Winter in Russia Moscow - Murmansk - St Petersburg 10 Days / 9 Nights Introduction The Kola Peninsula - Russian Region in the North of the Arctic Circle - is a place that gives you a fair chance of experiencing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in action. Seeing the Northern Lights in Murmansk may require hunting and knowing where and when to hunt is a good start. We can arrange this trip for you to get to know the nature and traditions of North Russia. Day 1: Moscow Day Itinerary Arrival to Moscow. Transfer from the airport to the hotel for check – in. Overnight: Holiday Inn Moscow Lesnaya The Holiday Inn Lesnaya Hotel is situated in the very center of Moscow. Its location is convenient for businessmen, who are hurrying to business meetings, and for tourists, who want to see the sights or just to stroll about old Moscow streets. This stylish and modern hotel provides the utmost in comfort and accommodation in Moscow. Set on a lively boulevard of shops and restaurants, the central Holiday Inn Moscow Lesnaya is well located in the heart of Belorusskaya business district, close to Belorusskaya Subway Station and Aeroexpress Terminal. An ideal choice for business, conference and leisure clientele Holiday Inn Moscow Lesnaya offers 301 air conditioned rooms featuring 2 rooms for disabled guests, 17 suites, non-smoking rooms and Executive level. Dining Red & White restaurant and bar (European) 7 Mezher Street, Antelias • 60-233 Beirut, Lebanon • +961 4 712037 www.ventnouveau.com • [email protected] Day 2: Moscow Day Itinerary Breakfast at hotel. Discover Moscow with Panoramic city tour. The city tour will will take about 3 hours, showcasing the best and the most interesting parts of Moscow. You’ll visit the historical center: will walk by the worldwide famous Red Square, will take the greatest pics at the Sofiiskaya Embankment, watching at the building of the St. Sophia Cathedral and the panorama of the Kremlin walls. You’ll stop nearby the famous Novodevichy convent, and walk by the pound, that inspired Tchaikovsky to create the famous «Swan Lake» ballet. You’ll see the buildings of the Bolshoy Theatre, the districts of 18-th and 19-th century, will stop by the unique and gorgeous St. Basil’s Cathedral. Then we’ll take you to the modern part of Moscow: you’ll enjoy the panoramic views from the Sparrow Hills, will see the famous «7 sisters» - the soviet skyscrapers built by Stalin. Day 3: Moscow Day Itinerary Breakfast at hotel. Start your day from visiting to Moscow Kremlin (territory and 1 Cathedral). Moscow Kremlin has always been perceived as a symbol of power and mighty of the Russian state, a kind of a national idea expressed in stone. And once you enter inside it becomes clear, that Kremlin is something really unique: each era in the history of Russia left its significant architectural trace in the Kremlin. You will appreciate by it’s diversity, it’s history and it’s beauty. On the territory of the Kremlin you’ll find 5 World-Heritage Cathedrals, that will definitely impress you. 7 Mezher Street, Antelias • 60-233 Beirut, Lebanon • +961 4 712037 www.ventnouveau.com • [email protected] Day 4: Murmansk Day Itinerary Breakfast at hotel and check out. Transfer to the airport. Arrival to Murmansk. Transfer to hotel Azimut. Overnight: AZIMUT Hotel Murmansk AZIMUT Hotel Murmansk is a modern 4-star hotel, which deserves to be called one of the best hotels in Murmansk. This is the first SMART-hotel of the AZIMUT chain above the Arctic Circle. The hotel is located in the central square of Murmansk and is the highest building and one of the city's attractions. Within walking distance from the hotel there are railway and sea stations, government offices, the regional museum and the Palace of Culture n.a. S.M. Kirov. AZIMUT Hotel Murmansk offers 186 superior rooms equipped according to the SMART concept with everything necessary for a good rest. The modern interior of the rooms is completed with the correct and practical organization of the space, which provides a separate working area and beds. From the windows there is a beautiful panoramic view that allows you to enjoy the city panorama without leaving the room. NIGHT TOUR AURORA BOREALIS HUNTING If the forecast is favourable, departure for Aurora Borealis hunting trip: duration (3 –4 hrs) 7 Mezher Street, Antelias • 60-233 Beirut, Lebanon • +961 4 712037 www.ventnouveau.com • [email protected] Day 5: Murmansk FULL DAY TOUR IN MURMANSK Breakfast at hotel. AM–Husky tour drive approximately 2 hrs to the Lake Imandra to local Husky Farm meet and communicate with these energetic and friendly dogs. After you listen to an exciting story about Husky you will proceed to an exciting sleigh ride around the lake covered with ice and snow. PM visit to Saami people settlement. Upon arrival you will be met and greeted by the representative of Saami people who will prepare a traditional lunch for you. After lunch you will get acquainted with traditions, culture and daily life of Saami – visit their traditional buildings, play traditional games and feed reindeers. 