9 days / 8 nights, from £1,885 pp

This guided tour of Russia introduces you to the highlights of Moscow and St. Petersburg and gives you the additional opportunity to explore the Golden Ring, a collection of small towns to the Northeast of Moscow. These ancient towns played a significant role in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church and preserve the memory of the most important and significant events in Russian history. The towns have been called "open air museums" and feature unique monuments of Russian architecture of the 12th–18th centuries, including kremlins, monasteries, cathedrals, and churches. These towns are among the most picturesque in Russia and prominently feature Russia's famous onion domes.

Package price is £ 1,885 per person based on availability and sharing a twin room.  Single Supplement of £590.

2010 Departure Dates

The tour price includes:

• Direct flights to Moscow and return from St. Petersburg on British Airways
• 2 nights accommodation in Moscow - Hotel Cosmos 4*
• 1 night accommodation in Vladimir at Hotel Russian Village 3*
• 2 nights accommodation in Rostov Velikiy at Hotel Moskovsky Trakt 3*
• 2 nights accommodation in St. Petersburg - Hotel Moskva 3*
• Half board - breakfast and dinner
• Transfers on arrival in Moscow and departure in St.Petersburg
• Tours and entrance fees as per itinerary
• First class train Moscow-St.Petersburg (sharing 2 berth compartment)
• Services of an English-speaking guide
• Visa support letter for duration of tour
• 24-hour emergency contact
• Guide escort on the Golden Ring section of the itinerary

Not included in price:

• Any meals, beverages, sightseeing entrance fees not specified in the inclusions
• Photo and video charges at museums and places of interest
• Extra personal costs incurred at the hotel
  Visa service
• Extended visa support

DAY 1 MOSCOW - On arrival in Moscow, you will be met by our representative driver and transferred to Hotel Cosmos or similar for check-in for your 2 night stay. Dinner at the hotel at 19.00. Evening at leisure.

HOTEL COSMOS is a large 4 star hotel located on one of the major Moscow’s street - Prospect Mira about 15 minutes metro ride from the city centre (metro station VDNKH is located 200 meters from the hotel and ticket cost 17 RUB ~ 0.30 GBP). The hotel has 1771 rooms on 25 floors, 4 restaurants (one of them on the 25th floor with a panoramic city views), bar, pub, 2 cafes, fitness centre with saunas, gym, Jacuzzi, SPA Centre, Russian, Turkish and hammam bath, children’s pool with waterslides, one of the largest indoor swimming pools in Moscow (240 m²), bowling, casino and night club. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom/WC, sat TV, telephone and fridge or mini-bar.

DAY 2 MOSCOW - After breakfast at the hotel, meet our English speaking tour guide at hotel reception at 10.00 am for the FULL DAY PANORAMIC ORIENTATION TOUR of Moscow, viewing the famous landmarks and places to which you may return at your leisure. The tour sights may include RED SQUARE, the KREMLIN, SPARROW HILLS, BOLSHOI THEATRE, CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR, VICTORY PARK, NOVODEVICHY CONVENT, the WHITE HOUSE, and the famous MOSCOW STREETS. Included in this tour today is a visit inside the KREMLIN GROUNDS and ONE OF THE CATHEDRALS within the territories.

DAY 3 VLADIMIR - After breakfast, check out and departure by coach or car for your tour of the ancient Golden Ring.  The first stop will be VLADIMIR, - one of the most ancient of Russian cities, founded in 990 by Kyiv prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. On arrival, you guide will take you on a full CITY TOUR OF VLADIMIR, to include the GOLDEN GATES and the DMITRIEVSKY CATHEDRAL, followed by a visit to BOGOLIUBOVO.  Check in at the Hotel Russian Village or similar. Dinner at the hotel.

RUSSKAYA DEREVNYA (“Russian Village”) is located in a small forested "park" just as you enter Vladimir from Moscow. This charming hotel and restaurant complex consists of three two story log cabin style buildings, each with eight double rooms with full bathrooms and televisions. The separate restaurant is also situated in a beautiful log building. The hotel complex also has a Russian-style "banya" (sauna) that includes a "traktir" (tavern) which seats 50 and serves Russian and Armenian dishes.

