Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Saint-Petersburg
Our tour manager will be waiting for you at 9.45 in your hotel lobby to inform you about tour itinerary. After that enjoy the Grand Tour of St. Petersburg, which offers visitors the opportunity to take in as much as possible of the city in a day's sightseeing from the comfort of a car or mini van and with a knowledgeable and experienced guide. You will take a complete tour of Saint-Petersburg most famous sites - beginning with the neo-classical splendour of St.Isaac's Cathedral, geometry of the Palace Square, visiting the oldest construction of Saint-Petersburg –the Peter & Paul Fortress and the Cathedral - the burial vault of Romanovs' family. Thereafter a rendezvous with Tsarina herself at the waxwork exhibition "The Imperial Family of Romanovs". The tour includes an elegant lunch in the restaurant serving traditional Russian cuisine. In the afternoon a 2-hour guided excursion in the largest museum of Russia and one of the richest museums of the world - The State Hermitage Museum - to finalize your excellent introduction to St.Petersburg.
Visit the Hermitage Museum - Russia's best gallery of world art, one of the most prominent art museums in the world and definitely the main tourist attraction of St.Petersburg. Nowadays, the Hermitage has about 2.7 million exhibits and displays a full range of world art from Ancient Egypt to early 20th century Europe. It includes works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, unique collections of Rembrandt, Rubens, French Impressionists. The collection is huge and very exciting. It had been calculated that if you decide to spend only one minute in front of each exhibit, you will have to stay in the Hermitage for 11 years, but on the tour you have the opportunity to see all the great masterpieces of the world's art at a glance in several hours with a comment of a knowledgeable expert-guide.
Day 2: Peterhof
Come and discover Peterhof - St.Petersburg's most famous and spectacular Imperial estate. Located on the sea shore The Great Palace and park complex of Peterhof with its unique array of fountains is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world.
Peterhof is perhaps St. Petersburg's most famous and spectacular Imperial estate. The Great Palace, filled with fascinating and elaborate interiors, sits on top of a high seashore ridge overlooking the vast Lower Park. The palace at Peterhof sits amidst an enormous park, adorned with fountains, statues and pavilions.
The estate's Lower Park lies between the Grand Palace and the seashore and boasts the world's largest system of fountains, earning it the title the "Russian Versaille". The park's unique fountain system was designed in the 18th century and doesn't require the use of any pumps to operate the fountains.
There are four major cascades and over 140 fountains in the park. The most impressive is the Great Cascade, located directly below the Great Palace and featuring an impressive golden statue of Samson grasping the mighty jaws of the lion. The park's other cascades feature black and white chess board designs, Chinese dragons and numerous other features are definitely worth seeing!
In the evening enjoy the folk show “Feel yourself Russian” in Nikolaevsky palace. Discover traditional Russian dance and music throughout this wonderful evening! You'll also have the opportunity to savor in a buffet of delicious gourmet food and drink. Experience this for yourself - book your seat today! The evening begins in the Nikolaevsky Palace restaurant where you discover traditional Russian dance and music during an elegant reception. There is no doubt; without the folk show "Feel yourself Russian" your visit to Russia wouldn't be complete! This show is the unique opportunity to experience the history and spirit of Russia throughout one evening. The show consists of two parts.
The show starts with the dance group "Reverence", the beautiful ladies in their crinolines and the elegant cavalier, accompanied by the "Classica" string quartet. It is followed by a folk instruments ensemble "The Souvenir" with their brilliant performance of folk compositions. Then a Cossack song and dance company "Maidan" reproduces on stage Cossack songs and dances in their original form. The skilful musicians of "Naigrysh", a folk instruments quartet, perform versions of the famous Russian tunes and the folk music of various nationalities. The dancers of "Petersburg Stars" have their own repertoire: dancing miniatures of the Urals and Siberia. In the intermission, refreshments will be served. Enjoy a buffet table of fruit, canapés with red and black caviar, ham, smoked sausage, cheeses, soft drinks, Russian vodka, champagne, mineral water, and juice. During the interval, classical music known worldwide is performed by a string quartette.
Day 3: Saint-Petersburg
Unlock the secrets of the world wonder - the Amber Room on a half-day tour to the magnificent baroque - style Palace of Catherine the Great in the town of Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo). Feel the spirit of the eras of the powerful empresses- Elizabeth and Catherine walking though the gilded amphelade of the numerous ballrooms and imperial halls, amazing with the luxury of their decoration. All Russian monarchs lived, worked, granted audiences, arranged diplomatic receptions for foreign ambassadors, gala balls and masquerades in the gorgeous halls of the palace.
The Catherine Palace enchants and delights everyone. Its azure facades amaze by grandiose sizes, they reflect the unique feature of the Russian national character - emotionality of perception. Both in the winter gray daylight and in the rays of infrequent Petersburg sun, the palace walls, full of expression and internal tension, as though emanate vivacious energy, charging the surroundings with it. Depart on an overnight train to Moscow.
Day 4: Moscow
Arrive in magnificent Moscow early in the morning. Today the capital of Russia is one of the biggest cities of Europe with the population over 13 million people. Moscow is a political, scientific, historical, architectural and business centre, from which power and might of theRussian state developed.
Enjoy an orientation City Tour "Dedication to Moscovites". The main streets and squares of the city, world known sights of the capital. During this tour you will see old and modern Moscow, center of the city including Red Square and Alexander Garden, Moscow Kremlin. Church of Christ the Savior, Novodevichy Convent, Arbat street, KGB. Splendid architectural ensembles and historical monuments, beautiful streets and embankments and will enjoy the panorama of Moscow from the Sparrow Hills.
