russia travel brochure 2015

T O U R R U S S I A C L A S S I C O

°°

Y�r guide to Russia!

SUMMARY AND CONTENT

2

CRUISE ON THE VOLGA14 TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY16

EXCURSIONS9

ABOUT US4 MOSCOW–SAINT-PETERSBURG6

GOLDEN RING10

SUMMARY AND CONTENT

3

BALTIC COUNTRIES22

KARELIA24

HOTELS, APARTMENTS & VISAS30

GENERAL CONDITIONS31

YAKUTIA26

SILK ROAD20

OTHER TOURS28

4

A trip to Russia will let you discover beautiful places full of charm, new colors, traditions and culture. Our agency operates at 360 degrees on Russian territory, and has an o�ce in St. Petersburg with bilingual sta� that provides assistance in English. We are a group of young professionals and we have quickly become industry leaders in Russian tourism. We are inspired by a deep passion for Russia and the desire to share emotions, history and customs of one of the most fascinating places in the world.

Thanks to our deep knowledge of Russia and experience gained in over 10 years of successful work, we are able to o�er travel itineraries with a high standard of personalized services and the best value for the money.

The Classic Tour of Russia: Moscow - St. Petersburg, the charming Golden Ring, the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway, a fascinating cruise on the Volga, and a tour of the Baltic countries, are only some of the most popular destinations included in the itineraries o�ered by our tour operator. We also o�er special group trips starting in any city (guaranteed departure from any city for at least 4 people), where individual tourists can join other people, form a group and travel across Russia at a very low price compared to the price of an individual tour. Together with others you can admire the famous White Nights of St. Petersburg or travel with a group during the holiday periods of the New Year, Easter and others.

Our goal is to organize your holiday in Russia in the most pleasant way in order to make it unique and unforgettable.

Y�r guide to Russia!

ARE YOU THINKING OF SPENDING YOUR NEXT

HOLIDAY IN RUSSIA? Russian Tour can guide you in choosing the ideal stay in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and in major Russian cities!

A B O U T U S

5

OUR ADDRESS Business Center Petrovsky Fort, o�. 424 Finlyandskiy Prospekt 4a, Saint Petersburg, Russia

TEL

+7 812 6010653

EMAIL

[email protected]

FAX +7 812 3322886

Russian Tour will help you to book a hotel in Moscow, St. Petersburg or in any other Russian city, to rent an apartment in St. Petersburg and Moscow, to organize an excursion to St. Petersburg or a tour to Moscow, to book transfers to and from the airport, to find a guide and an interpreter, to rent a car or a bus, to reserve tickets for the theatre, concerts, museums, ballets etc., to book flights to Russia, to buy train, boat, ferry tickets and much more!

Our sta� will provide you with constant assistance during the whole trip, from arrival until departure, and will accommodate all of your needs in the best possible ways.

Descriptions of our tours, details and tari�s can be found on our constantly updated portal www.russiantour.com, where you'll find a lot of other information.

If you are in St. Petersburg don’t hesitate to come and visit us at our o�ce, near the Ploshad’ Lenina metro station, close to the cruiser Aurora.

WWW.RUSSIANTOUR.COM

Madrid:

+34 91 1238554

Helsinki:

+358 9 42450380

London:

+44 203 6951143

Bruxelles:

+32 2 8088521

ARE YOU THINKING OF SPENDING YOUR NEXT

HOLIDAY IN RUSSIA?

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Ploschad’ Leninametro station

Business CenterPetrovsky Fort

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Mosc� — �int Petersburg

C L A S S I C R U S S I A T O U R

Guaranteed departure from any city for at least 4 people. Individual tourists can join others to form a group and leave for Russia at very low prices compared to a trip organized individually.

GROUP TO FORM

A tour that will make you discover the must-see places of the two Russian capitals: today's capital, Moscow, and the last city of the tsars, St. Petersburg.

This tour will allow you to immerse yourself in the hectic and majestic life of Moscow for several days, and then relax and admire the architectural splendor of St. Petersburg.

°°

Guaranteed departure from any city (for at least 4 people).

6

DAY 1

ARRIVAL IN MOSCOWArrival in Moscow - meet with the driver and transfer to hotel. Accommodation at hotel, overnight.

DAY 6

SAINT PETERSBURG Breakfast at the hotel. Free day. Advised excursions - summer residences of the Tsars: Pushkin (Catherine’s Palace and the Amber room), Peterhof (with its beautiful park and fountains), Pavlovsk (palace and park of Paul I). Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 5

SAINT PETERSBURGBreakfast at the hotel. City tour of St. Petersburg with stops at Saint Isaac’s square, the Church of the Savior on Blood, which was erected on the place where Tsar Alexander II of Russia had been killed, Art Square, which owes its name to the numerous museums and theaters in the vicinity, the cruiser Aurora, which is now a floating museum, Nevsky Prospekt, the Smolny Cathedral, built and designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, and finally, the Field of Mars. Then a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress*, founded in 1703, where the city’s history initially began.

Visit of the State Hermitage, one of the most important art collections in the world; the building was originally a part of the imperial palace, the residence of the Romanov dynasty for 2 centuries until 1917, the year of the beginning of the October Revolution. Return to the hotel. Overnight.

DAY 2

MOSCOW Breakfast at the hotel. City Tour with stops at: Red Square, the central square of Moscow and all Russia; the Bolshoy Theatre, one of the most celebrated and famous temples of classical ballet; Tverskaya Street, the great commercial artery; the ring of boulevards; observation point with a magnificent view on the so-called Sparrow Hills near the famous State University (Lomonosov University); the Novodeviciy Convent*, a monastery dating back to the sixteenth century. Free lunch time.

In the afternoon, a visit to the Kremlin* (territory and the main cathedral). The Moscow Kremlin is a fortress located in the historic center of the city of Moscow on Borovickiy Hill. It is the oldest part of the city and one of the most important artistic and historical complexes in the country. Today the Kremlin is the seat of Russia’s national governmental institutions. DAY 3

MOSCOW Breakfast at the hotel. Free day. Advised excursions: Serghiev Posad (St. Sergius Lavra, territory and cathedrals), a walk along Stary Arbat combined with a visit of the most beautiful metro stations in Moscow.Overnight at the hotel.

MOSCOW - SAINT PETERSBURG TOURGuaranteed departure from any city (for at least 4 people).

7

DAY 7

DEPARTURE FROM SAINT PETERSBURGBreakfast at the hotel. Meet with the driver and transfer to the airport. Departure from Saint Petersburg. End of our services.

DAY 4

MOSCOW – SAINT PETERSBURGFree morning. Meeting with the English speaking guide and travel to the train station. High-speed train to St. Petersburg. Arrival in St. Petersburg, meeting with the guide and transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

NB: The New Year in Russia Tour involves first St. Petersburg, and then Moscow, and includes the same excursions but in di�erent order.

YOU WILL FIND GUARANTEED DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICES FOR 2015 ON THE NEXT PAGE

8

* — �e tours marked with * require as an option (fee), excursions to the Kremlin and the Novodeviciy Convent in Moscow, and the entrance to the Cathedral of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg.In addition to the departures with dates from the catalog, we provide tailor-made tours and prices to individuals and groups for any date, with a flexible program depending on their needs. A quote is available upon request and the price varies depending on the season, the number of people, chosen excursions and hotels.

St. Valentine’s Day 2015 (13.02-19.02)*March 2015 (06.03-12.03)*Easter 2015 (03.04-09.04)April 2015 (25.04-01.05)June 2015 (29.05-04.06)*July 2015 (17.07-23.07)Summer 2015 (31.07-06.08)*August 2015 (14.08-20.08)September 2015 (04.09-10.09)*November 2015 (30.10-05.11)December 2015 (04.12-10.12)*New year 2016 (30.12-05.01)

Dostoevsky 4*Dostoevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*Dostoevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*Dostoevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*Dostoevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*Dostoevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*

630*630*630630700*700 700*700700*630630*630

220220220220290290290290290220220220

Hotel St. Petersburg

Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*

Hotel MoscowSingle use supplementFees

Prices include — 3 nights’ accommodation in a double room in Moscow. 3 nights’ accommodation in a double room in St. Petersburg, breakfast included. High-speed Sapsan train ticket, second class (4 hours). Transfers: airport - hotel – train station - hotel - airport. Visa support – invitation letter (consular fees excluded). Excursions with English speaking guide: Moscow city-tour, visit to the Kremlin, city-tour of St. Petersburg, visit to the Fortress of Peter and Paul and to the Hermitage. Entrance fees: Moscow Kremlin, Novodeviciy Convent, the Hermitage, Cathedral of Peter and Paul. *

Prices do not include — Flight to/from Russia. Consular fees. Half board supplement (6 dinners at the hotel, optional): 160 EUR per person. Supplement for medical insurance for people over 65 years old: 16 €. Excursions indicated as optional. *

2015 PRICES IN EURO

Tour Moscow: 13.02-16.02* — € 290, 06.03-09.03* — € 290 03.04-06.04 — € 290, 25.04-28.04 — € 290, 29.05-01.06* — € 290, 26.06-29.06 — € 290, 17.07-20.07 — € 290, 31.07-03.08* — € 290, 14.08-17.08 — € 290 04.09-07.09* — € 290, 30.10-02.11 — € 290, 04.12-07.12* — € 290, 28.12-01.01** — € 330, Single use supplement: € 145

Tour St. Petersburg: 16.02-19.02* — € 290, 09.03-12.03* — € 290, 06.04-09.04 — € 290, 28.04-01.05 — € 290, 01.06-04.06* — € 390, 29.06-02.07 — € 390 20.07-23.07 — € 340, 03.08-06.08* — € 340, 17.08-20.08 — € 340, 07.09-10.09* — € 340, 02.11-05.11 — € 290, 07.12-10.12* — € 290, 30.12-03.01** — € 340, Single use supplement: € 90 October – March; € 125 April, September; € 190 May – August

You can book additional nights, with prices upon request, in case you want to stay 5 or more days.

* — �e tours marked with * require as an option (fee), excursions to the Kremlin and the Novodeviciy Convent in Moscow and the entrance to the Cathedral of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg.** — �e tour marked with a double asterisk ** contains an additional night.

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTSOn the dates of the tour group to form, it is possible to book only the Moscow portion or only the part relating to St. Petersburg. The program of 4 days in two cities is the same as in the tour Moscow - St. Petersburg.

TOUR ONLY MOSCOW OR ONLY SAINT PETERSBURG

La quota include — Alloggio in camera doppia 3 notti a Mosca o 3 notti a San Pietroburgo, colazione inclusa. Transfers aeroporto - hotel - aeroporto. Visto procedura completa con assicurazione inclusa (tasse consolari escluse). Escursioni con la guida parlante italiano: City-tour e visita del Cremlino nel tour di Mosca - City-tour, Fortezza di Pietro e Paolo, e visita dell’Ermitage nel tour di San Pietroburgo. Ingressi: Cremlino+Novodeviciy nel tour di Mosca. Ermitage, Cattedrale Pietro e Paolo nel tour di San Pietroburgo. I tour di Capodanno prevedono una notte aggiuntiva, inclusa nel prezzo.

