
Discover the industrial city of Yekaterinburg, known as the place where the last Russian Emperor, Nicholas II, and his family were executed. In addition to visiting the site of the execution and other sights related to the Romanov family, this Moscow and Yekaterinburg tour showcases the fascinating history of mining and metallurgy in the region. See Yekaterinburg’s birthplace, the dam built to provide water to what was the world’s largest metallurgical plant; find out how the famous Ural gold rush began in Berezovsky; and admire the buildings built by Nevyansk’s industrialists. Experience Siberian culture and folk history with visits to the “Old Believer” village of Byngi, the 17th century village of Koptelovo, and Nizhnyaya Sinyachikha’s Museum of Traditional Wooden Architecture and Folk Art. Finally, in Moscow, admire the legendary Kremlin, Stalin’s famous skyscrapers, and the Tretyakov Gallery’s vast collection of Russian fine art.
Tour itinerary:
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.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
The second half of the day is devoted to the city’s gold mining history, which started in the 19th century and continues to this day. Until 1812, any gold-bearing land was confiscated and became the property of the state. However, in 1812 a new law gave the right to private owners to engage in gold mining. The Nevyansk area became one of the epicentres of the “gold rush” that broke out in the Urals, which later swept Siberia and extended to Alaska. As you drive through the outskirts of Nevyansk, you’ll see open pits where work was completed long ago and some where it is still going on.
Drive to the Old Believer village of Byngi (7 km), most inhabitants of which were gold miners. The village has preserved many old houses built with the proceeds from gold mining. However, its main tourist attraction is the St. Nicholas Church, one of the oldest churches in the Middle Urals. Enter the church and admire the icons and covered with a thin layer of gold leaf and made using the techniques of the Nevyansk school of icon painting. Nearby, gold miners found the world’s oldest wooden sculpture, the Shigir Idol, which is more than 9,500 years old. This sculpture can now be seen in the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore in Yekaterinburg. Return to the city. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
After lunch at a local café, visit the “Russian Gold” Mine Museum. Wearing a helmet with a lantern, discover the old mine, including examples of miners’ tools and the figures of workers (as the temperature in the mine is only about 5°C, we recommend you wear warm clothes, even in summer).
Return to Yekaterinburg (20 km, 40 min). 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):
Trip to the Obelisk marking the border between Europe and Asia (73 km, 1h20m);
Self-guided walking tour through Yekaterinburg’s historical centre (following the “Red Line” tourist route marked on the city streets and listening to an audio guide);
Visit to the Museum of Boris Yeltsin, Russia’s first President;
Visit to the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore;
Master class on making traditional dumplings;
Tickets to performances at the Yekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (Ural Opera Ballet Theatre).
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Trip to the Obelisk marking the border between Europe and Asia (73 km, 1h 20m);
Self-guided walking tour through Yekaterinburg’s historical centre (following the “Red Line” tourist route marked on the city streets and listening to an audio guide);
Visit to the Museum of Boris Yeltsin, Russia’s first President;
Visit to the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore;
Master class on making traditional dumplings;
Tickets to performances at the Yekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (Ural Opera Ballet Theatre).
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
- All transfers (1-2 pax by sedan type car, 3-7 pax by minivan, 8-13 pax by 30 seat bus, 14+ pax by 40-50 seat bus
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included
- Sightseeing tour programme in each city with local, English-speaking guides
- Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary
- Lunches on Days 4, 5, and 6
- Visa support for Russian tourist visa
- Economy class tickets for flights Moscow – Yekaterinburg – Moscow
- In groups of 11 or more travellers, 1 person travels free of charge and is accommodated in a single room.
- Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole tour
- Full board (lunches and dinners, unless specified above)
- Hotel charges for additional services
- Consular fees for Russia tourist visa
- Tips/gratuities for guides and drivers (although these would be appreciated)
- International flight tickets before and after the tour
- Personal travel insurance.
Accommodation:
Moscow - 3 nights | |
Veliy Hotel Mokhovaya Moscow, Sverchkov 8 Hotel, Starosadskiy Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Hotel Moscow - Baumanskaya | Godunov Hotel, Arbat House Hotel, Pushkin Hotel, Brick Design Hotel |
Yekaterinburg - 5 nights | |
Tenet, Green Park, Grand Avenue, Tsentralny Hotel Yekaterinburg | Moskovskaya Gorka, Novotel, Yekaterinburg Centre, Four Elements Ekaterinburg, Renome |