MDV1. Moscow - Vologda - St.Petersburg

The trip combines a traditional tour to the two Russian capitals with an offshoot to the Russian North, where a lifestyle is more provincial and traditional and where treasures of ancient Russian architecture and art are kept through centuries.

Type: Discovery
Tour duration: 8 days
Months of Operation: All-year-round
Recommended Group Size: 2-9 pax
Mode of Travel: car (1-2 pax), minibus (3-9 pax)

 

Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the Tourist hotel ***. Accommodation.

Day 2. Breakfast. 3-hour Moscow city tour: Red Square (Cathedral of St.Basil, Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, History Museum, Kremlin towers, Upper Trading Arcades (GUM), Lenin's tomb and necropolis), St.Sofia's Embankment (photo stop with panoramic view of the Kremlin), The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, New Maiden Convent, The Moscow State University campus a panorama platform on the Vorobiovy (Sparrow) Hills, Moscow boulevards, The Theatre Square with the Bolshoy Theatre and the Metropol hotel. Free time. Optional Kremlin tour is recommended. (B)

Day 3. Breakfast. Check-out at 12:00. Free time. Optional tour to St.Sergius Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Sergiev Posad town (74 km to the North-East from Moscow) is recommended. Transfer to rail way station. Departure for Vologda by overnight train (20:20 train #60, Yaroslavsky train station). (B)

Day 4. Arrival in Vologda (05:44). Transfer to the Spasskaya hotel ***. Accommodation. Buffet breakfast. Vologda city tour: Vologda Kremlin, the house where Peter the Great stayed during his trips to the Northern Russia, first brick constructions in the town (late 18 century), log dwelling houses of the late 19 – of the beginning of 20 century. Exhibition “Art Craft work of the Vologda Land” (including famous Vologda lace). Lunch at the hotel. Spaso-Prilutskiy acting monastery tour. Free time. Optional excursion to the Architectural and Ethnographic museum (12 km from Vologda) and riding at 1-horse sledges are recommended. The excursion gives possibility to see the monuments of wooden architecture and articles of daily peasants' life collected there. The museum portrays the variety of Russian Northern architecture. It gives clients a view of Russian lifestyle, crafts and trade of Northern peasants (B,L)

Day 5. Buffet breakfast. Car/minibus ride (120 km) to Ferapontovo village. Excursion to the Monastery of St.Therapontus. The Monastery of St.Therapontus is unique monument of fresco painting. The famous icon painter Dionysus created frescos extant there in 1502. They are on the list of the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO. Entrance to the cathedral with Dionysus's frescos is paid on spot and possible if weather is favourable. Transfer to Kirillov town (20 km from The Monastery of St.Therapontus). Lunch at the “Rus” cafe. Excursion to the Monastery of St.Cyril of Belozersk. Monk Cyril founded one of the largest monasteries that became spiritual and cultural centres of Russia. Since the 15th century it was a place of political exiles. Now it is a museum with rich collection of the Russian applies art articles and architecrure monuments of 14-19 centuries. Return to Vologda. Transfer to railway station. Departure for St.Petersburg by overnight train (19:07 train #617). (B,L)

Day 6. Arrival in St.Petersburg (07:46). 4-hour St.Petersburg city tour: Nevsky Prospect, Neva's embankments, Rostral Columns, buildings of Hermitage museum, the Fortress of St.Peter and St.Paul (entrance), Senat Square, St.Isaac Cathedral, Nicolay I statue, Peter I statue (“Bronze Horseman”), Summer Garden, the Field of Mars, Ressuraction Cathedral of the Spilt Blood, Square of Arts, Palace Square with Alexander Column. Transfer to the Asteria *** hotel. Accommodation. Optional tour to Hermitage museum is recommended.

Day 7. Breakfast. Free time. Optional tours (Pavlovsk is recommended in winter, Peterhoff in summer). (B)

Day 8. Breakfast. Check-out at 12:00. Transfer to the airport. (B)

 Legend: B - breakfast, L - lunch, D - dinner
 

 

Highlights

  • Moscow - the political and financial capital of Russia
  • St.Petersburg - the cultural capital of Russia, the city with great history and incredible architecture, the treasury of fine arts
  • Vologda - the ancient city of Russian North, the center of Art Crafts
  • The Monastery of St.Cyril of Belozersk - the main fortress of Russian North
  • The Monastery of St.Therapontus with frescos by Dionysus

 

Costs for individual tourists - winter 2010:

Group, PAX

2-3

4-5

6-9

Cost per person, EUR

779

669

583

 

Included:

  • accommodation at twin rooms
  • 2nd class/4-berth compartment train tickets
  • 4 breakfasts, 2 lunches
  • all excursions as per programme including entrance fee
  • transport service during all the programme
  • English-speaking guide (other languages on request)

Not included:

  • entrance to the cathedral with Dionysus's frescos
  • optional tours

Supplements:

  • lunch/dinner: + 14 EUR per person p/lunch/dinner
  • twin train compartment +124 EUR per person
  • SGL accommodation: +11 EUR per person
  • riding at 1-horse sledge (4-6 pax) +50 EUR per group up to 4-6 pax per hour
  • optional excursions (English or German speaking guide. Other languages on request)
    • Group, PAX 2-3 4-5 6-9
    Cost per person, EUR:      
    Moscow Kremlin (grounds, cathedrals, Armoury) 85 64 55
    Sergiev Posad town (grounds and churches of St.Sergius Monastery of the Holy Trinity) 119 72 56
    Architectural and Ethnographic museum in Vologda 40 34 28
    Hermitage museum 83 62 40
    Pavlovsk (palace with private apartments of Paul I and his wife Maria, park 106 78 48
    Pavlovsk (palace with private apartments of Paul I and his wife Maria, park, Russian Troyka riding, buffet table with vodka and traditional Russian snacks: pancakes with caviar) 149 92 69


 All the costs are valid at the date of publication and are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking.


 Ladies visiting Russian Orthodox acting monasteries should have skirts and head scarfs.

 
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