The Golden Ring is the name given to the chain of ancient towns lying to the north and east of Moscow. These ancient towns, which also played a significant role in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church, preserve the memory of the most important and significant events in Russian history. Our tour shows Golden Ring in untypical way. The feature of the program is a lot of pleasant walks, visiting national parks and unique unhacked places. The charm of ancient churches and nature monuments, communication with locals, amazing workshops, Russian entertainments - banya and fishing, present you deep immersion to original culture of Russian people.
from
1659
Agency commission: 15%
- Languages: English
- Avaliable: end of May — September
- Duration: 13 days
- Group: from 8 people
- Border permits: included
- Accomodation: hotel 3-4* x 12
activities:
-
Boat trip -
City sightseeing -
Ethno -
Hiking -
Local cuisine tasting
map
What's the plan?
Day 1
Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. Check in. Free time. Dinner.
Day 2
Walking tour of Red Square and Alexander Garden. Walk in Zaryadye Park. Walking to Vorobyovy Hills along Moskva River embankment. Option: visiting Lomonosov Moscow State University (Stalin building) - the biggest university in the world. Return to the hotel by metro. Watching of Moscow Metro monuments of Soviet epoch. Hiking 8-10 km, ↑ 90 m
Day 3
Walking tour around the Izmailovsky Kremlin territory. Visit to craft workshops. Walk in Izmailovsky Island. Pleasant nature views and architecture. Walking tour in Losiny Ostrov National Park (Elk Island). Option in Izmailovo: the excursion program in Tsar's Manor ХVII century. Hiking 5 km, ↑↓25 m
Day 4
Breakfast. Morning trip to Vladimir. Vladimir walking city-tour - the ancient capital of Rus. Seeing the sights dated the 12th century. Highlights: Golden Gates, observation decks, views on Ancient Monasteries, monuments, Assumption Cathedral with world-famous frescoes by Andrei Rublev, Cathedral of St. Dmitry. Lunch.
In the second half of the day – leaving for Bogolyubovo Settlement. Walking to the one of the oldest Russian convents – Bogolyubovsky Convent and The Church on the Nerl River. Hotel accommodation in Suzdal. Hiking 8 km, ↑↓95 m
Day 5
Suzdal walking tour. This city is a city-museum, there are about 200 historical monuments many of which have a status of UNESCO World Heritage. Seeing the architectural ensemble of the Suzdal Kremlin, Museum of Wooden Architecture. Lunch with local family - traditional Russian cuisine. Option: Russian banya experience (extra pay). Hiking 8,5 km, ↑ 120 m
Day 6
Walking tour in Shuya - Russian provincial town with ancient history. Visiting Ponkino village. Lunch with local family which has traditional house. National dishes cooked in the Russian old style stove. Master-class: cooking pirozhki (pies) with Russian "babushka". Option (extra pay): Folklore-program with local family (learning Russian folk songs and dances - Kalinka-Malinka, Barynya and others, harmonist playing traditional Shuya harmonic). Transfer to the hotel near Ivanovo. On the way - visit to vodka-shop in Shuya (local factory Shuyskaya Vodka). Tasting alcohol production, excursion, film about the factory. Hiking 4-5 km
Day 7
Departure to Pljos (Ples). Hiking through Russian villages - picturesque Volga coast. Walking around Pljos - a little cozy town with amazing Volga views from Levitan Gora (Levitan Hill) and Sobornaya Gora (Cathedral Hill). Visiting the Levitan Museum - a classical Russian landscape painter who lived in Ples for a long time and devoted to Volga nature a lot of his works. Accommodation at the hotel/guesthouse. Dinner at the cafe with Volga view. Option (additional pay): possible to organize - Russian banya with steaming experience. Hiking 5-7 km
Day 8
Walking tour of Kostroma. Meeting the merchant town which has preserved its 18th century appearance till nowadays. Walking into The Ipatiev Monastery area. Walking in Kostromskaya Sloboda Open Air Museum. Departure to Yaroslavl – a capital of the Golden Ring. Hiking 8 km, ↑ 50 m
Day 9
Walking tour in Yaroslavl. A unique architectural ensemble of the central part of Yaroslavl is included in the List of the UNESCO World Heritage. Lunch at the city café. Boat trip 1.5 h along the Volga River (group boat). Free time. Night in Yaroslavl. Hiking 7 km, ↑ 50 m
Day 10
Departure to Uglich. Walking city sightseeing tour. The beauty of the Volga nature and the eminence of ancient sights. Visiting The History of Russian Vodka Museum. Departure to Rostov Veliky. On the way – a stop in Kalyazin, seeing a unique “floating” bell-tower standing on a small island. Hiking 5 km
Day 11
Walking tour around the Rostov Kremlin – residence of Rostov bishops and metropolitans. Walking along Lake Nero embankment. Departure to Pereslavl-Zalessky - a native town of Alexander Nevsky and a birthplace of the Russian fleet. Walk around historic part of the town and dendrological garden of the Pleshcheevo Lake National park. Meeting sunset on the lake embankment. Hiking 10 km, ↑↓ 130 m
Day 12
Walking in the forest, bike tour to the Peter the Grate Botik Museum, cycling in the lake surroundings. BBQ-picnic - meat or fish cooked on the fire. Optionally: fishing on the lake (extra pay). Departure to Sergiev Posad. Visiting the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. Departure to Moscow. Night in the hotel. Cycling 16 km, ↑↓ 50 m,
hiking 2 km
Day 13
Transfer to the airport. Flight home.
Included / Not included
-
invitation for a tourist visa -
one EN/FR/DE tour leader during the tour -
local museum guides -
all transfers -
subway at 2-3 days -
accommodation according the program -
half board (breakfast + lunch) 2-5, 9 days, full board 6-8, 10-12 days -
all excursions and activities according the program (besides paid options) -
flight to Moscow and return ticket -
tourist visa -
souvenirs and tips -
additional paid services -
lunch at 1st day -
dinners at 2nd-5th, 9th day
Choose your date
| dates: | comment: | language: | price: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date: 16/06/2022 - 28/06/2022 |
Comment: international departure |
Language:
 guiding language of the arrival |
Price: 1659 |
book now! | |
Date: 18/08/2022 - 30/08/2022 |
Comment: international departure |
Language:
guiding language of the arrival |
Price: 1659 |
book now! |
Available for booking
Not available for booking
Upon request, few places left
Options
| single accommodation | 445 EUR / pax for 12 nights |
| visiting Lomonosov Moscow State University with viewpoint on the roof | 80 EUR / pax, for groups of 3-20 pax |
| folk program with local family in Shuya | 75 EUR/ group |
| trip by horse carriage 1 hour | 85 EUR/ group of 4 people |
Note
Tips recommendations: guide: 100-150 EUR (from group), driver: 40-70 EUR (from group), waiters, cleaners: 1–2 EUR/pax
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