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St.Petersburg Karelia Solovki

St.Petersburg Karelia Solovki

www.tsarvoyages.com «Let yourself be guided»

WE OFFER visas I train and plane tickets I hotels I seminars I MICE I visits , powerful and dynamic, Mo 4 days political heart of great , and Tu 3 nights it’s “Thousand Golden ” Su We open their most beautiful trea- St Annual - sures. Let yourself be surprised, Fr Th About us Our history just for the weekend. TSAR VOYAGES is a renowned • In the past decade (2004-2016) we international travel agency that has have built up an extensive network of been providing bespoke experiences partners in all neighbouring countries Program of Russia, and Commonwealth in Russia since 2004. With offices in Day 1 Moscow, St-Petersburg and in Paris, Independent States (CIS) such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Welcome to Moscow ! Your English we combine the benefits of a local speaking guide is there to wel- Metro travel agency at national scale with Armenia, Ukraine, and Belarus. come you. Hotel check-in. Dinner high levels of professionalism, • We cater to more than 10,000 at your hotel. expertise and affability. travellers to each year Our added value Day 2 Our expertise Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic Kremlin • We cater for business travellers, At Tsar Voyages: city tour by bus with visit of No- and its companies, individual travellers, • We offer bespoke one-to-one vodevichy Convent. Lunch. Excur- cathedrals tourist groups and expatriates. travel consultation services sion in the historical Metro, • We specialise in organising travel • We provide preferential rates for discovery of Old Arbat district. to seminars, exhibitions, and international travel to and from Dinner at your hotel. Russia exclusive destinations across Russia. Day 3 • We work extensively with both • We ensure safe and secure travel with airport pick-ups and transfers Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Iz- international and local tour mailovo souvenir market and operators. • We ensure access to all booking procedures that are normally off the Vodka . Lunch. Visit to the Kremlin and its cathedrals. limits outside of Russia – such as Dinner at your hotel. local flights and trains • We provide full travel guides, maps Day 4 and itineraries before you set off Breakfast at the hotel. Free • We organise a wide range of vehicles time according to your flight s Summary so individuals, families and large groups Moscow chedule. Transfer to the airport. can travel in comfort and safety. Izmaïlovo Saint-Petersburg . • We have direct contracts with Flight back. Moscow – Golden Ring numerous Russian service providers Moscow – St Petersburg that include hotels, transportation companies, , cruises, Kamchatka restaurants and sporting events. Winter Fairy Tale • Thanks to Tsar Voyages unique Lake Teletskoye market position we offer highly St.Petersburg- competitive and negotiated prices -Solovki • We can provide multi-lingual guides in Russian, French and Moscow-Karelia- English St.Petersburg • Book your unique travel Trans-Siberian tour experience easily in Europe or in The Great Baikal Russia. Visits descriptions Incentive Panoramic city tour St-Petersburg is the ideal place for a few days short trip by bus to wander in streets, along canals, visit to various mu- 4 days seums, and discover the splendid with 3 nights the tsars’ Summer .

Program Tsarskoye Selo Day 1 Welcome to Saint Petersburg! Your English-speaking guide is there to meet you; Hotel check-in. Dinner at your hotel. Day 2 Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic city tour by bus. Visit to the Peter and Hermitage Paul Fortress. Lunch. Visit to the Her- museum mitage Museum. Dinner at your hotel. Day 3 Breakfast at the hotel. In summer: Visit to Peterhof. Lunch. Cruise on the canals. In winter: Excursion to Tsarskoye Selo Palace (Pushkin). Lunch. Visit to . Back to St. Petersburg. Dinner at your hotel.

Day 4 Breakfast at the hotel. Free time Pavlovsk according to your flight schedule. palace Transfer to the airport. Flight back. Program

Day 1 Moscow Welcome to Moscow ! Your English-speaking guide is there to welcome you. Hotel check-in. Dinner at your hotel.

Day 2 Golden Ring Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic city tour by bus . Lunch. Excursion in the historical Metro, discovery of Old Arbat district. Dinner at the hotel. Night in Moscow. Discover the splendors of Russia. The 9 days , the Kremlin, the Tre- 8 nights tyakov Gallery, the artistic Met- Day 3 ro, as well as the never-ending Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Moscow by bus to Serguiev Posad cultural and economic life in and visit to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. Lunch. Continuation to Pereslavl the capital, will seduce you. Zalesski, city tour. Dinner and night in Pereslavl Zalesski. Take your time to visit the an- cient cities of the Golden Ring Day 4 and enjoy the Russian Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Rostov and city tour in Rostov with a visit countryside. to the Kremlin, the churches, and the enamel museum. Lunch. Departure to . Visit to the monastery of the Transfiguration-of-the-Saviour (Spaso-Preobrazhensky), the historical city center and Volga riverbanks. Dinner at the hotel. Night in Yaroslavl.

Day 5 Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to . Visit to the Ipatiev Monastery. Lunch. Departure for Suzdal. Dinner at the hotel. Night in Suzdal.

