Land of the Czars

Golden-domed churches along the Volga River, the imperial wonder of St. Petersburg, the intriguing city of Moscow—Russia is a world all its own and our journey takes you deep into its heart. In Moscow, we feast our eyes on royal treasures and roam the flea market for memorabilia from Soviet days, then head into medieval Russia, exploring historic towns along the Volga, including fairytale Suzdal. Our grand finale is glorious St. Petersburg, the romantic city of palaces and art. As we explore, we get an insider’s view with our native-born Trip Leader, who unlocks the secrets of her homeland. Dinner with a local family, lunch with an artisan in the countryside, the magic of a night at the ballet—this is a true discovery of Russia’s soul.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Moscow

We take in the enormous scale of Red Square, then venture into the magnificent Kremlin to view artistic treasures including Faberge’s bejeweled eggs and Catherine the Great’s ball gowns. Our explorations also bring us to the Tretyakov, the world’s largest collection of Russian art, and Izmailova Park, with its wonderful flea market full of Soviet memorabilia.

Days 4-5
Sergiev Posad / Rostov / Yaroslavl / Kostroma / Volga River

Our journey brings us out to the renowned “Golden Ring” cities in the scenic Volga River region. At Sergiev Posad, we enter the ethereal world of the blue-domed Trinity Monastery, a revered pilgrimage site of the Russian Orthodox church, and in beautiful Rostov, we view its ancient Kremlin, a sweeping ensemble of monasteries and churches. We continue to Yaroslavl, whose town center is a World Heritage Site of 17th century architecture, for a stroll in the Yaroslavl market and a chance to enjoy the vision of its massive green- and gold-domed cathedral rising along the Volga. We also explore Kostroma, a showplace of 18th century architecture, and enjoy a boat excursion on the Volga River.

Days 6-8
Plyos / Suzdal / Vladimir

We walk through the birch forests surrounding the old town of Plyos, then head to ancient Suzdal, a gorgeous country town of wood-and-stone houses where grazing sheep add to its pastoral atmosphere. We savor the heritage of this 10th century gem, with its posad (old trading quarter) and delicate wooden churches, enjoy lunch with a local artisan, then visit the 11th century town of Vladimir to walk the winding streets and see its famous Golden Gate, the last surviving example of Russian city gates.

Days 9-12
St. Petersburg / Pushkin

For 200 years the capital of the Czars, St. Petersburg is unique in its beauty, with miles of canals linked by graceful bridges and exquisite 18th century architecture. We explore the astounding art collection at the Hermitage—the largest in the world—take a private boat ride on the canals, visit the Usupoff Palace where Rasputin was murdered, and roam the Peter and Paul Fortress and St. Isaac’s Square. In nearby Pushkin, we visit Catherine’s Palace and the unforgettable Amber Room. A night at the opera or ballet is another option, and our farewell dinner with a Russian family in their home allows us to experience the true hospitality and cuisine of this intriguing land. Depart on Day 12, or join our Baltic States Extension.

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What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 1+, Easiest. This is a relaxed cultural adventure, with walks on the cobbled streets of medieval towns that should be “easy-to-moderate” for the average active traveler. For your own enjoyment, we recommend that you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 PM.

Explanation of Trip Levels