This 2-week Golden Ring tour is our most extensive tour of Russia’s famous “Golden Ring” of medieval cities. Join us on this journey through a fascinating part of the country that is bursting with fortresses, monasteries, churches, unique museums, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Discover seven of the eight main Golden Ring cities, visit atmospheric small towns, admire the views of the legendary Volga River, and immerse yourself in Russia’s history and traditional culture. Starting in Moscow, and ending in the elegant city of St. Petersburg, the tour also gives you the chance to experience the contrasts between old and new in these two vibrant cities.
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: 4-5 hours
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 Teapot Museum.
Duration of sightseeing: 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 Rostov;
River boat cruise (May-September).
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).
Duration of sightseeing: 5-6 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing: 3-4 hours
During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Carriage ride around Suzdal;
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;
Mead tasting and visit to a bee farm to taste honey.
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.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
During your free time, we offer the following optional excursions and activities (at additional cost):
Boat tour along the rivers and canals;
Night city tour, which includes watching bridges open;
Tickets to performances at the Mariinsky 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;
- Tickets for trains from Moscow – Sergiev Posad and Vladimir – St. Petersburg;
- Visa support for Russian tourist visa;
- 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 period of the tour;
- Full board (lunches and dinners);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Consular fees for Russia tourist visa;
- International flight tickets before and after the tour;
- Personal travel insurance;
- Tips/gratuities for guides and drivers (although these would be appreciated).
Prices per person
Accommodation
Veliy Hotel Mokhovaya Moscow / Sverchkov 8 Hotel / Starosadskiy Hotel / Holiday Inn Express Hotel Moscow - Baumanskaya
Comfort:
Godunov Hotel / Arbat House Hotel / Pushkin Hotel / Brick Design Hotel
Alesha Popovitch Dvor / Kuptsov Dom Mini-Hotel / Parade Hotel Yaroslavl
Comfort:
AZIMUT Hotel Yaroslavl / Park Inn by Radisson / Ring Premier
Azimut Kostroma / Moskovskaya Zastava
Comfort:
Golden Ring Kostroma / Ekaterina Kostroma
Sokol Hotel / Eco-Hotel Suzdal Inn / Kremlin Hotel
Comfort:
Pushkarskaya Sloboda Hotel / Art-Hotel Nikolaevsky Posad
Ibis St. Petersburg Centre / Station Hotel L1 / Hotel Bristol / Mini-hotel Centre
Comfort:
Solo Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky / Original Sokos Olympia Garden / Vedensky Hotel / Park Inn by Radisson Nevsky