We love —
- Immerse yourself in the elegant and complex history of Russia while visiting Moscow and the Golden Ring Cities on this fantastic private tour.
- With our special itinerary, visiting Russia has never been easier. Discover another side of Russia as you delve into the beautiful history of this country.
- The Golden Ring is a popular tourist route comprised of a network of ancient towns north-east of Moscow and is famous for its unique architecture and expansive history.
Your Itinerary —
Day 1 Europe - Fly to Saint Petersburg
Arrival at St. Petersburg airport.
Transfer to the hotel. Welcome drink.
Information meeting to talk over the program of the week.
Overnight at Park Inn Nevsky 4* or similar. Dinner not included.
Breakfast at the hotel.
City tour to discover the city of Peter the Great which for more than 200 years, was the political and cultural center of Russia and has an impressive cultural heritage. The historic center is located on 42 islands, hence the nickname "Venice of the North" given to St. Petersburg. Visit of the fortress Peter and Paul.
Lunch in town.
Continuation with the church of the Savior on spilled Blood which is one of the main Russian Orthodox churches of the city.
This name refers to the blood poured during the assassination of the Emperor Alexander II who was mortally wounded there on March 13 in 1881.
Visit of the famous cathedral St Isaak.
Dinner and overnight at Park Inn Nevsky 4* or similar.
After breakfast visit of the famous Hermitage.
Lunch in town.
Visit of the impressionist Hermitage.
Dinner and overnight at Park Inn Nevsky 4* or similar.
Day 4 - Saint Petersburg - Moscow/ TGV Sapsan (high speed train)
After breakfast, excursion to the summer residences of the Tsars, with the visit of Pavlovsk palace and huge park.
Lunch at Isba Podvorie
Visit of the Palaces of Pushkin and its park.
Transfer to the train station in the evening.
Road to Moscow with TGV Sapsan (around 19:00);
Travel on the famous "October" railway line connecting Moscow to St. Petersburg by crossing the Russian plains, its landscapes of rivers, villages and provincial towns.
Arrival in Moscow at approximately 23:00. Welcome by the guide, transfer to hotel, check-in.
Overnight at Best Western Plus Vega Hotel 4* or similar. Dinner not included.
After breakfast, City tour with an excursion to the convent of Novodevichy.
The "New Convent of the Young Girls" is both a convent and a stronghold. It played a very important role in the defence of Moscow.
Protected by a wall and 12 watchtowers, and built in Russian baroque style, this monastery is a convent of nuns founded in 1524 by the great prince of Moscow Vassili III.
Lunch in town.
In the afternoon, visit the Tretyakov Gallery.
Dinner and overnight at Best Western Plus Vega Hotel 4* or similar.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit of the prestigious Kremlin with a cathedral.
Lunch in town.
We will not fail to visit the legendary Moscow metro, whose stations decorated with paintings and statues, which according to Stalin are like palaces for the people.
We will also visit the shopping street of Arbat.
Dinner and overnight at Best Western Plus Vega Hotel 4* or similar.
After breakfast, we will leave for Sergiev Possad to visit the Cathedral of St. Sergius (one of the most famous monasteries in Russia), which is part of the "Golden Ring" made up of several princely towns located around the Russian capital that contain superb architectural ensembles.
We will have lunch and continue to the city of Rostov which is one of the oldest cities in Russia and a major tourist center of the "Golden Ring" due to the Rostov Kremlin in the center of the city which we will visit.
Departure for Yaroslavl.
Dinner and overnight at Park inn by Radisson Yaroslavl 4* or similar.
After breakfast we will visit the city of Yaroslavl which is the oldest city of Russia.
Visit the monastery of the Transfiguration and the church of St Elie.
Lunch in town.
Departure for Kostroma which is also part of the Golden Ring.
Visit the St Hypatius monastery with the Cathedral of the Trinity, the Church of the Resurrection.
Transfer to Suzdal.
Dinner and overnight either VELIY Hotel Suzdal 3*, Sokol Hotel Suzdal 3* or similar.
