Best of Russia

Welcome to Russia! Keep your eyes peeled at St. Petersburg airport for the Travel Talk sign for your transfer to the hotel. Freshen up and meet in the lobby around 6:00pm for an informal meeting with your guide and other tour members. Afterwards, join the group for a walk and have an optional group dinner to mingle. Your tour leader can also recommend some local bars to enjoy a drink with your new travel buddies.

• Accommodation
  Oktiabrskaya Hotel – 4 Star
• Included Activities
  Welcome Meeting
• Optional Activities
  Group Dinner

The amazing city of Saint Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703 and was previously Russia’s capital. The city is built around a series of bridge-connected canals and rivers and our day starts with the city tour includes a drive along the main street, Nevsky Prospect, giving us a solid introduction to this beautiful city and a few stops at Church on Spilled Blood (exterior only)Then we have guided visit of the treasure-filled Hermitage Museum.

• Accommodation
  Oktiabrskaya Hotel – 4 Star
• Included Activities
  Guided St.Petersburg Tour & Hermitage Museum
• Optional Activities
  Group Dinner
• Meals
  Breakfast

Today you have a free day to explore this magnificent city on your own, make the best of it! You can take on some optional activities such as the Tsar’s Route tour with lunch. The route visits to Peterhof Garden and Catherine Palace during summer months (May to October) or Pavlosk Palace and Catherine Palace in winter months (October to May). Later this evening, board the overnight sleeper train bound for Moscow and rest up. Overnight train in a sleeping cabin accommodation.

• Accommodation
  Sleeper Cabin Train
• Optional Activities
  Tsar’s Route
  Folklore Show
• Meals
  Breakfast

Time to embark on a city tour of Moscow. Launch a guided walk tour through Moscow’s heart, meeting the amazing Red Square and Kremlin Palace. Ask your local guide all your questions on the history, challenges and the culture of Russia. The city offers amazing galleries and museums and plenty of cafes, shops and bars. After the city tour you, if you’re still hungry for more, you have the option to join a tour of the World War II Museum. The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours. You can roam the main shopping streets, try out local dishes or explore the fancy nightlife.

• Accommodation
  Izmailovo Delta Hotel – 4 Star
• Included Activities
  Sightseeing Kremlin Palace
  Optional Activities
  Tretjakov Gallery
  World War II Museum
• Meals
  Breakfast

Start off the day with a guided walk throughout the grounds of Kremlin and soak in mighty government buildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the Tsar bell. Stroll down the road to reach the stunning St Basil’s cathedral and the Red Square. Capture a mental picture to last forever, the multi-coloured domes create a breath-taking sight for all travellers. Continue down Arbat street; one of the oldest surviving streets of the capital and home to many historical Russian figures.

• Accommodation
  Izmailovo Delta Hotel – 4 Star
• Included Activities
  Sightseeing Moscow
  Red Square & St. Basil Cathedral
  Old Arbat’s Walking
• Optional Activities
  Moscow By Night

Hop on board for the astounding Golden Ring of Russia! Pass through Sergiyev Posad and arrive in Pereslavl-Zalesskiy as you start the cultural adventure with a guided city tour. Visit one of the many historical museums and sites in town, before driving to the lakeside for a BBQ lunch. If it’s warm enough, you can swim by the lake beach and relax.

• Accommodation
  Pereslavl Hotel – 3 Star
• Meals
  Breakfast

Suzdal is a prime example of contrasting and complementing styles of Russian architecture. A main stop on Russia’s famous Golden Ring, it’s one of the sites that have played a major role in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church. Witness lovely wooden cottages alongside picturesque onion-domed monasteries. Roam the narrow alleys with tiny charming churches and try some local mead on the riverside.

• Accommodation
  Eco Hotel Suzdal Inn – 3 Star
• Meals
  Breakfast

Time to discover the magical town of Suzdal with pros as you start off with a walking tour of this ‘open-air museum’ without walls. Take in the majestic and impressive sites as the Kremlin, Cathedral of Nativity, trading square and charming monasteries. If there is time to spare, walk the riverside decorated by wooden bridges and try out some local delicacies! As you fill up with Russia history, hop on board for Vladimir, a former capital of medieval Russia. See its UNESCO sites as the Golden Gates, St Demetrius’ Cathedral and the Dormition Cathedral, true masterpieces of old Russian architecture. Drive to Moscow for the night and have a final taste of the Red Square and Kremlin before a few final vodka shots.

• Accommodation
  Izmailovo Delta Hotel – 4 Star
• Meals
  Breakfast
• Included Activities
  Sightseeing Suzdal

Have your final breakfast on us and start bidding farewells to your travel mates before checking out of the hotel (11:00). Time to start counting days for your next adventure with Travel Talk!

• Meals
  Breakfast