Russia Highlights

This morning you travel via metro to the iconic Red Square. You may have the opportunity to visit Lenin's mausoleum before entering the Kremlin grounds which house the oldest and most important churches in the country where many Tsars and Tsarinas are laid to rest. You also head inside the Armoury Museum which houses a glittering imperial collection of regalia and items once belonging to the world's richest monarchy, Faberge eggs and ambassadorial gifts.

As Moscow's premier tourist attractions, tickets for the Kremlin and Armoury are in high demand. In order to control the number of tour groups entering these sights at one time the Moscow Tourism Administration has set strict quotas. For this reason some groups may visit Red Square in the morning and return later in the day to enter the Kremlin and Armoury rather than visiting all the sights together. The amount of time guides can spend with their groups is also restricted to 90 minutes in each area, with any exceptions possibly resulting in the guide losing their license, so while we appreciate that some travellers would like to spend longer in the Armoury Museum we ask for your understanding that the guide is under pressure to keep to the schedule.
You will finish your tour mid to late afternoon. The rest of the day is free for you to explore some of the many other sights of Moscow. (B)

This morning is free to spend enjoying Suzdal. After lunch you transfer back to Vladimir by private van (approx 30 min) and then take a public bus to Moscow (approx. 4 hours, although can be longer depending on traffic) and then take the metro to Yaroslavsky Railway Station, arriving in time to board your overnight train to Novgorod (approx. 8 hours). 

Trains on this journey are simple but comfortable. There is a toilet/bathroom at the end of each carriage with a small sink and cold water. An attendant is assigned to every carriage to look after your comfort and safety although service standards can vary greatly. Each compartment has 4 bunks with luggage storage space inside. Bedding is provided, although some travellers still prefer to bring their own sleep sheet. There is hot water available for making drinks or instant meals, tea and coffee. Sometimes snacks and drinks are available for purchase on board and most trains also have a dining car although with a limited menu. You will travel 2nd class (4 berths per compartment) on the overnight train journey on this trip.

Please note that in many cases, particularly in peak travel season, due to high demand for tickets on this route we are not always able to get all of our tickets together. It is likely that at least some members of the group will be sharing compartments with other travellers, either foreign or local, particularly if your group does not divide evenly into 4. 

A brief word about drinking on the train
Social drinking is common on trains in Russia and can be an enjoyable way to meet local people as well as interact with your fellow travellers. In order to make sure that your experience of train travel with us is a positive and safe one there are a few things we'd like you to keep in mind before setting out on your train journey. 

While alcohol is often available for purchase on the train, spirits (including vodka) should only be consumed in the dining car. Train security guards keep a very close eye on drunken behaviour and have the legal right to fine or have removed from the train without warning any passengers who are intoxicated. Should this happen there is very little we can do to assist you in continuing your journey with the rest of the group.

Alcoholism is also a serious social problem in Russia so travellers should take care not to encourage or take part in drinking to excess. Fake alcohol is common and the motives for being invited to drink with locals may not always be honest. The tolerance of locals for alcohol is likely to be much higher than your own. You may be putting yourself and other members of your group at risk by getting involved in heavy drinking while on the train.

While we certainly want all our travellers to have a great holiday it is important that you show due respect for your fellow group members and keep in mind that many of your local companions use the train as a means of transport to get home or to work. It is most appreciated if foreign travellers are respectful of this, particularly in the mornings and evenings or when other passengers are sleeping. Overnight train - 1 nt (B)

On day 6 you take a local morning train to your final stop - St Petersburg (approx. 4 hours). From your arrival point at the Station you take the metro or public bus and then walk the short distance (approx. 5 min) to your hotel. 

The former imperial capital of St Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great, was renamed Petrograd, and then Leningrad during Soviet times. Today it has reverted to its former name and retains much of its old-world beauty. After a quick walk around the area near your hotel with your leader to get orientated the afternoon will be yours to explore as you wish. Then in the evening you visit the home of our local friends to see how the average Russian lives, and have a tea party Russian-style. Not all family members speak English but your leader will be on hand to interpret and with their warm hospitality youy will be feeling like one of the family in no time!

Day 7 is free for you to choose from the huge range of sights and activities that St Petersburg has to offer. Visit St Isaac's Cathedral and climb to the colonnade from where you will have magnificent views over the city. Walk along Nevsky Prospekt - St Petersburg's main thoroughfare - maybe popping in to one of the many bakeries or pancake shops along the way, or head down to Aleksandr Nevsky Lavra where Russia's great musicians and writers like Tchaikovsky and Dostoyevsky are laid to rest in the cemetery.

For many the highlight of St Petersburg is the Hermitage Museum, one of the world's premier art collections housed in the former Imperial Winter Palace. Please note that in high season (May-Sep) there can be very long queues to enter the Hermitage. In order to avoid waiting to enter and to make the most of your free day it is possible to book tickets to the Hermitage online in advance from the museum's website: http://hermitagemuseum.org 

We also recommend exploring some of the back streets to see the city from a perspective that most visitors never would on a walking tour. There is a museum in St Petersburg to cater for every interest, and you may want to visit the Kunstkamera where Peter the Great's ghoulish collection of oddities is on show or the Museum of the Siege of Leningrad. Or check out Pushkin 10, a wacky and wonderful contemporary art space with tiny galleries, sound installations, digital works and the occasional performance piece.

In the evening of day 7 join your group for an optional final night dinner to reflect on our Taste of Russia together at a restaurant chosen by your leader. 

After dinner in the summer months you take a night time boat tour of the canals and waterways with a local guide to see the illuminated St Petersburg architecture from a unique night perspective and to witness the spectacular opening of the bridges over the Neva River. In midsummer it will still be light as the sun barely sets during White Nights. Weather permitting, outside of these months you will have a boat tour of the city's canals and waterways in the daytime on day 6 or 7. Please note that should the boat trip be unavailable this activity will be replaced with a guided walking tour of the city centre.

At the end of your tour, please help us to support Nochlezhka, a local NGO that works with St Petersburg's homeless, by passing on any unwanted clothing or toiletries to your leader. Hotel - 2 nts (Day 6 - B, Tea Party) (Day 7 - B)