Day 6 Breakfast at the hotel. City tour of Suzdal. Lunch at a local house. Transfer to Vladimir. City tour in Vladimir. Visit to St. Demetrius’ Cathedral and/or the Assumption Cathedral. Dinner at the hotel. Night in Suzdal.

Day 7 Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer by bus to Moscow. Lunch. Visit to the Kremlin and its cathedrals. Dinner at the hotel. Night in Moscow.

Day 8 Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of the Izmailovo souvenirs market and the Vodka museum. Lunch. Visit to the Tretiakov Gallery. Dinner at the hotel. Night in Moscow.

Day 9 Free time according to your flight schedule. Transfer to the airport. Return flight. From Moscow to St.Petersburg The Tsars’ Capitals

From Moscow to Saint Petersburg, you will pass from one capital 8 days to another, one effervescent, 7 nights with great architectural maj- esty, and another captivat- Kremlin Cathedral ing marked by History and Art. The tale of these two cities is old and enchanting, rich in treasures and unforget- table charm. Program Day 1 Palace Welcome to Moscow! Your En- square glish-speaking guide is there to welcome you. Check-in at your hotel. Dinner at your hotel. Night in Moscow. Day 2 Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic city tour by bus with visit of No- vodevichy Convent. Lunch. Visit to the Kremlin and its Day 5 cathedrals. Dinner at your hotel. Breakfast in the train. Panoramic Night in Moscow. city tour of Saint Petersburg. Visit Cathedral of Christ to Peter and Paul’s Fortress. Lunch. the Saviour Visit to the . Dinner at the hotel. Night in St. Pe- tersburg. Day 6 Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Petrodvorets (Peterhof), with the Grand Palace and walking in the Garden. Lunch. Cruise on the ca- nals. In winter: visit to the . Dinner at your hotel. Day 3 Night in St. Petersburg. Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Day 7 Izmailovo souvenirs market Excursion to Pavlovsk Palace and and the Vodka museum. visit of the park of Tsarskoe Selo Lunch. Visit to the Tretiakov (Pushkin). Lunch. Visit to St. Isaac’s Gallery. Dinner at your hotel. Cathedral and Church of the Sav- Night in Moscow. ior-on-Blood. Dinner at your hotel. Day 4 Night in St. Petersburg. Breakfast at the hotel. Day 8 Excursion in the historical Metro, Breakfast at the hotel. Free time visit of the park VDNKh. Lunch. according to your flight schedule. Free time. Dinner. Transfer to Transfer to the airport. Return the train station, night in the flight. train. Day 6 Friday Day 7 Saturday Breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast at the hotel. Optional tour: Helicopter Optional tour: Trekking to Kamchatka excursion to Geyser Valley Dachniye hot springs. Transfer to &Uzon Caldera** Transfer to Mutnovskaya Geothermal station. helicopter pad. Helicopter Trekking to Dachnye Hot springs (no 8 days excursion to Geyser Valley & Uzon bathing). Transfer to Spokoyny Wa- 7 nights Caldera with lunch. Transfer to the terfall*. Packed lunch en route. Trek- hotel. king to Spokoiny Waterfall. Optional tour: Helicopter excur- *On the way back bathe in the swim- Program sion to Kuril lake** Transfer to he- ming pool of the “Snow valley” lodge is licopter pad. Helicopter excursion possible (paid additionally on spot). Day 1 Sunday to Kuril lake, Ksudach volcano and Return to the hotel. Arrival in Petropavlovsk- Day 4 Wednesday Breakfast at the hotel. Khodutka hot springs with lunch. Kamchatsky. Meeting with ESG at Transfer to the hotel. Day 8 Sunday the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Rafting at Bystraya river + Malki hot springs. Transfer to Optional tour: Ethnic excursion - Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the aquaintance with natives’ culture. airport (no ESG). Departure. Day 2 Monday Bystraya River. Lunch at Bystraya Base camp. Rafting and fishing Transfer to an ethnic village - dog Breakfast at the hotel. Boat trip to kennels. Excursion to the dog Starichkov island, city tour. Transfer at Bystraya River. Transfer to Malki kennels, meeting Kamchatka to sea port. Excursion around Hot Springs. Bathing in hot natives, native dances concert, Avacha bay and to Starichkov springs. Transfer to the hotel. photo taking. Lunch. Return to the Island with sea fishing. Lunch on hotel. board. Excursion in Local Lore Day 5 Thursday Museum. City sighteeing, visit to Breakfast at the hotel. fish market and gift shops. Return Vachkazhets mountain mass + to the hotel. radon hot springs Ozerki. Transfer to Vachkazhets mountain Day 3 Tuesday foothill. Trekking to Breakfast at the hotel. Trekking at mountain cirque (visit the lake & wa- the Avachinskiy volcano foothill. terfall). Packed lunch en route. Transfer to the Avacha volcano Transfer to radon hot springs. Bathe foothill. Rest & safety instructions. in the swimming pool (entrance fee Trekking to the Camel mountain paid on spot). Return to the hotel. (7km = about 300m elevation). Lunch at the base camp. Transfer to Pacific coast. Walk along the black volcanic sandy beach. Transfer to the hotel.