La quota non include — Flight to/from Russia. Consular fees. Half board supplement (3 dinners at the hotel, optional): 90 EUR (per person) in Moscow, 70 EUR (per person) in St. Petersburg. Supplement for medical insurance for people over 65 years old: 16 €. Excursions indicated as optional. *

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EXCURSIONS IN ST. PETERSBURG AND MOSCOW

City tourCity tour + Fortress of Peter and PaulHermitage with transportCity tour + Saint Isaac’s CathedralCity tour + Church of the Savior on BloodCity Tour + Cabin of Peter the GreatCity tour + Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Church of the Savior on BloodBoat ride on the canals of St. Petersburg

56 34 24 21 1870 50 39 36 3077 49 41 38 3070 50 39 36 3070 50 39 36 3060 42 32 30 28120 84 75 70 6466 45 34 29 25

guide, transport, entrance fees includedCITY TOURS Number of participants2 4 6 8 10+

3 hours

4 hours

3 hours

4 hours

4 hours

3 hours

6 hours

Dostoevsky 4*Dostoevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*Dostoevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*Dostoevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*Dostoevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*Dostoevsky 4*Park Inn Nevsky 4*

Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4*

Single use supplementFees

Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo): Catherine Palace and Park + Amber RoomPeterhof (Petrodvorets): Monplaisir Palace and park fountains by busPeterhof (Petrodvorets): Grand Palace and garden with fountains by hydrofoilPeterhof (Petrodvorets): Monplaisir Palace and garden with fountains by hydrofoilPushkin (Tsarskoye Selo): Catherine Palace and Amber Room + Peterhof (Petrodvorets): Park and fountains Pushkin (Catherine’s Palace and Park + Amber Room) and Pavlovsk (Palace of Paul I and Park)Pavlovsk: Palace of Paul I and ParkGatchinaNovgorod the Great

94 63 48 45 40110 82 66 60 53106 94 84 82 80114 87 78 76 74152 102 80 76 66

138 92 72 66 5484 58 47 45 40114 60 52 48 44186 120 114 108 96

guide, transport, entrance fees includedIMPERIAL RESIDENCES AND TRIPS OUTSIDE THE CITY 2 4 6 8 10+

4 hours

5 hours

5 hours

5 hours

8 hours

8 hours

4 hours

5 hours

12 hours

Below you will �nd a complete list of excursions o�ered in Moscow and St. Petersburg with prices for 2015. Some excursions are already included in the package or indicated as optional. And the prices are given for your information in case

you want to choose a special excursion or to enrich your cultural program.

HermitageRussian MuseumPeter and Paul FortressSt. Isaac's Cathedral + Church of the Savior on BloodYusupov Palace (interiors and the room of Rasputin)

42 30 30 29 2839 28 23 22 2037 25 22 20 1860 46 40 38 3656 34 32 29 28

guide and entrance fees includedCITY MUSEUM EXCURSIONS 2 4 6 8 10+

3 hours

3 hours

3 hours

3 hours

3 hours

City tourCity Tour + Saint Basil's CathedralCity tour + Novodevichy ConventCity tour + Novodevichy Convent + Saint Basil's CathedralMoscow by night

79 43 30 23 1995 55 42 33 2895 55 42 33 28123 73 57 45 4092 49 35 27 22

guide, transport, entrance fees includedCITY TOURS 2 4 6 8 10+

3 hours

4 hours

4 hours

5 hours

3 hours

KolomenskoeKuskovoTrinity Lavra of St. Sergius (Sergiev Posad)

87 49 37 29 25108 57 39 29 24162 90 67 52 43

guide, transport, entrance fees includedTRIPS OUTSIDE THE CITY 2 4 6 8 10+

4 hours

4 hours

8 hours

Kremlin and CathedralsKremlin Cathedrals + ArmoryKremlin and Cathedrals (without transport)State Tretyakov GalleryState Tretyakov Gallery (without transport)Arbat and Metro stops excursionPushkin MuseumBoat Trip

123 69 52 42 35165 102 80 69 6292 53 39 33 2989 52 40 33 2857 34 27 23 2049 25 18 14 1390 53 40 33 2999 59 45 38 33

guide and entrance fees includedCITY MUSEUMS EXCURSIONS 2 4 6 8 10+

3 hours

4 hours

4 hours

4 hours

4 hours

4 hours

4 hours

3 hours

You can book additional nights, with prices upon request, in case you want to stay 5 or more days.

TOUR ONLY MOSCOW OR ONLY SAINT PETERSBURG

Golden �ng

G O L D E N R I N G O F R U S S I A

�e Golden Ring is the cradle of Russian civilization and history. �is region, situated between Moscow and the Volga, is a "constellation" of ancient towns of the glorious past and the great historical and architectural

heritage full of the oldest Russian monasteries with their masterpieces of art.

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11

SERGIEV POSAD – VLADIMIR – SUZDAL – KOSTROMA – YAROSLAVL – ROSTOV VELIKIY – MOSCOW – SAINT PETERSBURG

THE GREAT GOLDEN RING WITH MOSCOW AND SAINT PETERSBURG

Departure guaranteed in combination with the tour Moscow - St. Petersburg in August

Travel dates: 11.08.2015 — 20.08.2015

It is possible to organize this tour for other dates in combination with other departures. �e price in this case is combined: price of the tour Moscow - St. Petersburg (chosen from the catalog) + price of the Golden Ring tour (chosen from 3 alternatives below) + the cost of an additional night in Moscow.

10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS

DAY 1

ARRIVAL IN MOSCOWArrival in Moscow - meet with the driver and transfer to hotel. Accommodation at the hotel, overnight.

DAY 2

SERGIEV POSAD AND VLADIMIRDeparture from Moscow to Sergiev Posad at 8 a.m. Arrival in Sergiev Posad at around 10 a.m., excursion to the grand complex of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius and its cathedrals, the most important spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church, and a kind of orthodox Lourdes thanks to the presence of a miraculous spring inside the monastery. Lunch at a local restaurant and departure to Vladimir. Arrival in Vladimir at 4 p.m. City tour with a stop at the impressive Golden Gate, a sort of triumphant arch and a testimony of the ancient fortifications; a visit to the architectural jewels of the XII-XIII centuries: the Dormition Cathedral (Assumption Cathedral), the Cathedral of St. Demetrius, the Cathedral of the Nativity Monastery; a visit to the Museum of Crystal. Transfer to Suzdal and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 6

MOSCOWBreakfast at the hotel. Free day. Advised excursions: visit to the State Tretyakov Gallery or a walk to Stary Arbat, combined with a visit of the most beautiful metro stations in Moscow. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 5

MOSCOWBreakfast at the hotel. City Tour with stops at Red Square, the central square of Moscow and all of Russia; the Bolshoy Theatre, one of the most celebrated and famous temples of classical ballet; Tverskaya Street, the great commercial artery; the ring of boulevards; observation point with a magnificent view on the so-called Sparrow Hills near the famous State University (Lomonosov University); the Novodeviciy Convent *, a monastery dating back to the sixteenth century. Free lunch time.

In the afternoon a visit to the Kremlin * (territory and the main cathedral). The Moscow Kremlin is a fortress located in the historic center of the city of Moscow on Borovickiy Hill. It is the oldest part of the city and one of the most important artistic and historical complexes in the country. Today the Kremlin is the seat of Russia’s national governmental institutions. Return to the hotel, overnight.

DAY 3

SUZDAL AND KOSTROMABreakfast at 8 a.m. Excursion to Suzdal at 9 a.m.

The visit to this town-museum focuses on its major symbols starting from the XI-XV centuries:

the Kremlin, the Museum of Wooden Masterpieces, an open air museum of great ethno-anthropological importance from the XVIII-XIX centuries. In winter the visit to the Museum is replaced by an excursion to the Monastery of Saint Euthymius. Departure to Kostroma at 12 p.m., arrival and lunch. City excursion at 4 p.m.: a visit to the Ipatiev Monastery (Hypatian Monastery), the most important artistic monument founded between the XIII and XIV centuries, and its interior; a visit to the Trinity Cathedral. Departure to Yaroslavl, one of the most ancient towns of the Golden Ring, founded in 1010, full of churches, monasteries, and beautiful buildings in Baroque and Neoclassical styles. This ancient town is a part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Arrival in Yaroslavl and accommodation at the hotel. Dinner at 7:30 p.m.

DAY 4

YAROSLAVL AND VELIKIY ROSTOVBreakfast at 8 a.m. Excursion to Yaroslavl at 9 a.m.

Visit to the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior, one of the most important monuments of the XII century,

the Church of Elijah the Prophet, XVII century (in winter the visit to the church is replaced by the Museum of Icons). Departure for Velikiy Rostov at 11:30 a.m., arrival at 12:30 p.m., lunch. The city excursion starts from the Kremlin, dating from the XVII century and no doubt the most beautiful of the region, and continues with a visit to the museum where you can admire the rare and valuable collection of icons, paintings and miniatures in enamel by local artists. Departure for Moscow, arrival at 7.30 p.m., meet with the driver and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel, overnight. Moscow is a capital and the main economic and financial center of Russia. The city was founded by Juriy Dolgorukiy in 1147. You will be surprised by its wide architectural and cultural variety.

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DAY 7

MOSCOW – SAINT PETERSBURGFree morning. Meeting with the English speaking guide and transfer to the train station. High-speed train to St. Petersburg. Arrival in St. Petersburg, meet with the guide and transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

DAY 9

SAINT PETERSBURG Breakfast at the hotel. Free day. Advised excursions - summer residences of the Tsars: Pushkin (Catherine’s Palace and Amber Room), Peterhof (with its beautiful park fountains), Pavlovsk (palace and park of Paul I). Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 10

DEPARTURE FROM SAINT PETERSBURGBreakfast at the hotel. Meet with the driver and transfer to the airport.Departure from Saint Petersburg. The end of our services.

DAY 8

SAINT PETERSBURGBreakfast at the hotel. City tour of St. Petersburg with stops at Saint Isaac’s Square, the Church of the Savior on Blood, which was erected on the place where Tsar Alexander II of Russia had been killed, Art Square, which owes its name to the numerous museums and theaters in the vicinity, the cruiser Aurora, which has become a floating museum, Nevsky Prospekt, the Smolny Cathedral, built and designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, and finally the Field of Mars. Then a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress * founded in 1703 where the city’s history initially began.

Visit to the State Hermitage, one of the most important art collections in the world; the building was originally a part of the imperial palace, the residence of Romanov dynasty for 2 centuries until 1917, the year of the beginning of the October Revolution. Return to the hotel, overnight.

DAY 1 — Departure from Moscow to Sergiev Posad. The town is just 70 km from Moscow, and is a secular center of historical and spiritual traditions and a destination for tourists and pilgrims. Excursion to the grand complex of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius and its cathedrals, the most important spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church, and a kind of orthodox Lourdes thanks to presence of a miraculous spring inside the monastery. Lunch at a local restaurant and departure to Suzdal. Accommodation at the hotel in Suzdal, dinner, overnight.

DAY 2 — Suzdal, an ancient town located a few miles from Vladimir, is an important center of religious tourism par excellence of the Golden Ring, and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site with its countless monasteries, churches and historical monuments. The visit to this town-museum focuses on its major symbols starting from the XI-XV centuries: the Kremlin, the Cathedral of the Nativity, the Museum of Wooden Masterpieces, an open air museum of great ethno-anthropological importance of XVIII-XIX centuries. In winter the visit to the Museum is replaced by an excursion to the Monastery of Saint Euthymius.

Transfer to Vladimir and lunch at the restaurant on arrival. The history of this town, built as a fortress on the Klyazma River, dates from around the XII century. When Vladimir became the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality, it was progressively enlarged and embellished by splendid monuments, palaces and monasteries. The city tour includes a stop at the impressive Golden Gate, a sort of triumphal arch and a testimony of the ancient fortifications; a visit to the architectural jewels of the XII-XIII centuries: the Dormition Cathedral (the Assumption Cathedral) and the Cathedral of St. Demetrius. Return to Moscow at about 7:30 p.m.

