Group of 20 people

MOSCOW — SERGIEV POSAD — JAROSLAVL — SUZDAL — VLADIMIR — ST.PETERSBURG  — NOVGOROD — ST.PETERSBURG

Duration: 21 days
Season: High
Highlights: Guided bus tours in Moscow, Sergiev Posad, Jaroslavl, Suzdal, Vladimir, St. Petersburg Novgorod
Accommodation: 19 nights hotels, 1 night train
Meals: Breakfast and as per itinerary
Transfers: Coach transfers as per itinerary, train Moscow / St. Petersburg
Guidance: Multi-lingual tour leader throughout, local guides for excursions.

ITINERARY


Day 1 Arrival to Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Day 2 Sightseeing tour of Moscow with visiting Vorobievskie hills, Poklonnaya Gora. Walking trip of city-centre: Red Square, GUM, and Moscow Metro.

Day 3 Visit to Tretyakov Art Gallery, the treasure house of Russian art, visiting of Ancient Russia foundations. In the evening – the Bolshoi Theatre as optional.

Day 4 Excursion to museum of Andrei Rublev (it is far from the hotel).

Day 5 Excursion to the Cathedral of Our Saviour. In the evening performance of “Ensemble of Pesni I Plyaski” as optional.

Day 6 Coach trip to Sergiev Posad, the major orthodox centre of Russia. Excursion to Riznitsa (Early Russian Applied Art Section), Old Art Museum and Chernigovsky Skit (secluded monastery). Lunch in the restaurant with traditional Russian cuisine.

Day 7 Morning visit to Moscow monastery where the tourists can see Monks working on icons ( may be it will be Novospassky monastery, send all information later).

Day 8 Departure by couch to Suzdal and Vladimir via Yaroslavl. Accommodation in the hotel.

Day 9 Sightseeing tour of Yaroslavl with visiting Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour and Church of Elijah the Prophet famous for its unique frescoes. Further, couch trip to Suzdal Accommodation in the hotel.

Day 10 Suzdal is a religious centre of 17th century with five monasteries and multitude of churches. Excursion to Kremlin (the cathedral of the Nativity, the Archbishop’s Palace which contains the local Museum with exhibits of icons, decorative religious arts and the history of architecture in this area of Russia).

 

Day 11 Bus trip to Vladimir. Sightseeing tour of city’s historical area – the Golden Gate, St.Demetrius cathedral with entrance to the world famous Cathedral of the Assumption. Visit to Bogoliubovo (ex-residence of Vladimir princes) and Church Pokrova-on-Nerly. Visit to the active monastery (ex-residence of prince Andrey Bogoliubsky). Arrival to Moscow. Transfer to the railway station for night train. Moscow – Saint Petersburg (~ 8 hours, SV carriage). The tourists will take train to St. Petersburg.

Day 12 Arrival to Saint Petersburg. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in the hotel. Sightseeing tour of Saint Petersburg with visiting St.Isaac’s Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral. Excursion to Peter and Paul Fortress.

Day 13 Excursions to Hermitage, boat trip along city-centre with folklore, fruit and champagne.

Day 14 Excursion to Russian museum, Church on Spilled Blood and Kuntskamera.

Day 15 Excursion to Petrodvorets – the former residence of Russian tsars, the unique complex of palaces, parks, and water cascades and fountains. Free time in the afternoon.

Day 16 Leisure time in Saint Petersburg.

Day 17 Morning couch trip to Novgorod Veliky. Accommodation in the hotel Sightseeing tour with excursions to Kremlin, Cathedral of St.Sophia, Granovitaya Chamber. Yaroslavovo Dvorische (ancient town of some cathedrals and churches).

Day 18 Excursions to Museum of Icons. Excursion to restoration studios of A.P. and V.G. Grekoves.

Day 19 Visit to Antoniev monastery and Yuriev Monastery. Couch trip to St. Petersburg. Accommodation in the hotel.

Day 20 Excursion to Alexandro-Nevskaya Lavra.

Day 21 Earlier transfer to the airport for departure.