Note: prices are given on the basis of 10 persons in a group. Deadline for applications - 17.05.10.

Price: 124 USD (90 EUR) per person

Date: 22.06.10

Duration: 5 hours

Time: 10:00 – 15:00

The price includes: transportation, english speaking guide, entrance tickets

This excursion is designed to get you acquainted with the city of Moscow and its most important and beautiful sights. Anyway you can't miss the city center – the Red Square with the Lenin Mausoleum, and Tverskaya Street. Then you will go on to Lenin's Hills, which is considered to be the highest point of Moscow where you will enjoy a great panorama of the city. Continuing the city tour, you will pass along Kutuzovskiy Prospekt and visit Victory Park with its fountains and churches. You will visit: the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Novodevichiy Convent, Novospasskiy Monastery.

Note: prices are given on the basis of 10 persons in a group. Deadline for applications - 17.05.10.

Due to insufficient requests the tour has been cancelled

The price includes: transportation, english speaking guide, 1 night in a hotel in Suzdal, 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner and city tours.

Sergiev Posad 

The town was named in honor of St. Sergius of Radonej, whose relicts were buried at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. Today it is considered as the "Russian Vatican". The Trinity Lavra is the richest place of historical monuments and authoritative monastery of Russia that is included in UNESCO's list of world heritage. In Sergiev Posad you will find the patriarchy country residence, the Moscow Religious School - academy and seminary, the richest library of religious literature in Russia located within the monastery. There are also architectural monuments, ancient icons, historical relics and treasures that are concentrated in the Trinity Lavra.

Suzdal

The history of the town dates back to at least the year 1024. For centuries it functioned as the capital of several Russian principalities. It forms part of the Golden Ring. After a decline in political importance, the town rose in prominence as a religious center with numerous monasteries and a remarkable ratio of churches to citizens: at one point, forty churches for four hundred families. Today, the town operates as an important tourist center, featuring many fine examples of old Russian architecture — most of them churches and monasteries. Walking through the town one might get the feeling that every third building is a church. Although having over ten thousand residents, Suzdal still retains the look and feel of a small village with streams and meadows everywhere nearby, and chicken and livestock a common sight on the city streets, some of which are unpaved. This juxtaposition of stunning medieval architecture with its pastoral setting lends Suzdal a picturesque charm, and in the summer artists and easels are a common sight. The Cathedral of the Nativity in Suzdal is one of the eight White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal, a World Heritage Site.

Vladimir 

The town bears the name of its founder, Prince Vladimir Monomakh. In 1108, on the high bank of the Klyazma River, a fortress was built, which soon grew into a town. It rapidly expanded and become the capital of North-Eastern Russia in the 12th century. The main entrance to the city is guarded by the Golden Gate (built in 1164). The walls of the distinguished-looking Assumption Cathedral (1158-1161) carry the inimitable frescoes of Andrey Rublev. The Cathedral of Dmitry (1197) has a wondrously festive look with its intricate lace of carved stone bas-reliefs. There are many more interesting sights here, but the town appeals because of its peaceful atmosphere and its contrast with big cities.

Note: prices are given on the basis of 10 persons in a group. Deadline for applications - 10.05.10.

Due to insufficient requests the tour has been cancelled

Once you arrive in St. Petersburg you will be taken to Emperor Paul I and his wife’s favorite country residence at the Pavlovsk palace. Once there you will be able to walk within the palace itself and the grounds that surround it which are called the Pavlovsk Park. The park is considered by many to be the finest in the whole of Europe.

Once you return from Pavlovsk you will be taken on a city tour which will allow you to see the highlights of the city, the beautiful wide river Neva with its granite embankments, large and small bridges, the unique architectural ensembles such as: the Spit of Vasilievsky Island and Peter & Paul’s Fortress and Cathedral, Kazanskiy Cathedral, Emperor Paul’s palace, the Decembrists' Square with the monument of Peter the Great, St.Isaac's Cathedral and Isaakievskaya Square, the spacious and majestic Palace Square with the baroque styled Winter Palace and famous Alexander Column, the Summer Garden with its marble Italian statues and the Summer palace of Peter the Great, the Field of Mars and harmonic Arts Square with Russian museum, Our Savior’s Church in Russian style, Smolny monastery and Institute and, of course, Nevsky Avenue (Nevsky Prospekt) - the main street of the city.

Program:

28.06.2010

Departure from Moscow to St. Petersburg by night train

29.06.2010

Arrivals in St. Petersburg, breakfast, city tour and excursion to Pavlovsk, check in at the hotel, lunch, excursion to the Hermitage Museum. Free time.

29.06.2010

Departure by night train to Moscow.

Price per person: 500 USD (365 EUR)

This price is for participants who are planning their departure from St. Petersburg and includes: excursion around the city and Pavlovsk, breakfast and lunch, hotel accommodation,  English speaking guide, one way ticket by comfortable train from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

Price per person: 570 USD (415 EUR)

This price is for participants who are planning their departure from Moscow and includes: excursion around the city and Pavlovsk, breakfast and lunch, hotel accommodation,  English speaking guide, round trip ticket by comfortable train: Moscow - St. Petersburg -Moscow.