10 days / 9 nights:
Since the collapse of the Communist Empire of the Soviet Union to great fanfare, the great world has discovered the disgrace of the empire. From the ashes arose countries hungry for bread, fearing the new way and the new horizons that had opened before them. But from the ashes also rose new hope and spirit.
The sharp upheaval in Russian cities has put pressure on masses of young people, who have exhausted their freedom in singing, drinking, street performances and vocal expressions against the establishment. The free economy set in and glittering businesses began to flourish, as did the ever-expanding cycle of poverty. Moscow and St. Petersburg have quickly transformed from cities with historical memories and unrealized potential into bustling cities, hosting tourists and creating a vibrant connection with the amazing foreigners coming from the West.
On our trip we hear about the ambitions, strength and weakness of Greater Russia, the mysterious Russian psyche and the total lack of understanding between Moscow and the West. About authentic food and political cooking in the Kremlin, the culture of poetry and spies from the movies. And how every time, after the White House challenges it, Russia returns and regains the status of a world power.
Why with the geographical?
- Accommodation in first class hotels in the city centers
- A comprehensive route including tours of the towns of the "Golden Ring" area, which provides a break from the city and a glimpse into daily rural life in Russia
- Visits to many sites, as specified in the program
- The best folklore show in town
- A unique vocal ensemble performance in Moscow
- Fascinating evening tours of Moscow and St. Petersburg
- High-speed train between Vladimir and Moscow
- High-speed train between Moscow and St. Petersburg
- A nightly cruise in St. Petersburg during the opening of the bridges
- The Fabreza Museum in St. Petersburg
- Dinners at great restaurants along the trip as well as lunch
- Local accommodation for dinner in Suzdal
- The best guides to Russia, from the Geographical Society
- Small group - up to 28 hikers
track:
•Day 1
Tel Aviv - Moscow
We will depart in the morning on a direct flight to Moscow, the capital of Russia. After arriving, we will go to the city center for an introductory tour: we will walk in the area of the Red Square, from where we can see the colorful Basil Church and the Lenin Mausoleum, we will take an initial bus tour of the city center and tour the Alexander Park area. Transfer to our hotel to rest and get organized.
Dinner and overnight in Moscow
•Day 2
Moscow - Kremlin - Armory Museum - Novodevichy - Church of the Savior
Today we will visit the Kremlin Hill and enter the Kremlin, a spectacular complex and one of the most important historical sites in Moscow, the seat of the Tsars and the leaders of the Soviet Empire. Our tour will include a visit to the Armory Museum, which contains the Tsars' treasures, from unique jewelry and works to weapons. We will visit the Novodevichi Cemetery, which is considered the prestigious cemetery of the city. It contains famous personalities, including Chekhov, Khrushchev, Yeltsin, Gogol, Stanislavsky, Bulgakov and more. We will end the day at the Church of the Savior, on the banks of the Moscow River, which is considered the tallest Orthodox church in the world.
After resting and getting organized at the hotel, we will have dinner at a local restaurant, after which we will enjoy a unique vocal ensemble show and end with a night tour during which we will be impressed by the Moscow sites lit by special night lighting.
Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Moscow
•Day 3
Moscow - Subway stations - Victory Park
This morning we will walk along Arbat Street, the main pedestrian street in the city dating back to the 15th century. We will be impressed by the impressive architecture along the sidewalk and continue our tour of the city's subway stations, which were designed and decorated in great splendor during the Stalin days and provide an opportunity to be impressed by the city's beauty not only above ground but also below. We will end at the Victory Park on the prostration hill - a compound with a synagogue, a mosque and a church, and visit the museum in the compound. We will return to our hotel to rest and get organized, and go out to dinner at a local restaurant.
Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Moscow
•Day 4
Moscow - Vladimir - Bogolovo - The Golden Ring
We will get organized and go to the countryside north of Moscow, which will allow a glimpse into rural daily life in Russia. We will drive along the open and "endless" prairies, ancient towns and villages, and reach the town of Bogolubovo which is built entirely of stone and has a long history from the middle of the 12th century. We will have lunch at a local restaurant. We will continue our tour in the city of Vladimir, one of the oldest cities in Russia with a number of important sites. We will reach Suzdal, one of the “Golden Ring” towns that surround Moscow and are so named because of the wonderful golden domes of their churches, and will be hosted for dinner at a local family home.
Dinner at a local family home and accommodation in Suzdal
•Day 5
Suzdal - Ethnographic Museum - Fast train to Moscow - Tertiakov Gallery
In the morning we will walk in Suzdal - the monasteries, churches, the fortress (Kremlin) and the open ethnographic museum, and we will be impressed by life there. In the afternoon we will take the high-speed train back to Moscow and complete the tour of its sites. Among other things, we will visit the famous Tretyakov Art Gallery, which has a particularly large collection of Russian art for generations. We will stay at our hotel to rest and get organized.
Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Moscow
•Day 6
Moscow - Express train to St. Petersburg - Introductory tour - Peter and Paul Fortress
In the morning we will drive to the Moscow train station and take the high-speed train to St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg, known by its former name - Leningrad, is the second largest city in Russia. The city, which served as the capital of Tsarist Russia, is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, largely due to the magnificent buildings that remain in it. After arriving in the city we will go on a preliminary impression tour of the city, visit the "Strelka", which was the commercial center of St. Petersburg, and the Peter and Paul Fortress. We will stay at our hotel to rest and get organized.
