Kazan is the Istanbul of the Volga, a place where Europe and Asia curiously inspect each other from the tops of church belfries and minarets. Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, third capital of Russia; it is one of the largest economic, scientific and cultural centers in the country. The main tourist attraction is the Kremlin, inside which you’ll find buildings of stunning beauty such as the Church of the Annunciation and the Kul Sharif Mosque.
You will visit an island of Sviyazhsk, a picturesque small village on an island that was built in 1551 by Ivan the Terrible’s troops in only 4 weeks. On the way to the island you will see the Temple of All Religions.
You will continue the journey with a visit to Yekaterinburg. Founded in 1723, Yekaterinburg is Russia’s fourth-largest city, with a fascinating history and plenty to keep curious visitors occupied. Just like St. Petersburg to the north, Yekaterinburg was founded by Peter the Great and was planned as a “window to Asia”. Today it is the fourth largest city in the country and the third largest transportation hub. There are a lot of temples, architectural ensembles, monuments, squares and about 50 different museums including absolutely unique ones. The city also has a reputation as a center of higher education and research.
Moscow (Monday)
| May | 18 |
| July | 06, 20 |
| August | 03 |
| September | 07, 21 |
Evening transfer to the train station. Night train to Kazan (the train No024, 23:08-10:45 or similar).
Arrival to Kazan – the ancient capital of the Tartars, located on the banks of the Volga River, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. During the excursion you will visit the most interesting and ancient sights of Kazan: Old-Tatar Sloboda, the Kaban Lake with its picturesque views, merchant houses, and the old mosque of the 18th century. You will hear legends and stories of Tatar people, walk along the old Kazan and visit the monastery, where the miraculous Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is kept. Lunch in one of the city restaurants with a culinary workshop “Secrets of Tatar Cuisine”.
Walking excursion to the Kazan Kremlin will not leave anyone indifferent. It is the object of UNESCO which walls unite two religions: Moslem (legendary Kuhl Sharif Mosque) and Orthodox (Annunciation Cathedral). Transfer to the hotel.
Breakfast. Excursion to the city island Sviyazhsk (with lunch). On the way to the island you will see the Temple of All Religions. The history of the city began on May 24, in 1551, when Ivan the Terrible decided to build on the island a wooden fortress, which took only four weeks. Sviyazhsk became a base supporting Russian troops in the war against the Kazan Khanate. The island has unique historical and cultural monuments, such as Assumption Monastery of the Blessed Virgin, Sviyazhsky Cathedral, John the Baptist Monastery which houses the Trinity Church on its territory – the only remaining building from wooden Sviyazhsk. Through centuries, Sviyazhsk has been remaining an important Russian Orthodox shrine. Transfer to the train station. Departure to Yekaterinburg (the train is No378, 20:08-12:22 or similar).
Arrival to Yekaterinburg. It’s a city of great importance of the Russian Federation, located on the east side of the Ural Mountains, which serve as a natural border between Europe and Asia. The city was founded by Vasily Tatischev on November 7, 1723. It was named after the wife of Tsar Peter the Great, Yekaterina, who later became Empress Catherine I. Yekaterinburg became an industrial center of the country. After the Russian revolution in 1917, the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra and their children were executed by the Bolsheviks in the Ipatiev House in the city. Lunch. During the sightseeing tour you’ll see the neoclassic buildings of the town and the Obelisk which marks the Europe-Asia border. Transfer to the hotel.
Breakfast. We’ll continue our tour of the city with a visit to the Geological Museum with its amazing collection of the meteorites; “Ganina Yama”, the place where the bodies of the members of the last Russian royal family were thrown after the assassination; the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center and the panoramic view from the Vysotsky building. Lunch. Transfer to the hotel and free evening.
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport.
*Please, take note that we reserve the right to change the order of visits.
Level 4 (active)
Level 1 (easy)
