Highlights: 10 day tour
This Russia group tour includes cosmopolitan Moscow and elegant St Petersburg, as well as visiting the old Russian towns of Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Uglich and Novgorod.
Price from:
£1795 pp
Set in Russia’s Golden Ring, the towns of Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Uglich and Novgorod are packed full of architectural wonders to rival the cathedrals of Europe. On this group tour the elaborate Orthodox churches in their simple Russian villages, balance the imposing Kremlin walls of Moscow and the glittering palaces of St Petersburg.
| Tour dates 2010 |
Price per person twin-share |
| 15-24 May |
£1795 |
| 10-19 Jul |
£1795 |
| 14-23 Aug |
£1795 |
| Single room supplement |
£290 |
'The Golden Ring' refers to the towns and cities that make up one of Russia's oldest routes located north-east of Moscow. If you were to visit these towns starting from Moscow, you would travel in a circle (hence a ring) ending up back in Moscow. The ‘Golden’ part comes from the fact that these towns and cities represent over 1,000 years of rich Russian history written in stone and wood, from an 850-year old church in Rostov to a 19th-century log house in Suzdal's open-air museum.Each of these ‘Golden’ towns once played an important role in the history of Russia and was connected in one way or another with famous historical figures such as Alexander Nevsky, Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great and many others. The classic route starts from Moscow and goes anti-clockwise through Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov Velikiy, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy and Sergiev Posad.
Price Includes:
Return flights in economy class with British Airways direct from London Heathrow, All airport taxes and security charges, Accommodation in standard rooms in three/four-star hotels on half board basis(breakfast and dinner), Lunch on day 6, All transfers and transportation, Sightseeing with English-speaking guide as specified, Entrance fees on sightseeing tours
Price Excludes:
Russian Visa, Regional Add-ons from Aberdeen,Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle from £75 per person return
Notes:
This group tour is operated in conjunction with our Russian partners and is not exclusive to Regent Holidays’ clients. This tour operates with a minimum of 6 persons.
10 Day Itinerary
DAY 1
FLY TO MOSCOW
Fly to Moscow, transfer to hotel for 2 nights. Dinner at hotel.
DAY 2
MOSCOW
Meet guide in reception for morning
sightseeing tour of Moscow including a visit to the Kremlin grounds and one cathedral.Rest of day free. Dinner.
DAY 3
MOSCOW TO SUZDAL VIA VLADIMIR
Drive to Vladimir. City tour of Vladimir including the great Cathedral of Dormition (Uspensky Cathedral), and a visit to the Museum of Crystal, Lacquered Miniatures and Embroidery in the Trinity Church. Also included is a trip to Bogolyubsky, the ancient former residence of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, located just outside Vladimir. Continue to Suzdal for overnight stay and dinner.
DAY 4
SUZDAL TO KOSTROMA
Morning city tour of Suzdal including visits to its Kremlin and monastery, as well as the Icon Museum. A combination of stunning medieval architecture with its pastoral setting lends Suzdal a rural picturesque charm. En route to Kostroma visit the pretty town of Ples and the Museum of Isaac Levitan, a famous Russian landscape painter. Continue to Kostroma for overnight stay and dinner.
DAY 5
KOSTROMA AND YAROSLAVL
Morning city tour of Kostroma including the famous Ipatievsky Monastery and the Linen Museum (one of the main industries of Kostroma) before driving to Yaroslavl. Yaroslavl has always been
considered one of Russia’s most attractive cities with its wide treelined streets and shady parks. Here, visit the local Spassky Monastery before continuing to Uglich for overnight stay and dinner.
DAY 6
UGLICH AND TVER
Morning city tour of Uglich including the main highlights of Uspenskaya Square built in the 18th century and the hydroelectric power station built in 1941. Also included is a visit to the Vodka Museum, which boasts more than 650 varieties of vodka. We also include a tasting session of some of the vodkas (not all!). Afterwards you will have a traditional lunch with a Russian family before enjoying an afternoon boat trip on the river. Continue to Tver for overnight stay and dinner.
DAY 7
TVER AND NOVGOROD
Morning city tour of Tver including Catherine the Great’s Road Palace (Putevoy Dvorets) built in 1775. Continue to Novgorod for overnight stay and dinner.
DAY 8
ST PETERSBURG
Morning city tour of Novgorod before departure for St Petersburg. Afternoon city tour of St Petersburg before check-in to hotel for 2 nights. Dinner at hotel.
DAY 9
ST PETERSBURG
Morning excursion of the Hermitage before afternoon visit to Pavlovsk Palace and Park, a magnificent imperial palace built for Russian Tsar Paul I, only son of Catherine the Great.
DAY 10
FLY TO UK
Free morning before transfer to airport for flight back to the UK.