SERGIEV POSAD, SUZDAL AND VLADIMIR

2 DAYS / 1 NIGHT

1285

390

PRICES 2015 IN EURO Package price per person

Double room accommodation

Single use supplement

460 340 255 210 215 170 150 130 120 35500 370 280 235 245 200 175 155 145 50

PRICES 2015 IN EURO

3* Hotel

4* Hotel

2 4 6 8 10 15 20 30 40Single use supplement

— Package price per person

N. pax

The price includes — Accommodation in a double room at a 4* hotel, 4 nights in Moscow, breakfast included. Accommodation in a double room at a 4* hotel, 3 nights in St. Petersburg, breakfast included. Accommodation in a double room at a 4* hotel, 1 night in Suzdal, full board. Accommodation in a double room at a 4* hotel, 1 night in Yaroslavl, full board. Second class ticket for Sapsan high-speed train from Moscow to St. Petersburg. All transfers: airport/hotel/train station, as indicated in the program. Visa support – invitation letter (consular fees excluded). Excursions with English speaking guide: city-tour, visit to the Moscow Kremlin; city-tour of St. Petersburg, visit of the Fortress of Peter and Paul and the Hermitage. Entrance fees: the Moscow Kremlin, the Novodeviciy Convent in Moscow, the Hermitage, the Cathedral of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg; excursions and entrance fees in Sergiev Posad, Suzdal, Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Rostov Velikiy as indicated in the program, with transport and English speaking guide.

The price does not include — Flight to/from Russia. Consular fees. Half board supplement (6 dinners at the hotel, optional): 160 EUR (per person). Supplement for medical insurance for people over 65 years old: 16 €. Excursions indicated as optional.

The price includes — Visa support – invitation letter (consular fees excluded). English speaking guide. Double room accommodation. Air-conditioned transport. Transfers. Museum tickets (as per program). Full board.

Flight to Russia excluded. Visa for Russia excluded.

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DAY 3 — Breakfast at 8 a.m. Excursion to Yaroslavl at 9 a.m. Visit to the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior, one of the most important monuments of the XII century, the Church of Elijah the Prophet, XVII century (in winter the visit to the church is replaced by the Museum of Icons). Departure for Velikiy Rostov at 11:30 a.m., lunch at 12:30 p.m.

City excursion starts from the Kremlin, dating from the XVII century and no doubt the most beautiful of the region,

and continues with a visit to the museum where you can admire the rare and valuable collection of icons, paintings and miniatures in enamel by local artists. Departure for Moscow, arrival at 7.30 p.m

DAY 2 — Breakfast at 8 a.m. Excursion to Suzdal at 9 a.m. The visit to this town-museum focuses on its major symbols starting from the XI-XV centuries; the Kremlin, the Museum of Wooden Masterpieces, an open air museum of great ethno-anthropological importance of the XVIII-XIX centuries. In winter the visit to the Museum is replaced by an excursion to the Monastery of Saint Euthymius. Departure to Kostroma at 12 p.m., arrival and lunch. City excursion at 4 p.m.: a visit to the Ipatiev Monastery (Hypatian Monastery), the most important artistic monument founded between the XIII and XIV centuries and its interior; a visit to the Trinity Cathedral. Departure to Yaroslavl, one of the most ancient towns of the Golden Ring, founded in 1010, full of churches, monasteries, and beautiful buildings in Baroque and Neoclassical styles. Its old town is a part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Arrival in Yaroslavl and accommodation at the hotel. Dinner at 7:30 p.m.

DAY 1 — Departure from Moscow to Sergiev Posad at 8 a.m. Arrival in Sergiev Posad at around 10 a.m., excursion to the grand complex of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius and its cathedrals, the most important spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church, and a kind of orthodox Lourdes thanks to presence of a miraculous spring inside the monastery. Lunch at a local restaurant and departure to Vladimir. Arrival in Vladimir at 4 p.m. City tour with a stop at the impressive Golden Gate, a sort of triumphal arch and a testimony of the ancient fortifications; a visit of the architectural jewels of the XII-XIII centuries: the Dormition Cathedral (Assumption Cathedral), the Cathedral of St. Demetrius, the Cathedral of the Nativity Monastery; a visit to the Museum of Crystal. Transfer to Suzdal and accommodation at the hotel.

MOSCOW, SERGIEV POSAD, VLADIMIR, SUZDAL, KOSTROMA, YAROSLAVL, ROSTOV VELIKIY, MOSCOW

720 495 415 355 330 290 260 230 210 65770 585 485 420 400 345 315 280 265 90

PRICES 2015 IN EURO

3* Hotel

4* Hotel



N. pax

3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS

The price includes — Visa support – invitation letter (consular fees excluded). English speaking guide. Double room accommodation. Air-conditioned transport. Transfers. Museum tickets (as indicated in the program). Full board.


DAY 1 — Departure from Moscow at 9 a.m., arrival to Vladimir at around 12.30 p.m., lunch at the restaurant. Vladimir was founded in 990 by Vladimir the Great, it is situated 180 km north-east of Moscow. The history of this town, built as a fortress on the Klyazma River, dates from around the XII century. When Vladimir became the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality, it was progressively enlarged and embellished by splendid monuments, palaces and monasteries. The city tour includes a stop at the impressive Golden Gate, a sort of triumphal arch and a testimony of the ancient fortifications; a visit to the architectural jewels of the XII-XIII century: the Dormition Cathedral (the Assumption Cathedral) and the Cathedral of St. Demetrius, the Cathedral of the Nativity Monastery; a visit to the Museum of Crystal. Transfer to Suzdal, accommodation at the hotel, dinner, and overnight.

MOSCOW, VLADIMIR, SUZDAL, KOSTROMA, YAROSLAVL, ROSTOV VELIKIY, MOSCOW

955 660 515 460 440 370 335 295 275 851070 770 610 520 500 440 380 360 335 145

PRICES 2015 IN EURO

3* Hotel

4* Hotel



N. pax

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

The price includes — Visa support – invitation letter (consular fees excluded). English speaking guide. Double room accommodation. Air-conditioned transport. Transfers. Museum tickets (as indicated in the program). Full board.


DAY 2 — Breakfast at the hotel, excursion to Suzdal. Suzdal, an ancient town located 26 km from Vladimir, is an important center of religious tourism par excellence, and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site with its countless monasteries, churches and historical monuments. Its original appearance was very well preserved compared to the other centers of Russia’s Golden Ring. The visit to this town-museum focuses on its major symbols starting from the XI-XV centuries: the Kremlin, the Cathedral of the Nativity, the Museum of Wooden Masterpieces, an open air museum of great ethno-anthropological importance from the XVIII-XIX centuries. In winter the visit to the Museum is replaced by an excursion to the Monastery of Saint Euthymius. After lunch at the restaurant, departure to Kostroma, arriving in the evening, hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight. Kostroma was founded in the XII century, apart from its monumental beauty, Kostroma is famous for its fascinating geographical location – it is situated on terraces gently descending towards the Volga. The panoramic view from the river at the Ipatiev Monastery is the most famous image of the Golden Ring.

DAY 3 — Breakfast at the hotel at 8 a.m., city tour of Kostroma, a visit to the Ipatiev Monastery (Hypatian Monastery), the most important artistic monument founded between the XIII and XIV centuries and its interior; a visit to the Trinity Cathedral. Departure to Yaroslavl, one of the most ancient towns of the Golden Ring, founded in 1010, full of churches, monasteries, and beautiful buildings in Baroque and Neoclassical styles. This ancient town is a part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Lunch at a restaurant, a visit to the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior, one of the most important monuments of the XII century, the Church of Elijah the Prophet, XVII century (in winter visit to the church is replaced by the Museum of Icons). Accommodation at the hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 4 — Breakfast at the hotel, departure to Rostov Velikij. ‘Rostov the Great’ literally translated in English, is situated on the beautiful Black Lake. It has ancient origins and it was probably founded by Finno-Ugric people. The city excursion starts from the Kremlin, dating from the XVII century and no doubt the most beautiful of the region, and continues with a visit to the museum where you can admire the rare and valuable collection of icons, paintings and miniatures in enamel by local artists. Departure to Pereslavl-Zalessky, a stop for panoramic photos on the Red Square. Departure for Moscow, with a stop at Red Square and arrival at destination at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Cruise � �e

Volga

R I V E R C R U I S E

�e cruise on the Volga is the classic river cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg, or vice versa. It is the best and most unique way to discover the vastness of Russia: rivers and canals, arti�cial and natural lakes; travel on

modern ships will let you visit towns and villages and feel the most authentic local traditions, history, culture and architecture of Russia.

Moscow – Saint Petersburg: 11.05—21.05, 31.05—10.06, 20.06—30.06, 10.07—20.07, 19.08—29.08, 08.09—18.09

Saint Petersburg – Moscow: 21.05—31.05, 10.06—20.06, 20.07—30.07, 18.09—28.09

ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE GUARANTED AND INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

PRIVATE GUIDE, OPTIONAL*

14

30.06 — 10.07.2015 Saint Petersburg – Moscow

30.07 — 09.08.2015 Moscow – Saint Petersburg



* — supplement of 600 euro per person for English speaking guide (based on 2 people in double standard cabin)

* — �e price doesn’t include: Russian visa, �ight to/from Russia and other items that are not explicitly indicated in the program

DAY 3

MOSCOW Full board. In the morning a visit to the Kremlin, the fortified town in the heart of Moscow, a symbol of power, and accumulation of palaces and cathedrals: visits to the Cathedral of the Annunciation, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell. Return on board the ship in the afternoon, departure to Uglitch. Captain’s welcome cocktail and dinner.

TRAVEL PROGRAMCruise with departure from Moscow. �e cruise with departure from St. Petersburg follows the same points, but in reverse order.

11 days / 10 nights - full board, transfer from/to the airport. Ship Rublev or Surikov. Departures from Moscow and St. Petersburg - excursions and entrance fees in all towns included.

15

DAY 1

MOSCOWArrival to Moscow, transfer from the airport, departure on the ship, information meeting for tourists, dinner and overnight on board.

DAY 7

KIZHIFull board. A day of navigation along the White Lake, the famous Volga-Baltic Waterway, and Lake Onega, to reach the small island Kizhi in the late afternoon, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage. Kizhi is a jewel of wooden architecture from the XVIII century. The island is 8 km long and 1.5 km wide. Visit the open-air museum of folk wooden architecture. Departure in the evening for Mandrogi.

DAY 10

SAINT PETERSBURGFull board. The morning is free for optional visits and walks. Lunch on board, in the afternoon visit to the Hermitage Museum, one of the most important in the world, located in the Winter Palace.

DAY 11

DEPARTURE FROM SAINT PETERSBURGAfter breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport. For late afternoon flights transfer to the city. Time for individual visits and excursions and subsequent transfer to the airport. Departure from St. Petersburg.

DAY 9

SAINT PETERSBURGFull board. Arrival to St. Petersburg early in the morning, the ancient capital of the Tsars. City tour where you will discover: Nevsky Prospekt, the most important and the liveliest street of the city, the Admiralty, and the Peter and Paul Fortress (without entrance). The second breakfast at the restaurant, back on board, a free afternoon for optional and individual excursions.

DAY 5

YAROSLAVLFull board. Visit of the ancient Russian city founded by Yaroslav the Wise in 1010. Yaroslavl is an important port situated in the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers. The master craftsmen of Yaroslavl were renowned throughout Russia. Visit to the Church of the Prophet Elijah, built in the middle of the XVII century, which is the most important building in this town. External visit of the Monastery of the Transfiguration.

DAY 6

GORITSYFull board. Arrival to Goritsy late in the morning and departure by bus to the Monastery of St. Cyril on White Lake, erected in the XIV century, which was in the past one of the most important cult places of the Orthodox religion. Departure in the afternoon for Lake Onega.

DAY 2

MOSCOWCity tour of Russian capital with stops at main places of interest: Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Lomonosov University, the famous GUM Shopping Center (exterior views). Free time in the afternoon, optional excursions and trips. Full board, second breakfast at the restaurant.

