Grand Tour around Russia
Moscow – St. Petersburg – Karelia
8 days / 7 nights
1st day
– A guide will meet you at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Check-in starts from 2pm.
– Moscow sightseeing tour (by bus). You will see all the major sights of the capital of Russia; such as a panoramic view of the city from the Vorobiev Hills, Bagration bridge, you will also see Moscow City’s new skyscraper business district (from the window of the bus), the memorial complex of Poklonnaya Gora and all the major squares and streets of the city.
– Visit to the Tretyakov Gallery. The Tretyakov Gallery is the main museum of Russian national art, reflecting its unique contribution to world culture. The gallery has a rich collection of Russian realistic paintings, beautiful portraits, landscapes and historical images can help you to understand culture and to solve the riddle of «the mysterious Russian soul».
–!!! For an additional fee, we recommend you to visit the Bolshoi theatre (excursion) or folk show. We ask you to check the price of the tour and the show when booking the tour!
– Arrive back at the hotel. Then you’ll have some free time.
(A guide and transport will be with you for 8 hours in total).
2nd day
– Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. A guide will meet you in the hotel lobby.
– Transfer in the center of Moscow. Red Square walking tour. On our way you will see luxury shopping mall – the GUM (State Department Store), Lenin’s Tomb, the beautiful richly decorated building of State History Museum, Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It has 9 chapels which are connected by brightly decorated galleries and constitute a great colorful complex.
– Excursion to the Moscow Kremlin. Its monumental walls and towers, golden-domed cathedrals and ancient palaces are pleasure to the eyes. You will see famous Tsar-Bell and Tsar-Cannon. Excursion included the visit to one of the cathedral (16th century).
– Excursion to the Armory Chamber, which has the fantastic collection of priceless and luxurious items. The collection include royal carriages, oldest Russian thrones, amazing coronation dresses, Faberge Easter eggs and many other wonders.
– Transfer to the railway station. Departure to Petrozavodsk. Night in the train. Railway ticket are not included into tour price. Please check the price of the tickets while booking.
(A guide and transport will be with you for 8 hours in total).
3d day
– A guide will meet you at the station in Petrozavodsk. Optional: breakfast in cafe.
– Petrozavodsk city tour (by bus). During the tour, you will visit the Governor’s Park and take some memorable photo-stops at sights of the city. Go through the Onezhskaya embankment and see the open-air gallery of modern sculptures. This curious art objects are gifts from the twin-cities, which are located in Finland, Sweden, Germany, France.
– Transfer to Kondopoga. Accommodation at the hotel.
– Visiting Kondopoga town you will see the beautiful Church of the assumption (1774), the best preserved of the wooden tent churches in Russia. «The triumph of the immaculate proportions» – so speak about it to experts. The musical bell clocks – Carillons are the specific detail of Kondopoga town.
–All the guests are invited on the shore of lake Onega. You will the gests and participant of the entertainment program «Karelia fun» in the open air with fun contests, congratulations, prizes, and delicious Karelian tincture and drink from the berries. Also you can play with Siberian husky and make photos with friendly dogs. For an additional fee: dog sledding, ride on the snowmobiles on lake Onega, the concert of the great German organ.
– You can hear the divination from the wise master – shaman sitting by the fire in this Sami tent made of reindeer skins. Return to the hotel.
4th day
– Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
– We are going to the «Old Finland» (230 km). Our first Park – Marble Park Ruskeala. The intricate shapes of the vertical marble rocks in the hall of the mountain king Roseanna, mysterious tunnels and caves, rock Ivan-da-Marya became the natural background for the fantasy movie «The Dark world». Here were extracted the marble for the decoration of cathedrals and palaces of St. Petersburg. You will stop near the waterfall Ahvenkoski.
– Visiting Sortavala town you will walk through the ancient streets of the city.
– Return to the hotel.
5th day
– Breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Check out.