DAY 4 SUZDAL – ROSTOV VELIKIY - After breakfast and check out, your tour departs for SUZDAL, which is situated 35 km North of Vladimir. Suzdal is "architecturally protected" and as your guide takes you on the city tour, you will feel you have slipped back in time when visiting the KREMLIN, the nativity of the VIRGIN CATHEDRAL, the MONASTERY OF THE DEPOSITION of the HOLY ROBE and other HISTORIC TREASURES.  Later in the afternoon, depart for ROSTOV VELIKIY and arrive at Hotel Moskovsky Trakt (or similar) for dinner and 2 nights stay.

HOTEL MOSKOVSKY TRAKT is located in the heart of Rostov Veliky- 10 minutes walk from the favorite historical place Rostovskiy Kremlin. The hotel is situated in a modern 3-storey building, built in 2006. Each room has a TV-set, fridge, air conditioner, telephone and private bathroom/WC. Fitness centre is available for the hotel guest. Hotels restaurant offers Russian and European menu.

DAY 5 ROSTOV VELIKIY - YAROSLAVL - After breakfast, a CITY TOUR OF ANCIENT YAROSLAVL, located on the banks of the Volga River, founded in 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise.  Despite years of conflict, Yaroslavl retains its romantic image, beautiful complexes of churches and monasteries, noble mansions and parks, the richest collections of icons and decorative folk art. The tour will include a visit to the SPASSKY MONASTERY and a visit to a MUSEUM. After a full day, return to your hotel in Rostov Velikiy for dinner and evening at leisure.

DAY 6 ROSTOV VELIKIY & TRAIN: MOSCOW - ST. PETERSBURG - After breakfast and check out and fascinating TOUR OF ROSTOV VELIKIY (ROSTOV THE GREAT) including visit to TRINITY SERGIUS LAVRA in SERGIEV POSAD. After visiting this working MONASTERY, return to Moscow for dinner before departure to the LENINGRADSKY RAILWAY STATION. OVERNIGHT TRAIN to Saint Petersburg in shared two berth first class compartments. Train departs Moscow approximately at 23.55 and arrive St. Petersburg the next day at 07.55.

DAY 7 ST. PETERSBURG - Arriving in Saint Petersburg around breakfast time, you will be transferred to the Hotel Moskva (or similar) for breakfast (please note that rooms may not be available for check in and you may have to check-in after sightseeing).

HOTEL MOSKVA is probably the best of the old style large Soviet hotels, due to its central location near Nevsky Prospekt and the fact that many of the rooms have been refurbished. One of the largest hotels in St Petersburg, this 3 star hotel offers an ideal base to explore the city. The hotel has 735 rooms, 3 restaurants, 4 bars, snack bars on each floor, billiard club and fitness centre with sauna, steam bath and a swimming pool. The hotel’s restaurants serve different kinds of food – large two storey restaurant Moscow serves Russian and European cuisine, restaurant Salt & Pepper serves Russian and Finn cuisine, restaurant Steak House serves European and American dishes and the traditional Russian Blinnaya serves blyni – Russian pancakes. All rooms are equipped with bath or shower, WC, television and minibar.

Once revived, your PANORAMIC ORIENTATION CITY TOUR will commence at 10.00 You will see some of the major sights of this beautiful city, passing the FIELD OF MARS, along the NEVSKIJ PROSPECT, then ST ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL is on our route and also the colourful CHURCH OF THE SPILLED BLOOD. Across the Neva River is the PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS, which was the very first construction in the new city of St Petersburg and where the remains of the Romanov rulers are interred in its cathedral.   In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit part of the world-renowned HERMITAGE MUSEUM - WINTER PALACE. Your guide will show you a sample of the highlights of the millions of exhibits and treasures. Return to the hotel for the check in. Dinner at the Hotel and evening at leisure.

DAY 8 ST. PETERSBURG - Following breakfast, depart for a tour out of town, to visit the PALACE OF PAVLOVSK, the former residence of the family of Paul I. Located about 1 hour from St Petersburg, this palace was created by architects Cameron, Voronikhin and Rossi. In its rooms you will see a huge range of wonderful pieces of 19th century applied art, paintings of Russian and European masters that belonged to Paul I and his family. This palace is always popular as it reflects the true lifestyle of its owner and his family, with exhibits of personal items alongside classic exhibits.  Dinner at the Hotel and evening at leisure.

DAY 9 ST. PETERSBURG - After breakfast, check out and departure TRANSFER TO AIRPORT