Moscow - Golden Ring - Saint-Petersburg tour.

[admin]

The tour starts in Moscow. That will give you a chance to see much of the Russian capital. But Moscow can not be considered as being purely Russian, like New York is so much different from the rest of USA. Moscow is a metropolis which has its own style and pace of life. Move fifty miles from Moscow and you will be amazed how different life can be. The Golden Ring is formed by ancient Russian cities located to the northeast of the capital. You will have a great chance of seeing the country side and enjoy authentic Russian experience.MOSCOW is an official capital and Saint-Petersburg is considered to be a northern or cultural capital of Russia. It is difficult for Westerners to comprehend what an important place Moscow holds in the Russian imagination as a symbol of both spiritual and political power. It has always been the heart of this vast country. Moscow has been the center of government ever since the Soviet power moved there in the spring of 1918. The city is more than a metropolis of over nine million people, more than the administrative, legislative, educational, and cultural capital of Russia - it is the embodiment of the Russian Character and of Russian history. SERGIEV-POSAD is famous for its monastery Trinity Saint Sergius Lavra (1340A.D.). It is a seat of the head of the Russian orthodox church. VLADIMIR (1108A.D.) has a lot of ancient monuments to be proud of. The first striking monument is the Golden Gate (1164A.D.). Assumption cathedral (1161A.D.) is worth seeing, too.SUZDAL (1024A.D.), a holy city, is in itself an entire museum - its thronging monuments, towers and domes enable the visitor to follow the history of Russian architecture from the 12th to the 19th centuries.YAROSLAVL (1010A.D.) cultural heritage is invaluable. Transfiguration of our Savior Monastery (12 century) was converted into a bishop's palace in 1787. The only copy of "Lay of Igor's Campaign" was discovered in Yaroslavl - and sadly lost again at the time of Napoleon's invasion.ROSTOV THE GREAT (862A.D.) was the capital of the principality in 11th and 12th centuries.PERESLAVL-ZALESSKY (1152), "the city of waters", lies on the shore of Lake Pleshcheyevo, framed by numerous tributaries of the Trubezh River - a Russian Venice in miniature.SAINT-PETERSBURG. Peter the Great build his own capital on the Baltic coast as a "window onto Europe". The city changed its name several times. It was know as Saint-Petersburg, Petrograd and Leningrad. Now it is called Saint-Petersburg. St. Petersburg is both West European and Russian. It has come from St. Petersburg much of what is known as Russian culture. It was from St. Petersburg that the Faberge craftsmen created splendid objects; that Pavlova, Nijinsky and Ulanova showed the world what ballet was about; that Dostoyevksy and Pushkin used the settings for their masterpieces. Saint Petersburg is a thriving city, the home of five million people, who often say that they consider their city superior to other cities - especially to Moscow. DAY 1. AFTERNOON. Arrival to Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo airport. Guided transfer to hotel. Accommodation in hotel. DAY 2. MORNING. Breakfast in hotel. Bus sightseeing tour of Moscow Red Square, GUM department store, Lenin Mausoleum, Moscow University, Russian "White House". AFTERNOON. Tour of the Moscow Kremlin including two cathedrals. DAY 3. MORNING. Breakfast in hotel. Tour of the Trinity Saint Sergius Lavra, located 60 km out of Moscow in Sergiev-Posad (former Zagorsk). It is the heart of the Russian Orthodox church, headquarters of the Russian Patriarch and the burial place of Boris Godunov. AFTERNOON. Transfer to Suzdal. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner on your own. DAY 4. MORNING. Breakfast in hotel. Tour of Suzdal including Kremlin (fortress), Assumption cathedral (build in 1713). Lunch on your own. AFTERNOON. Transfer to Vladimir (founded in 1108). Tour of Vladimir, including Golden Gates (build in 1158-1164), Assumption cathedral (build in 1158-1160, 1185-1189). Dinner on your own . Night in Suzdal hotel. DAY 5. MORNING. Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to Palekh. Tour of the museum of lacquered boxes. Lunch on your own. AFTERNOON. Visit of lacquered boxes and icon production companies. Transfer to Kostroma (founded in 12 century). Accommodation in hotel. DAY 6. MORNING. Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to Yaroslavl (1010). Tour of Kremlin (fortress). Transfer and tour of Rostov the Great (first mentioned in chronicles 862 AD). Tour of the Kremlin buildings (16-17 centuries). Transfer to Pereslavl-Zalessky (1152). AFTERNOON. Transfer to Moscow. Dinner. Overnight train to Saint-Petersburg. DAY 7. MORNING. Arrival to Saint-Petersburg. Breakfast in train. Bus sightseeing tour of the city. Lunch. Accommodation in hotel. AFTERNOON. The tour of Peterhoff (Petrodvorezh). DAY 8. MORNING. Breakfast in hotel. Tour of Hermitage. AFTERNOON. The tour of Peter and Paul's fortress. DAY 9. MORNING. Breakfast in hotel. Free time for shopping. AFTERNOON. Transfer to airport. THE COST of Moscow, Saint-Petersburg and Golden Ring trip is USD2890.00 per person in case of 4 paying travelers, USD3190 per person in case of 3 paying travelers, USD3590 per person in case of 2 paying traveler (double supplement). Add USD890 for single supplement if apply. Add USD250 for single supplement in train if apply. The cost is USD6290.00 in case of 1 paying traveler (single supplement). All quotes are the matter of change without notice unless confirmed. INCLUDED SERVICES: - HOTELS in Moscow, Suzdal, Kostroma along the route (***). - MEALS only breakfast in hotels and train. - CAR or minivan services as per program, including transfers on the first and the last days of the trip. - TRAIN TICKETS as per program. - GUIDE SERVICES along the trip. - GUIDE SERVICES in all museums as per program. - ENTRANCE FEES in all museums as per program. EXTRA SERVICES AND FEES:International airfare, travel insurance, consulate visa charges, tips to guides and drivers, and porterage (except for hotels) are NOT included. These services should be booked through your travel agency or our partner in US.

More...