Route of the Romanovs - 10 days

Follow in the footsteps of Russia's last ruling aristocrats - the Romanovs. Starting in St Petersburg - the city of the Tsars, head down to Russia's mighty capital city - Moscow and then ride the Trans-Siberian railway to Yekaterinburg, crossing the Ural Mountains, bound for Siberia.

Day 1: St Petersburg
Tuesday. Welcome to Pukka Russia! Arrival transfer from St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport to your hotel and check in. Tonight, our Welcome Meeting takes place. Rest of evening free. Your tour leader will recommend some local bars and restaurants for you to try out. Overnight - St Petersburg
Day 2: The Hermitage
A city tour gives us an overview of St Petes. Stopping to see the facade of the beautiful Church on Spilled Blood, which was built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was murdered in 1881 and to tour Peter and Paul Fortress. Built on the orders of Peter the Great, at the Peter and Paul Fortress is SS Peter and Paul Cathedral - housing the tombs of the Romanov monarchs, including the murdered Tsar Nicholas II and his family whose remains were interred here after being discovered outside Yekaterinburg.

We later enjoy a guided tour of the incredible Hermitage. Once a royal residence of the tsars, the Winter Palace now houses one of the biggest art collections on earth. The rest of the day is free. Overnight - St Petersburg (B)
Route of the Romanovs - 10 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
An on the go group enjoying the overnight sleeper train in Russia
Day 3: Free Day or Pukka Pass bolt-on
St Petersburg - Moscow. A free day to explore alternativly opt for our pukka pass. Our Pukka Pass offers guided sightseeing inclusive of transport, with visits to the Church On Spilled Blood, the Summer Gardens and stunning Grand Cascade fountains at Peterhof during summer months, or in winter Catherine Palace or Pavlovsk Palace. A hearty lunch, tour and beer tasting at the Tinkoff Brewery is also included. Later this evening we board our overnight sleeper train bound for Moscow. Overnight - Sleeper Train (B)
Day 4: Red Square
Today, we ride the underground Metro to Red Square and enjoy a guided walk of the prominent sights. Remainder of the day at leisure. Consider hopping from station to station using your Metro pass. Be sure to take the circle line to fully view and absorb the opulence of Stalin's marble clad, chandelier lit underground stations. Overnight - Moscow (B)
The beautifully coloured St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow
Day 5: The Kremlin
Today, we tour Russia’s powerhouse - the mighty Kremlin, with a specialist local guide. Entering the grounds we’ll see numerous government buildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the tsar bell - the largest bell that never rang! Later you can visit St Basil’s Cathedral, commissioned by Ivan IV (also known as Ivan the terrible) in 1555 to commemorate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan. The multi-tented cathedral with brightly coloured onion shaped domes is destinctively iconic Russia.

Afterward there is free time. If open, you can pay your respects to the grandfather of Communism at Lenin’s mausoleum. The city offers amazing galleries, museums, plenty of cafes, shops (including the GUM department store for high rollers) and bars all within walking distance. Alternatively, hop from station to station using your Metro pass. Be sure to take the circle line to fully view and absorb the opulence of Stalin’s marble clad, chandelier lit underground stations. Overnight - Moscow (B)
Day 6: Free Time in Moscow
Moscow – Yekaterinburg. Today is yours to enjoy as you please. Considering this tour runs in conjunction with other tours, today we bid farewell to those not continuing on to Yekaterinburg and to our tour leader who has escorted us thus far. Hotel check-out is at 1100hrs. However, the hotel has a luggage storage facility which you can use (nominal cost). This afternoon we start our east bound journey on the Trans-Siberian line. Overnight - Trans-Siberian train to Yekaterinburg (B)
A man standing outside Ganina Yama - a monastic complex in Yekaterinburg
Day 7: All Aboard
The train continues across the Ural Mountains. Pulling in this evening, we’re met and transferred to our hotel for dinner and relaxation. Overnight - Yekaterinburg (D)
Day 8: Yekaterinburg
Founded in 1723 to exploit the mineral riches of the surrounding Urals and Siberia, is Yekaterinburg. It was here in the cellar of a house, where now the beautiful Church on the Blood stands, that Tsar Nicholas Romanov II and his family were executed in 1918. Our tour takes us to the Church where you’ll see a sculpture dedicated to the Tsar and his family and the area of execution. Out of town, we visit Ganina Yama - the monastic complex set in Taiga forest, where the Romanov family remains were unceremoniously dumped and later discovered. After breaking for lunch, we then continue to the Mineral or Railway Museum and out to the famous Europe/Asia border marker where you can stand with a foot on either side of the boundary marker! Overnight - Yekaterinburg (B, L)
A black and white photograph of the Romanov family - the last Russian Tsars
Day 9: Explore Yekaterinburg
Today it’s outdoor action! Choose from a range of exciting options available locally (at a personal cost). In the summer there’s rafting, hiking and a visit to Koptelova (a traditional Siberian village). In the winter dog-sledding and ice fishing and more! Please contact us for further details. Overnight - Yekaterinburg (B)
Day 10: Yekaterinburg
Thursday. Our tour concluded after breakfast, hotl checkout and onward departure transfer to the railway station or airport.

Flights from Yekaterinburg Yekaterinburg is served internationally by British Airways (direct to London), Lufthansa Airlines (via Frankfurt) and Czech Air (via Prague), and domestically with Aeroflot, who offer direct flights to Moscow. In terms of an international carrier choice, all three airlines serve St Petersburg, so consider purchasing an ‘open-jaw’ ticket allowing you to fly from your point of origin to St Petersburg, make your own way (via surface means on land - i.e. on tour) to Yekaterinburg and then exit at Yekaterinburg to fly back to your point of origin. Alternatively, If you’d like to return to Moscow, we can arrange one-way transportation aboard the train. The choice is yours! Call us for further information. (B)

Upgrade your stay!
For those that would like a little extra comfort whilst travelling, we offer an upgrade package on our Route of the Romanovs tour. Package includes 2 nights in a 4 star hotel in St Petersburg, 2 nights 4 star hotel in Moscow and a 4 berth sleeper train upgrade from St Petes to Moscow.


Tour Details
  • Starts in: St Petersburg / Ends in: Yekaterinburg
  • Departs: Tuesdays - year round
  • No local payment required
  • Breakfast:8, Lunch: 1, Dinner: 1
  • Hotel Rating: 3 star
  • Tour Guide: Yes
The on the go Theatre
A short film of a winter tour to Russia. Great sites and lots of snow!
The Inside Track
Photos from a Wintry Russian wonderland – New Year in Red Square Photographer Chris Manuel (www.chrismanuelphotography.com) was one of the winners of last XMAS in we ..
Photo gallery: Russia’s top spots and experiences Red Square, Moscow. The iconic St Basil’s Cathedral, with its brightly coloured, twisted onion ..
Festival Spotlight: 3 top festivals in Russia Here’s our pick of Russian festivals coming up in the next few months. Have you been to any of ..
Festivals, art, history & culture: Russia revealed. Olga Seredina is a tour guide in Russia who has been working with us for two years. We asked her to ..