Extended Golden Ring Tour from Moscow13 Days | Moscow, Rostov Veliky, Borisoglebsk, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yaroslavl, Myshkin, Uglich, Kostroma, Plyos, Suzdal, Vladimir

Arrive in Moscow, meet your driver, and transfer to the hotel (check in is possible from 14:00). Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Visit to the Armoury in the Kremlin (except Thursdays);
Night city tour, ‘Evening lights of Moscow’;
River cruise on the motor ship ‘Flotilla Radisson Royal’;
Tickets to the Bolshoi Theatre, concerts, the circus, or other performances.

After breakfast, take a guided tour of Russia’s capital city, Moscow. Like Rome, this is a city on seven hills. Your tour of the metropolis starts at Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills) in the south-west of the city. Elevated 78 metres above the river, these hills are Moscow’s main panoramic viewpoint. They offer excellent views of most of the city’s attractions: the Kremlin, Stalin’s famous “Seven Sisters” skyscrapers (such as the main building of Moscow State University), the modern Moscow City skyscrapers, the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences, Russia’s “White House”, Shukhov Tower, Luzhniki Stadium, and the Ostankino TV Tower. After visiting Vorobyovy Gory, descend to the Memorial Complex on Poklonnaya Gora (Victory Park) to see the Church of St. George the Victorious, the Triumphal Arch, and the major street of Kutuzovsky Prospekt. Then, visit the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, one of the tallest Orthodox churches in the world. The original cathedral was destroyed in the 1930s by order of Stalin and only rebuilt in the 1990s. The cathedral has a 69-metre-high dome, on the inside of which are beautiful images from the New Testament. Continue the tour at the famed Red Square, walking past St. Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the famous GUM department store, the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden. The day ends at the impressive Kremlin and its cathedrals (closed on Thursdays and replaced with an alternative sight). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and enjoy some free time to explore Moscow. Then transfer to the railway station to take the 12:00 train from Moscow to Rostov Veliky, a fascinating place on Russia’s Golden Ring of ancient cities (215 km, 2 hours). Upon arrival, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast followed by a guided tour of the city of Rostov, which boasts many monuments. Start in the historical centre, where you’ll see 18th and 19th century merchant estates and Gostiny Dvor, a historic indoor market surrounded by a gallery with arcades. Then walk to the Assumption Cathedral, which is part of the same complex as the Rostov Kremlin. The cathedral has an impressive belfry that has preserved its set of 15 bells. If you wish, you may enter the belfry (optional, at additional cost). The Kremlin itself is the former residence of the Rostov bishops and metropolitans and is a complex of buildings surrounded by walls. The complex also includes the Stable Yard, the only known building of its type in the country to have survived. After exploring the Kremlin, continue to Rostov’s most beautiful monasteries: the Nativity Convent and the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev Monastery, founded on the shore of Lake Nero in the 14th century. The monastery boasts a hydrogen sulphide spring believed to have healing properties. End the tour at the Museum of Rostov Enamel, where you’ll learn about the rare folk-art of applying enamel to metal products that originated in Rostov in the middle of the 18th century. On the way back to Rostov, visit the Boris and Gleb Monastery, one of the richest monasteries of ancient Rus. The complex includes the Cathedral of Saints Boris and Gleb, the Refectory Church of the Annunciation, the Sretenskaya and St. Sergius of Radonezh gate churches, and a beautiful belfry. Free time in Rostov. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4 hours

During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Master class on painting enamel;
Ceramics workshop;
Bell ringing concert;
Bell ringing master class at Rostov Kremlin;
Visit to the Museum of Bells;
Visit to the Water Tower for a panoramic view of the city (May-September);
River boat cruise (May-September).