DAY 4

UGLITCHFull board. Arrival to Uglitch in the afternoon. Uglitch is a small town founded in the X century, one of the most fascinating old Russian towns. You will enjoy a nice walk along the streets and admire the Church of Saint Dimitri and the Cathedral of the Transfiguration. Departure in the evening to Yaroslavl.

DAY 8

MANDROGIFull board. Breakfast on board. A visit to the pretty rural village Mandrogi, which is an example of typical Russian wooden architecture. Lunch: outdoor barbeque. Departure to St. Petersburg in the afternoon. Captain’s farewell dinner on board.

1100+880 750

Per person in double cabin*

Price for the 3rd person in triple cabin*

Single use supplement*



Trans-�berian

Railway

G O L D O F T H E T S A R S

�e Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway line that has ever been built by man. It runs from Moscow to Vladivostok and reaches Beijing, crossing all of Russia from east to west. A unique experience, it is a journey through

the cultures and customs of the people who inhabit these fascinating lands.

MOSCOW — KAZAN — YEKATERINBURG — NOVOSIBIRSK — KRASNOYARSK — IRKUTSK — LAKE BAIKAL — ULAN UDE — ULAN BATOR — ERENHOT — THE GOBI DESERT — BEI J ING

16

DAY 10

ULAN BAATOR E IL MONASTERO DI GANDANFull board. Arrival in the morning in the capital of Mongolia, Ulan Bator. You will visit the Gandan Monastery and the Choijin Lama Temple, which is a Buddhist style building and is unique for its beauty. Accommodation at a hotel in the center. On request, a night in a Mongolian yurt can be arranged.

DAY 13

BEIJINGBreakfast and lunch, dinner is optional. Arrival in Beijing in the morning, transfer to the hotel.

DAY 15

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINAFull board. Departure for the excursion to the Great Wall, which stretches to over 6000 km. A stop at a pearl farm and a visit to the Ming Tombs with the “spirit way”. Evening at the traditional restaurant where you will eat Peking duck.

DAY 14

BEIJINGBreakfast and lunch, dinner is optional. City tour with stops at the Temple of Heaven and its park, Tiananmen Square and in the afternoon a guided excursion to the Forbidden City.

DAY 16

DEPARTURE FROM BEIJINGBreakfast, transfer to the airport, departure from Beijing.

DAY 3

KAZAN — YEKATERINBURGFull board. Morning arrival in Kazan, the city on the Volga, which was formerly the capital of the Tatars. The city tour includes visits to the Orthodox churches and mosques. This city is particularly rich in ancient cultures, with di�erent ethnic groups living here together: Cossacks, Russians and Tatars. Evening departure to Yekaterinburg by train.

DAY 4

YEKATERINBURGFull board. Afternoon arrival in the capital of the Urals, Yekaterinburg (founded in 1723 by Peter the Great), it’s the border between Asia and Europe. A quick excursion of the historic center of the city (restored only in 2009), where you will visit the Church of the Ascension, erected in the memory of the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his family, who were killed in the city in 1918. Back to the train, vodka and caviar tasting!

DAY 7

IRKUTSKFull board. Irkutsk is the capital of Eastern Siberia. Accommodation at a hotel in the city center. In the afternoon, city tour and excursion to the Ethnographic Museum themed on life at the time of the Tsars.

DAY 8

LAKE BAIKALFull board. Baikal is the largest lake in the world. Visit to a typical lake village by bus, a boat trip to Port Baikal, and then a special excursion on a special train that runs along the old railway around the lake. Good weather provided, a picnic on the shore of the lake.

DAY 11

ULAN BATOR AND THE "ALPS OF MONGOLIA"Full board. Visit to the mountains with their magnificent landscapes. Travel by bus to the village of the Yurts, lunch in the village. The local people are breeders and herders; a typical horse show in the village. In the evening, set o� toward the Chinese border.

DAY 12

GOBI DESERTFull board.

Crossing of the Gobi, a desert with clear evidence of the past presence of dinosaurs. In the late morning, reach the Chinese border and change trains, as in China rails have a di�erent width. Customs formalities and luggage transfer. Chinese trains are di�erent and the categories of the compartment are di�erent too.

DAY 9

ULAN UDEFull board. The journey proceeds through the majestic valley of the Selenga and the lonely steppes of Eastern Siberia. Before the Mongolian border, a stop at the city of Ulan Ude. Passage of the Mongolian border.

DAY 5

NOVOSIBIRSKFull board. Novosibirsk is the largest city in Siberia. Upon arrival, enjoy a traditional Russian reception with bread, salt and balalaika music. A city tour where you will see the imposing monument on the river Ob and the bustling market. After dinner in the evening, departure by train to the East.

DAY 6

CROSSING OF SIBERIAFull board. You cover kilometers by train over large spaces, along the banks of the Yenisei, between mountains and forests, and small typical Siberian villages with wooden houses.

Walking tour of the city of Krasnoyarsk.

Continue the journey by train and a "Feast of the Tsars" with caviar and vodka!

17

DAY 1

ARRIVAL IN MOSCOWArrival in Moscow, meet with the driver and transfer to the hotel. After dinner tour “Moscow by night" with a stop at Red Square and the main metro stations.

DAY 2

MOSCOW — KAZANFull board. Visit to the Kremlin and beautiful cathedrals with golden domes. In the evening transfer to the train station for departure to Kazan.

THE “GOLD OF THE TSARS” RAILWAY

18

You can organize an individual trip by choosing the routes you want to ride and the cities where you want to stop.

We provide all travel services at great prices, including support for obtaining visas: Russian, Mongolian and Chinese, health insurance, train tickets (e-ticket which allows you to conveniently access the assigned train compartment, or easily get a paper ticket at the counter in the station), accommodation during travel and various excursions.

A journey on the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway is one of the best adventure travels ever. Making this life-long dream come true with our private train is the safest, the most convenient and the most fascinating way to cross Russia to the Far East. Relax and enjoy the changing scenarios and beautiful landscapes between Europe and Asia.

Route Beijing – Moscow

17.05—31.0514.06—28.0610.07—24.07*02.08—16.08* 28.08—11.09*20.09—04.10*

ENG / ESPENG / FRENG / PORENG / ESP / ITAENG / FR ENG

Route Moscow – Beijing

09.05—24.0506.06—21.0602.07—17.07*25.07—09.08*20.08—04.09* 12.09—27.09*

ENG / FRENGENG / FRENG / FRESP / ITA / PORFR / ESP / ITA

PRICES INCLUDEAccommodation in a special train in the compartment of your chosen category. Accommodation in a double room with private facilities in a 4* hotel in Moscow and in Beijing, in a hotel of your chosen category in Ulan Bator and Irkutsk. For Bolshoy and Bolshoy Platinum category accommodation in standard rooms in a 5* hotel or in suites/first class in a 4* hotel in Moscow and Beijing, in suites in hotels in Irkutsk and Ulan Bator. Meals as indicated in the program. 2 free dinners in Beijing. Entrance fees and excursions as indicated in the program, private bus and English speaking guide on the planned dates, or speaking other languages as indicated for the other dates. An English speaking guide is guaranteed for any date for a minimum of 15 participants. A tour manager/English speaking guide is guaranteed for the date indicated in the above table.

PRICES DON’T INCLUDEFlight to/from Moscow/Beijing. Entry visas for Russia and China. Transfers from/to Moscow, Beijing. Tips. Personal expenses. Services not mentioned in the program.

TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY IN FREEDOM ON REGULAR RUSSIAN TRAINS

TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY IN SPECIAL TRAIN

DESCRIPTION OF THE

THE LANGUAGE OF THE GUIDE

PRICES 2015 in Euros per person in a double compartment except fort the category Standard I (in a compartment for 4).

* High season supplement: 180 Euros

STANDARD I- 9 compartments per carriage, each one with 4 berths,

70x190 cm, 2 lower and 2 upper- Table under the window- A shared WC in the head and tail of each carriage- Possible to use this compartment for 3 persons with a

supplement- A socket of 110/220 volts in each compartment

NOSTALGIC I I I1900’s interior style recreates the atmosphere of the ancient Trans-Siberian Railway of Soviet Russia.- Each compartment has 2 berths-beds, 80x185 cm- An armchair and a co�ee table- A small shared bathroom-shower for every

2 compartments- A shared WC in the head and tail of each carriage- A socket of 110/220 volts in each compartment

BOLSHOY IVFor maximum comfort.6 compartments per carriage- Width 5.57 m, 2 beds, 110x190 cm- A sofa, a table and a wardrobe- Private interior bathroom with sink, toilet and shower;

storage space- A socket of 110/220 volts in each compartment

BOLSHOY PLATINUM VThe highest level of comfort.5 cars in this category- Width 7.15 m, 2 beds, equipped with all amenities- Private interior bathroom with sink, toilet and shower;

storage space- A socket of 110/220 volts in each compartment

CLASSIC I I- 9 compartments with 2 berths, 70x190 cm- Table under the window- A shared WC in the head and tail of each carriage, a

compartment-shower in every two carriages- A socket of 110/220 volts in each compartment

SUPERIOR I I- 9 compartments with 2 berths, 70x190 cm- Table under the window- A shared WC in the head and tail of each carriage, a

compartment-shower in every two carriages- A socket of 110/220 volts in each compartment

SUPERIOR PLUS I I- Each compartment has 2 berths-beds, 70x190 cm- Table under the window- A shared WC in the head and tail of each carriage, a

shared bathroom-shower for every 8 compartments- A socket of 110/220 volts in each compartment

3775

3685

Route Moscow–Beijing

Route Beijing–Moscow

5635

5535



5935

5835



6335

6235



8185

8085



10 785

10 585



12 735

12 535



SINGLE USE SUPPLEMENT, €

Category Train supplement

Hotel supplement

I Standard (supplement for a compartmentused by 3 people)

II Classic

II Superior and Superior Plus

III Nostalgic

IV Bolshoy

V Bolshoy Platinum

990

1690

1950

3550

5150

6100

580

580

580

580

1190

1190

TRAIN COMPARTMENTCATEGORIES

19

Route Beijing – Moscow

17.05—31.0514.06—28.0610.07—24.07*02.08—16.08* 28.08—11.09*20.09—04.10*

ENG / ESPENG / FRENG / PORENG / ESP / ITAENG / FR ENG

ENG / FRENGENG / FRENG / FRESP / ITA / PORFR / ESP / ITA

We can add other cities/change the program at your request. For example you can reach Irkutsk from Moscow by train (additional cost - from 400 euro).

THE PRICE INCLUDES— All train tickets— Accommodation in 3* hotel— Breakfasts and lunches (excluding train)— Transfer from/to the airport and all other planned

itineraries — Excursions, bus, guide, entrance fees to museums

as indicated in the above program, English speaking guide.

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE— Meals in train— Luggage porter — Flight to/from Russia— Russian visa

DAY 6

KHABAROVSK — VLADIVOSTOKBreakfast at the hotel in the morning. Departure to Vladivostok early in the morning by train. Arrival in Vladivostok in the evening, meet with the guide, transfer to the hotel.

DAY 7

VLADIVOSTOKBreakfast at the hotel. City tour of the city called "the eastern gate" located in the extreme east of Russia, on the coast of the Sea of Japan, near the border with China and North Korea. It is located on the southern tip of the Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula. The highest point is Mount Holodilnik, 257m high. Mount Eagle's Nest is commonly believed to be the highest point of the city, though, with its height of 199 meters, it is the highest point of the southern area of the city, but not of all Vladivostok. Optional boat ride on the Golden Horn Bay. Dinner and overnight.

DAYS 3 and DAY 4

IRKUTSK — KHABAROVSKTravel by train.

DAY 8

VLADIVOSTOKAfter breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport. Departure.