Dinner at a restaurant and accommodation in St. Petersburg
•Day 7
St. Petersburg - Synagogue - Hermitage
In the morning we will visit the Great St. Petersburg Synagogue "Grand Coral", which was inaugurated towards the end of the 19th century. Thanks to the magnificent building plan of the synagogue it is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. We will continue to the Hermitage Museum, which is the "Russian Louvre", with one of the world's largest collections of art from various fields: sculpture, painting, archeological finds and more. We will focus in the main building of the complex on the classic works scattered in its rooms, on the Rafael Hall which is decorated with the artist's wonderful biblical works and on the wonderful collections in his curatorial gallery.
In the evening we will go to a spectacular folklore performance * and finish with dinner at a local restaurant.
Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in St. Petersburg
* Between June and the beginning of September, the folklore performance "Folklore Kostroma" will take place at the Folk Theater in Moscow. On other dates the folklore performance will take place in St. Petersburg at Nikolaevsky Palace.
•Day 8
St. Petersburg - Peterhof Palaces - Aurora - Nevsky Avenue and Isaac's Cathedral - Night and Cruise Tour
This morning we will drive to the "Palace of Versailles of Russia" - the Peterhof Palace and Palace complex outside the city. We will visit the wonderful gardens and the largest fountain complex in the world. On our way back to St. Petersburg we were observed in the “Aurora” destroyer, which served its first shot in the revolt that started the Russian Revolution. We will reach the main street of St. Petersburg - Nevsky Prospect, along which stand magnificent buildings, palaces and elegant public buildings. We will have lunch at a local restaurant followed by a visit to St. Isaac's Cathedral, which illustrates the profound change that has taken place in the Russian religious tradition. We will return to our hotel to rest and get organized. In the evening we will go out to dinner at a local restaurant and continue together for a night tour of the enlightened St. Petersburg, which will include a cruise and watching the process of opening the bridges.
Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in St. Petersburg
•Day 9
St. Petersburg - The Faberge Museum - Kazan Cathedrals and the shed blood
In the morning we will visit the Church of the Spilled Blood, one of the most beautiful churches in the city, and the magnificent Kazan Cathedral built in a special architectural style. We will end at the Faberge Museum which opened only at the end of 2013 and allows a rare glimpse into the wealth that was customary during the imperial period in Russia. The museum is located in the Shuvalov Palace and features the largest collection of works by Carl Faberge. We will return to our hotel to rest and get organized and go out for a sumptuous meal at a local restaurant.
Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in St. Petersburg
•Day 10
St. Petersburg - Tel Aviv
In the morning we will drive to St. Petersburg Airport for a direct flight to Tel Aviv.
Departure dates and prices:
13.05.21/22.05.21
Instructor: Nino Absadze Days: 10Price per person in a double room:Base: $ 3,120Port taxes: $ 155
Total price: $ 3,275
05/27/21-06/05/21
Instructor: Daniel Goldenberg Days: 10Price per person in a double room:Base: $ 3,120
Port taxes: $ 155
Total price: $ 3,275
06/10/21-06/19/21
: Daniel Goldenberg Days: 10Price per person in a double room:Base: $ 3,120
06/10/21-06/19/21Instructor: Daniel Goldenberg Days: 10Price per person in a double room:Base: $ 3,120l Goldenberg Days: 10 Price per person in a double room:Base: $ 3,120
06/10/21-06/19/21
Instructor: Daniel Goldenberg Days: 10Price per person in a double room:Base: $ 3,120l Goldenberg Days: 10Price per person in a double room:Base: $ 3,120
Port taxes: $ 155
Total price: $ 3,275
06/24/21-07/03/21
: Zohar MilkgroveDays: 10Price per person in a double room:Base: $ 3,120Port taxes: $ 155Total price: $ 3,275
06/24/21-07/03/21Instructor: Zohar MilkgroveDays: 10Price per person in a double room:Base: $ 3,120 Port taxes: $ 155Total price: $ 3,275ilkgroveDays: 10Price per person in a double room:Base: $ 3,120Port taxes: $ 155
Total price: $ 3,275
The price of the trip includes / does not include
The price of the trip includes:
- International flights: with "Aeroflot" on direct flights as specified in the plan.
- Accommodation: 5 * hotel in Moscow, 4 * hotels in St. Petersburg and Suzdal.
- Economy: breakfasts in hotels + dinners along the trip + one more lunch in the golden ring.
- Transportation: Air-conditioned and comfortable tourist bus depending on the size of the group.
- Entrance fees, attractions and tours of the sites: as specified in the program.
- Tip: For the various service providers abroad according to the detailed plan.
- Guidance: A guide from the staff of the Geographical Society, an expert on Russia, and local guides as needed.
- Headphones.
- A detailed preparatory meeting in Israel.
- The price of the trip is not included
- Additional meals.
- Drink at dinners (light / hot / alcohol).
- Medical insurance and luggage (can be arranged through our office).
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephones, drinks in restaurants, etc.).
- Everything not specified under the section "The price of the trip includes".