Breakfast. Meet your guide and transfer to Pereslavl-Zalessky (68 km), another Golden Ring city. Explore the architectural complex of Red Square, an open-air museum. This includes the pearl of the city, the Spaso-Preobrazhensky (Transfiguration) Cathedral – an ancient structure of 12th century Vladimir-Suzdal architecture. The Cathedral has great historical significance – it is where decrees were announced, the Pereslavl princes were crowned, and troops were assembled. Continue to the Church of Alexander Nevsky, St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral, and the Church of Peter the Metropolitan. The city has also preserved the Pushkin Garden, a fragment of the wall, and the outbuildings of the former Mother of God-Sretensky Monastery. On the shore of the Pleshcheevo Lake you’ll see an enormous sacred boulder, Sin-Kamen, which is one of the few genuine ritual objects that have survived from the times of pagan Rus. The last stop for the day is the Museum-Estate “The Little Boat of Peter the Great”, where, for his amusement, the Tsar built vessels that are considered the forefathers of the Russian Navy. Free time in Pereslavl-Zalessky before returning to Rostov. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Master class on painting wooden chopping boards and figures in Berendey`s House (a beautifully carved building that is now a cultural centre with a museum of folk-art);
Visit to the Museum of Flat Irons;
Visit to the Museum of Cunning and Ingenuity;
Visit to the Teapot Museum.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Yaroslavl, which is considered to be the capital of the Golden Ring (60 km). Upon arrival, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel to start your city tour. UNESCO recognizes Yaroslavl’s historical centre, with its impressive architecture, as a World Heritage Site. Highlights of the tour include the Church of Elijah the Prophet, the Church of John the Baptist in Tolchkovo, the building of the Contemporary Russian Theatre, the monument to Prince Yaroslav the Wise, the monument to the actor Fyodor Volkov, and the modern sculpture of the Holy Trinity, which was inspired by Andrey Rublev’s famous Trinity Icon. You’ll also have the opportunity to take a photo with the famous Yaroslavl Bear, walk along the Volga River embankment, and admire the panoramic views from the six-columned rotunda pavilions. Continue to the Transfiguration of Our Saviour Monastery, which is now the Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve. This monastery used to be one of Yaroslavl’s most powerful defensive structures and its main cultural and scientific centre. A copy of the ancient manuscript of The Tale of Igor’s Campaign, an epic Slavic poem, was found here (but was unfortunately later destroyed in a fire). Walk around the reserve to learn about the monastery’s history and admire its architecture. If you wish, you may see the monastery’s belfry or exhibitions of icons and old books (optional, at additional cost). Then visit the Yaroslavl Art Museum, with its collection of 18th to early 20th century Russian paintings. End the day at the Music and Time Museum created by the magician John Mostoslavsky. From childhood, Mostoslavsky collected old bells and clocks; later, he expanded his collection to include musical instruments and other household items. All exhibits in this unique museum are in working order and you can hear old clocks chiming and musical instruments playing. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Visit to the Show-Maket Golden Ring (a fascinating, animated model of the Golden Ring towns);
Pottery master class;
Blacksmithing master class;
Leatherwork master class;
River boat cruise (May-September).

Breakfast, then drive to Myshkin (100 km) via a ferry crossing across the Volga River. Myshkin, the name of which comes from the Russian word for mouse, is famous for its museums and 19th century Russian architecture. Start your sightseeing tour with a walk along the town’s Upper Boulevard, where you’ll have the opportunity to photograph panoramic views of the Volga and Yukhoti rivers. Continue to the historical merchant houses, memorial to the 60th anniversary of victory in the Second World War, and “Red Square”. End the walk on Nizhny Boulevard, with visits to the Assumption and Nikolsky Cathedrals. Afterwards, explore the estate of the rich merchant, Chistov, where you’ll see a mill and visit three museums that give fascinating insights into local culture. At the Russian Valenki Museum you’ll see an exhibition of traditional Russian felt boots and learn how such boots are made. The Flax Museum explains how flax is grown, turned into fibre, and then woven into linen and made into clothes. The exhibition “My little doll friend” displays old dolls and explains how they were made and used. Finally, take a walk through the Myshkin Chambers tourist complex. Continue to Uglich (38 km), another small town on the Golden Ring, which got its name from its location on a steep bend (or ‘ugol’, which means ‘corner’ in Russian) of the Volga River. Highlights of the town include the complex of the Uglich Kremlin; Alekseevsky Monastery, founded in 1371 on the site of a pagan temple; the Princely Chambers, the former residence of Tsarevich Dimitri, preserved since 1482; the Epiphany Winter Cathedral; and the building of the Duma (popularly called the Mayor’s House). You’ll also visit the monumental Transfiguration Cathedral, Uglich’s main cathedral. This was built in 1706 and has an openwork bell tower. On the way, see the beautiful red and white church of Dmitry on the Blood, which was built on the site where Ivan the Terrible’s last heir died. Return to Yaroslavl (110 km). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing: 5-6 hours