DAY 5

KHABAROVSKArrival at destination, transfer to the hotel, meet with the local guide. City tour of Khabarovsk starting from its two main boulevards: Amursky and Ussuriisky. One of the main natural attractions of Khabarovsk is the Amur River. The city park is located on its embankment, where the inhabitants of the city like to walk, meet and spend local holidays. At the end of the road along the river you can admire the beautiful bridge over the Amur, particularly fascinating at night. Lunch. Guided tour of the Khabarovsk Regional Lore Museum. Optional boat ride along the Amur River: The state border between Russia and China is located along the middle of the Amur, and during the excursion you will see the two sides dividing two great nations.

DAY 1

IRKUTSK Morning arrival in Irkutsk, breakfast and transfer to Lake Baikal. Arrival in the village of Listvyanka, guided tour to the wooden Church of St. Nicholas, visit to the fish and souvenir market. Check-in at the hotel. Lake Baikal fish dishes for lunch. In the afternoon an excursion to the Limnological Museum of flora and fauna of Baikal and a visit to the Baikal Aquarium where the guide will provide you with some interesting information about the lake and its history. Optional boat ride on Lake Baikal. The waters of the lake are never warmer than 14 ° C and are so clear that they allow a visibility of up to more than 40 meters in depth. In summer the lake is a favorite destination of tourists and swimmers. Dinner in the evening and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 2

IRKUTSKBreakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Irkutsk. On the way a visit to the Museum of Wooden Architecture Taltsi where you can see the "Ostrog", a village school, houses and the courtyards made of wood that are typical of local farmers. Arrival in Irkutsk. Check in at the hotel. Lunch at a local Siberian restaurant. City tour with stops at the Spasskaya Church (the oldest brick-and-stone edifice in East Siberia), the Eternal Flame dedicated to the heroes and the Monument to Tsar Alexander III. Irkutsk, the capital of the Irkutsk Oblast, is a city in Central Siberia, located 5185 km from Moscow. Founded in 1652 as a commercial outpost for tax collection (paid in furs) from Buryat tribes, nowadays it is one of the most important Siberian cities. Irkutsk has developed as a commercial center, and has reached some prosperity that has brought considerable urban improvements that led to being called "the Siberian Paris ". Like many settlements in Siberia, a large part of Irkutsk’s population also consists of the descendants of exiles, first under the Tsarist regime, then under the Bolsheviks. Evening train to Khabarovsk.

TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY IRKUTSK — KHABAROSVSK — VLADIVOVSTOK

1300

PRICES IN EURO, 2015 SEASON

3 star hotelIn a double room,per person

Irkutsk Baikal TeremaIntouristi KhabarovskPrimorye Vladivostok

2422

PRICES IN EURO, 2015 SEASON

Compartment Habibi

3601Compartment Ali Baba

4231Compartment Aladin

7292Compartment Kalif

in compartment with two beds(except Habibi category, 4 beds)

�e �lk �ad

F O O T S T E P S O F M A R C O P O L O

Russian Tours can organize a trip by private train from Almaty to Ashgabat (other routes on request). �e Silk Road stretched for about

8000 km from the Empire of China to the Roman Empire and included various inland, maritime and river routes. It was called the Silk Road but in reality it traded many other precious goods, too. �e destination of this trade was Rome, where no one knew exactly where this expensive material

was coming from and how it was produced!

THE LEGENDARY S ILK ROAD

°

20

Route Ashgabat-Almaty

14.04—27.0420.10—02.11

ENGENG

Route Almaty-Ashgabat

02.04—15.0408.10—21.10

FRA / ENGFRA / ENG

LANGUAGE OF THE GUIDE

Prices include — hotel and train accommodation according to the chosen category, all meals and transfers as indicated in the program, guide and excursions as indicated in the program.

Prices don’t include — airfare (estimation on request), tips, drinks, consular fees for visas.

DAY 2

ALMATYMorning sightseeing tour of Almaty with its numerous wide avenues, parks and outdoor cafes, situated in the foothills of the Northern Tian Shan.

Visit to the Ascension Cathedral (the Cathedral of Zenkov), one of the worlds highest buildings constructed entirely of wood.

Special welcome lunch in a typical yurt (mobile dwelling used by many nomad peoples of Asia, including Mongolians, Kazakhs and Uzbeks) and return to Almaty to get on the special "Registan" train. You spend the first night on the train; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 5

SHAKHRISABZYou will witness the unique folklore tradition of this region and meet the people in their day to lives. A warm welcome is guaranteed! Then you follow the great Silk Road and arrive in the green city that was one of the main cities of Central Asia and is known as a hometown of Tamerlane, the fourteenth Mongolian conqueror. His name means “green town” in Persian language. In Shakhrisabz you will visit monuments from the time of the Timurid Dynasty, which earned the old part of the city to be listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site. You will also witness the thriving bustle of this busy city. In the evening departure by train to Samarkand. On board: Uzbek wine-tasting. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 9

KHIVAAfter breakfast you visit the southern border of the seven river lands, the oasis ofKhiva. When you are in front of the mighty walls of Khiva, with its gates and ramparts of clay bricks, you get the impression of being in another world. Old times still pulsate around the Kalta Minor Minaret. During the city tour you will see palaces, mosques, minarets, mausoleums and Koranic schools, and examples of Eastern and medieval architecture. Lunch in the atmosphere of the former summer palace of the Emir. Overnight in private train. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 12

MARY/MERVEarly in the morning the private train arrives in Merv, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its giant walls and bastions in the desert, and imposing ruins of ancient buildings such as the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, the Virgin Fortress (Kis Kale), the cold room and other mausoleums. The city is an oasis in the Karakum Desert along the Silk Road. Merv was founded by Alexander the Great in 328 BC. Lunch at the picturesque courtyard of a local family. Then departure by train to Ashgabat.

DAY 14

DEPARTURE FROM ASHGABATDeparture from Ashgabat. The end of our services.

DAY 10

BUKHARALocated in the middle of the Kyzyl Kum desert, Bukhara has about one thousand monuments, reminiscent of the heyday of the Great Silk Road. The historic city center is a gem. Foreign spices, furs and especially silk fabrics were stored and processed in the caravanserais (buildings consisting of a wall that encloses a large courtyard and a porch, which were used to park the caravans crossing the desert). In the old town (UNESCO World Heritage) you will visit the Kaljan and Labi-Hauz Minarets. In front of the Khodja Nasreddin Monument you will listen to some anecdotes about him. Dinner in the courtyard of a Madrasah with local music, dances and a presentation of colorful national costumes. Night in a middle-superior class hotel in the center of Bukhara. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 13

ASHGABATMorning visit to the ancient city of the Parthians, Nisa. It was an ancient city in the territory of present-day Turkmenistan. Its ruins are located 10 km west from the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat, on the plateau on top of a hill. Nisa was founded by the Parthians as the capital of their empire over 2,300 years ago. Over the course of time it became a flourishing city with a royal palace protected by 43 towers, several temples and a vibrant commercial life. Since 2007 is a part of UNESCO World Heritage. After lunch, a city tour of Ashgabat. Afternoon visit to the Ashgabat National Museum, which houses the ruins of Nisa. In the I century an earthquake destroyed the region but thanks to the merchants who travelled the Silk Road, it was gradually rebuilt and became a prosperous center named Konjiakala. Evening farewell dinner. Transfer to the airport in the evening or the next morning according to the schedule of your departure flight. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 11

BUKHARABukhara is a great, unique and authentic art museum that preserves its old Eastern character.

In the morning, you will go to the magnificent Mire-e-Arab Madrasah and the most beautiful and precious building in Central Asia, the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani. Then you will visit the Ark Fortress where with its coronation hall and the summer residence of the last emir. At the end of the tour you will see the only mosque for women in the world. Departure in the evening for Mary/Merv, and night on the train. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 3

TURKESTAN After breakfast you arrive in the city of Turkestan in Kazakhstan. Visit to the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, built in 1394 (UNESCO World Heritage Site), crowned with the largest dome ever built in Central Asia, a double dome of 18.2 meters in diameter and a height of 28 meters. Decorated with colorful tiles, it is one of most important buildings of Timurid architecture. You will observe the mausoleum, one of the largest of the time, almost intact in its original form of the period when it was built, as the next sovereigns almost didn’t take care of the building.

Departure by train to Tashkent in Uzbekistan. Crossing the border, the formalities are handled easily inside the train compartment. Overnight on train. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 6

SAMARKANDCity tour of Samarkand, the most beautiful city in the world during the time of Tamerlane: the tomb Shah-e-Zende ("the living Shah"), the excavation sites at Afrasiab and Registan Square, which represent an impressive collection of the architecture of Central Asia. In 2001, after several attempts, UNESCO finally included the 2700-year-old city in the list of UNESCO World Heritage under the title of "Samarkand, Crossroads of cultures."

Samarkand, one of the oldest cities in the world, has thrived in its location along the Silk Road, the largest commercial way between China and Europe.

At one time, Samarkand was the richest city in Central Asia. It was founded around 700 BC. You spend two nights in a 4* hotel in Samarkand. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 7

SAMARKANDTour to a factory of silk carpets, visit to the family of an Uzbek craftsman where you will see the production of paper from the bark of mulberry trees, the food of silk bugs. Visit to the observatory of Ulug Beg, the ruins of the Bibi Khanum Mosque, and the Gur Emir Palace/Mausoleum. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 8

KHIVAFree morning in Samarkand. Departure in the middle of the day for the city of Khiva by private train. During the journey you will see spectacular landscapes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 4

TASHKENT In the morning the private train arrives in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, at the foot of the mountains Tian Shan. During the city tour you will see the green oasis of the steppe: the Madrassa Kukeldash, the Kavoj Amir Timur. In the eveningyou will attend (according to the schedule) Tashkent's famous Navoi Opera. Departure to Shakhrisabz by private train. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

21

DAY 1

ALMATYArrival in Almaty, Kazakhstan and transfer to the hotel located in the center.

�ltic C�ntries

T H R E E C A P I T A L S T O U R

A stay in the Baltic States will let you discover old cultures and traditions: cities of artistic beauty and of great value, rich in medieval and baroque architecture and lively modern life. �e amazing natural

landscapes and the hospitality of the people will take you on an unforgettable journey in the heart of these new European republics.

VILNIUS — RIGA — TALLINN

22

8 days and 7 nights in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn

DAY 4

RIGABefore Riga you will discover medieval Latvia: optional visit to the Gauja National Park with its beautiful landscapes, and a tour to the town of Sigulda. Before returning to Riga you will hear the medieval Latvian legend about the Rose of Turaida, you will visit the tomb of Maja, the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and the Knights of the Sword Castle, and the mysterious Gutman Cave. The afternoon is devoted to the optional visit to the outdoor Ethnographic Museum. In the evening you can attend an organ concert at the Cathedral.

DAY 3

VILNIUS — RIGATransfer to Riga with a stop at the Hill of Crosses, one of the holiest places of Catholic Lithuania.

After entering Latvian territory, a visit to the magnificent Rundale Palace,

the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. Crossing of Southern Latvia, arrival in the late afternoon in Riga, check-in at the Hotel Radisson Blu Latvija **** or similar.

DAY 7

TALLINNTallinn is a fascinating mixture of medieval tranquility and modern urban life. The old town is a very lively place in summer with its shops, galleries, markets, outdoor cafes and restaurants. Panoramic city tour around the medieval walls and a walk around the Old Town, where you will visit the Toompea Castle, the Cathedral and the Tallinn Town Hall. In the afternoon an optional excursion to the Kadriorg Park with a visit to the KUMU Art Museum of Estonia, with its collections of classical and contemporary art. Evening dinner at the "Peppersack" medieval restaurant (optional).

DAY 8

DEPARTURE FROM TALLINNOptional transfer to the airport.

