 arr 17.19
● Individual transfers upon arrival in Moscow & departure transfer in St. Petersburg
● Major sightseeing in each city, with a licensed English-speaking guide
● Entrance fees to sites and museums included in the program

●    Sightseeing, Moscow: 

- New: out-of-town excursion to Gorki Leninski, the luxurious country Estate outside of Moscow, rarely visited by foreign tourists. Lunch is included 

     - A panoramic city tour of Moscow, with photo stops
     - A tour of the Kremlin territory
     - A guided tour of splendid Czar’s Treasures collection at Kremlin’s Armoury Museum
     - A tour of the Tretyakov Art Gallery 
     - A walking tour of the Old Arbat
     - Moscow Metro stations tour, with a train ride 

● Sightseeing, in Suzdal:
     - City tour of Suzdal including the Kremlin territory, Multi-Faceted Chambers, Cathedral of Nativity, Spasso-Efimiev Monastery with bell ringing 
     - A Museum of Wooden architecture

● Sightseeing, in Vladimir:
     - city tour of Vladimir including the Golden Gates, the Assumption cathedral or St. Dimitrius  Cathedral
     - the museum of lacquered miniatures 

     - a trip to the UNESCO-listed village of Bogolyubovo, outside of Vladimir

● Sightseeing, in Yaroslavl:
     - city tour of Yaroslavl 
  

●  Sightseeing, St. Petersburg:
- a panoramic City tour of St. Petersburg, with photo stops
- A visit inside historical Peter-&-Paul Fortress
- An overview tour of the Hermitage Museum 
- a trip outside of St. Petersburg to Pushkin to visit Catherine’s Palace with its famous Amber Room    

Day-By-Day Program:

DAY 1   FRI | Arrive in Moscow 
You will be met and transferred to the central Novotel Moscow Centre Hotel **** for a 3 nights' stay

DAY 2   SAT | In Moscow. Sightseeing 
Today visit the famous Tretyakov Art Gallery, the world class repository of Russian art displayed in world class surrounding. Appropriately enough, this is also the home to the finest collection of Russian icons in the world. Later take a guided walking tour along the Old Arbat, the main pedestrian stretch in downtown Moscow. A Metro train ride, with a tour of Moscow Subway stations (B)

DAY 3  SUN  | In Moscow | Sightseeing

09:30: travel outside of Moscow to the luxurious Country Estate of Gorki (in English: the Hills). Lunch included. 

In the afternoon your guide will take you for a panoramic city tour of Moscow that includes a drive along the fashionable Tverskaya Street, Moscow rive embankment with an iconic panorama of the Kremlin and the Cathedral of the Savior. Take a stroll on the historic Red Square with the splendid St. Basil's Cathedral, GUM store and Lenin's Mausoleum. 

Drive to the Sparrow Hills for the best view of the city with an impressive Moscow State University, riverside Luzhniki Sports complex and New Maiden's Convent 

DAY 4     MON    | Moscow's Kremlin and day train to Vladimir

Tour of the Kremlin Grounds and a tour of Czars' Treasures collection displayed at the spectacular Armoury, the oldest and the richest museum inside the Kremlin.  

In the afternoon, a High Speed train to Vladimir, dep 15.30 arr 17.20. From Vladimir you will be transferred 45 km to Suzdal. Check-in at the Veliy boutique Hotel (or similar) for a 2 nights' stay (B) 

DAY 5   TUE | In Suzdal

Sightseeing in Suzdal. Historic small town of Suzdal, is one of oldest and the most charming settlements in Russia. It is proudly on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Suzdal was first mentioned in the year 1024 AD, at the time when even Moscow was a secondary settlement. 

The number and variety of stunningly beautiful churches and monasteries here is just astounding.  

Often referred to as a living city-museum and the crowning jewel of the Golden Ring region, Suzdal boasts over 200 historic monuments and some of the most striking churches in Russia. 

Despite its popularity, Suzdal still retains its peaceful provincial feel. And tourists come here for its quiet narrow streets, old wooden houses, unpaved paths by churches with candy-colored domes, cinematic meadows. And a sip of medovukha honey cider for a taste of real Russia.   

Visit the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Nativity, the Monastery of St. Euthymius with bell ringing, and the Museum of Wooden architecture. 

From Suzdal, transfer to Vladimir to continue sightseeing there. Also on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the town of Vladimir boasts a majestic Assumption cathedral, the Golden Gates and a museum of lacquered miniatures that you will visit. 
You will also travel to the historical village of Bogolyubovo to view the 12th c. Church of Intercession on the Nerl, an architectural masterpiece, on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Dinner at a local restaurant. Transfer to rail station for your overnight train to St. Petersburg, dep 23.00 arr 09.45 next morning (B,L,D)

DAY 6   WED  | Suzdal - Yaroslavl (255 km) 

Travel by car/van or coach to another landmark town on the Golden Ring, Yaroslavl. En route have a stop over at a private farm for a cup of tea. Upon arrival in Yaroslavl, check-in at Ring Premier Hotel for an overnight. Dinner (B,D) 

DAY 7   THU   | In Yaroslavl, the Heartland of the Golden Ring  
Spend the morning exploring the historic Yaroslavl with a guided City tour. Lunch at a local restaurant. Free time. Dinner. Transfer to rail station for 1st class (2-berth compartment with lower berths) overnight train to St. Petersburg, dep 22.35 (B,L,D)

DAY 8   FRI | Arrive St. Petersburg 
Arrive St. Petersburg by train from Yaroslavl. Start your love affair with this elegant city with a 3-hour panoramic City Highlights tour highlighting its famous landmarks, with photo stops. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Winter Palace, Palace Square, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Bronze Horseman Statue, the fashionable Nevsky Prospect, Neva river embankment, Church on the Spilled Blood & more. Also included is a visit inside the historical Peter-&-Paul Fortress where Russia’s all Emperors lie buried (B)

DAY 9   SAT |   Playground of the Czars

9.30 am: today you will be touring the incomparable Hermitage Museum (10.30 - 13.00) featuring the State Rooms of the Winter Palace and the Old Masters of the Western European art collection.

One of the most spectacular museums in the world, the Hermitage has a vast collection occupying a grand ensemble of buildings, each being a masterpiece in its own kind. Be prepared for a lot of walking.

In the afternoon travel outside of St. Petersburg to suburban town of Pushkin (35 km) to visit the exquisite Catherine's Palace with its famous Amber Room (4 hours)   

DAY 10   SUN   |   See You Again, St. Petersburg

After breakfast your tour ends. Transfer to airport is included 

Dates & Prices, 2021:

 The above prices are in Canadian dollars, per person, based in double/twin share 

The above prices are in Canadian dollars, per person based in twin share. 
Dates marked with * fall on the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg. 
Advance reservations are strongly recommended