Overview:
This itinerary offers you the opportunity to visit the great Russian cities of St. Petersburg, Moscow and Kazan. Kazan is the capital of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan and has a unique blend of European and Asian culture and architecture and a rich history as one of the crossroads between the two continents.
Departure Dates: no departures
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 (Tuesday): Arrival in St. Petersburg
After arrival in St. Petersburg, transfer to Hotel Sokos Vasilievsky**** or similar. Check-in at the hotel followed by welcome meeting in the evening.
Accommodation in 2020: Hotel Sokos Vasilievsky or similar
Accommodation in 2021: Hotel Sokos Vasilievsky or similar
Day 2 (Wednesday): St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is an famously beautiful and historical city, with palaces, museums and natural sights such as the Neva River and canals, often being compared to the city of Venice. On the first morning in this city there will be a vast sightseeing tour to include the main attractions: the Peter-Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Savior, the Nevsky Convent, and more. There is also an optional excursion to Tsarskoye Selo which includes Catherine’s Palace and the restored Amber Room. In the evening after a full day of cultural immersion, there is the possibility to visit the Nikolaevsky Palace to enjoy a traditional Russian folklore show and local champagne and food.
Day 3 (Thursday): St. Petersburg
The final full day in St. Petersburg is the perfect opportunity to visit Peterhof where the Grand Palace, Grand Cascade, Water Avenue and the stunning parks are located. There is also an optional excursion to the incredible Hermitage Art Museum before enjoying dinner at the Restaurant Pryanosti & Radosti.
Day 4 (Friday): St. Petersburg - Moscow
Before heading to Moscow via the Sapsan high-speed train, there is an optional early channel cruise in St. Petersburg; a great send off to this magical city. Once on the train you will be treated to the vast Russian landscapes around the River Volga. Upon arrival in Moscow in the evening you will check in to the Hotel Park Inn Sadu****.
Accommodation in 2020: Hotel Park Inn Sadu or similar
Accommodation in 2021: Hotel Azimut Smolenskaya or similar
Day 5 (Saturday): Moscow
The Russian Capital is home to the Kremlin, as well as many exquisite domed cathedrals, and the sightseeing tour will include highlights of this dynamic city such as the Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral, Theatre Square with the Bolshoi Theatre, Sparrow Hills with Moscow University, and the Kremlin grounds. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit the Moscow Metro and learn about its historical stations on the Ring-Line, in addition to a guided promenade through the pedestrian-only Arbat Street. To end the evening you can embark on a river cruise upon the White Flotilla to see these magical sights by night.
Day 6 (Sunday): Moscow
On the final full day there is the option to take an excursion to the small town of Sergiev Posad to visit Russia’s most important monastery, the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, which is considered the spiritual heart of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the evening, you will be transferred to the Kazanskaya Railway Station before departing on the Tatarstan Premium overnight train to Kazan.
Day 7 (Monday): Kazan
In the morning, we arrive to Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. Located at the mighty Volga River, Kazan is a beautiful thousand-year-old city, where Christianity and Islam have coexisted peacefully through the centuries. Upon arrival we are transferred to Hotel Park Inn Kazan**** or similar, where breakfast is served. The morning and early afternoon sightseeing tour allows us to explore Kazan’s rich past and takes us to the old Tatar Quarter, where we visit the city’s oldest stone mosque and Kazan Kremlin, a stone fortress of the 16th century with a perfect panoramic view. We also visit the Kul-Sharif Mosque, one of the largest in Europe, and the Catholic Church of Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Accommodation in 2020: Hotel Park Inn Kazan or similar
Accommodation in 2021: Hotel Hotel Park Inn Kazan or similar
Day 8 (Tuesday): Kazan
This morning offers an optional visit to the Admiralteyskaya Quarter and the Raifa Monastery. The monastery, located on the bank of a beautiful lake and surrounded by virgin forests, and is one of the most beautiful sites in Tatarstan. The monastery has an intriguing history dating back to the 17th century and it is still a functioning monastery today. In the afternoon an optional visit is offered to Iske-Kazan (Old Kazan), a fascinating open-air museum located where the capital of the medieval Khanate of Kazan once stood. We visit the museum dominated by a modern reconstruction of the large wooden fortress from time of the khanate, while an interactive theatrical show with the medieval ruler of the city, the Kazan Khan, and his entourage gives us a further impression of the lives of the people of medieval Kazan.
Day 9 (Wednesday): Kazan
This morning an optional visit to Sviyazhsk is on our program. This scenic little town located an hour’s drive from Kazan at the confluence of the Volga and Sviyaga Rivers has served as a fortress and military base since the 16th century. We visit the Holy Domitian Monastery of Sviyazhsk and the Temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh and enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of the town and the rivers before we return to Kazan. In the evening an optional national cuisine dinner is offered at Restaurant Tatar Cuisine House.