DAY 5

RIGARiga, founded in 1201 by the German Bishop Alberto, it is the largest of the Baltic capitals, a true kaleidoscope of architectural styles.

Walk through the center to visit the Castle, the Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the "Three Brothers" and the Freedom Monument.

The afternoon is devoted to the optional visit to Jurmala, a tourist resort that faces the Baltic Sea, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. In the evening an optional dinner at the elegant "La Boheme" restaurant.

DAY 6

TALLINNTransfer along the sea highway towards the spa town of Pärnu, stop for a short walk. Further transfer to Tallinn through the forests of Northern Estonia. Check-in at Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia **** or similar.

TOUR WITH GUARANTEED DEPARTURESItinerary: Vilnius, Trakai, Šiauliai, Riga, Pärnu, TallinnPeriod: May 24 / September 20, 2015Starting every week from Sunday until Sunday

23

DAY 1

ARRIVAL IN VILNIUSArrival in Vilnius, transfer to the hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva **** (optional) or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

DAY 2

VILNIUSVilnius is known for its numerous medieval buildings - more than 1,200 - and its 48 churches. Guided tour of the city includes a panoramic tour and a walk through the old town where you can admire the Vilnius Cathedral, the Gediminas Tower, the Church of Saint Peter and Paul, the Church of St. Anne, the city’s oldest University and the Gate of Dawn. In the afternoon optional excursion to Trakai, the ancient capital of Lithuania, with a visit to the homonymous Castle on Lake Galve. In the evening an optional folklore dinner in the Lithuanian restaurant "Belmontas".

BALTIC COUNTRIES TOUR8 days and 7 nights in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn

695

270

PRICES IN EURO 2015Package price per person

Double room accommodation


The price includes — 7 nights accommodation in 4 star centrally located hotels, breakfast included. Welcome meeting with a glass of sparkling wine or juice and welcome pack. Entrance fees: the Old University of Vilnius, the Rundale Palace, St. Peter's Church in Riga, medieval room of the Great Guild in Tallinn. Assistance by English speaking guide for all tours. 1st class bus service for the duration of the trip, Porters at the hotels.

The price does not include — Flight to/from Baltic Countries, transfer from/to the airport, excursions marked as optional, lunches and dinners.

K A R E L I A T O U R

24

Russian Karelia: a beautiful journey in the middle of the nature and the historical artifacts! Karelia extends from the White Sea coast to the Gulf of Finland. �e largest lakes of Europe are situated in

Karelia: Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. �e Karelian Isthmus is located between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga.

DAY 2

PETROZAVODSKBreakfast at the hotel. City tour in the capital of Karelia, Petrozavodsk, literally "Peter’s Factory," founded by Peter the Great in 1703 for needs related to the building of St. Petersburg. Transfer to the port on Lake Onega. Travel to the island of Kizhi by hydrofoil (1 hour and 15 minutes). Visit the museum-reserve with the Church of Transfiguration and ethnographic exhibitions. In the evening return to Petrozavodsk. Dinner. Double room accommodation at a 4* hotel.

DAY 3

SORTAVALA, VALAAMEarly morning departure for the city of Sortavala (260 km). Breakfast during the journey. In Sortavala you visit the exhibition of a famous sculptor - Kronid Gogolev. Then departure to the island of Valaam by hydrofoil (50 min on Lake Ladoga). Excursion on the island will let you discover the Central Valaam Monastery and the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, with relics of the saint founders of the monastery – Sergius and Herman. Lunch at the monastery’s refectory. Then again by hydrofoil you go to the part of the island called "New Jerusalem". Walking tour to visit the Resurrection and the Gethsemane Sketes and the Mount of Olives. Return to Sortavala. Transfer to Petrozavodsk. Dinner (not included in the cost of the trip).

DAY 4

RABOCHEOSTROVSKAfter breakfast, check out from the hotel. Departure by bus to the city of Kem (440 km). Along the way visit to the "Kivach" nature reserve, where you will see the famous Karelian birch and one of the largest waterfalls in Europe. Lunch in the city of Medvezhyegorsk. Evening arrival in the village of Rabocheostrovsk. Accommodation at the hotel on the shore of the White Sea.

DAY 5

SOLOVKIBreakfast. Departure to the port. 8:00 a.m. departure by boat to the Solovki Islands (2 hours on the White Sea). "History and Architecture of the Solovetsky Kremlin Tour," which includes the masterpieces of ancient architecture - the majestic Cathedral of the Transfiguration and the Church of the Assumption with a refectory and other rural monastic buildings. Lunch at a restaurant. Walk through the prehistoric Solovki mazes. Return at 5:30 p.m. (2 hours on the White Sea). Arrival in the village of Rabocheostro-vsk at 8:00 p.m. Overnight.

DAY 6

PETROZAVODSKAfter breakfast, check out from the hotel. Transfer to the train station of Kem and departure on the night train for St. Petersburg.

Island located on Lake Onega, Republic of Karelia (Medvezhegorsk District), Russia. It is characterized by a set of wooden churches, chapels and houses. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Russia and also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is surrounded by 5,000 other islands, many of which are extremely small, some of them are only 2 meters by 2 meters, others are 35 km long. Kizhi is an ancient settlement that includes more than 100 villages from the XVI century. The island was declared a World Heritage Site for its special architectural structures. The architectural gem of the island is the Church of the Transfiguration (1714) with its 22 domes and a Baroque iconostasis. The nearby Intercession Church with 9 domes was built in 1764, with a bell

Since 1974 the islands have been a natural reserve. They are an archipelago on the White Sea, in the Northwestern Federal District of Russia. They are situated 160 km from the Arctic Circle, 250 km from the Finnish border, 700 km from St. Petersburg, and 1200 km from Moscow. In 1992 Solovki became an UNESCO World Heritage Site "as an outstanding complex, representing an apogee of the Russian Orthodox monastic enterprise, and endurance in a hostile environment”. The archipelago, which is the largest archipelago of the Sea White, consists of six main islands and more than a hundred small islands, islets and rocks.

tower added in 1874. The most astonishing feature of these structures is the fact that they were built without nails or other metal reinforcements; all connections are made of wood.

Valaam is an island in the northern part of Lake Ladoga and is its largest island. On the island there is the village of Valaam, included in the town of Sortava-la, and the Monastery of Valaam, a monument of Russian architecture. The island is a popular tourist destination. There are two inland lakes, with a deeply indented coastline; their total area is 100 hectares, with interconnected canals, and a vast network of drainage canals (XIX century). 25

DAY 1

ARRIVAL IN ST. PETERSBURGArrival in St. Petersburg. Transfer to the train station. Departure on the fast train to Petrozavodsk. Meet with the guide on the train. Arrival in Petrozavodsk, transfer to a 4 star hotel, overnight.

DAY 7

DEPARTUREArrival at the train station in St. Petersburg. Transfer to the airport and departure.

14201060

930

PRICES IN EURO 2015Per person, double room accommodation

N. pax

2

4

Price PriceN. pax

6

8+ on request

Price include — 3 routes by train (2nd class): fast train from St. Petersburg to Petrozavodsk, night train from Petrozavodsk to Kem, night train from Kem to St. Petersburg. Transfers as indicated in the program. Lunches and dinners as indicated in the program. 2 nights in a 4 star hotel in Petrozavodsk, breakfast included. 1 night in a 3 star hotel in Solovki, breakfast included. Guided excursions in English: city tour in Petrozavodsk (guide + private transport), visit to the island of Kizhi (guide + hydrofoil + entrance fees), visit to the Monastery of Valaam with lunch included, the Solovki Kremlin (guide and entrance included), the Mountain Sekirnaya and the Botanical Garden (guide + private transport).Prices do not include — Russian visa. Flights to/from Russia. All that is not mentioned under the heading ''included ''.

Yakutia T�r

I N T H E H E A R T O F S I B E R I A

Cultural Tour in Sakha (Yakutia): 7 days and 6 nights. �e Region of Sakha (Yakutia) is located in Eastern Siberia, is stretched across a very vast territory of more than 3 million square kilometers, and is the largest administrative unit in the world.

�e tour is scheduled for the following dates: 23-29.06.2015 for attending of the local New Year holiday Yhyakh. Other departures are possible at any time of the year, itinerary and prices are available on request.

The region is inhabited by Russians, Ukrainians, Yakuts (the indigenous people, who are called Sakha), and by minority ethnic groups such as Evens, Evenks, Chukchis and Yukaghir people. In the XIII century Sakha also occupied a part of Central Asia, and was mainly inhabited by

hunters and gatherers. Russian conquest of the region started only in the XVII century.

26

DAY 7

DEPARTURE FROM YAKUTSKBreakfast. Check-out and transfer to the airport. The end of our services.

7° GIORNO

YAKUTSK

DAY 6

UST-HATYN2:00 a.m. optional (free) transfer to Ust-Hatyn for participation in the pagan spiritual ritual "Meeting with the Sun." Return to hotel and free time till breakfast. Breakfast and transfer to Ust-Hatyn for a new celebration day, dedicated to di�erent traditional sport competitions. During the celebration, which symbolizes the beginning of summer and the awakening of nature, people remember their ancestors and their customs. Upon returning to Yakutsk, lunch at the restaurant of the city. Free time to visit the town and buy final souvenirs. Dinner at the restaurant. Overnight.

DAY 2

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the famous Mammoth Museum.

An important part of the discoveries of mammoths, bisons, woolly rhinoceroses, muskoxen, cave lions and other extinct animals were made in Yakutia.

The Mammoth Museum was founded in 1991 in Yakutsk as a scientific and cultural center to study omammoths in their environment before the Ice Age. In this museum, the only one of its kind, there are many objects of a great paleontological value. This museum has one of the most diverse collections of findings from the Ice Age in the world. The highlight of the collection is the cryogenic exhibit. Visit to the ethnographic complex Us-Kut - homestead of the Atlasov family. Lunch at the "Muus Haya" restaurant (local food). Transfer to the hotel, free time. At 7p.m. transfer to the port and departure to the Lena Pillars National Park (200 km from Yakutsk) with dinner and evening entertainment on board.

YAKUTSK DAY 3

YAKUTSKBreakfast. Arrival at the Lena Pillars station. Shaman ritual, ascent to the summit of the Lena Pillars. Lunch and departure for Sand Island. Free time on the island (water sports, master-classes). Dinner and departure to Yakutsk. Entertainment program.

DAY 4

YAKUTSKArrival in Yakutsk, transfer to the hotel, check-in and breakfast.

Visit to the Yakut Diamond Company factory and assist in diamond cutting. Visit to the jewelry salon, discounts for the purchase of the Yakut certificated diamonds. Lunch at the "The Grand Avenue" restaurant. Visit to the State Museum of the History and Culture of the Northern Peoples - the main museum of the city, with a significant collection of artifacts from various eras in the history of Yakutsk, from prehisto-ric times through 1990. Of particular interest is the rich collection of wildlife of the North; you will see one of the few complete skeletons of a woolly mammoth left in the world. Visit the Kingdom of Permafrost Museum - the frozen Siberian Louvre. It is a museum complex, located in a glacier, inside a mountain.

One of the most interesting places in northern Russia, Yakutsk Permafrost Museum is located in the old tunnel near Yakutsk, which was drilled in 1989 for the preservation of food. Later it was closed but in 2008 was acquired by a local travel agency. Now it is an underground cold store, the only one of its kind, with a permanent tempera-ture of minus 10.5 C. The museum walls are covered with frost, and the ground is filled with veins of ice. The visitors may warm up in the kingdom of eternal cold with a glass of iced vodka. Visit to the "Chochur Muran” tourist complex located near Mount Chochur Myraan, and dedicated to the foundation of the city of Yakutsk. It exhibits historical objects from private collections.

Dinner at the restaurant. Transfer to the hotel.