22:00–Reserve day for Aurora Borealis hunting trip (in case the first day was unfavourable) duration 3–4 hrs. Day 6: Murmansk FULL DAY TOUR TO TERIBERKA Breakfast at hotel. FD trip through wildlands to Arctic Ocean Coast –our today’s destination is small village Teriberka located in the northwest part of Russia at 120 km from Murmansk. You will pass through Arctic tundra –a treeless area completely covered with white snow so you feel like you are in a white desert. On the way you will have a couple of photostops as well as an active stop where you will have a chance to walk along the snow desert with the help of snow shoes. Upon arrival to Teriberka you will go to the cost of the ocean by snowmobiles. After visiting the ocean cost, northern waterfall and having lunch at local restaurant you will head back to Murmansk. 7 Mezher Street, Antelias • 60-233 Beirut, Lebanon • +961 4 712037 www.ventnouveau.com • [email protected] Day 7: St Petersburg Day Itinerary Breakfast at hotel and check-out Morning Ice-breaker Lenin tour ICE-BREAKER LENIN TOUR Breakfast at hotel. AM-Excursion to Museum-Icebreaker “Lenin”–the world’s first icebreaker with nuclear power engine. Icebreaker was built in the Soviet Union, first and foremost, to serve the Northern Sea Route. After working for 30 years, the icebreaker “Lenin” in 1989 was decommissioned and put on eternal parking in Murmansk. Afterwards visit the Monument to the Defenders of Russian North “Alyosha”. Time at leisure for lunch and transfer to airport. Transfer to the airport Arrival to Saint Petersburg Transfer from the airport to the hotel Overnight: Original Sokos Hotel Olympia Garden Original Sokos Hotel Olympia Garden is the only hotel in St. Petersburg located in the historical center and yet having such an easy transport access to the airport, Expoforum and Moskovsky railway station. The hotel is surrounded by a green park perfect for energizing walks and morning runs. The Original Sokos Hotel Olympia Garden has 348 guest rooms ranging from compact standard twins and doubles to spacious open-plan suites. All rooms at the hotel combine classic elegance with modern Scandinavian style, and have a full range of four-star amenities including complimentary WiFi and individually controlled air-conditioning. 7 Mezher Street, Antelias • 60-233 Beirut, Lebanon • +961 4 712037 www.ventnouveau.com • [email protected] Day 8: St Petersburg Day Itinerary Breakfast at hotel. Panoramic city tour. During our tour you will get acquainted with the main sights of St. Petersburg: architectural monuments belonging to different epochs and styles, beautiful Neva embankment, magnificent palaces, cathedrals and unique bridges. This private tour covers the historical center of the city picking up the main highlights. Day 9: St Petersburg Day Itinerary Breakfast at hotel. Visit to the Hermitage: main museum complex with the Winter Palace. The museum was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great purchased a collection of 225 paintings from the German city of Berlin. Today, the Hermitage boasts over 3 million exhibits and displays a diverse range of art and artifacts from all over the world and from throughout history (from Ancient Egypt to the early 20th century Europe). The Hermitage’s collections include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian, a unique collection of Rembrandts and Rubens. 7 Mezher Street, Antelias • 60-233 Beirut, Lebanon • +961 4 712037 www.ventnouveau.com • [email protected] Day 10: End of Itinerary Day Itinerary Breakfast at hotel and check-out. Transfer from the hotel to the airport. End of the services! Enjoy your way back home! PRICE UPON REQUEST. 7 Mezher Street, Antelias • 60-233 Beirut, Lebanon • +961 4 712037 www.ventnouveau.com • [email protected] .