Day 01 Arrive Moscow
Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Moscow
Day 02 Moscow
Proceed to Moscow city tour: Red Square (Cathedral of St. Basil, Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, History Museum building, Kremlin towers, Upper Trading Arcades (GUM), Lenin’s tomb and necropolis), The Cathedral of Christ the Savior, New Maiden Convent, The Moscow State University campus and panorama platform on the Vorobiovy (Sparrow) Hills, Moscow boulevards, The Theatre Square with the Bolshoi Theatre and the Metropol hotel.
Kremlin grounds tour: Cathedral Sq. – breathtaking architectural ensemble of the 15th-17th cc. including visit of one of cathedrals (the Annunciation Cathedral where Moscow and Russian grand princes and tsars were baptized, the Assumption Cathedral where they were crowned or the Archangel Michael Cathedral where they were buried),
Bell the Tsar and Cannon the Tsar – stunning examples of casting of the 16th c., Grand Kremlin Palace (residence of emperors and president’s gala reception quarters), the Senate, the Arsenal and the Palace of Congresses specially built in communist times for XXII Congress of CPSU (1961) fixed new CPSU programme (plan of building of communism by 1980). Overnight in Moscow.
Day 03 Moscow – Sergiev Posad – Vladimir – Suzdal (272 km /4 hrs 30 mins)
Proceed guided Golden Ring tour by private vehicle. Transfer to Sergiev Posad a spiritual center of Russian Orthodoxy. St. Sergius Holy Trinity Monastery grounds and churches tour. Architectural ensemble of the Monastery reflects all steps of the Russian architecture development. The Trinity Cathedral has an unique iconostasis of Andrei Rublev. The Dormition Cathedral is a sepulcher of the Russian patriarchs. Transfer to Vladimir.
Vladimir city tour. You will see three great samples of Russian architecture: Cathedral of the Dormition (1157-1160) and Church of St. Demetrius (1194-1197) standing close to the Cathedral and Golden Gates (1158-1164) – white-stoned Arch of Triumph with Church over the Gates. Museum of Glasswork and Miniature Lacquered boxes tour (or visiting the Old Vladimir Museum at the building of old water tower acquainting with the life of the inhabitants of the Russian provincial town in the early 20th c.).
Overnight in Suzdal,
Day 04 Suzdal – Bogolyubovo – Kostroma (By Road) (189 km/ 2 hrs 30 min)
Proceed to Bogolyubovo. This small town was the first stone town of Northern Russia. If weather is good you have a chance to see the only fragment of Russian civil architecture of the XII c. – white stone the Intercession Church on the Nerl River.
If weather is not favourable you will visit functioning convent built in the place of prince Andrei Bogolyubsky residence. Unfortunately there is not enough time to visit the both places of interest. That’s why we don’t guarantee this. Transfer to Suzdal . Suzdal city tour. Suzdal is one of the oldest and the best-preserved Russian towns.
You will see Suzdal Kremlin with the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady, the Bishop’s Palace (former residence of local clerical sovereigns built in XVII-XVIII cc.), the Monastery of the Saviour and St. Euthimius, the Convent of Intercession, folk wooden architecture open-air museum (or Golden Treasury exposition) and many other places of interest. Overnight in Kostroma.
Day 05 Kostroma -Yaroslavl (82 km/1.5 hrs) Yaroslavl- St. Pzetersburg (Train)
Proceed to Kostroma city tour. Kostroma is one of the oldest and most beautiful Russian cities. Shopping Arcades was one of the largest marker centers of the late XVIII c. and early XIX c. that was preserved till nowadays.
Beautiful local churches add unforgettable flavor to the unique setting of old architecture and picturesque views of Kostroma. St. Hypatius Monastery tour. In 1600 tsar Boris Godunov exiled Fyodor Romanov (then the head of Romanov family) there. His son Mikhail was there when Zemsky Sobor in Moscow elected him tsar (1613).
Transfer to Yaroslavl. Yaroslavl city tour. Yaroslavl is city of trades and crafts, city of numerous churches striking your imagination with its original beauty: Transfiguration Monastery (XII c.), The Prophet Elijah Church. Transfer to railway station for overnight train to St. Petersburg.
Overnight in train.
Day 06 St. Petersburg
Arrival in St. Petersburg. Meeting with local guide at rail platform. St. Petersburg city tour: Nevsky Prospect, Neva’s embankments, Rostral Columns, buildings of Hermitage museum, the Fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul (entrance), Senate Square, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Nicolay I statue, Peter I statue (Alexander Pushkin’s “Bronze Horseman”), Summer Garden, the Field of Mars, Resurrection Cathedral on the Spilt Blood built on the place where emperor Alexander II was killed by terrorists on 01.03.1881, Square of Arts, Palace Square with Alexander Column.
Hermitage museum tour. Hermitage is one of the largest fine arts museums in the world. Somebody calculated that if a visitor stops only for one minute in front of each exhibit it will take him over 9 years to see all items exhibited.
Overnight in St. Petersburgscow.
Day 07 St. Petersburg
Proceed to Petershof tour: Lower Gardens, Grand Palace. Petershof was designed to the request of Peter the Great to rival the Sun King and his Versailles. 300-acres park on the shore of Gulf of Finland , spectacular fountains, the Grand Palace crowing the hill above fountains and about 20 smaller places and pavilions represent “Russian Versailles” now. Overnight in St. Petersburgscow.
Day 08 Depart St. Petersburgscow
Departure transfer to onward destination.
************TOUR ENDS************
| City | Nights | Hotels |
| Moscow | 2 | Marriott Grand hotel |
| Suzdal | 1 | Pushkarskaya Sloboda |
| Kostroma | 1 | Grand Hotel & Spa |
| Yaroslavl- St. Pzetersburg | 1 | Overnight Train |
| St. Petersburg, | 2 | Golden Garden |
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06 Nights accommodation as per the program.
- 01 Overnight in Train (Yaroslavl – St. Petersburg.)
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Meals as per the program.
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Entrance fees.
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Train Tickets for Yaroslavl – St. Petersburg.
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Local English speaking guide.
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All transfers, sightseeing, excursions.
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All taxes.
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Personal Expenses.
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Camera / Video Camera Fees.
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Medical Aid.
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Tips.
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Travel Insurance.
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Visa (If any).
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– In Asia, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.