Mutnovsky volcano Day 5 Breakfast at the hotel. Snowmobile trip to “Three Brothers” rocks. From the Mayachniy cape you will have a Kamchatka picturesque view to the Avachinskaya bay and the Pacific ocean as well as the “Three Winter Fairy Tale brothers” rocks and surrounding volcanoes. Picnic-lunch en route. Return to the hotel. Free time, rest. Petropavlovsk Day 6 Breakfast at the hotel. Day 3 Transfer to the “Moroznaya” ski Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer by station in Yelizovo (30 km). car to the starting point. Transfer by Downhill skiing, snow-boarding Bear snow-cat / snowmobile (in a or tubing (additional). Renting the Program sledge) to the Avachinskiy volcano equipment is possible at the Base Camp (1 hour). Tea with station. Lunch at the local café Dаy 1 sandwiches in a warm canteen. (paid on spot). After lunch transfer Arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchats- Excursion by snow-cat / to the Zelenovskiye radon hot kiy. Meeting at the airport with the snowmobile (in a sledge) to the springs, bathe in basins or guide. Transfer to the hotel in Para- Mount Camel with a beautiful swimming pool. Return to the tunka or Petropavlovsk-Kamchats- view on the Koryakskiy and hotel. Free time, rest. kiy. Accommodation, free time, rest. Avachinskiy volcanoes. Return to the Base Camp. Hot tea & snacks. Day 7 Day 2 Transfer to the hotel (snowcat / Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer snowmobile + car). Free time, rest. the airport. Departure. to Petropavlovsk for city sightseeing tour. Visit the city Mutnovsky Day4 Staritchkov center with its historical volcano Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer Islands monuments, local Lore to the dog kannels. Excursion at Museum. During the excursion you the kannels, meeting with dogs, will learn a lot of interesting facts listening to the instructions how to about discovery and exploration handle the dog sledge. Riding a of Kamchatka, its natives and dog sledge for 20 km modern life. Lunch at the local (accompanied by a snowmobile) restaurant and visit to the souvenir and handling the dog sledge in shops and fish market. Return to turns. Natives’ cultural program the hotel. Rest. with traditional stories and tea, lunch. Transfer to Paratunka resort; bathe in a hot thermal water swimming pool (!!!For those who stay at a hotel in PKC!!!). Return to the hotel. Free time, rest.