DAY 5

UST-HATYNBreakfast and transfer to the settlement of Ust-Hatyn, 18 km from Yakutsk – location of the national holiday called Yhyakh – the Sun Meeting. It is a summer party in honor of the deity "Aiyy" and the rebirth of nature, accompanied by prayers, rituals, plenty of food and kumis (horse milk), dances, folk games, horse races and contests of strength. Yakut Yhyakh is the most important festival in Yakutia, the word Yhyakh literally means "abundance" and is associated with the worship of sun gods and fertility cults. Before the World War II, the festival was traditionally celebrated the day of the summer solstice, June 22. After the war, for moral and ethical reasons Yhyakh takes place between the 10th and 25th of June, depending on local preferences and weekends. The elements of the festival have characteristics similar to the summer holidays of the Turkic peoples: Tuva, Altai, Tatars, Bashkirs, and others. Villagers preserved the ancient tradition of the typical pastoral peoples to divide the year into two halves, and the Yhyakh is a kind of border between the old and the new, the past and the future. The first written testimonies of the festival by Western researchers were found in the diaries of the Dutch traveler Mr. Ples, who traveled to Siberia and China at the end of the XVII century. He noted that the festival was celebrated with a great solemnity. Our tour will let you participate in this festival of ethnic rituals, competitions, and local handicrafts exhibitions. Lunch in Yakut traditional style during the festival. Evening transfer to Yakutstk. Dinner at a restaurant in town.

27

DAY 1

YAKUTSK Arrival in Yakutsk. Meet with the guide and transfer to the hotel. Visit the Treasury of Yakutia exhibition: Yakutia produces about one fourth of all natural diamonds in the world and is inferior only to South Africa. You will visit the Treasury of the Republic of Sakha in the capital city of Yakutsk, where glittering samples of diamonds, gold and silver are exhibited. Later, a city tour of the "old city," a historical and architectural complex, located in the center of the city. Walking through the old town you will admire the buildings of the XIX century, streets paved with wooden blocks, cafes and restaurants. Thanks to the limited car tra�c, you will immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the past. At 7:00 p.m. dinner at the local traditional restaurant "Tygyn Darhan." The restaurant specializes in modern interpretations of national Yakut dishes where the old recipes are adapted to modern technologies, and o�er natural local products of a high quality: white fish from the Lena River, salmon, sturgeon, game, and local sweet berries. Return to the hotel and overnight.

319021901990

188017801730

PRICES IN EURO 2015Per person

N. pax

2

10

15

Price PriceN. pax

20

30

40

PRICES INCLUDEAccommodation in a double room at the 4* hotel "Polyarnaya Zvezda "(Polar Star). 1 overnight stay in a TWN boat cabin. Transfers and excursions as indicated in the program, English speaking guide. Meals as indicated in the program. Museum entrance fees.

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDEAlcohol drinks. Russian visa. Flights to/from Russia. All that is not mentioned under the heading ''included.''

28

RUSSIAN VILLAGEMANDROGI

Interesting visit to a typical Russian village: Verkhnie Mandrogi, unique for its positioning, history and landscapes.

It is a pretty little village of 100 inhabitants and more than 200 commuters who come here to work. It is located in the region of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) right on the border with the region of Karelia, halfway between the two largest lakes in Europe (Ladoga and Onega). The village faces the Svir River and is full of Russian Izbas - typical rural houses made of Karelian wood. This village is famous for the folklore of its inhabitants, handmade souvenirs, the museum of vodka and a small zoo. When walking in the village you will see artisans still dressed in traditional costumes working in their workshops as they have for centuries. The village has a secular history; its inhabitants are hunters, fishermen, craftsmen, and have always had business relations with European and Asian countries thanks to its location on the banks of the Svir River. The village is a veritable outdoor museum of wooden architecture, as woodcraft has always been the most popular occupation. Accommodation available: Izba (old Russian house) - one, two or three rooms; Traktir (old village hotel) and Hotel (more modern hotel).

Today Russia is one of the most emerging countries in the world and knowledge of the Russian language, so complex and so fascinating, can be essential in your business success

in this country.

We organize study tours for students and adults in a group or for individual tourists in major Russian cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd and Samara) thanks to our partnership with the

best Russian language schools, which provide various types of courses, from basic to business, from light to intensive. According to your needs, you can choose the length and intensity of a course, and the accommodation type: stay with a Russian family, hostel, hotel or apartment. The entire program is customizable. It is possible to get the TORFL certificate (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language - also called TRKI) at two o�cial centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg that provide language courses. International TORFL certification verifies the level of competence of Russian as a foreign language. The system has been approved and processed by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation within the program Russian Language, and is approved and recognized by ALTE, Association of Language Testers of Europe and the Council of Europe.

TOUR IN THE SOUTH OF RUSSIA

We o�er tours to the region of Krasnodar, southern Russia, and the shores of the Black Sea.

We organize tours for young people for entertainment and visit popular local nightclubs in the famous Russian seaside resorts (Anapa and Ghelendzhik) and also cultural tours which include visits to Novorossiysk, to the wineries of Fanagoria and Abrau Durso, the spa of Goryachy Klyuch, and the Cossack village of Ataman. It is also possible to arrange individual itineraries adding Rostov on Don, Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana. Krasnodar is the capital of the region that covers an area of 83,600 square kilometers and has a population of about 5.1 million people, stretching from the Western Caucasus to the Black Sea on a vast plain, covered sporadically by low hills, reaching the Sea of Azov, and is bisected by the Kuban River. Rostov on Don, founded in 1749 near the ancient city of Tana by the decree of the Empress Elisabeth, is an important port on the Don, which boasts palaces and churches of great artistic value. Sochi is known as an important recreation center thanks to its climate contrast with the rest of the large Russian territory. Located at the foot of the Caucasus, Sochi is a few kilometers from major ski resorts (Krasnaya Polyana).

Fishing holidays in Karelia, paradise for professional �shermen, as well as for amateurs of �shing. Karelia has 60,000 lakes, rivers and streams.

Salmon, trout, pike, perch, bream, chub, grayling, and whitefish are just some varieties of Russia’s fish. The rapids of rivers, and the famous Lakes Ladoga and Onega o�er huge opportunities for fishing. We organize stays in lodges on the shores of forest lakes. Each lake attracts tourists for its beauty and abundance of fish. Cozy and spectacular cottages, troll fishing, specially equipped fishing boats and instructors are all available. After troll fishing, you can enjoy your own fish, cooked on the grill by a professional chef. For hunting holidays you can go for a trip to Crimea, in one of the largest hunting estates, situated in a picturesque mountainous area near the village of Orlinoe (35 km southeast of Sevastopol); or in Siberia for a tour led by a professional hunting club of Novosibirsk, which can provide maximum safety for hunters according to the legislation of the Russian Federation. Inside the hunting areas you can hunt wild boar, deer, woodcocks, quails and doves.

OTHER TOURS — THE DISCOVERY OF UNKNOWN RUSSIA

�udy t�rs

29

SIBERIA, ALTAI AND LAKE BAIKAL

A tour dedicated to Siberia and Lake Baikal is de�nitely one of the most daring and interesting that our agency can o�er you.

Journey several days by train throughout Russia: several time zones, geographical areas dividing Europe from Asia, colorful landscapes, valleys, mountains, forests, steppes, rivers, towns, villages – this is Russia – enormous and amazing! Siberia is a vast region of Russia covering almost the whole of Northern Asia and a large part of the Eurasian steppe. It extends to the East from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean, to the South from the Arctic Ocean to the hills of North-Central Kazakhstan, and to the borders of Mongolia and China. Lake Baikal, situated between the territories of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia, is considered the deepest and the biggest sweet water lake in the world. It is estimated to contain about 20% of the fresh water reserves on the planet. The Altai Mountains are a chain in southern Siberia, between Mongolia and Russia, which also partly extends to the territory of Kazakhstan and China. The Altai Mountains o�er you breathtaking landscapes, very interesting archaeological sites, and opportunities for scenic hiking.

KAMCHATKA TOUR

Kamchatka is one of the most spectacular regions in Russia, a unique land where �re meets ice.

It occupies an area of 470,000 square kilometers and is one of five large geothermal areas in the world. With more than 200 volcanoes, 30 of which are active, Kamchatka is among the primary sites for volcanologists’ studies in the world. It stretches along twenty climatic zones and has a great variety of fauna and flora, volcanic calderas, lakes in volcanic craters, geysers and mineral springs, all in excellent condition. The history of Kamchatka has never been quiet, from the beginning its indigenous people feared the volcanoes of the peninsula and believed their peaks to be inhabited by the spirits of the mountain. Despite its large size, only 400,000 people inhabit the peninsula. But it is very populated by animals, some of the biggest grizzly bears roam the territory of Kamchatka, and tens of millions of salmon have inhabited its streams and rivers for years. Only after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991were foreign tourists allowed to visit the Kamchatka, one of most mysterious regions of the former Soviet empire. Take advantage and see this unique land with your own eyes!

Geographically speaking Crimea is a peninsula that faces the Black Sea. During the centuries it has been distinguished because of its inviting and pleasant climate, always appreciated by tourists who crowd the Crimean coasts.

The historical importance of the peninsula is also very impressive: from the archaeological sites to the famous war, from the military outposts to the epic events that have marked its destiny. Sevastopol and

Simferopol are major cities of Crimea. Sevastopol was the main base of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet, while later the military port was divided between the Russian Navy and the Ukrainian Navy, until March 2014, when the latter was transferred to the port of Odessa, following the Crimean status referendum. The tourist town is Yalta, also known as the Pearl of Crimea, and famous for its Swallow’s Nest Castle, built on a cli� overlooking the sea. In Yalta you can visit the Museum of Anton Chekhov, the Livadia Palace, the Massandra Palace, the Nikita Botanical Garden, and participate at a wine tasting in Alupka. There are also trips to Bakhchisarai (the Khan Palace and the Monastery of the Assumption) and Sudak (Genoese fortress + tasting of sparkling wines).

Russia during the Second World War was by far the most important theater of war between the Allied powers and Nazi Germany, and more generally, the essential participant that in�uenced the results of the World War II.

The amount of the fighting, the extent of losses and the depth of material destruction made it the largest theater of war in history. The team at Russian Tour, tourism specialists and lovers of history and Russian culture, o�er you an 11 day and 10 night trip immersed in the years of fire of the World War II. You will visit three Russian cities: St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), Moscow and Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) reduced to rubble and hunger under the pressure of the Nazis and their allies. In Volgograd you will visit the Memory Museum, the “Battle of Stalingrad” museum-panorama, the "House of Cossack" ethnographical museum, the Mamayev Kurgan Hill (the tomb of Mamai), and the villages Olhovka, Serafimovich and Rossoshki, which were theaters of bloody battles. During World War II, or the Great Patriotic War, the city of Stalingrad was of great importance, and the battle that took place there was the crucial turning point of the war against Nazi Germany and its allies.

OTHER TOURS — THE DISCOVERY OF UNKNOWN RUSSIA

�e �c�d World war T�r

to

30

RUSSIAN VISA

Russian Tour has an authorization at the Ministry of Foreign A�airs of the Russian Federation to issue business invitations, which are needed to obtain business visas for visitors to Russia. We can support you by issuing invitations to obtain visas for Russia and for the countries of the former USSR.

With our organization you will receive a tourist invitation and a health insurance policy in a few minutes, and a business invitation within a few days. Our documents are accepted at any Russian Embassy or Consulate in the world.

Our Services— Issue of invitations for obtaining a tourist visa for Russia, for

other countries of the former Soviet Union, and for Mongolia and China

— Issue of a health insurance policy for Russia

— Issue of invitations for groups of tourists at discounted prices

— Issue of invitations for obtaining business visas with single, double and multiple entries

— Issue of business invitations for multiple entry visas delivered via telex directly to the Russian Consulate

— Registration of visas in our o�ces in Moscow and St. Petersburg

Support for obtaining visas for the following countries:Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China.