– Dress warmly and go to discover the mighty waterfall Kivach, it is one of the largest plain waterfalls in Europe, nature Museum and arboretum. See the famous Karelian birch. This tree is a mystery with amazing wood marble pattern.
– Moving to the first Russian resort Marcial waters. Its main attraction is the Church of the Apostle Peter. This unique temple was built under the project of the Emperor, and the construction was led by the Dutchman William Gennin. The Church survived candlesticks made of Karelian birch, carved and painted to look like marble by Peter I. Tasting of the mineral water. On site is a powerful layer of shungite – a natural filter for spring water.
– National workshops will delve into the world of traditional culture of Northern people. Learning to play Kantele. Kantele is the national musical instrument. Then we sit together and make under the direction of master cook famous Rupite (pies). While the pies baking in the oven we will make doll – beautiful talisman. Everyone will try fresh pies with tea.
– Transfer to the railway station. Departure to Saint-Petersburg. Night in the train. Railway ticket are not included into tour price. Please check the price of the tickets while booking.
6th day
– Arrival in St. Petersburg. For an additional charge: Breakfast in café.
– Sightseeing tour «Glorious St. Petersburg». During the tour, you will see the best ensembles of the city’s architectural masterpieces – the Arrow of Vasilevsky island with Rostral columns, the monument to the founder of the city – the Bronze Horseman, the Admiralty building, Palace square and many other sights of the city on the Neva. You will pass through the main embankments of St. Petersburg: the Palace, the University, Peter. At the end of the tour visit to the Peter and Paul fortress.
– Optional: Visit to the Faberge Museum –(~ 25 euro one person)
– Accommodation at the hotel.
(Guide and transport will be with you for 7 hours in total)
7th day
– Breakfast at the hotel. Meet with a guide in the hotel lobby.
– Departure to Pushkin city (Tsarskoe Selo). It is the main country residence of Russian emperors. A place for official receptions of Russian nobility and foreign diplomats. You will see the famous Amber room in the Catherine Palace.
– Trip to Pavlovsk. The elegance of the decoration of Pavlovsk created with love by the Empress Maria Feodorovna. Visit to the Pavlovsk Palace and Park.
– Return to St. Petersburg.
(Guide and transport will be with you for 7 hours in total)
8th day
– Breakfast at the hotel. Check out.
– Excursion to the State Hermitage. It is one of the largest museums in the world. The Museum presents magnificent examples of ancient Egyptian art.
– Excursion «Churches and cathedrals of St. Petersburg». During the tour you will see and visit the temples of Saint Petersburg. The Cathedral Savior on the Blood was built on the site of the murder of Emperor Alexander II. Visit to the Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra where is the relics of Alexander Nevsky and of St. Andrew and the Kazan Cathedral – one of the largest in St Petersburg with the colonnade of 96 columns. At the end of the tour visit to St. Isaac’s Cathedral — the largest Orthodox temple of the city.
– Transfer to the railway station or airport.
(Guide and transport will be with you for 7 hours in total)
Tour price per person. Prices are in euro.
The price is valid for season autumn, winter and spring 2018-2019 (except May-June in 2018 ):
| Hotel | 5 | 8 | 10+1 | 15+1 | 20+1 | additional stay in hotel (per night) |
| 3* | 1405 | 1108 | 1017 | 875 | 842 | 95 |
| 4* | 1667 | 1383 | 1283 | 1067 | 1008 | 127 |
| 5* | 1917 | 1575 | 1517 | 1333 | 1267 | 145 |
The price includes:
- stay at the hotel for 7 nights in TWIN room. Check-out is at 12 p.m.. Check-in time is 2 p.m.;
- 7 buffet breakfasts;
- guide (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish language) and translator during all excursions;
- transport: according to the tour program (for a group 5, 8, 10 +1 and 15+1 person service bus with 18 seats in the saloon, 20+1 person – bus with 44 seats in the saloon);
- tickets to the museums as stated in the tour program;
- visa support;