Breakfast.
Visit of the Kremlin and the monastery St Euthyme.
Lunch in town
Visit of the Church of the Virgin's Intercession.
Dinner in town.
Overnight either VELIY Hotel Suzdal 3*, Sokol Hotel Suzdal 3* or similar.
After breakfast, departure to Bogoliubovo.
Visit of the cathedral of the icon of Bogoliubovo of the Mother of God.
Continuation for Vladimir.
Visit of the city of Vladimir, which was founded in 1108 by Vladimir II Monomachus.
It became the center of the principality of Vladimir-Suzdal when the son of Vladimir II Monomachus, Iouri Dolgorouki, Duke of Suzdal and future founder of Moscow, transferred the seat of power of the Great Princes of Russia to Vladimir.
Excursion to the Cathedral being the icon of the city to the Russian Byzantine style.
After lunch, transfer to the city of Alexandrov.
We will go around the city which is watered by the river Seraia.
Return to Moscow.
Dinner and overnight at Best Western Plus Vega Hotel 4* or similar.
Day 11 - Moscow fly to Europe
Transfer to the airport.
Flight back to Europe.
Please note: a visa is required for entry into Russia. Please see further details at the bottom of this page.
Your Hotels —
You will stay in the following hotels in Standard Rooms
Park Inn Nevsky 4*, St. Petersburg (3 nights)
Situated within the heart of St. Petersburg, our hotel offers easy access to the Moscow Railway Station, the Hermitage, St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Stockmann shopping mall. The hotel houses 269 rooms and suites and offers free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and a Bavarian restaurant.
Best Western Plus Vega 4*, Moscow (4 nights)
Experience the best of Moscow while staying at the Best Western Plus Vega, situated in the most beautiful, historical part of Moscow. The hotel houses 966 guest rooms, each equipped with modern amenities and interiors and three different restaurants.
Park Inn by Radisson 4*, Yaroslavl (1 night)
Within 4km of Yaroslavl’s historic city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, guests enjoy close proximity to the monasteries and Kremlins. The 167 modern hotel rooms and suites have a bright, sleek style whilst amenities like Free Wi-Fi, a Lobby Bar and a Bavarian reestaurant boast 4* quality.
VELIY Hotel Suzdal or Sokol Hotel 4*, Suzdal (2 nights)
Both these hotels are of a similar standard and boast proximity to the Kremlin. Each have well-appointed rooms, free Wi-Fi and an on-site restaurant.
Please note that if these hotels are not available you will be accommodated in hotels of a similar standard.
Your Journey —
Flights: The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Please note: Arrival will be to St. Petersburg and departure will be from Moscow.
Transfers: Private transfers are included throughout your tour.
Visa —
A visa is required for entry into Russia.
You will require a letter of invitation to support your visa application, which will be provided by our local supplier.
Last name
First name
Middle name
The date of birth
Passport number
Nationality
Gender
Once you have received your letter of invitation, you will need to apply for a visa.
We would recommend visiting the following website as the visa application process provided by the Russian Nation Tourist Office.
http://www.visitrussia.org.uk/visa/tourist-visa.php
Standard Service – 7 working days - £115
Express Service – 2 working days - £210
(prices correct at time of print, subject to change)
PLEASE NOTE: WHEN APPLYING FOR A VISA IT IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE YOUR FINGERPRINTS TO THE RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES. YOU MUST DO THIS IN PERSON BY VISITING THEIR OFFICE IN EITHER LONDON OR EDINBURGH
If you do require any assistance, it may be worth contacting the Russian National Tourist Office on 0207 985 1234 to discuss this further.
Voyage Prive cannot be held responsible for visas and full cancellation costs will be incurred in the event the visa is not granted or received in advance of your departure.
What's Not Included?
- Visa fees (obtained by the client)
- Personal expenses, tips and drinks
- Visits and excursions not mentioned in the program
- Meals not mentioned in the program
- Special events