APARTMENTS IN MOSCOW AND SAINT PETERSBURGA stay in an apartment in St. Petersburg or Moscow is undoubtedly the best choice for those who want to enjoy a holiday in complete freedom. By renting an apartment you will have a chance to save money and enjoy your stay in Russia with maximum comfort and privacy. Russian Tour has more than 10 years of experience and can provide more than 150 choices of apartments in the center. All the apartments are furnished and there is everything you need for a comfortable stay. They are equipped with linens, towels, dishes, TV, phone, and are located in the historic centers - close to Nevsky in St. Petersburg and in the center of Moscow. Many museums and places of interest are within walking distance. Nearby you will find the best theaters, restaurants, nightclubs, shops and markets.

HOTEL BOOKINGWith Russian Tour you can book your hotel in Moscow, St. Petersburg and in any other Russian city at lower prices than those charged by the same hotels, and also cheaper than most of online operators. Our prices are final, with taxes included per room, and not per person. When booking a hotel in Moscow or in St. Petersburg with Russian Tour, you will also receive free visa support – an invitation letter necessary for Russian visas. We also have guaranteed availability of rooms during the fairs in Moscow and the White Nights in St. Petersburg; we can also book a room for tomorrow!

AIR AND RAILWAY TICKETS Russian Tour provides the service of booking airfare: domestic Russian flights, international flights, flights departing from the Russian territory or from any international airport. To make your stay or holiday in Russia more dynamic and flexible, we can take care of your train tickets for Russian domestic routes and for international routes departing from the Russian territory. We will help you get tickets for high speed Sapsan trains between Moscow and St. Petersburg, and Allegro trains between St. Petersburg and Helsinki, as well as for day trains and overnight sleeper trains. You can also book sections of routes on the Trans-Siberian Railway or any other journey of your choice.

MUSEUMS, EVENTS, SHOWS, CONCERTSIn St. Petersburg or Moscow it can be quite di�cult to find tickets to theaters, museums and concerts... or sometimes it can be exhausting to wait in the line to get into the Hermitage, or just to buy hydrofoil tickets for Peterhof! To avoid this, please contact us in advance, and at the time of your arrival you will find your tickets for the Marinsky or the Bolshoi, for Petrodvorets, or for any other destination! Our Box O�ce is always open, and we can provide you with all the information you want on theater and museum schedules and programs. The museum tickets are provided only as an additional service for those who book excursions or use our guide service. Tickets will be purchased and delivered to you directly by the tour guide during the visit or event.

TRANSFERS, TOUR GUIDESRussian Tour can arrange transfers from and to the airport / train station, to and from the hotel / apartment, or even transfers from one address to another during your stay. The price varies depending on the number of passengers and of the type of transport. For 1 to 3 people it is possible to book a car for the price of 40€ per route in St. Petersburg (45€ for transfers from 10.00p.m. to 7.00a.m.) and from 60€ per route in Moscow. For groups of 4-16 people we can book a minivan for 60 € per route in St. Petersburg and for 65€ per route in Moscow. For groups of more than 16 people we rent private buses at various prices depending on the number of passengers, season and duration of journey. Russian Tour also provides the support of expert guides, who will make your stay more comfortable, and help you discover Russian culture and traditions. The English-speaking guides take from 25€ an hour, depending on the places to visit, the season, and the number of people in a group.

Russian Tour provides a wide range of services for individual tourists, who are not interested in buying a preformed package and only want to book a hotel or to rent an apartment in Moscow or St. Petersburg, or maybe just need

a support to obtain a Russian visa.

31

REGIME OF LIABILITYWe will accept responsibility for the arrangements we agree to provide you as an “organizer.” If our suppliers or we negligently perform or arrange the services which we are obliged to provide for you under the contract, as set out on your confirmation invoice, we will pay you reasonable compensation unless the damage was caused by the tourist himself (including initiatives taken by him independently during the execution of services), or if our contractual obligations to the tourist are a�ected by any event which we or the supplier(s) of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid, i.e. force majeure.

The intermediary who arranged the reservation of the package is not liable in any case for the obligations arising from the organizer of the trip, but it is responsible exclusively for the obligations arising from his role as intermediary and, however, the limits for such responsibility are regulated by the existing rules.

PASSPORTS, VISAS & TRAVEL DOCUMENTSIt is the responsibility of the tourist to check and fulfill the passport, visa, health and immigration requirements applicable to his itinerary. We can only give general information about this, and also provide the visa invitation. A tourist must check requirements for his own specific circumstances with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates. Requirements do change and a tourist must check the up to date position in good time before departure. A tourist must notify us regarding next of kin details and any other important information we request before you travel.

If a tourist has made independent travel arrangements he accepts responsibility for joining the ship/train/bus in good time, regardless of any change to the departure time or date, or to the itinerary. We are not able to refund monies paid to us, or any third party acting on our or the tourist’s behalf, or make compensation or other payments where, for whatever reason, a tourist fails to join the ship/train/bus.

DUTY OF ASSISTANCE The organizer is obliged to lend its assistance to tourists according to the criterion of professional diligence with exclusive reference to the obligation according to the contract. The organizer and the intermediary are exempted of their responsibilities when the failure or improper performance of the contract is attributable to the tourist, depends on a third party’s action, is unforeseeable or unavoidable, or caused by a fortuitous event or force majeure.

COMPLAINTSWe make every e�ort to ensure that your holiday arrangements run smoothly, but if you do have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant supplier or our local representative immediately, who will attempt to put things right. If the issue is not resolved locally, it is essential that you notify our head o�ce in writing, quoting the booking reference number and all other relevant information, at the earliest opportunity and no later than 10 days after your return, to allow any complaint to be investigated.

CANCELLATION AND RETURN INSURANCE If not expressly included in the price, it is possible and advisable at the time of booking to buy special insurance policies against expenses deriving from cancellation of the trip, and from possible accidents and events relating to baggage transportation. It is also possible to prepare a contract covering costs of repatriation in case of accidents, diseases, incidentals and/or force majeure. The tourist will exercise the rights arising from such contracts exclusively at an insurance company, according to the conditions and in the manner provided by these policies.

PRIVACY We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of a tourist’s personal data. We will only collect, use or disclose personal data in accordance with the Russian Federal Law No152 from 27.07.2006. The processing of personal data both on paper and in digital form is made for the purposes of the conclusion of the contract and for the execution of the services included in the tourist package. The conferment of data is necessary. Personal data will not be an object of di�usion, but only communicated to the providers of the services.

LIABILITY OF AIR CARRIERS — Reg. 2027/97

European air carriers and those from States Parties to the Montreal Convention 1999 are subject to the following liability regime: there are no limits to the financial liability of air carriers for damages of death, wounds or injuries of a passenger. For damages in excess of 100,000 SDRs (approximately 120’000 Euro), the air carrier can dispute a claim only if it is able to prove that the damage was not its fault. In case of delay in passenger transportation, the carrier is liable for damages up to a maximum of 4,150 SDRs (approximately 5’000 Euro). In the case of destruction, loss, damage or delay in delivery of luggage, the air carrier is liable for damages up to 1,000 SDRs (approximately 1’200 Euro). It is possible to write a special declaration of higher value of the baggage or under-write a special insurance policy with the payment of the relevant supplement before baggage drop o�. Carriers which do not belong to a State Party of the Montreal Convention may apply to liability regimes other than those described above.

The liability of the tour operator to the passenger remains in any case governed by the Consumer Code and the General Conditions of Contract published in this catalog.

TECHNICAL INFO Catalog valid from 01.01.15 to 31.12.15 Exchange rates applied to 26.11.14: 1 ruble = 0,0172 euro (1 euro = 58 rubles)The catalog prices are subject to change if the euro/ruble exchange rate at the moment of payment is 10% higher than the indicated exchange rate. Should you have bought a flight with us, the name of the air carrier that performs the flight/s is indicated in the booking confirmation sheet; in case of any changes you will be notified forthwith. The cost of fuel is subject to variations that may change the price of the contract; these variations are calculated per passenger and are the result of applying the method of calculation used by the carrier that performs the service.

RESERVATIONSThe booking is considered as complete and confirmed when the contract is concluded and the organizer sends the respective confirmation to the tourist’s address or at the intermediary travel agency, or by email/fax. Before departure, the organizer will provide the tourist with detailed information on the tourist package, which was not included in the contract documents, brochures or in other written communication.

PAYMENTSPayments are made in advance at the moment of reservation or, in the case of an engaging request on a fixed date prior to departure, indicated at the time of the request. Amounts unpaid by the tourist or non-payment by an intermediary agency on the established dates are considered an annulment of the contract and the refusal of a right to the service.

PRICE The price of a tourist package is determined at the time of issuing the booking confirmation, with a reference to the information stated in the catalog or in the out of catalog program; and is also determined by catalog updates or the out of catalog programs subsequently intervened. We reserve the right to change the price up to 20 days prior to departure and only as a consequence of the following events:— Changing of transportation costs, including the cost of fuel;— Changing of taxes, fees and duties for certain types of tourist services such as taxes, fees,

duties for landing, boarding in ports and airports;— Changing of exchange rates applied to the package in question.

MODIFICATION OR CANCELLATION OF TOURIST PACKAGE BEFORE DEPARTUREBefore departure, the organizer or the intermediary who has to significantly change one or more elements of the contract will immediately notify a tourist in writing, indicating the type of change and the modification of the price if it occurs. If a tourist does not accept the proposed modification, he can get a refund of the amount already paid. A tourist can also exercise his right to get a refund when the cancellation of a journey depends on the failure to achieve the minimum number of participants according to the conditions listed in the catalog or in out of catalog program. In case of cancellations other than those caused by failure in achieving the minimum number of participants, as well as those when a tourist refuses an alternative type of the package, the canceling organizer will refund the whole amount already paid by the tourist.

CHANGES AFTER DEPARTUREIf the organizer after departure is unable to provide for any reason, except for a fact due to the tourist, an essential part of the services mentioned in the contract, he will provide alternative solutions, without additional cost to the tourist. If the provided services are of lower value than those stipulated in the contract, he will refund an amount equal to that di�erence to the tourist. If there is no alternative solution, the organizer will provide, without any additional charge, a means of transportation equivalent to that originally foreseen for the return to the place of departure, or at any other agreed place, according to the availability of means and places, and will refund the di�erence between the cost of provided services, and the cost of performed services by the moment of anticipated return.

REPLACEMENTSAnother person respecting the following conditions may substitute the tourist:a) the organizer is informed in writing at least 14 working days before the date fixed for

departure, receiving information regarding the reasons of the replacement and the personal details of the transferee;

b) the transferee satisfies all the conditions for the use of the service and in particular the requirements for passports, visas, health certificates;

c) the same services or other services can be provided after the replacement;d) the substitute reimburses the organizer all additional expenses incurred for the replacement,

to the extent that will be quantified before the replacement. The transferor and the transferee are jointly and severally liable for payment of the balance due and of the amounts referred to in subparagraph d) of this Article.

HOTEL CLASSIFICATIONO�cial hotel classification is provided in the catalog or in other information materials only in accordance with the formal indications of the competent authorities of the country where the service is provided. In a case when o�cial classifications recognized by the competent public authorities of the country where the service is provided can’t be found, the organizer reserves the right to provide in the catalog or brochure his own description of the hotel to permit an evaluation and subsequent acceptance on the part of the tourist.

C O N D I T I O N S O F S A L E

PARTNER AGENCY:

Business Center Petrovsky Fort, o�. 424 Finlyandskiy Prospekt 4a,

Saint Petersburg, Russia

+7 812 6010653 [email protected]

WWW.RUSSIANTOUR.COM

russia travel brochure 2015

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