Volcan de Moutnovsky Program Day 1 Arrival to Barnaul and transfer to Bi- ysk, then you will pass the surround- ings of Barnaul and Artybash that is located on a riverside of Biya river just nearby Teletskoe lake (420 km 5 hours). Excursion at the Republic History Museum at Gorno- Altaisk. Lunch. Arrival to Artybash. Day 4 Accommodation in cottage and Breakfast. Motorboat trip on lake dinner. and walks in village Yaïlu where the Altaysky Nature reserve is located. The climate is very warm and there are apple tree gardens everywhere. Lunch in the village. Afternoon is free for personal discovers. Return to the hotel and dinner. Altay Day 5 Breakfast. Departure by car 4X4 to Mountains the taiga riverside to swim. There is a famous place for clay blue Lake deposit and you can have master Day 2 class and learning an artistic Breakfast. Trekking – green route: (Silver modeling. Return to hotel. Lunch in spring, observation mountain Tilan-Tuu, hotel. Departure on motor boats to healing herbs of Kakaihi, working space of the reserve keeper in Ranger’s Teletskoye an artist L. Shilkin, cascade waterfalls of riv- outpost on the lake. You can have er Ojrok) 2-3 hours. Return to the hotel and a tea break, to see his garden and Teletskoye lake is the biggest lake in the lunch. Walking tour to the mount Wolfs walk along the Nature Trail. Altay mountain range. This area 7 days and visit to local zoo for 2-3 hours. Return to Artybash. It’s possible to was one of the first at Altay to 6 nights Return to the cottage and dinner. stay for one night on station 2 become a popular tourist destination rooms with 3 beds in each room. and the oldest Russian tour Day 3 Dinner. Banya. base is located on the shore of Breakfast. Departure to the river Biya the lake. Many people consider that flows out of the Teletskoe Day 6 Teletskoye a smaller replica of Lake. You will do safe rafting, return Breakfast. Departure to visit Ethno- , and ascribe magic heal- to the hotel and lunch. Afternoon is graphic museum. Art and folk music ing properties to the lake’s water. walking in Taiga apiary for 3 hours. of Altai. Lunch in cafe of the Return to the cottage and dinner. Museum. Transfer to Gorno-Altaisk or Barnaul 4-5 hours. Dinner. Accommodation in hotel 3*. Jour 7 Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. North of Russia Day 4 Solovki Island Breakfast. Visit to Solovki monas- St.Petersburg tery with English-speaking guide. Excursion acquaints visitors with history of the Monastery, GULAG exposition tells the story of Karelia Solovki members of Northern Navy and Sea Cadet School. Tourists visit territory Also known as “Solovki”, these distant, lake-dap- of the central complex of the pled islands are home to one of Russia’s monastery, operating temples, the best-known monasteries. Transformed by Stalin monuments were awarded world into one of the USSR’s most notorious prison heritage status by UNESCO. Lunch Solovki camps, Solovki was described in Solzhenitsyn’s in the restaurant. Walking to the Gulag Archipelago as being so remote that a bicycle station. Preparing fro the trip ‘scream from here would never be heard’. by bike to discover the south of the island (35km, 3-4 hours). Return to 8 days Kizhi the homestay. Dinner at a local restaurant. nights Day 7 Program 7 Solovki Island-Kem- Day 1 Day 5 Solovki Island Breakfast. Free time or optional ex- St.Petersburg - Petrozavodsk Breakfast. Cycling to the Sekiranya cursion to island Zayatsky. A Big Arrival to St. Petersburg. Meeting mount to enjoy the view to the White Zayatsky Island – differs greatly with our representative and deliv- Sea and its islands. The mount lies 11,5 km from the rest of the islands in terms ering of roadbook and GPS navi- to the north of the monastery. It is the of vegetation and landscape, the gation system. Transfer to the RW highest point of the island and on top of it first in Russia stone harbour, monu- station. Night train to Petroza- you will see a church-lighthouse. You ments of Andreevsky Monastery. It’s vodsk at 23h20. In supplement: continue the tour in the forest where a realm of tundra. Supplement - 30 City tour with visit of Peter and Paul you can spot the stone blocks aligned euros p.p. Lunch. Boat to Kem. Din- Fortress – 35 euros p.p. and small pits with large stones, the ner at a local restaurant. Transfer to Day 2 prehistoric remains. Lunch is a picnic during the RW station to take night train to Petrozavodsk - Kizhi - Kem the trip. Return to home and dinner. St.Petersburg at 21h05. 7h00 Arrival and transfer to the hostel. Breakfast in the café near the hostel from 4 Day 6 Solovki Island Day 8 St.Petersburg euros p.p. GPS Walking to discover Breakfast. Cycling to the center to visit GULAG 12h26 Arrival to SPB at Petrozavodsk. 11h00 Transfer by boat to camp. You can see Gulag camp with English-speak- lunchtime. Transfer to Kizhi from the embankment of ing guide and to know about history and life on the airport. Petrozavodsk to visit . Day 3 Kem - Solovki Island island. Solovetsky Gulag history museum is housed Karelia Trekking with GPS to discover island 3 in a building which belongs to Solovetskaya hours. 16h00 Return to Petrozavodsk to 7h00 Arrival to Kem and meeting with driver. Breakfast at a local cafeteria for prison. The exposition of the museum is hostel and rest. Transfer to the RW station devoted to the history of Solovetsky Camp of to take night train to Kem. locomotive drivers. Transfer to embank- Karelia ment to take boat to Solovki Island. Special Purpose and Solovetskaya Prison of Boat trip 2-3 hours (depends on the Special Purpose which were located at weather). Arrival to Solovki and Solovetsky from 1923 till 1939. Return to home accommodation at homestay. Lunch. after excursion. Transfer to the hiking starting Afternoon is for discovering the inner point (8km) where you can see the beluga lakes of the island by boat (1h) and 15 whales. Lunch is a picnic during the trip. You have minutes’ walk through the taiga forest possibility to explore wildlife and enjoy Nature to a local botanical garden. It exists trail of Solovki island (15km). Return by car to since 19th Century and boasts more home and dinner. than 700 types of plants. It is located 4 km away from the monastery. Transfer to the homestay. Dinner at a local Solovki restaurant. Moscow Karelia St.Petersburg Combine an overview of the tsars’ capitals with the dis- covery of Karelia’s region and its white vastness during 8 days winter. Riding your snowmobile, you will certainly be 7 nights Day 5 / Petrozavodsk Day 6 / Petrozavodsk - thrilled, diving into a still preserved nature that will snowmobile safari St.Petersburg offer you authentic landscapes and Unesco classified 9h05 Arrival to St.Petersburg. World heritage monuments. Breakfast. Equipment selection. Briefing on snowmobile handling Pick up by your driver at the RW and safety. Training session on a Station. City Tour with visit of Program snowmobile. Snowmobile circuit in Peter and Paul Fortress by car the forest: Leisure complex – Kuda- or minivan. Check – in after Day 1 / Moscow Day 4 / Petrozavodsk ma village - Leisure complex, 80 km. 14h00. Free time. Lunch. Friday or Saturday 07h00 Arrival in Petrozavodsk and Meeting with the dog-driver. Safety Overnight in hotel. Arrival to Moscow. Your driver will meeting with your guide near the instructions. Journey with the dogs be meeting you with name board at wagon. Breakfast in a city restaurant. along the forest road 10-12 km. Day 7 / St.Petersburg the airport. Transfer and accommo- Transfer to to visit Tour in Russia’s largest sled dog Breakfast at hotel. Visit to the dation in hotel. Overnight in hotel. Kizhi island, 270 km. Visit to Kizhi kennel. You will learn to recognize Hermitage museum (without museum. Kizhi Museum is one of the the different breeds: blue-eyed transport). Free lunch. Overnight Day 2 / Moscow largest open-air museums in Russia. husky and athletic crossbreeds; you in hotel. Breakfast. City tour by car or mini- This unique historical, cultural and will be able to communicate with van. Lunch free. Visit to Kremlin terri- natural complex is a particularly each dog. Lunch. Return to complex Day 8 / St.Petersburg tory and Armory Chamber (without valuable object of cultural heritage of and transfer to Petrozavodsk. Breakfast. Free time according to transport). Overnight in hotel Russia. The basis of the museum Dinner at the restaurant in town. the flight schedule. Transfer to collection – the Kizhi Ensemble – is Transfer to Petrozavodsk, 70 km. the airport. Return flight. Day 3 / Moscow the UNESCO World cultural and Dinner in a cafe. 20h20 Departure natural heritage site. Restoration of on the train №17 Petrozavodsk-SPB Breakfast. Check-out at 12h00. the Kizhi monuments is being carried Lunch free. Back to the hotel. 19h00 in 2nd class. Supplement for 1st out “in front of the world”. Lunch class (compartment for 2 persons) Transfer to the RW station. 20h23 K boxes. Return to Petrozavodsk by 80 euros p.p. arelia Departure to Petrozavodsk in 2d hovercraft. Transfer to the leisure class by night train. Supplement for complex Alekka 350km. Dinner 1st class (compartment for 2 per- oscow Petersburg and overnight in the complex. M St. sons ) - 80 euros p.p. Arrival to Moscow on Friday Kazan Trans or Saturday