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to another Golden Ring city, Kostroma (83 km from Yaroslavl), which is rich in traditions. Visit the Church of the Resurrection on Debra, which is decorated with 12 domes and stone carvings in the image of mythological creatures. See the Kostroma Trading Rows, the old merchant centre of the city (Kostroma was once considered the capital of commerce of the Volga region). The rows, which were typically named after specific products, include the Flour (Small and Large), Gingerbread, Tobacco, Butter, and Red rows. Then take a walk through the central part of Kostroma, Susaninskaya Square, with its impressive fire tower and former guardhouse built in the elegant Empire style. In the Epiphany-St. Anastasia Convent, see the famous Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, the Romanov family’s patron icon. Continue to the Ipatiev Monastery, Kostroma’s most famous sight, which was considered a holy place for the Romanov Dynasty. The first of the dynasty of future tsars, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, was crowned here in 1613. The day’s sightseeing ends at the Museum of the History of Jewellery Art, which presents beautiful gold, silver, and cupronickel pieces made using traditional techniques. As part of the city tour, you may also visit the Cheese Museum and taste local cheeses (optional, at additional cost). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Plyos (73 km from Kostroma), a small town that has retained its unique heritage. During the sightseeing tour, see the tall Cathedral Mountain, visit the royal Assumption Cathedral, see the onion domes of the ancient churches, and admire the beautiful views of the Volga River. Then visit the Memorial House-Museum of Isaac Levitan, where you’ll have the opportunity to see many of the famous landscape artist’s original works (23 paintings and about 200 sketches). Today’s excursion also includes a boat trip along the great Volga River, giving you the chance to admire the picturesque river scenery and views of Plyos. In bad weather, the boat trip will not operate, and you can instead see the exhibitions on local history and ancient jewellery at the Museum of Public Places or enjoy free time in Plyos. After the tour, transfer to Suzdal, which is also part of the famous “Golden Ring” of medieval Russian cities. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

After breakfast, take a guided tour of Suzdal, a UNESCO World Heritage city that boasts unique examples of ancient stone architecture. See the Suzdal Kremlin with the Nativity Cathedral (1222), the famous Bishops’ Chambers, and the wooden St. Nicholas Church. Continue to the Museum of Wooden Architecture, a large open-air complex with examples of traditional 18th-19th century wooden buildings. The tour also includes several other Orthodox architectural monuments including the Spaso-Yevfimiev Monastery (where you may get to hear the famous bells ring), the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, and several churches. End the day with a visit to the Pokrovsky Monastery. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing: 4-5 hours

Breakfast, followed by an excursion to Kideksha, a village 6 km east of Suzdal. Before Kideksha was destroyed in 1238 during the Tatar-Mongol invasion, it was a strategic outpost and the de facto capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. Today, the village, which is in a picturesque location at the confluence of two rivers, has just 130-150 inhabitants. Nevertheless, Kideksha boasts an impressive sight for tourists: the first white-stone church built in Old Rus in the 12th century. This church, dedicated to St. Boris and St. Gleb, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the “White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal”. It is also possible to see remnants of the ancient defensive walls that symbolise Kideksha’s earlier greatness. Return to Suzdal. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing: 3-4 hours

During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Carriage ride around Suzdal;
Mead tasting;
Master class on painting matryoshka (traditional Russian nested dolls);
Visit to the “Suzdal Ceramics” workshop with a pottery master class;
Visit to a Russian banya;
Visit to a bee farm to taste honey.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Vladimir (38 km), one of the “Golden Ring” of ancient cities in northern Russia. Vladimir boasts several monuments that are part of the same UNESCO World Heritage Site as the church in Kideksha. Your sightseeing tour encompasses Cathedral Square, the heart of the city; the Golden Gate, the famous triumphal arch that became the historical symbol of the city and the entire Golden Ring; and the Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals, beautiful examples of 12th century Russian white stone carved architecture. You’ll also visit two museums: the Museum of Crystal, Miniature Lacquer Painting, and Embroidery and the “Old Vladimir” Museum, with its displays on the city’s history and impressive views from its observation deck. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Visit to a working blacksmith’s forge with master class;
Visit to the Spoon Museum;
Master classes on making patchwork or amulet dolls.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the train station. Take the morning train from Vladimir to Moscow (around 2 hours). Upon arrival in Moscow, meet your driver and transfer to Moscow International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.