Moscow – Sergiev Posad – Vladimir – Murom – Diveevo – St. Petersburg – Valaam Island – Moscow
9 days / 8 nights
Day 1
Arrival to Moscow. Meeting with your guide at the airport. Transfer to Novotel Center 4 * hotel or similar, accommodation of tourists. Dinner in the hotel restaurant in the evening.
Day 2
Breakfast in the hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel lobby.
We go on a sightseeing tour of Moscow (4 hours) by bus. During the excursion, we will pass by Manezhnaya Square, along Tverskaya Street and the central historical streets and boulevards, beautiful embankments, past Stalin's skyscrapers, the Government House and the Bolshoi Theater. We will stop for a photo on the Patriarch Bridge overlooking the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Kremlin, drive by the walls of the Novodevichy Convent and walk a little in the park near the ponds, drive by Poklonnaya Gora and Victory Park, at the Triumphal Arch on Kutuzovsky Prospekt, at the Mosfilm film studio, in Luzhniki district. We will make photo stops and take a walk on the observation deck of Vorobyovy Gory, which offers a view of the center of Moscow, the Luzhniki sports complex and Moscow State University. Let's stop in the Moscow City area for a photo against the backdrop of skyscrapers.
Visiting the Moscow Kremlin: Assumption, Annunciation and Archangel Cathedrals, as well as the Church of the Deposition of the Robe. The Tsar Bell is the largest bell in the world with a tragic history, because it was never possible to ring it. The Tsar Cannon is a bombard designed for shooting stones weighing up to 800 kg. Ivanovskaya Square is the business center of Russia. In the Middle Ages, the Kremlin was a stone fortress that protected from enemies. Today it is the oldest part and the main historical complex of the city. In ancient times, the Kremlin was ruled by tsars, and now it is the official residence of the President.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner in the hotel restaurant in the evening.
Day 3
Breakfast in the hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel lobby.
Departure for an excursion to Sergiev Posad. Sightseeing tour of Sergiev Posad – a city with a rich cultural and historical, monastic complex and the spiritual heart of Russia. The name comes from the name of the founder of the monastery, Saint Sergei of Radonezh. Visit to the cathedrals of the Lavra and walk around the territory. A visit to the archaeological office, its exposition is located in 12 rooms of the former Tsar's palaces – Russian tsars and tsaritsa stayed here during a visit to the Lavra. The exposition has a unique collection – icons, church utensils, vestments, handwritten and printed books, small plastic items, graphics, paintings and relics associated with the life of prominent church figures. After the end of the excursion, free time on the territory of the Lavra.
Transfer to Vladimir.
Sightseeing tour of the city, visit to the Assumption Cathedral.
Accommodation at the hotel GTK “Russian Village 3*” or similar. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4
Breakfast in the hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel lobby.
Transfer by bus to Murom. The city is considered one of the ancient Russian cities. The date of its foundation coincides with the date of birth of the Russian State and dates back to 862. This ancient city stands on the left bank of the Oka near the border of the Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod regions. Despite its long life and rich history, it still preserves its traditional Russian appearance – 4 Orthodox monasteries, many churches and architectural monuments adorn its panorama. “Whoever has not seen Murom from the Oka has not seen Russian beauty” – this is how the writer Maxim Gorky admired the city. Visit to the Holy Trinity Monastery, where the relics of St. Peter and Fevronia and the Annunciation Monastery, where the relics of St. book Constantine, Theodore and Michael.
In the afternoon, transfer to Diveyevo. Diveyevo is one of those places on earth, which is especially patronized by the Most Holy Theotokos. According to legend, she herself chose him as her fourth earthly destiny, announcing this to Mother Alexandra. It was to this village, stretched out on the banks of the Vichkinza River, that mother came from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra to found a new monastery. Now it houses the Seraphim-Diveevsky (also called Holy Trinity) convent – the place where the relics of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov are kept. It is believed that the Mother of God comes here every day, so if you stay in St. Diveevo for at least one night, you can get her blessing.
Visit to sources: the Monk Seraphim (in Tsyganovka), Iversky, St. Alexandra, Kazansky, the healer Panteleimon.
In the evening, accommodation at the hotel, dinner at the hotel.
Day 5
Breakfast in the hotel.
Visit to a nunnery. Tour of the monastery.
Free time.
In the afternoon, departure to the Arzamas railway station.
Dinner at a city restaurant. Departure by night branded train “Volga region” to St. Petersburg.
Day 6
Breakfast on the train. Arrival at the Moskovsky railway station in St. Petersburg at 11:40.
Check-in at the hotel Saint Petersburg 4* or similar.
We go on a sightseeing tour of St. Petersburg, during which you will learn about the history of the city and the pages of its history, the main streets, facades, temples, palaces and bridges. You will see (visual inspection with photo pauses): Nevsky Prospect, Kazan Cathedral, St. Isaac's Square, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Nicholas Cathedral, Senate Square, the Bronze Horseman monument, the Admiralty, Mikhailovsky Castle, Field of Mars, Cathedral of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Summer garden, Marble Palace, Russian Museum, Spit of Vasilievsky Island, Rostral Columns, Kunstkamera, University Embankment and other attractions.
Visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress, which was founded by Peter I in 1703. In addition to the old fortifications, the fortress also houses the Peter and Paul Cathedral of the first quarter of the 18th century. (architect D. Trezzini), where the tomb of Peter the Great and other Russian emperors is located, visit the museum of the Trubetskoy Bastion prison.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 7
Breakfast in the hotel.
Departure St. Petersburg-Priozersk, transfer by a comfortable bus. Boarding a boat / ship in the village of Priozersk in Monastyrskaya Bay. Departure to Valaam island.
Upon arrival, excursion “Central Estate”, then go to the concert of spiritual chants.
Dinner.
Excursions “Nikolsky skete” and “Link of times”. All-night vigil.
Dinner.
Overnight at the hotel of the monastery.
Day 8
Liturgy.
Breakfast at the hotel, daily except Sunday – tea at the pilgrim refectory.
Excursions “Konevskie Lakes” and “New Jerusalem”.
Dinner.
End of the excursion program, boarding a boat / ship on Valaam Island, Monastyrsk. bay-Priozersk.
Late arrival ~ 23.00 at the hotel
Day 9
Breakfast in the hotel.
Airport transfer.
Price per person 690 Euro net, staying in a double room for a group of 40-45 people
The tour program includes:
– Accommodation in 4* hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
– Accommodation in hotels Diveevo and Vaalam.
– Transportation service according to the program.
– Entrance tickets according to the program.
– Meals breakfast, dinner, on Vaalam full board.
– A ticket for the train Arzamas.
– St. Petersburg sleeping place in a compartment 2nd class.
– Guide accompanying the entire route.