The great Wall Siberian of China tour

Day 10 -11 Train to Khabarovsk Day 12 Khabarovsk We advise you to take breakfast in train. Day 3 Kazan 8h00 Arrival to Khabarovsk - the one of the We advise you to take breakfast largest cities of the Russian Far East. It is in train. 8h00 Arrival in Kazan. located on the banks of Amur River near City tour including the most Chinese border. City tour and visit to the famous sights of Kazan: Kazan Regional museum after Mr. Grodenkov known Kremlin, Old Tatar Sloboda, a Day 6 and day 7 en route to for a unique collection of documents related to Tatar village Tugan Avylym in As the vast Siberian forests unfold outside your window, you will pass Khabarovsk history. Lunch. River cruise on the city center, Peter and Paul Amur River. Overnight in hotel. Cathedral, the miraculous icon through the mighty Altai region, of the Mother of God of crossing the River Yenisei at Kras- Day 13 Khabarovsk Kazan. In the evening, train to noyarsk and heading deep into Asia. Breakfast. Free time. 21h00 Departure to Yekaterinburg. Overnight on Vladivostok. board of the train at 20h08. Day 8 Irkutsk, Listvyanka Program We advise you to take breakfast in train Day 14 Vladivostok Day 1 Moscow Day 4 Yekaterinbourg 8h47 arriving in Irkutsk early in the morning. Arrival in Moscow and transfer to Irkutsk city tour. Beautiful Irkutsk is known We advise you to take the hotel. We advise you to take breakfast in train. as the Paris of Siberia. Best known for its breakfast in train. 8h15 Arrival 12h25 Arrival in Yekaterinburg, Transfer wooden houses, particularly those decorated to Vladivostok. Our guide will Day 2 Moscow to the hotel. with carvings and threadwork, you will also meet you. Vladivostok, guided Breakfast. Moscow, city center tour. see some great examples of modern tour. On your guided tour, you’ll Your trip starts with a tour around Day 5 . Transfer to Listvyanka get to see the spectacular City Moscow’s major cultural and Breakfast. You will discover and your hotel, which is about 70 km away. Fortress, Intercession church and historical landmarks. You will visit Yekaterinburg, the third largest city of Visit to the Wooden Architecture Museum Catholic Church and visit a Soviet Lubyanka Square, home of the Russia. You’ll be taken to the City Pond, in Taltsy. Overnight in hotel. C-56 submarine. Overnight in infamous KGB, then on to Prospect Lenina, the Hill of Ascension, hotel. Teatralnaya Square, or Theatre square the Historic Square Learn about the tragic Day 9 Listvyanka, Irkutsk and . Kremlin death of the last Russian tsar Nikolay II Breakfast. Visit to the village. List- Day 15 Vladivostok grounds and cathedrals, guided and his family at the Church of Blood at vyanka is situated on the banks of Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. tour, Armoury Chamber. Transfer the Romanov Death Site (Ganina Yama). Lake Baikal, the deepest freshwa- to the RW station to take night Lunch. Transfer to the RW station. ter lake in the world, with views train to Kazan. Overnight in train Departure to Irkutsk. Overnight on board of towards the distant snow-capped the train at 22h12. 19h40. KamarDaban Mountains. Lunch pic- Yekaterinburg nic. Take time to explore the village: a pretty St Nicolas Russian Ortho- dox Church is also worth a visit, as is the Baikal Lake Museum. Trans- fer to Irkutsk to the RW Station. De- parture to Khabarovsk by train at 21h22. Overnight in train. The

