Russia holidays, Footsteps of the Tsars

country:	Russia
departures:	2008: 30 Aug, 13 Sep, 27 Sep, 4 Oct 2009: 11 Apr, 25 Apr, 16 May, 30 May, 13 Jun, 27 Jun
price:	From £1420 (18 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $300 . Price includes hotels/guesthouses (10 nts), traditional country house (1 nt), overnight train (6 nts) 8 breakfasts and 1 dinner.

Russia holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

Marvel at tsarist treasures in the Hermitage, witness the legacy of the Siege of Leningrad and relax in a Russian country house.

Visit the Romanovs' royal residences, discover dazzling ancient capitals, experience local Tatar culture, travel across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian Railway and explore Moscow's Kremlin.

Discover the treasures of this vast land, following in the footsteps of Russian royalty on this remarkable trip. From the imperial capital of St Petersburg, cross the country taking in tsarist palaces, ancient kremlins, Siberian hospitality and rural village life.

Come face to face with the enigmatic characters of Russia's remarkable history - from Rasputin and the last Romanovs to Catherine the Great and Ivan the Terrible - and enjoy the world's most famous train journey, the Trans-Siberian Railway.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1-3:	St Petersburg. Crowded with palaces, museums and cathedrals, take in St Petersburg on foot or from a boat, floating down the many canals and rivers criss-crossing this captivating city.
Day 4-5:	Pushkin. Named after Russia's most celebrated poet, this 'Tsar's Village' is home to one of the most opulent imperial residences in the country - the magnificent Catherine Palace.
Day 6-7:	Suzdal. Capital of Russia in medieval times, this fairytale town boasts a beautiful skyline.
Day 8-9:	Kazan. The capital of Tatarstan, a region of Russia populated by descendants of nomadic Turkic tribes, this city has an atmosphere more reminiscent of Central Asia than Europe with its many mosques.
Day 10-12:	Yekaterinburg. Best known as the place of exile and execution of the last Russian royal family, the Romanovs, Yekaterinburg is also on the border where Europe ends and Siberia begins. Discover its fascinating past with links to the Tsars, the Bolsheviks and even the Mafia.
Day 13-14:	Tobolsk/Pokrovskoye. Once the foremost city in Siberia, Tobolsk still boasts a charming Old Town full of winding lanes and weather-worn cottages. Experience true Siberian hospitality with an overnight stay in a local home.
Day 15:	Trans-Siberian Railway. Take a trip on the world's most famous railway, passing forests, quaint Siberian villages and industrial Soviet hubs.
Day 16-18:	Moscow. Much of the country's history formed in this bustling capital and historical sites such as the Kremlin and Red Square are reason alone for a visit.

small group adventure holiday

This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more)

how this holiday makes a difference

This trip will take you across Russia tracing its often tragic history and taking you to places less traveled by the majority of visitors to the country.

In Kazan you'll get to see a different side of Russia - this is the capital of Tatarstan and exploring the city on foot with a local guide will give you an interesting insight into the Muslim Tatar culture as you visit mosques and try the traditional sweets like "chak chak" from market stalls.

Travelling from place to place we will be using public transport, be it local trains and buses to small out of the way towns to overnight train journeys to cover the big distances of this immense nation. Using public transport is fantastic opportunity to interact with local people traveling the same route.

The accommodation used on this trip varies but will really give you a true experience of the local culture. In St Petersburg we stay in a small locally owned guesthouse, while in Suzdal we rent a traditional wooden country house from Lena, our local friend who may even come around in the morning to prepare a pancake breakfast! Travellers also have the chance to stay with a Siberian family in a small village between Tobolsk and Tyumen for the night where you'll no doubt be touched by the warmth and hardiness of the villagers.

At the conclusion of the trip travellers are encouraged to donate toiletries and unwanted clothes to Nochlezhka in St Petersburg, one of the community projects we support. Nochlezhka is an NGO looking after the needs of the city's many homeless people.

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