Day 10 (Thursday): Departure
After breafkast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Package Includes:
- Direct flights from London with Aeroflot
- 1 piece of check-in luggage per traveller
- 8 nights' accommodation at centrally located 4* hotels
- 1 night on board "Tatarstan Premium" train in 2-berth compartment
- 9 x buffet breakfast
- 1 x boxed dinner on board overnight train
- Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
- Personalised welcome package
- Entrances to Peter-Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, Moscow Kremlin and Kazan Kremlin
- English speaking tour escort on all tours
- 1st class motor coaches or minivans throughout the itinerary
- Sapsan high-speed train St. Petersburg-Moscow (2nd class)
- Portage at hotels and railway stations
- Service and VAT
- 24 hour emergency service
- ATOL protection
Optional Tours & Meals:
- 4-hour excursion to Tsarskoye Selo and visit to Catherine’s Palace - £ 80 pp
- Visit to folklore show at the Nikolaevsky Palace - £ 65 pp
- 4-hour excursion to Peterhof and visit to the Grand Palace - £ 75 pp
- 3-hour visit to the Hermitage Art Museum - £ 50 pp
- Russian dinner at Restaurant Pryanosti & Radosti - £ 50 pp
- 3-hour guided channel cruise - £ 65 pp
- 3-hour Moscow Metro and Arbat tour - £ 25 pp
- 3-hour Moscow by night excursion and river cruise - £ 55 pp
- 8-hour excursion to Sergiev Posad - £ 80 pp
- 4-hour excursion to Admiralteyskaya Quarter and Raifa Monastery - £ 40 pp
- 4-hour excursion to Iske-Kazan (Old Kazan) with entrance to the museum and fortress and interactive show - £ 60 pp
- 6-hour excursion to Sviyazshsk with entrance to Holy Domitian Monastery and Temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh - £ 60 pp
- National dinner at Restaurant Tatar Cuisine House - £ 40 pp
- Half board at hotels (9 x 3 course dinner with coffee/tea) - £ 245 pp
Enquire now »
Itinerary
Day 1 (Tuesday): Arrival in St. Petersburg
After arrival in St. Petersburg, transfer to Hotel Sokos Vasilievsky**** or similar. Check-in at the hotel followed by welcome meeting in the evening.
Accommodation in 2020: Hotel Sokos Vasilievsky or similar
Accommodation in 2021: Hotel Sokos Vasilievsky or similar
Day 2 (Wednesday): St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is an famously beautiful and historical city, with palaces, museums and natural sights such as the Neva River and canals, often being compared to the city of Venice. On the first morning in this city there will be a vast sightseeing tour to include the main attractions: the Peter-Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Savior, the Nevsky Convent, and more. There is also an optional excursion to Tsarskoye Selo which includes Catherine’s Palace and the restored Amber Room. In the evening after a full day of cultural immersion, there is the possibility to visit the Nikolaevsky Palace to enjoy a traditional Russian folklore show and local champagne and food.
Day 3 (Thursday): St. Petersburg
The final full day in St. Petersburg is the perfect opportunity to visit Peterhof where the Grand Palace, Grand Cascade, Water Avenue and the stunning parks are located. There is also an optional excursion to the incredible Hermitage Art Museum before enjoying dinner at the Restaurant Pryanosti & Radosti.
Day 4 (Friday): St. Petersburg - Moscow
Before heading to Moscow via the Sapsan high-speed train, there is an optional early channel cruise in St. Petersburg; a great send off to this magical city. Once on the train you will be treated to the vast Russian landscapes around the River Volga. Upon arrival in Moscow in the evening you will check in to the Hotel Park Inn Sadu****.
Accommodation in 2020: Hotel Park Inn Sadu or similar
Accommodation in 2021: Hotel Azimut Smolenskaya or similar
Day 5 (Saturday): Moscow
The Russian Capital is home to the Kremlin, as well as many exquisite domed cathedrals, and the sightseeing tour will include highlights of this dynamic city such as the Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral, Theatre Square with the Bolshoi Theatre, Sparrow Hills with Moscow University, and the Kremlin grounds. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit the Moscow Metro and learn about its historical stations on the Ring-Line, in addition to a guided promenade through the pedestrian-only Arbat Street. To end the evening you can embark on a river cruise upon the White Flotilla to see these magical sights by night.
Day 6 (Sunday): Moscow
On the final full day there is the option to take an excursion to the small town of Sergiev Posad to visit Russia’s most important monastery, the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, which is considered the spiritual heart of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the evening, you will be transferred to the Kazanskaya Railway Station before departing on the Tatarstan Premium overnight train to Kazan.
Day 7 (Monday): Kazan
In the morning, we arrive to Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. Located at the mighty Volga River, Kazan is a beautiful thousand-year-old city, where Christianity and Islam have coexisted peacefully through the centuries. Upon arrival we are transferred to Hotel Park Inn Kazan**** or similar, where breakfast is served. The morning and early afternoon sightseeing tour allows us to explore Kazan’s rich past and takes us to the old Tatar Quarter, where we visit the city’s oldest stone mosque and Kazan Kremlin, a stone fortress of the 16th century with a perfect panoramic view. We also visit the Kul-Sharif Mosque, one of the largest in Europe, and the Catholic Church of Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Accommodation in 2020: Hotel Park Inn Kazan or similar
Accommodation in 2021: Hotel Hotel Park Inn Kazan or similar
Day 8 (Tuesday): Kazan
This morning offers an optional visit to the Admiralteyskaya Quarter and the Raifa Monastery. The monastery, located on the bank of a beautiful lake and surrounded by virgin forests, and is one of the most beautiful sites in Tatarstan. The monastery has an intriguing history dating back to the 17th century and it is still a functioning monastery today. In the afternoon an optional visit is offered to Iske-Kazan (Old Kazan), a fascinating open-air museum located where the capital of the medieval Khanate of Kazan once stood. We visit the museum dominated by a modern reconstruction of the large wooden fortress from time of the khanate, while an interactive theatrical show with the medieval ruler of the city, the Kazan Khan, and his entourage gives us a further impression of the lives of the people of medieval Kazan.
Day 9 (Wednesday): Kazan
This morning an optional visit to Sviyazhsk is on our program. This scenic little town located an hour’s drive from Kazan at the confluence of the Volga and Sviyaga Rivers has served as a fortress and military base since the 16th century. We visit the Holy Domitian Monastery of Sviyazhsk and the Temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh and enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of the town and the rivers before we return to Kazan. In the evening an optional national cuisine dinner is offered at Restaurant Tatar Cuisine House.
Day 10 (Thursday): Departure
After breafkast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Transportation
Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.
Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.
Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7. Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive. It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.
We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.