Take in the highlights of St Petersburg, City of the Tsars and mighty Moscow, before exploring the gems of Russia's Golden Ring. From the lavish palaces of St Petersburg and Moscow's mighty Kremlin, to enchanting Suzdal, with its beautiful wooden architecture and the ancient capital Vladimir, this is the best of Russia in 10 days.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
St Petersburg
Tuesday. Welcome to Russia. Arrival transfer from St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport to your hotel and check in. At 19.00hrs, meet your tour guide and enjoy a glass of champagne or a cocktail at our Welcome Meeting.
Overnight: St Petersburg
St Petersburg city tour
Take in the highlights of St Petersburg on guided tour this morning. Home to world-class museums and galleries, exquisite palaces and impressive monuments, St Petersburg also has a series of canals and the River Neva running through it, earning it the name Venice of the North. On our tour today we visit the Peter & Paul Fortress and take in other iconic sights such as the magnificent St Isaac's Cathedral, the Winter Palace, the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood and Nevsky Convent.
St Petersburg is often referred to as the City of the Tsars and this afternoon there's an optional excursion the tsars' summer residence, Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo. Catherine the Great's lavish palace is most famous for its spectacular Amber room, bedecked in gold and amber. This evening enjoy an optional Russian folklore show, with Russian champagne and snacks at the Nikolaevsky Palace.
Overnight: St Petersburg | Breakfast
Optional Peterhof and Hermitage
Enjoy a free day independently exploring St Petersburg or join our optional excursions. This morning there's an optional excursion to Peterhof and the Grand Palace which is scenically set on the Gulf of Finland. Often referred to as the 'Russian Versailles’, Peterhof is most famous for its gardens with the spectacular Grand Cascade, gold fountains and sweeping vistas.
Returning to the city centre there's an optional afternoon tour of the Hermitage Museum in the Winter Palace - which houses one of the biggest and best art collections on earth. Then this evening there's the opportunity to enjoy some traditional Russian cuisine and an optional dinner at Restaurant Pryanosti & Radosti.
Overnight: St Petersburg | Breakfast
High speed train to Moscow
St Petersburg - Moscow. This morning there is an optional cruise along the canals of St Petersburg before we board the high speed train to Moscow around noon. Take in the Russian landscapes along the Volga River as our train heads south to the capital. We arrive into Moscow late afternoon and check into our hotel. Spend the evening at leisure.
Overnight: Moscow | Breakfast
Moscow sightseeing
This morning we set out to explore Moscow on a guided tour, taking in the highlights of Russia’s dynamic capital city. We visit legendary Red Square - home to spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral, Theatre Square- home of the Bolshoi Theatre and Sparrow Hills with Moscow University. We will also enjoy a tour of the Kremlin grounds and one of its gold-domed cathedrals.
This afternoon there's an optional tour of remarkable Moscow Metro, including the historic and stations on the Ring-Line. These extravagant stations date back to the Stalinist era, with incredible statues, marble pillars and chandeliers. The tour also includes a guided stroll along the famous pedestrian Arbat Street. The evening offers an optional Moscow-by-night river cruise aboard the beautiful White Flotilla.
Overnight: Moscow | Breakfast
Optional visit to Sergiev Posad
Spend the day at leisure in Moscow or join an optional full day excursion to the quaint Golden Ring town of Sergiev Posad. Here we visit Russia's most important monastery - the revered 14th-century Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius with its striking blue-and-gold cupolas and white walls.
Overnight: Moscow | Breakfast
Vladimir
Moscow - Vladimir - Suzdal. Today we begin exploring the Golden Ring of ancient Russian towns. Bidding farewell to Moscow we drive through scenic Russian landscapes to reach Vladimir, one of the ancient capitals of Russia. On a guided tour we visit the beautiful UNESCO listed Assumption Cathedral, which has frescoes by the greatest of old Russian painters, Andrei Rubliov. We will also see St. Demetrius Cathedral and visit the town's famous Golden Gate. After our tour we continue our journey to the picturesque town of Suzdal.
Overnight: Suzdal | Breakfast
Suzdal
Dating back to 1024 with stunning medieval architecture and an array of churches and monasteries, Suzdal is an enchanting fairy-tale town. With its pretty meadows and livestock grazing along the grassy lanes, Suzdal retains the feel of a small pastoral village, despite the host of impressive buildings and a population of over 12,000 people. Spend the day at leisure exploring Suzdal on foot or join an optional full day tour. On our optional tour discover all the treasures of Suzdal including the Kremlin, the Nativity Cathedral, the Museum of Wooden Architecture, St. Ethymius Monastery and the Transfiguration Cathedral.
Overnight: Suzdal | Breakfast
Church of the Intercession on the Nerl
Suzdal - Bogolyubovo - Moscow. This morning we drive to the nearby village of Bogolyubovo to admire the beautiful single-domed Church of the Intercession on the Nerl. This famous 12th-century church is picturesquely set by the waterside, on a small hill of a flower covered river meadow. Then we drive back to Moscow and check into our hotel in the afternoon. Spend your final night at leisure in Russia's vibrant capital.
Overnight: Moscow | Breakfast
Moscow
Thursday. Our tour of Russia comes to an end after breakfast and hotel check out today. A departure transfer to the airport is included.
Breakfast
Prices & Dates
All departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. 'Twin Share' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room. 'Single Room' prices are applicable those who don’t have anyone to share a room with or anyone wanting the privacy of a single room.
Extra Prices
Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Solo Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky, St Petersburg
Solo Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky is a stylish hotel in a desirable location on Vasilievsky Island, close to the Neva Embankment and a five minute drive from Nevsky Prospect and the Hermitage. As St Petersburg's first gallery hotel, it hosts art exhibitions year round. Guest rooms are distinctively decorated with beautiful colours and luxury hard wood floors. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout and there is a popular restaurant serving delicious French-Russian fusion food. Head to the Irish Pub, the 8th Line for a relaxed evening and a few refreshing beverages.
AZIMUT Hotel Smolenskaya Moscow, Moscow
AZIMUT Hotel Smolenskaya Moscow is ideally located in the heart of the capital, just steps from historic Arbat Street. This modern, 23-storey property offers wonderful, panoramic views of Moscow's skyline and comfortable en suite guest rooms, equipped with air conditioning, free WiFi and flat-screen TVs. Guests can enjoy a hearty breakfast each morning and dine at a choice of restaurants, including the Sakhalin south-eastern seas fish restaurant, the #SIBIRSIBIR Siberian restaurant and the trendy Avenue restaurant serving international cuisine. For drinks head to the Ramen Izakaya Bar which has a stunning view of the famous Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. This popular hotel also offers a spa and fitness centre.
Hot Springs, Suzdal
Hot Springs is a charming hotel, with traditional wooden Russian architecture that the region is famous for. The rustic-style guests rooms are bright and spacious, with traditional wooden furniture. Each room is equipped with an en suite bathroom, air conditioning, free WiFi, cable TV and a fridge. A tasty buffet breakfast is served daily and the onsite restaurant serves a choice of Russian and European cuisine. After a busy day exploring enchanting Suzdal, guests can indulge in some R&R in the full-service spa and steam room, play billiards or enjoy drinks at the hotel bar. The hotel is in a beautiful rural setting, close to the Monastery of Saint Euthymius and 1.9 miles from the centre of Suzdal.