8 days Great 7 nights

Day 3 Listvyanka - Irkutsk Option in winter: Snowmobile or cuisine. At noon: Olkhon Island. dog sledge Option in summer: short Arrival to Khuzhir, the main village cruise on Baïkal Lake. Breakfast. Free of the island. Accommodation in Baikal time. Transfer Listvyanka-Irkutsk. the wooden houses of holiday Visit to museum Taltsy - open-Air complex kept by a resident of the Program Museum of Wooden Architecture village. Dinner free and overnight in which displays original Russian, guest house on Olkhon. Day 0 Moscow - Irkutsk Buryat and Evenk wooden Flight Moscow - Irkutsk: Day 2 Listvyanka houses complete with items and Day 5 Olkhon - Khoboi Evening departure to Irkutsk. Breakfast. A walking tour of Listvyan- exhibits unfolds in a truly exciting Breakfast. Excursion by 4X4 to the ka village, visit to functioning St. story about the past and history of north of the island. Visit to the Day 1 Listvyanka Nicolas-The Miracle-Worker Ortho- Siberia. Accommodation in hotel. Khoboi Cape. Stops for photos of 7h05 Arrival to Irkutsk. City tour in dox Church and the shopping area Dinner is free and overnight in hotel landscapes, golfs, and taiga. Lunch Irkutsk by minivan or car. Depar- where you will have a good chance in Irkutsk. in the open air in taiga. Return to ture to the village Lisvyanka «the to buy local handmade souvenirs Khuzhir. Gateway to lake Baikal» located (your local guide will help you to Day 4 Irkutsk - Ust Orda - Olkhon Breakfast. Early morning leave for Day 6 Irkutsk in the mouth of Angara river, 62 get the best price). Lunch. Tour of Breakfast. Departure to Irkutsk (293 km away from Irkutsk. En route Baikal Ecology Museum which has the island by bus (293 km, 5-6 hours of journey). The stop in Ust– km, 5-6 hours journey). Lunch. stop at the holy «obo»- sight of the best collection of exhibits Arrival to Irkutsk. Accommodation in worship by local shamanism related to lake’s flora and fauna Orda, a capital of Buryatia, to blandish the local spirits, to ask hotel. Free time. Dinner and believers where following the species; contains many overnight in hotel in Irkutsk. ancient local customs you’ll be fascinating facts about this their benevolence during the trip. invited to “sprinkle some vodka unique lake generally accepted as Meeting with shaman. Lunch buryat Jour 7 Irkutsk - Moscow Breakfast. or milk “and tie ribbons on the the Treasure of the World and the Transfer to the airport. Flight to bushes as if to do offering to the Well of the planet Earth. Then Moscow. local master-spirits and win them enjoy time at leisure. Dinner and over. Cedar vodka testing. overnight in hotel. Lunch. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner and overnight in hotel. visits description

Old Arbat district, Christ The Saviour Cathedral and visit to the Moscow Metro Moscow “Arbat” is a long pedestrian street, where shops, itinerant portrait painters, musicians, second-hand books and pictures dealers make a permanent spectacle. Not far from there stands the impressive Christ the Saviour Cathedral, destroyed by Stalin and rebuilt from 1995 to 2000, and now the seat of the Moscow Patriarchate. The visit ends with a journey in the historical Metro, famous for its rich ornaments, with styles that go from classicism to Soviet realism.

