Moscow – Sergiev Posad – Pereslavl-Zalessky – Rostov the Great – Yaroslavl – SaintPetersburg – Valaam – Pskov – Moscow
8 days / 7 nights
Day 1
Arrival to Moscow. Meet and greet with the guide. Transfer to hotel Hampton by Hilton Rogozhsky Val 4* or similar, accommodation.
Dinner in the hotel.
Day 2
Breakfast at hotel. Meet with the guide at hotel lobby.
Going for 4 hour citytour by bus with a photo stops: drive around avenues, monuments, gardens, and squares, admiring highlights including Manezh Square, Tverskaya street, the Bolshoi theatre and White house (Parliament house), see Stalin’s skyscrapers as you uncover the city’s history. Photo stop at Patriarchy bridge near The Cathedral of Christ the Savior with a great panorama of Kremlin and historic center, see Novodevichy Convent with a short walk in the park, Victory Park, Mosfilm studios (Russian Hollywood), Sport complex Luzhniki and famous stadium where main matches of World Football Cup 2018 took place and take photos from Sparrow Hills observation deck. Photo stop near Moscow City district to make pictures of skyscrapers.
Visit to Moscow Kremlin: Assumption cathedral, Annunciation Cathedral, Archangel Cathedral as well as the cathedral of the Ordination. Tsar Bell – the biggest bell in the world with a tragic story, after all, it was not possible to ring. Tsar Cannon – bombard, designed to fire stones weighing up to 800 kg. The former residence of the czars, the largest and most famous fortress of the country, the Kremlin is a collection of palaces and cathedrals, the oldest of which date back to the 16th century. Today it’s most ancient part and main historic complex of the city and official residence of Russian President.
Return to hotel.
Dinner in the hotel in the evening.
Day 3
Breakfast at hotel. Meet the guide in hotel lobby.
Departure to Sergiev Posad. Transfer to Sergiev Posad (~75km) – monastery complex and spiritual heart of Russia. The title of the city originates from monastery founder, holy man – Sergius of Radonezh. Complex in included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list and is part of the “Golden Ring”. On the way the guide shall deliver history of the city, The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius and its importance for Christian believers. Visit to the main Lavra cathedrals and territory and the archaeological office, its exposition is located in the 12 halls of former Tsar's Chambers, where Russian tsars stopped en route to Sergiev Posad. The exposition has unique collection – icons, church plate, garments, scribbled notes, subjects from indoor sculptures, graphic arts, paintings and relicts, connected with life of outstanding church figures.
Time for leisure in Lavra.
Transfer to Pereslavl-Zalessky.
Sightseeing tour, visit to museum of irons.
Accomodation at Azimut hotel 4*, dinner in the hotel.
Day 4
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide in hotel lobby and transfer to Rostov the Great.
Excursion to Rostov Kremlin – residence of Rostov bishops and abuna. We shall visit architectural ensemble of the Kremlin, Episcopal courtyard, Bishops court, assembly square and metropolitical garden. Visit of exposition “Treasures of Rostov Kremlin, where a collection of iconic art and sculptures arts and crafts is represented. The exposition includes fabrics, cross-stitch, silver artwork, icons, fragments of the funerary complexes, sculptures, objects used in the celebration of the Liturgy and Church rites XVII-XVIII centuries. You shall get acquainted with historical and restoration history of the temples. Master-class Bell Ringing.
Transfer to Yaroslavl. Yaroslavl city tour, visit to feminine Tolgskiy monastery. The Queen of Heaven herself blessed this earth with the appearance of Her miraculous Image. Until Soviet times, this place was the "pearl" of the Yaroslavl land, here an endless stream of Russian people went to pour out their grief and sorrow before the Intercessor, to receive healing and gracious help.
Dinner.
Transfer to railway station, boarding the night train bound for Saint-Petersburg.
Day 5
Arrival in the morning to St.Petersburg.
Early check-in at the hotel Golden Age 4* or similar close to railway station.
Breakfast at hotel.
After breakfast we go on for sightseeing tour, during which you shall learn history of city appearance and pages of its history, main streets, temples, palaces and bridges. You shall see The Winter Palace, Nevsky avenue, Kazan Cathedral, St. Isaac’s Square, Admiralty, Nikolaevsky Cathedral (inside), Senate Square, monument to founder of the city – Emperor Peter the Great, Mikhaylovsky Castle, Marcovo Pole, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood which stands on the site where Russia's great emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded, Summer garden, Marble Palace, Russian museum, Vasilevsky island with its rostral columns, University embankment and other sights.
Visit to Petropalovsk fortress, which was founded by Peter the Great in 1703. In addition to the ancient fortifications, in the fortress you can see the Peter and Paul Cathedral of the first quarter of the XVIII century. (architect D. Trezzini), where Peter the Great and other Russian emperors were buried , visit the Museum of the prison Trubetskoy Bastion.
Come back to hotel, time for leisure.
Dinner in the hotel.
Optional tours for extra charge for second part of the day:
– Concert of classic music of chamber concert with excursion, transfer and attendant (3 hours including road), cost by request (depends on number of people).
– Excursion to Hermitage museum (main building) – biggest cultural and historical museum with collection of more than 3 million exhibits (paintings, sculptures, graphics, objects of applied art. The architectural complex occupies five buildings on the Neva embankment, including the Winter Palace.
Day 6
Early breakfast in the hotel.
Departure to Priosersk, transfer by comfortable bus. Boarding ship and travel to Island of Valaam.
Upon arrival excursion to Central estate, then concert of sacred songs.
Lunch in the Central estate.
Excursion “Nikolsky priory”.
End of excursion, board the ship for Valaam, monastery bay, Priozersk bay.
Excursion at St. Nicholas monastery.
Arrival to Moscow railway station late, about 23.00, return to hotel in Saint Petersburg.
Day 7
Breakfast in lunch box from the hotel.
At 06.55 departure of the group to Pskov by fast train “Lastochka”. Meet with the guide and departure to the current Pskov-Pechersk Holy Dormition monastery which is a stronghold of the Orthodox faith, an educational center of Russia and a military fortress.
Return to Pskov, travel sightseeing tour of the city.
Early dinner and transfer to railway station.
Departure by evening train №AT 10 to Moscow.
Day 8
Arrival to Moscow at 06.14 in the morning.
Breakfast in the city.
Transfer to the airport.
Price per person 595 Euro net, staying in a double room for a group of 40-45 people
The tour program includes:
– Accommodation in 4 * hotels in Moscow, Pereslavl-Zalessky and St. Petersburg
– Transportation service according to the program
– Entrance tickets according to the program
– Food breakfast, dinner, lunch on Vaalam
– Tickets for night trains Yaroslavl-St. Petersburg and Pskov-Moscow sleeper in a compartment 2nd class and day train St. Petersburg-Pskov 2nd class
– Guide accompanying the entire route