Russia holidays, a taste of Russia

country:	Russia
trip type:	A small group adventure.
departures:	Departs most Mondays throughout the year
price:	From £765 (8 days) excluding flights, local payment US $100. We can arrange flights from the UK

read 1 travellers review

Russia holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

Comrades, welcome to Russia!

See the land of mystery and intrigue that lay hidden behind the Iron Curtain for decades.

Experience the grandeur of Moscow and St Petersburg, the famous Golden Ring region and the lesser-known gem of Pskov on the Estonian border. Get a taste of historical monuments, magnificent cathedrals, treasures of the Tsars and the wonderfully warm hospitality of Russia.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1-2:	Moscow. Our journey begins in one of the great cities of the world, Moscow. Spend time marvelling at the collection of monuments, churches and antiquities within the walls of the Kremlin, before exploring some of the city's other treasures, such as exquisite Faberge eggs and ceremonial regalia.
Day 3-4:	Vladimir/Suzdal. Marvel at the glittering towns and former Russian capitals that form part of the Golden Ring. Inspect the elaborate frescoes on the walls of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir, before travelling to Suzdal, a town with a remarkable number of churches and a memorable skyline. Here, wind down with a glass of medovukha, a light alcoholic drink made from honey, before settling into a traditional Russian house for the night.
Day 5:	Novgorod. Russia's oldest city is an absolute gem. Take a guided tour of the many well-preserved architectural monuments that hint at the city's former glory. Enter the Kremlin walls to go back a thousand years in time - the oldest palace, bell and clock tower in Russia are all here, as is the Millennium Monument which tells the story of Russia's grand history.
Day 6-8:	St. Petersburg. Take a guided city tour to learn about the many historical characters associated with the beautiful old world sights of St Petersburg. This former imperial capital boasts the magnificent Hermitage Museum, located inside the opulent Winter Palace. Spend an afternoon browsing the museum's millions of artistic masterpieces from all over the world.

travellers' tales

The highlights were the new friends that I've made, interesting sites and history that I've discovered. (more)

small group adventure holiday

This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more)

highly commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

This trip may only be short (8 days) but definitely manages to fit in as many local experiences as possible as you travel some of the highlights of the North West of this extensive country.

You are accompanied by a leader for the duration of the tour who will be able to help you understand more about the realities of living and travelling in Russia and help to facilitate your interaction with locals along the way. The local guides who take you on excursions and walking tours in each of the places we visit are passionate about their country and allow you to get a real insight into places significant to the history, culture and development of the nation.

During the journey there are numerous opportunities for local interaction and getting to know people. Wandering the back streets of Suzdal you'll no doubt encounter local residents tending their gardens, chickens and livestock or perhaps even come across monks, nuns and priests on their way to the many monasteries and churches in the town. In Novgorod in the summer months you can relax with locals as they soak up the sun along the river bank beaches or in winter join them for a steam at the public banya (sauna/bathhouse).

Along the way you'll have the opportunity to support local industries by shopping for food at local farmers markets, buying direct from the babushka's who sell their home produce on the streets or visiting local handicraft stalls.

Getting from place to place is done mainly by utilising public transport. In Moscow this means the ornate, bustling but superbly efficient metro system. From Novgorod to St Petersburg it's one of the frequent public buses, while to get to Novgorod you'll get a taste of Russian train travel on an overnight sleeper where the dining car is definitely the hub for chatting and drinking with local travellers. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation on the train or as you explore on by foot or travel on local transport.

At the completion of your journey travellers are encouraged to donate any unwanted clothing and toiletries, which are distributed to a St Petersburg local charity (Nochlezhka) supported by us which provides support for the city's homeless.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

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