VDNKh Opened in 1939, this exhibition center has The Tretyakov a fascinating history. Originally called “Exhi- Gallery Christ The bition of Soviet agriculture”, it becomes the Saviour place of “exhibition of achievements of the is located in collector Pavel Tre- Panoramic City Tour Cathedral national economy” (VDNKh), name by which tyakov’s private mansion con- the Russians continue to appeel it today, al- taining the biggest collection of in Moscow though in 1992 it was renamed “All-Russian Russian art and icons in the world, Discover the Red Square, St. Ba- center of expositions”. Today VDNKh is a dy- covering Russian history from the sil’s Cathedral, the GUM Depart- Zamoskvorechye namic park that constantly renews its 11th to the 20th century. ment Store, the Kremlin, Lenin’s district exhibi-tions. The vast territory (over 240 Mausoleum, the Bolshoi Theater, is close to the River, hectares), includes essential places like Kolomenskoye park the Manege Square, Tverskaya facing the Red Square. Its the cosmonauts’ museum or the famous Street, the Sparrow Hills with its calm and authentic statue of the worker and Kolkhoz woman. From the 14th century, it was a beautiful view to the historical atmosphere encourages Novodevichy residence for the great Russian center. wandering along the streets, Convent princes, then for the Tsars. You can back alleys and squares of this admire the Church of the Ascen- Kremlin Palace old place. There, you can find sion listed as a UNESCO World Her- small churches, with their itage Site, and several other histor- and Kremlin Armory typical domes, next to ical buildings and museums in this grand dating from the beautiful park. Former residence of the Tsars, it is the greatest and most famous fortress in Empire in classical style. the country. The Kremlin is a complex of cathedrals and palaces, Novodevichy the oldest dating from the 15th century. In the Kremlin Armory, Visit to Bunker 42 Convent you will find a rich museum with treasures collected by princes and tsars: carriages, , costumes, crowns, and above all, in Taganskaya One of the most beautiful the famous collection of Fabergé’s eggs. (Cold War Museum): This mys- convent buildings in Russia. terious place will take you right Founded in 1524 and dedi- Pushkin museum of fine arts into the Cold War atmosphere. It cated to the women of noble was the best-guarded secret in families, it is a UNESCO World The most important art museum in Moscow. It is locat- Moscow, located 18 floors below Heritage Site. ed in a white , southwest of the Kremlin ground. After it was declassified, where you can find an Antiquities Department and it was transformed into a muse- major Picture department, notably a collection of um and opened to the public. French school pictures of the 17th to 20th centuries, and works by Poussin, Chardin, Monet, Renoir, Gauguin, Matisse... Bunker 42 visits description Saint Petersburg Pushkin / Tsarkoye Selo The town of Tsarskoye Selo was founded in the 18th century as the Tsars’ summer residency; it Panoramic city tour changed its name after the Revolution to be- come Pushkin. There, you can visit the splendid Discover the 3 islands that com- , built by Rastrelli under the pose the capital orders of Elizabeth I, and the dreamed of, on the river . The Peter and Paul’s Peter and built by for her grandson’s Decembrist Square, the Admiral- Paul’s Fortress wedding; he would go on to become Alexan- Tsarkoye ty, Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, the Fortress der II. Admire the classical beauty of the build- Selo wonderful , the Au- ings, the interiors and the gardens. rora cruiser that gave the signal for Peter the Great chose this stra- the Revolution, the Nevsky Pros- tegic place to build a fortress pect, the canals and small streets in 1703, and it became a politi- that inspired writers, the “rostral” cal prison later. Among several The Russian Museum Pavlovsk Residence columns. The city tour is the ideal buildings, a splendid cathedral It was created by decree of Tsar Nicholas II Catherine II gave that splendid way to discover the geography of where most of the Romanovs in 1895 as the first Museum of Fine Arts in palace to her only son, Paul I, this human-sized town. found their final rest. Russia. In the gorgeous Mikhailovsky Pal- who made it his summer ace, the Russian Museum has more than residence. Its Palladian style, 380 000 works of arts, including an excep- inspired by Roman temples The Hermitage Museum tional collection of more than 6000 icons. with white columns, is Church One of the major museums of the world, counterbalanced by the A jewel of the Russian , the Hermitage of the it offers a complete panorama on all the imposing buildings in pastel Museum includes the Tsars’ Winter Palace and is Saviour Russian art schools beginning in the 10th yellow tones. A UNESCO St. Isaac’s listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Treasures Cathedral On Blood century. You will see works of Repin, Serov, World Heritage Site, from all around Europe are enclosed here, from Malevich, Kandinsky. Pavlovsk residence is famous the Antiquity to the great masters of Italian, Flem- for the beauty of its interiors ish, Spanish, German, Dutch and French schools, with furniture, sculptures plus major paintings by Matisse, Picasso, Van Church of the and pictures dating from the Gogh and Gauguin. The beauty of the collections Saviour On Blood 18th century. matches that of the architecture. It was built by Alexander III at the exact place where Yusupov his father, Alexander II, was assassinated in 1881. To- St. Isaac’s Cathedral Palace day, the Neorussian style of the Cathedral of “the Sav- iour on Spilt Blood” renders it a picturesque construc- This orthodox cathedral, built in the 19th tion and one of the most original in Saint Petersburg. century under Alexander I, Nicholas I and Alexander II, was the center of religious life in Saint Petersburg until the Revolution. It is the third biggest cathedral in Europe, a magnificent building that leaves an indel- Peterhof Residence ible impression. From its main cupola, 102 Peter the Great established his resi- meters high, you will have a spectacular dence on the shores of the view to the Gulf of . Yusupov Palace to commemorate his victory on the At the eve of the Russian Revolution, the Yusupovs were the richest family of Swedes. He was very impressed by Saint Petersburg; they owned four palaces, including this one. There, you can the splendors of the French Court and visit their sumptuous private apartments, and the theater where they gave a long canal allowed the guests of classical plays. The princes Yusupov were known for philanthropy and for honor to come by boat directly from their love of arts; but