Russia Revolution - 9 days

Offering more time in St Petersburg, get acquainted with the beautiful city of tsars before exploring historic Novgorod and cutting-edge Moscow – home of legendary Red Square and the mighty Kremlin - Russia’s political powerhouse!

Day 1: St Petersburg
Saturday. Welcome to Russia and the start of your holiday! Meet and greet arrival transfer from St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport to your hotel and check in. Tonight, our Welcome Meeting takes place. The remainder of the evening is free for you to do as you please. 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 a run-down of St Pete’s key areas. We will drive along the famed Nevsky Prospekt, the museum and university districts and a stop will be made at the Church on Spilled Blood (viewed from outside from the Nevsky prospect side for photo opportunities), The Bronze Horseman and Peter and Paul Fortress. Peter and Paul Fortress was built on the orders of Peter the Great. At one time a gruesome prison, within the compound is SS Peter and Paul Cathedral - housing the tombs of the Romanov monarchs.

Later, we enjoy a guided visit at the Hermitage - which houses one of the biggest and best art collections on earth.

The rest of the day is free for you to further explore. Most of the city sights are dotted along and just off the main thoroughfare - Nevsky Prospekt. It’s an easy city to find your bearings and get around. St Petersburg has a spirited restaurant, bar and jazz club scene, plus some of Russia’s best beers. Alternatively watch an ever energetic Cossacks performance or enjoy a night at the ballet - the Russian ballet never fails to impress. Overnight - St Petersburg (B)
Russia Revolution - 9 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 a Russian sauna (banya)
Day 3: Optional Pukka Pass
A free day to explore on your own, alternatively fill your day with sightseeing by purchasing our pukka pass. Touring will include, dependent upon opening hours and availability, either a visit to the gardens of Peter the Great’s palatial Peterhof which overlooks the Gulf of Finland (in summer) or a visit to Catherine Palace at Tsarskoe Selo in winter (or Pavlosk Palace if Catherine Palace is closed). We then stop for lunch at Tinkoff Beer Restaurantwhere we can enjoy a hearty meal, some beer tasting and a tour of the Tinkoff brewery. After lunch we continue with a guided tour of the interior of The Church on Spilled Blood with time to shop in the souvenir market located alongside the church. Overnight - St Petersburg (B)
Day 4: Time to Explore
St Petersburg – Novgorod. Today gives the opportunity to shop for souvenirs, maybe some wooden dolls or russian memorabilia found at the canal side market near the striking Church on Spilled Blood. Or take a walk along Nevsky Prospekt. Later we travel by coach or train to Novgorod where we enjoy a steamy Russian banya (sauna). Overnight - Novgorod (B, D)
Green and lush rural Suzdal
Day 5: Novgorod
Novgorod – Moscow. Novgorod is one of Russia’s oldest cities, located within reach of the Volkhov River and Lake Ilmen. It was formed as a town in the middle of the 10th century. A tour of Novgorod takes in the riverside fortified kremlin, cathedral and other sights. The fortress was mentioned in chronicles as early as in 1044, whilst today’s walls and towers, despite being re-built in 15th century, are impressive all the same. Tonight we have dinner before travelling by overnight sleeper train from Novgorod to Moscow. Overnight - Sleeper Train (B, D)
Day 6: Moscow
Moscow. Early this morning, we arrive into Moscow - the capital that spawned dozens of spy novels! Today we will ride on the capital’s efficient Metro to Red Square. From here, we’ll take in the jewels of Russia’s capital on a guided walk in the Kitay-Gorod and Lubyanka area, taking in sights such as the epitome of Russian power – the Kremlin (guided tour on day 8), Lenin’s Mausoleum and the ritzy GUM department store.

At the south end of the square, feast your eyes on the wildly coloured, turban domed St Basil’s Cathedral, an enduring Russian symbol commissioned by Ivan IV (also known as Ivan the terrible) in 1555. Overnight - Moscow (B)
Day 7: Moscow - your way
A free day to explore Moscow. There are plenty of galleries, museums and shops to entertain. Perhaps hit one of the late night bars or nightclubs this evening; Moscow’s nightlife can rival any of the world’s capital cities! Overnight - Moscow (B)
Three Russian Guards marching by the Kremlin
Day 8: Red Square
Today, we head into Red Square where, if open, we can pay our respects for free to Lenin, the grandfather of Communism, who has lain in state within his eerie mausoleum since his death in 1924. We continue inside the Kremlin - Russia’s bastion of political might, where we enjoy a guided walk through the grounds, seeing numerous government buildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the tsar bell.

This afternoon we offer an optional guided tour of a formerly top secret Cold War bunker! Up until recently this Stalinist-era Soviet Bunker was a secret symbol of Soviet Power. Hidden beneath an ordinary two storey apartment building in Moscow, 18 floors below ground level, this 75,000-squarefoot facility was constructed covertly, in the 1950’s, to protect against the threat of a US nuclear attack. In the 1990’s with the Cold War thawing and the death of communism, this bunker came off the top secret list and is now open to the public! Enjoy an interactive tour of the bunker turned museum. Also included is a guided tour of some of the Stalinist era's most opulant metro stations.

Alternatively, explore Moscow your own way. Hop aboard the Metro and explore, or stop by the Izmailovsky flea market - a sprawling collection of stalls hocking everything from Soviet Red Army memorabilia to bootleg CDs, fluffy hats and Matryoshka dolls. Tonight an optional excursion to Moscow Circus. Overnight - Moscow (B)
Day 9: Moscow
Sunday. Our tour ends after breakfast and hotel check out at 12 noon.

Hotel Upgrade - For those needing a little more comfort it is possible to upgrade your accommodation on this tour. Upgrade includes 3 nights at a 4 star hotel in St Petersburg, 3 nights 4 star hotel in Moscow and a 4 berth sleeper train upgrade from Novgorod to Moscow. (B)

Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum (aka Long Night of Museums) began in Berlin in 1997, in an aim to attract a larger and also younger audience to its museums and cultural institutions. Over 120 cities in Europe, including St Petersburg and Moscow, have now jumped onboard, showcasing their unique museums, galleries and heritage sites.

To join the fun book our Night at the Museum VS - 6 day tour departing Fri 18 May, 2012. Coinciding with the wonderful Russian 'White Nights' when the sun barely sets and St Petersburg comes to life. Join us for this wonderful event accompanied by our expert guide, explore a selection of the cities best late night galleries and museums on day 2 of your tour.

Goodbye USSR!

Join us in 2011 on our Goodbye USSR special interest tour to mark the 20th anniversary of the two major events in Russian history that changed the world, Perestroika and the Fall of the USSR. This tour will provide a fascinating insight into these dramatic events, with the help of our expert Russian guide and special, additional touring arrangements.

 

Our 20th anniversary of the coup d' etat tour departs on the Russian Revolution tour - 13 August, 2011. The 20th anniversary of the fall of the USSR tour departs on the Russian Revolution tour - 03 December, 2011. Join on the go to mark these truly significant moments in history when the world of the 20th Century was changed forever.



Tour Details
  • Starts in: St Petersburg / Ends in: Moscow
  • Departs: Saturdays - April to October
  • No local payment required
  • Breakfast:8, Lunch: 0, Dinner: 2
  • 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!
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