This route from St.Petersburg to Moscow, linking the two main cities of Russia, passes through some of the oldest places in the country. Without a doubt, this circuit is called “Russian Heartland” for a reason. You will reach some hidden corners of the country, still not fl ooded by tourists, which have played an extremely important role in Russian history. You will visit one of the oldest cities of the Russia – Novgorod the Great – with its beautiful ancient St.Sophia’s Cathedral. You will pass by small authentic towns of Torzhok and Tver, which were, despite of their small size, of great importance in Old Russia. You will discover some ancient Russian traditions such as the fi ne art of gold thread embroidery – a type of craftsmanship that is almost forgotten today, as well as gastronomic customs; and you will even visit a factory producing Christmas decorations. You will have an opportunity to see the places where great Russian masters like Dostoyevsky and Tchaikovsky have lived, and to learn more about their private lives.
Saint Petersburg (Thursday)
| June | 25 |
| July | 09, 23 |
| August | 06, 20 |
| September | 03 |
Breakfast. Transfer to Novgorod the Great. The panoramic tour of the city with a visit to the Kremlin, the Yaroslav Court and the Saint Sophia Cathedral. Novgorod the Great (also known as Veliky Novgorod) is considered to be the oldest city in Russia; it was the fi rst capital of the ancient state and an important medieval center of commerce and crafts, a city-museum where you can fully experience the atmosphere of the Russian land. Lunch.
Transfer to Staraya Russa. The panoramic tour of Staraya Russa during which you will hear a story about its past and modern life with the visit to the Church of St.George the Victorious of the 15th century. You will get acquainted with the history of ancient temples, including the oldest monument of the 12th century architecture – the Transfiguration Monastery. Accommodation. Dinner.
Visit to the museum of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, one of the leading writers of Tsarist Russia, whose literature explores human psychology in the complex political, social and spiritual context of the 19th century Russian society. Dostoyevsky, the author of “The Brothers Karamazov”, “Crime and Punishment”, “The Idiot”, arrived in Staraya Russa in 1872, and for the next eight years this town has been a place of work and rest for him and his family. Visit to Rushanin House. The Salt Maker’s House is an example of traditional rural architecture and an open-air museum. You will immerse yourself into the atmosphere of a medieval house, which tells the traditions of salt production in Staraya Russa. Lunch.
Transfer to the town of Torzhok. Accommodation in the hotel. Dinner.
Panoramic tour of Torzhok. You will enjoy an excellent panoramic view of the town situated on hills, the Travel Palace built in the time of Catherine II, the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, the Monastery of Saints Boris and Gleb (Borisoglebsky Monastery), the Church of the Ascension made of wood and other churches in Torzhok, Pushkin Square with the monument to the poet, the 18th century architectural works of N.Lyvov with the monument to the architect. Lunch. Visit to the Museum of History and Ethnology. Interactive program “Russian Dinner Traditions and Food Culture”.
Transfer to the city of Tver. Panoramic tour of the city: the Island of Memory with the Church of Mikhail of Tver, the Trinity Cathedral of the 16th century, the Imperial Palace; you will also discover a unique system of the central streets of Tver. Dinner. Accommodation.
Transfer to the city of Klin. Visit to the Museum of “Christmas Ornaments”, the only museum in Russia where a large collection of old Christmas decorations is represented. Talented masters of the “Yolochka” factory – glassblowers and painters – work in the Museum. Lunch.
Visit to the Pyotr Tchaikovsky Museum. One of the names of the highest representatives of the Russian and world culture connected with the city of Klin is the name of the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It was here that he created his wonderful Symphony No6, finished the opera “Iolanta” and the ballet “Nutcracker”.
Departure to the city of Moscow. Arrival in Moscow and accommodation. Dinner.
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport at the appointed time.
*Please, take note that we reserve the right to change the order of visits.
Level 3 (moderate/active)
Regular Tour
Level 2 (moderate)