in the underground, it is their darkest secret that you the to the main build- will find in their cellar, where Grigori Rasputin’s assassination took place in ing, admiring of this rival of Versailles 1916. visits description Golden Ring Yaroslavl In the Northwest of Moscow, the Golden Ring counts many princely cities, founded in the 12th to 17th centuries. Thanks to the rivers running across the country and to the fertility of its soil, there was great wealth, measured by the many monuments that still exist after centuries. Today, the golden cupolas of Yaroslavl the cathedrals, the starcovered bulbs of the monasteries, and the splendor of was founded in 1010 by prince the baroque monuments in the Golden Ring strike the visitors. Yaroslav the wise to watch on the ships on the Volga river. With the centuries, the town became a flourishing merchant and artisan center. In the 17th century, it was rebuilt in stone, a rare feat in a country Serguiev Serguiev Posad where most of the architecture was - Posad en. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has a is a step that cannot be overlooked while gorgeous historical center, notably Dep- touring the Golden Ring. It’s a gorgeous mon- utatskaya street, Sovietskaya square, the astery of Trinity St. Sergius, with its star-cov- Volkov Theatre, the first in Russian and the ered cupolas, is one of the oldest and most Transfiguration monastery with its golden beautiful in the orthodox world. Sergius of domes.` Suzdal Radonezh, a monk and an icon writer, who founded it, is the patron saint of Russia. Boris Godunov, the adventurer who became «Tsar of all the Russians», rests here. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Serguiev Posad is today both the See of the Russian Patriarchate and a Suzdal major pilgrimage destination. the birthplace of Russia, was men- tioned in text for the first time in Rostov 1024. In the 13th century, it was the Great Rostov the Great the capital of the region. Today, was a capital of Russia in the 12th century, it is a charming and very pic- Rostov the Great became quickly an epis- turesque town of about 10 000 copal see in the 17th century. It is marked Vladimir inhabitants. Its architecture is in- by History, as can be seen in the Kremlin, credibly rich with more than 200 the jewel of the town, built entirely in was founded by Prince Vladimir of Kiev buildings, among which a Krem- white stone. Ionas, the metropolitan behind in the 12th century. It was for a long lin, the Saviour Monastery of St. its construction in 1670, wanted his town Kostroma time a rival to Kiev, and then to Moscow. Euthymius and many churches, to have monuments even more beautiful In the 14th century, it was considered as scattered in the nice historical and impressive than Moscow. Such is a small, provincial town, 350 one of the biggest and most important center as well as in the fields and monuments like the Assumption Cathedral, km away from Moscow, that was cities of the world. These times left be- around the town. St. Yakov’s monastery and the cathedral of founded in 1150 on the banks of hind them monuments like the powerful the Saviour are the most beautiful there. the Volga river. Its historical cen- Golden Door, a fortified tower that gave Vladimir ter dates from the 18th and 19th entrance to the town, St. Demetrius’ Ca- centuries, with the Gostiny Dvor and its many Kostroma thedral known for its sculptures on the merchant galleries, cafés, restaurants and the- walls, and the Assumption Cathedral in aters. The real treasure of Kostroma though is an which you will find frescoes by Andrey impressive Ipatyev monastery, next to the river, Rublev. and its Trinity cathedral where Tsar Michael Roma- nov lived, before Boyars arrived to offer him the of Russia. Incentive Incentive Saint Petersburg St. Isaac’s Cathedral Segway City Tour The Star City This original city tour of the historical cen- is situated in a very picturesque area of the Mos- ter will let you see famous monuments of cow region, 20km from Moscow. It is Russia’s St. Petersburg. You will have the possibility In-ternational center of cosmonaut training to admire Bronze Horseman, English Em- with unique facilities for preparing cosmonauts, bankment, State Hermitage Museum, Palace astronauts and space travelers for orbital and Square and Alexander Column, Nevsky pros- suborbital flights. We can arrange a tour to the pect and St. Isaac’s Cathedral. It’s the best op- Star City. Here you can have an opportunity to tion to the bus city tours. meet the specialists of Y. A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) and discovery new facts about the history of the GCTC and the founding of Memorial Museum Star City. of Cosmonautics The Ice Breaker Krassin The Krassin (built in 1916) was the world’s first icebreaker Private visit to St. Basil’s Cathedral: and although it’s now simply a museum, back in the day it was highly respected around the world for taking part In 1552 captured the Tatar stronghold in a number of daring rescue missions in and around the of Kazan on the Feast of Intercession. He commis- arctic region as well as leading several wartime convoys. sioned this landmark church, officially the Intercession One in a lifetime opportunity to go onboard an authentic Cathedral, to commemorate the victory. Created from icebreaker! 1555 to 1561, this masterpiece would become the ulti- mate symbol of Russia. We can offer you a private visit «Russian style» welcome with the ceremony accompanied by religious choir concert; you will have of «bread and salt» the possibility to admire the eight chapels and Cocktail with a concert of the Red Army Choir Krassin Saint Basil's the main church. This visit will amaze you! «Ice breaking» activities Cathedral

Reception in Armory Visit to famous Tasting Visit to factories Chamber by actors in writers’ houses of Russian or companies Boyar’s costumes with lecturer caviar in Russia and meeting with their General Managers Lunch in Congress Special opening palace with Private visit to the of Winter Palace Private concert a nice view Golden Hall and discover in hall of the to the impressive of the History Catherine the museum golden domes museum Great’s Peacock (Russian of Kremlin more (exceptional Clock before more Museum, visit and official museum Hermitage) private entrance) opening hour and cocktail to the public. Visit to Red Army Choir Novodevichy Visit to factories or Private ball in amazing interior convent like of Yusupov Palace in Tsar time with companies in Russia in Palaces and meeting with their and meeting in costumes of the reconstitution 18th century of young girls life General Managers with Russian by actors Aristocracy

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