RUSSIA 11 DAYS

In the morning you get to know the metropolis on a city tour. You visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the largest Orthodox cathedral in the world. Closely is located the Patriarch’s Bridge, which offers a magnificent view of the Kremlin, the Moskva River and the surrounding area. From the viewpoint on Sparrow Hills, you can see the whole center of Moscow. The MSU building (Moscow State University), which is also situated here, is a masterpiece of Stalinist architecture – 230 meters high, with approximately 50,000 rooms. Among other sightseeing objects you explore the Poklonnaya Hill, the Triumphal Arch, the Kutuzov Prospekt, the Boulevard Ring and the famous New Arbat street. Cozy cafés, narrow streets, hidden artists’ studios and idyllic parks form another part of the cityscape beside the giant wedding-cake Stalin constructions and upscale fashion boutiques. You can discover them in the afternoon while enjoying your free time.

Northeast of Moscow a series of ancient Russian cities form the so called Golden Ring. In the morning we set off to Sergiev Posad, the center of the Orthodox Church of Russia. Our next stop is Pereslavl-Zalessky – small country town on Lake Pleshcheyevo. Then we proceed to Rostov Veliky, (Rostov the Great) and visit here the imposing Kremlin complex. Finally, we reach Yaroslavl, the most important city on the Volga River and check-in there at the hotel.

Today’s program starts with the city tour in Yaroslavl. The city, founded in the 10th c rapidly developed into a major trade center in Russia. You visit Transfiguration Cathedral of Savior Monastery, the most well-known building in the city. Worth visiting is also the icon museum.  After one and a half hour drive we arrive in Kostroma. After the city tour we visit the Ipatiev Monastery, founded around 1330 by a Tatar convert, Prince Chet, and the Trinity Cathedral. In Kostroma we also stay for a night.

On the way to Suzdal we stop in Plyos. We take a city tour and visit the museum of famous Russian painter Isaac Levitan. In the afternoon we reach Suzdal. Wonderful churches and shining domes make this town really worth seeing. The Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery is one of the largest and best preserved monasteries in Suzdal. Since 1992 it belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage List. We visit the former Suzdal Kremlin, which is just as impressive as the Moscow Kremlin, the Mother of God Cathedral of the Nativity with the five blue domes and an open air museum.

Right after breakfast, we set off to Vladimir, a pearl of Russian culture that leads today rather provincial existence. You visit the Golden Gate, the Cathedral Square, St. Demetrius Cathedral and the Assumption Cathedral. In the afternoon, we leave the city and head for Moscow.

Today we leave Moscow for the second time. Before the departure, you still have a couple of hours to enjoy the city in the morning hours or even buy some souvenirs. Around noon, you our bus brings you to the station and we have a train to St. Petersburg. In the evening you arrive at the train station in St.Petersburg and check in at the hotel straight after that. Every year St. Petersburg experiences a unique phenomenon. The miracle of nature, known as the “White Nights” can be seen during the summer months. If you are not too tired after the journey, you can enjoy strolling through this charming city the whole night long.

During the city tour numerous attractions are waiting for you. This beautiful city enchants all its visitors with its historical legacy, its arts and its indescribable beauty. The city, with its canals and rivers with 101 islands is also called the Venice of the North. After the city tour of St. Petersburg, we visit the Peter and Paul Fortress. In the afternoon the village Pushkin is on the program. The main attraction here is the Catherine Palace with a replica of the legendary Amber Room. Also it is worth to spend a few hours in the park.

Today we visit Peterhof, the most famous village in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. In the 18th century, Peter the Great built a sumptuous summer residence directly on the Gulf of Finland. Next to the palace there is a huge park with more than 150 wells and fountains. The largest fountain, the Golden Cascade, is located just in front of the palace. From the mouth of a lion, from which a water column is shot 20 meters into the air. The afternoon is at your free disposal. A visit to a ballet or a concert would be a good idea for the end of the day. We will help you to book the tickets in advance.

In the morning we visit the magnificent Winter Palace with the Hermitage Museum. With almost three million exhibits, this museum is the most significant art museum in Russia and one of the largest in the world. We immerse into the Western European art history: from Leonardo da Vinci to Rembrandt, Rubens, Cezanne and Matisse.

On this day, our journey comes to an end.  Time permitting, you may still have a few hours for a pleasant stroll down the Nevsky Prospect with its numerous shops and boutiques. You will take home unforgettable memories as well as the feeling of having experienced something special. We have spent time in Russia very intensively and eventfully, but there’s still so much more things to explore and it would be no wonder if you would like to come here again. We are always glad to help you with planning your next trip!