Moscow, St. Petersburg & the Golden Ring - 10 Days

INTRODUCTION

 

ITINERARY

Day 1 - Moscow
Arrival and transfer to the Hotel
At the airport in Moscow, our driver will meet you in arrivals. He'll be carrying a Go Russia sign board and will take you to the hotel to get you settled in.

Meals: NA
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 2 - Moscow - Vladimir - Suzdal
Train to Vladimir. Guided Sightseeing in Suzdal
It's time to board the train that will take us to Vladimir, a high speed Sapsan train that will make light work of the kilometres we have to cover. We'll enjoy a late breakfast in Vladimir before travelling through the picturesque countryside to Suzdal. Surrounded by meadows and crammed full of more churches than you can count, this is a magical place and sure to win your heart. In the heart of Suzdal, you'll encounter market stalls, a museum of wooden architecture and of course its Kremlin. This museum city has changed little over the centuries and is tranquil and charming in equal measure. Make sure you charge those camera batteries beforehand. A full sightseeing programme has been planned for you but there'll also be the opportunity to enjoy a traditional lunch in a local family home. You'll also get to taste medovukha, a uniquely Russian drink which can best be described as a honey beer.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 3 - Suzdal - Bogolyubovo - Vladimir - Moscow
Exploring Bogolyubovo and Vladimir
Next on the itinerary is Bogolyubovo, another of the Golden Ring towns, nestled at the confluence of the Rivers Nerl and Klyazma. This one has a UNESCO-listed church and was once the home of Prince Andrei Bogolyubov. Today, his palace forms part of a delightful monastery complex which we'll visit on a guided tour. There are many highlights which your guide will point out, including the Staircase Tower and its adjacent gallery which form part of the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin. Next, you'll have the chance to explore the Church of the Intercession which dates from the 12th century. Although it's located in the middle of a field on a small hill, when the Nerl floods you could be forgiven for thinking that the church is floating on the water. Last stop today is back in nearby Vladimir, where we'll take a guided city tour. You'll see the city's highlights which include the Cathedrals of St Demetrius and the Assumption and the UNESCO-listed Golden Gates. Finally we shall head back to Moscow by high speed train where our driver will be waiting at the end of the platform to take us to our hotel.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 4 - Moscow
Moscow City Tour. Novodevichy Convent. Red Square, St. Basil’s, Lenin Mausoleum. Arbat Street
In complete contrast to the serenity of the Golden Ring, Moscow is fast-paced and busy, but that's just what you'd expect of a large and cosmopolitan capital city. Our orientation tour takes us to its major sights: Red Square, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the New Maiden Convent where the remains of many famous Russians are interred. Next, it's up to the Moscow State University, from where a wonderful panorama of Moscow unfolds. We'll point out Victory Park situated on Poklonnaya Hill and Luzhniki Stadium built for the Olympics and it won't take you long to spot the distinctive walls of the mighty Kremlin. This tantalising glimpse of Russia's largest city won't suffice. It's time to brave the melee - but there can be no better reason to do so than to pay a visit to the wonderful St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square, its colourful domes one of Russia's most iconic images. Nearby, we'll find the famous GUM department store as well as the Kremlin of course. Lenin's embalmed body can be viewed in the mausoleum here and we'll make a stop at his final resting place. Later, we will head to Arbat Street to finish the day.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 5 - Moscow
Kremlin & Armoury. Moscow Underground. Departure to Novgorod the Great
The programme for our second day in the capital begins at the Kremlin, where else? Once home to the Tsars and now the residence of the Russian President, this building demands and commands your attention. Its Cathedral Square is where we'll start and you may feel the spiritual presence of the likes of Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov and the Royal Romanovs. The Armoury Museum is included in today's tour; this storehouse has held the Kremlin's weapons since the 16th century. It's been a museum for two centuries and tourists have long come to marvel at the exhibits here which include fifty of Faberge's exquisite eggs, antique weaponry and much in the way of precious metalwork. One of the city's modern treasures is without a doubt its metro system. If you're dubious at first, you'll soon be convinced by its many sculptures, marble adornment and decorative stained glass and mosaics. On our return to the hotel, the driver will be waiting to take us back to the station. This time, our destination will be Velikiy Novgorod, reached by comfortable sleeper train in a little over eight hours.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 6 - Novgorod the Great (Velikiy Novgorod)
Exploring Novgorod. Kremlin. Yuriev Monastery. Museum of Wooden Architecture
Also known as Novgorod the Great, Velikiy Novgorod is one of Russia's little known gems. It was founded close to St Petersburg in the 9th century. It contains Russia's oldest palace, built in 1433, and also the country's oldest bell tower and clock tower. It has its own Kremlin too, known as the Detinets. We'll take you around Yaroslav's courtyard where our experienced guide will tell us a little about Yaroslav the Wise, once the Grand Prince of Novgorod and Kiev. Rich merchants would have stayed here, members of the Hanseatic League as well as those from far flung places in Russia. But Novgorod offers more: the UNESCO-listed Yuriev Monastery on the banks of the Volkhov River is one of Russia's oldest, dating from 1030. Our final stop today will be at the Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture, whose collection includes around twenty wooden structures brought here from across the region.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 7 - Novgorod the Great - St. Petersburg
Departure to St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg City Tour. Peter & Paul’s Fortress
Today begins with a short hop by local commuter train to St Petersburg, Russia's most European and most elegant city and the former capital. It's packed full of historic mansions, its delightful architecture a wondrous sight. There are many museums to explore but you may wish to get your bearings on water rather than on land: the city's canals and rivers have led to the city being nicknamed the "Venice of the North". This afternoon, we will pay a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress, constructed as a response to the threat of invasion by the Swedes, though it didn't see any action until 1917 - and even then, not by the Scandinavians. The evening will be free in order for you to continue to explore on your own.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach, train

