UNESCO Heritage in Russia: Moscow, Novgorod, Kizhi, St. Petersburg (CB-30)

On arrival in Moscow, our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board. Transfer to the hotel.

At first Moscow might seem overwhelming, but our orientation tour will help you see the bigger picture, taking you to the main Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (view from outside), the New Maiden's Convent (view from outside) with its fascinating cemetery and the Moscow State University, from where you can admire panoramic views of the city and spot its major landmarks. You’ll have the opportunity to linger in Red Square, taking a guided tour which encompasses the brightly-domed St. Basil's Cathedral, the world-renowned Lenin Mausoleum, the expansive facade of the GUM department store, Kazan Cathedral and the Kremlin.

The Kremlin is the residence of the Russian president and once was the home of the Tsars. Beautiful Cathedral Square inside the Kremlin, once the place where Moscow’s main streets converged, takes its name from the three golden-domed cathedrals enclosed within its walls: the Cathedral of the Dormition, the Cathedral of the Archangel and the Cathedral of the Annunciation. Nearby you’ll be enthralled at the collections within the Armoury Museum, featuring everything from Faberge eggs to antique weaponry. Later today, we’ll visit the Moscow Underground, no ordinary metro system. Here, lavish decoration in the form of marble, mosaics, stained glass and bronze sculptures will make you think you’re somewhere much grander than a mere public transport system, and then make you wonder why no one’s copied it. Tonight you’ll take an overnight train to Novgorod, so our driver will meet you in the hotel lobby when the time comes to take you to the station. The safe and comfortable train with all mod-cons will pull into Novgorod early the next morning.

As you arrive at Novgorod the Great, our driver will be waiting to meet you with a Go Russia sign board on the platform for your transfer to the hotel. Later you have a guided tour of Novgorod Kremlin. Novgorod the Great (Velikiy Novgorod in Russian) is one of the oldest towns in Russia, founded in the 9th century. The Kremlin in this historic city is traditionally known as the Detinets, a masterpiece of the medieval age with the oldest palace in the country. The Chamber of the Facets, as it’s called, dates back to 1433 and served as the meeting hall of the Russian archbishops. We’ll move on to Yaroslav’s Courtyard, the area around the Trade Mart, the Church of St. Nicholas, the Church of St. Procopius and the Church of the Myrrh-bearing Women. It was named after the Grand Prince of Novgorod and Kiev, Yaroslav the Wise, who managed to unite the two principalities for some time under his rule in the 11th century. Yuriev Monastery is our next stop, a UNESCO world heritage site situated on the left bank of the Volkhov River near the outflow of Lake Ilmen, close to Novgorod. Finally, we will visit the Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture, which contains twenty or so characterful wooden buildings dating from the 14th to 16th centuries, including churches, homes and mills.

Our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the lobby of the hotel to take you to the railway station where you’ll catch a local suburban train to St Petersburg. Your destination is beloved of many visitors, the most European of any Russian city, with a calm and soothing vibe. The city is criss-crossed by a network of canals and waterways which have earnt it the epithet, Venice of the North. Among the many unmissable sights you’ll see today, you’ll enjoy the Peter and Paul’s Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Church of Christ's Resurrection (The Saviour of the Blood). Lenin chose the city to signal the start of the Great Social Revolution when he ordered that a cannon on the cruiser Aurora be fired.

Once home to the Tsars, the two hundred metre long Winter Palace stretches along the banks of the Neva River. These days, the building forms the opulent backdrop for the Hermitage Museum’s enormous collection of works of art. There are over three million pieces to admire, with the modern European section one of the most popular, containing paintings by Picasso, Gauguin, Van Gogh and more. As there are pieces dating from the Stone Age, whatever your taste there’ll be something that delights you in this unforgettable place.

Today you will travel to the outskirts of St Petersburg to explore Petrodvorets, the spectacular summer residence of Peter the Great. Famous for its lavish interiors, elegant parks, and magnificent fountain complex, it is considered one of the highlights of the region. Later in the evening, our Go Russia representative will transfer you to the railway station for your journey to Petrozavodsk. On arrival late in the evening, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Today you will take a guided tour of Petrozavodsk, also known as “Peter’s Factory.” Founded by Peter the Great in 1703 during the Great Northern War, the city sits on the scenic shores of Lake Onega and is admired for its pleasant waterfront, relaxed atmosphere, and European feel. It is also the cultural heart of Karelia, with a lively student population and charming urban spaces. You will then board a hydrofoil to Kizhi Island, one of the most remarkable heritage sites in Russia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The open-air museum here preserves over eighty traditional wooden buildings, including the iconic 22-domed Church of the Transfiguration (1714) and the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus, believed to be the oldest surviving wooden church in the country. Built in the 14th century, it is notable for being constructed entirely without the use of nails. In the late afternoon, you will return to Petrozavodsk.

You will head to the village of Kinerma for a hands-on cooking experience, where you will learn how to make kalitki - traditional small pastries prepared with rye flour and filled with a variety of ingredients such as mushrooms, cheese, or berries. Kinerma is a beautifully preserved historic settlement and one of the best places to experience traditional wooden architecture in Karelia. During a guided walking tour of the open-air museum, you will see authentic wooden houses and structures, including an 18th-century chapel. Of the 17 wooden buildings in the village, seven are officially protected as architectural monuments. Afterwards, you will return to Petrozavodsk and visit the Ethnographic Museum, where you will gain insight into the culture and traditions of the Karelian people. In the late afternoon, you will board a local train back to St Petersburg. Upon arrival, our driver will meet you on the platform holding a Go Russia sign and transfer you to your hotel.

Our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the hotel lobby ready to transfer you to the airport for your flight home.