
Delve deep into Russia on a 10-day escorted tour of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and its Golden Ring towns. View Moscow's fascinating sights before admiring the onion-domed churches and medieval treasures of three Golden Rings gems—Sergiev Posad, Suzdal and Vladimir. Then, see why St. Petersburg is called the ‘Venice of the North' for its mansions, canals and bridges, and uncover its tsarist and artistic heritage at its palaces and museums
Itinerary at a glance
Today, board your flight in the US for Moscow. Your flight might include international stopovers.
Arrive in Russia’s capital after the trans-Pacific journey. At Moscow airport, meet your representative and transfer to your hotel located in the city center. After check in, the rest of the day is free at leisure. This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Included: Dinner at hotel
Enjoy a fascinating sightseeing tour of this 850-year-old city, hearing tales of its turbulent history and rich culture. Start with a visit to the newly revamped Exhibition of National Economic Achievements, a throwback to the Soviet era filled with pavilions, museums, and monuments. Then, explore one of the city's lavish 1930s metro station*—built to glorify Stalin's Soviet Union—before an optional Moscow River Cruise – admiring the city’s skyline from a boat. After lunch, visit the walled Kremlin*. Stroll by its rich palaces and monuments, visit its cathedral* and then explore the Armoury*, home to a magnificent collection of imperial regalia, including tsarist robes and Faberge eggs. Finally, see outside the onion-domed St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square before transferring back to the hotel for dinner.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
★★★★ Azimut Smolenskaya Hotel or Similar
Continue getting to know Moscow via sightseeing tour. See treasures such as Tverskaya Street, Manege Square, Alexandrovsky Garden and Tomb of Unknown Soldier, Red Square, GUM department store, together with Lenin Mausoleum, Theater Square and the Bolshoi Theater. Continue sightseeing tour in the afternoon wish visit to Christ the Savior Cathedral*. After dinner at a local restaurant, perhaps attend an optional Kostroma Show.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
★★★★ Azimut Smolenskaya Hotel or Similar
Gaze over villages, forests and fields on a road journey to Sergiev Posad in the ‘Golden Ring'—a chain of historic towns just outside Moscow famous for their architecture from the 10th to the 17th centuries. On arrival in this pilgrimage town—the heart of Russia's Orthodox religion—visit the splendid 14th-century Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius and Trinity Cathedral*, known for its frescoes and icons, and see the Refectory Church and Church of the Holy Spirit. After lunch, continue to Suzdal for dinner and overnight.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Sometimes regarded as the most beautiful Golden Ring town, Suzdal offers a mix of monuments, monasteries, and churches, all crowned by a 10th-century Kremlin. Go inside this UNESCO-listed complex, once Suzdal's administrative and religious center to take in its Cathedral of the Nativity* and Monastery of St. Euthymius*, and then visit the nearby Museum of Wooden Architecture* to see its outdoor displays of re-assembled medieval wooden peasant houses and churches for an insight into bygone Russian life. Next, visit the Pokrovsky Monastery* before transferring to Vladimir, another Golden Ring town and former medieval capital of Russia. Soak up the town's history on a visit to the Cathedral of the Assumption*, and see other treasures including the Cathedral of St. Demetrius and the Golden Gates. Afterward, return to Suzdal. Dinner at the hotel.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
This morning, coach to Moscow. At Moscow, catch the high-speed Sapsan train to St. Petersburg, arriving in Russia’s second biggest and most beautiful city after a scenic 4-hour journey. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for dinner and accommodation.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
This morning, take an excursion to Pavlovsk. Upon arrival, pay a visit to Pavlovsk Palace and Park*, an 18th-century Imperial residence built by Tsai Paul I just outside the St. Petersburg. After lunch, return to St. Petersburg and continue your sightseeing tour of St. Petersburg, exploring more sights including Nevsky Prospect, Nevsky Convent, Smolny Cathedral, Winter Palace, Admiralty, St. Isaac’s Cathedral*, Kazan Cathedral, and Church of the Spilled Blood. Later, why not join our optional Neva River Cruise to admire St. Petersburg from the water?
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
★★★★ St. Petersburg Hotel or Similar
Another memorable day of sightseeing starts with a hydrofoil ride* to the Peterhof Palace and Gardens*, set on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. Built by Peter the Great as another show of wealth, the palace and its fountain-studded garden make glorious sights. Admire the palace and stroll around the garden's showstopper—the gold-statue-adorned Grand Cascade fountain, constructed to mark Russia's victory over the Swedes in 1709. After lunch, the afternoon is devoted to the Hermitage Museum*, one of the world's greatest art museums. View the highlights of this remarkable repository, which holds works by greats such as da Vinci, Rembrandt and Michelangelo, and whose main building is the Winter Palace, once a residence of Russia's tsars. After your visit and a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, transfer back to hotel.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take your leave of Russia as you transfer to St. Petersburg airport today for your flight back to the US.
Included: Breakfast
Create your ideal getaway with the following upgrade options. Extensions and upgrades can be added during the booking process or speak to one of our travel advisors to tailor your perfect trip.
Treat yourself to the most sought-after seats on our coaches — those in the first two or three rows. We assign 10 seats in the front rows on a first-come, first-served basis subject to availability. To pre-book these seats for less than $10 per day, select the front of coach seating option online in your Peony Tours account.
Airfares included in the advertised Land + Air Package prices are from New York(JFK), including fuel surcharge and taxes/fees, not including any baggage fees or seat assignment fees.
Departures from other gateway cities, please add appropriate U.S. domestic add-on fares. For time zone of your gateway city, please call Peony Tours.
*Fares are subject to availability; for detailed gateway fares please view our dates & pricing
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Azimut Hotel Smolenskaya Moscow is located in the historical building of the former Belgrade Hotel of Soviet era on Smolenskaya Square, near the Arbat and the Red Square. After a large-scale reconstruction, the building retained the style of Soviet modernism, but at the same time it looks ultramodern and fashionable.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Cozy and luxurious, the art hotel Nikolaev Posad is located in the center of Suzdal, in the immediate vicinity of the main attractions of the city. Our hotel provides a wide range of services. A modern fitness club and a swimming pool at your disposal. Guests can use the free wi-fi throughout the complex, and all three restaurants open to the guests of the tourist complex.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Multifunctional complex for a pleasant stay and leisure activities. Each room of the Hotel "Saint Petersburg" is decorated and equipped in accordance with the standards adopted in the hospitality industry. All rooms have Wi-Fi, Ip-TV, private bath or shower, air conditioning.