Day 8 - St. Petersburg
Hermitage Museum (Winter Palace). Folklore Performance
A highlight of any trip to St Petersburg is always a visit to the Hermitage. This wonderful museum contains one of the best collections of art in the world, rivalled only by the Louvre in Paris. Every big name can be found here and if you know your Renoir from your Rembrandt you'll be in seventh heaven. Even those with little interest in the world of art can't fail to be won over by the building itself. It was once the residence of the Tsars and was their Winter Palace. Later, you'll be treated to a folklore performance.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 9 - St. Petersburg
Guided Tour to Petrodvorets – Palace & Fountains
We'll head out of the city this morning, our destination being Petrodvorets, perhaps the most magnificent of St Petersburg's palaces. This was Peter the Great's summer palace and it's a delightful combination of palace, parkland and fountains which enchants even the most travel weary. It was built at the start of the 18th century and its design and art is a reflection of the period. After our half day tour, you'll have free time to go souvenir shopping or visit more of St Petersburg's myriad attractions.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

Day 10 - St. Petersburg
Departure Transfer from the Hotel
All good things have to come to an end. This morning, our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board in the hotel lobby ready to transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: breakfast
Transport: minibus / coach

PRICES

Hotels 3* Moscow - Ibis Bakhrushina, Suzdal - Suzdal Inn, Novgorod the Great - Intourist, St. Petersburg - Nevsky Grand
Tour start date	10 pax 1 free	15 pax 1 free	20 pax 1 free	single supplement	1st class train upgrade
01/01 - 31/03	€1,195	€1,145	€1,095	€145	€75
01/04 - 30/04	€1,245	€1,195	€1,145	€195	€75
01/05 - 30/06	€1,345	€1,295	€1,245	€245	€75
01/07 - 30/09	€1,245	€1,195	€1,145	€195	€75
01/10 - 31/12	€1,195	€1,145	€1,095	€145	€75

 

Hotels 4* Moscow - Marriott Courtyard, Suzdal - Pushkarskaya Sloboda, Novgorod the Great - Intourist, St. Petersburg - Petropalace
Tour start date	10 pax 1 free	15 pax 1 free	20 pax 1 free	single supplement	1st class train upgrade
01/01 - 31/03	€1,295	€1,245	€1,195	€295	€75
01/04 - 30/04	€1,495	€1,445	€1,395	€395	€75
01/05 - 30/06	€1,545	€1,495	€1,445	€445	€75
01/07 - 30/09	€1,495	€1,445	€1,395	€395	€75
01/10 - 31/12	€1,295	€1,245	€1,195	€295	€75

Note on pricing:

• All prices are in EURO per person based on the number of participants in the group
• 1 free - one free of charge participant
• Single supplement goes towards single room accommodation at hotels

INCLUDED

• Accommodation
• Excursions according to the programme
• Entrance fees
• Airport & railway transfers
• Overnight train 2nd class (4 berth compartments)
• Meals according to the programme
• Visa support letter

NOT INCLUDED

• Flights
• Optional excursions & services
• Travel insurance
• Tips
• Visa fees. We can assist with visas in the UK, USA, Germany, France, Spain