Take a walking excursion "Red Square, the Kremlin & Cathedrals" Moscow Kremlin will charm you with the beauty of its architectural ensemble and Kremlin cathedrals and churches will impress with richness of their interiors. Inextricably linked to all the most important historical and political events in Russia since the 13th century, the Kremlin was the residence of the Great Prince and also a religious centre. At the foot of its ramparts, on Red Square, St Basil's Basilica is one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox monuments. Visit the Armory Chamber. Depart to Vladimir in the evening.
Day 5: "The Golden Ring of Russia": Vladimir and Suzdal
Drive to Suzdal, the most beautiful and best preserved town on the Golden Ring. Tour sights include the Kremlin of Suzdal and Assumption Cathedral, Church of Resurrection, the Spaso-Efimiev Monastery, Spaso-Transfiguration Monastery, the Museum of Wooden Architecture. No other town possesses as many splendid pieces of Russian architecture of different epochs whilst retaining its original character and appearance. The hilly green town is very seductive, walking around is a pleasure, the monasteries and old beautiful churches offer dream views.
Enjoy a half-day sightseeing in Vladimir, an ancient historic Russian town located on a tributary of the Volga. Vladimir bears the name of its founder, Prince Vladimir Monomach. The city dates back to the 10th century and some of the highlights are the Golden Gates and the Byzantine Assumption Cathedral and numerous frescoes of Andrey Rublev. among countless other treasures you will pass by on your city tour.The Cathedral of Dmitry has a wondrously festive look with its intricate lace of carved stone bas-reliefs. There are many more interesting sights here, but the town appeals because of its peaceful atmosphere and its big contrast with large cities.
Day 6: "The Golden Ring of Russia": Kostroma
Arrive to Kostroma in the morning. Kostroma was firstly mentioned in the cronicles in 1237. It was the first stop of Mongol-Tatars on their way to sacking Yaroslavl in 1238. Contemporary Kostroma is a picturesque city with a strong historical atmosphere. Lunch at the local restaurant. Kostroma city tour - visit to the Ipatiev Monastery - a real miracle of architecture, the Romanov's Palace, Trade Galleries. Kostroma played a particular role in Russian history as the birthplace of the Romanov Dynasty. In 1613, the boyars gathering at the Ipatiev Monastery blessed the young Mikhail Romanov to become the Tzar of Russia. Kostroma has preserved its peculiar image of a Russian city. It is also famous for its Fire-Watch Tower (the symbol of the town) and ancient churches like the Church of the Resurrection.
Day 7: "The Golden Ring of Russia": Yaroslavl
Drive to Yaroslavl, founded in 1010, and explore one of Russia's most beautiful cities. You will take a sightseeing tour, which includes a visit to the Spassky monastery (Saviour monastery), that was founded in the 12th century. The main church of the monastery is also the oldest building in Yaroslavl: Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral (Savior Transfiguration cathedral), which is almost 500 years old (the foundation is 800 years old). It was built very skilfully in the best traditions of Russian architecture of the time.
Day 8: "The Golden Ring of Russia": Rostov, Pereslavl and Sergiev Posad
Arrive to Rostov the Great, an ancient Russian town located on the Nero lake. The history of this place started 4 thousand years BC, when the first tribes stayed next to the lake. Now it is a small town (32 thousand inhabitants), with old buildings and authentic Russian architecture. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the ancient Kremlin. Inside the Kremlin, there's an archelogocal museum, where you can see what they found in the earth, just where you stand. You can figure out how it was from the Stone Age to the last century: stone knives, relics of a drakkar, the first stone of a convent.
Drive to Pereslavl-Zalessky and explore this ancient town. Tour sights include Red Square, Spaso-Preobrazhensky cathedral - the oldest building, located in the heart of Pereslavl, - and the Church of Mitropolit Peter. Depart to Sergiev Posad and enjoy the tour to this historic town, which is home to the stunningly-beautiful Trinity Monastery of St Sergiev. Sergiev Posad is one of the oldest seats of the Russian Orthodox Church and is one of the most important pilgrimage towns in the country.
The monastery was a formidable fortress in the 16th Century and today is a working monastery and clerical school. The crowning glory of its celebrated architecture is the five-domed Assumption Cathedral, considered by many to be the most beautiful in Russia. Among the treasures of the Lavra is the famous icon, The Trinity, by Andrei Rublev. Return to Moscow in the evening.
Available tour start dates all year round on Saturdays.
St. Petersburg
4 excursions by car, 1 show;
1 lunch on the 1st day;
Transportation by car or mini-van: 1st day – 3 hours, 2nd day – 5 hours, 3rd day – 5 hours;
2nd class train fare from St. Petersburg to Moscow: (1st class upon request);
Guide assistance: during all the tour activities;
Entrance fees: all the visits according to the tour itinerary.
Moscow and Golden Ring
11 excursions;
4 nights accommodation in Vladimir (2 nights), Kostroma (1 night) and Yaroslavl (1 night): 3-star hotels, twin rooms;
4 breakfasts on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th days of the tour
Transportation by car or mini-van: all the time of the tour;
Guide assistance: during all the tour activities;
Entrance fees: all the visits according to the tour itinerary.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required when booking. Balance due by credit card 15 days prior to departure.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Russia
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