Russian Capitals and Golden Ring Tour

Arrival in St. Petersburg, optional transfer to Hotel Sokos Vasilievsky**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting and orientation on your Russian Capitals and Golden Ring tour.
Overnight in St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg is a splendid city with famous imperial palaces and museums. Its Neva River and  many canals have given the city the title “The Venice of the North”. On a morning city tour we get acquainted with all the famous landmarks of the city: the Peter-Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Savior, the Nevsky Convent and many more.

The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Pushkin with the impressive Catherine Palace and the Amber Room, which disappeared during World War II and was restored for St. Petersburg’s tri-centennial celebrations.

In the evening enjoy an optional visit to the Nikolaevsky Palace with an exciting Russian folklore show and Russian „champagne” and snacks. Overnight in St. Petersburg. (B)

The morning is reserved for an optional visit to Peterhof, an grand masterpiece of Peter the Great era, with the impressive Grand Palace, Grand Cascade and Water Avenue and its wonderful parks. In the afternoon, enjoy an optional visit to the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum. In the evening enjoy an optional Russian dinner at Restaurant Russian Kitsch. Overnight in St. Petersburg (B)

The early morning is reserved for an optional St. Petersburg river cruise. Around noon transfer to the train station and board the Sapsan high-speed train bound for Moscow. The train ride takes us through endless Russian landscapes along the River Volga. In the evening we arrive to Moscow and check in at Hotel Holiday Inn Lesnaya**** or similar. Overnight in Moscow (B)

Moscow is a genuine Russian city with the Kremlin and its onion domed cathedrals. The  changes over the last decade have transformed the city to one of the most dynamic metropolitan areas in the world. The city sightseeing tour includes the famous Russian landmarks: the Red Square with Kremlin, Theatre Square with Bolshoi Theatre, Sparrow Hills with Moscow University and exploration of the famous Moscow Metro.

In the afternoon participate in an optional excursion to the Kremlin grounds and visit to one of its three famous cathedrals. The evening offers an optional Moscow by night tour including an unforgettable river cruise with the White Flotilla. Overnight in Moscow (B)

Today is reserved for  optional excursions. In the morning you can participate in a tour of Novodevichy Convent, a 16th century ensemble of golden domes, one of the city’s most beautiful architectural landmarks full of history and cultural treasures. The adjacent Novodevichy Cemetery is Moscow‘s most prestigious resting place after the Kremlin.

The balance of the day is reserved for an optional excursion to the Tretyakov Gallery with its outstanding collection of Russian artists. Optional visit to the Old Russian Circus in the evening. Overnight in Moscow (B)

Our Russian tour continues to the Golden Ring of ancient Russian towns. We will drive to Sergiev Posad to visit the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual heart of the Russian Orthodox Church. Continue through scenic Russian landscapes to Vladimir, one of the ancient capitals of Russia. We will see the World Heritage sites of the Assumption Cathedral,  St. Demetrius Cathedral, and the Golden Gate. In the late afternoon we continue to Suzdal and check-in at the hotel Nikolaevsky Posad**** or similar. Overnight in Suzdal (B)

Dating almost a thousand years back Suzdal is a small fairytale town with an unsurpassed collection of ancient Russian architecture. During the optional whole day tour we discover all the treasures of Suzdal including the Kremlin, the Nativity Cathedral, the Museum of Wooden Architecture, St. Ethymius Monastery and the Transfiguration Cathedral.

Today we drive to the nearby village of Bogolyubovo to admire the glare white light single-domed Church of the Intercession on the Nerl. The church is built on a small hill, on a river meadow, in all its clarity and beauty it stands like a candle, growing out over the expanse of the meadow. We drive back to Moscow and in the afternoon we check-in at hotel Holiday Inn Lesnaya**** or similar. Overnight in Moscow (B)