Golden Ring of Russia

Day 1
Arrive in Moscow, Check in at the 4 star hotel, Dinner

Day 2
Morning: City tour of Moscow will include the main historic and artistic landmarks of the capital: Red Square, New Maiden Convent, Sparrow Hills, etc. You will admire the colorful domes of St. Basil Cathedral (according to the legend Ivan the Terrible had the architect blinded so that he might never again create a church of such splendor). Feel free to take photos of the fantastic panorama of Moscow viewed from the Sparrow Hills (formerly Lenin Hills), and enjoy a drive in the streets of Russia's most cosmopolitan city.
Afternoon: Tour of the New Maiden's Monastery (Novodevichy Convent) will take you through a former convent for ladies of noble birth. Founded in 1524, the Convent features finest examples of the 16-19th century architecture. It witnessed many important moments in Russian history, including the coronation of Boris Godunov, events of the War of 1812. Presently, the New Maiden's Monastery is the residence of Moscow Metropolit.
Dinner

Day 3
Morning: Kremlin grounds, Kremlin Cathedrals. The Kremlin (and Kremlin Grounds) was Moscow's castle from which the great city developed. Churches and palaces here have long been of the greatest historical and cultural importance, and the Kremlin is still the seat of the President of Russia. Imposing walls and watch towers witnessed the Time of Troubles (beginning of the 17th century), occupation by Napoleon's army (1812), the Bolshevik Revolution (1917), and many other crucial events in Russian history. Highlights of the tour will be stops at the Tsar Cannon (with a 5.3 meter long barrel) and the Tsar Bell. At 201,900kg it is the world's largest bell (in comparison, London's 'Big Ben' weighs only 13,700kg).
Afternoon: Tour of the Treasury of the Tsars (The Armory Chamber Museum) and Diamond Collection of Kremlin - the oldest and one of the richest museums in Russia. You will have a unique opportunity to view masterpieces of Faberge, the Russian State Regalia, clothing of the Russian Tsars, European gold and silver of the 15th-19th centuries, a unique collection of Royal carriages, and hundreds of other artifacts inlaid with gold filigree and adorned with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies.
Dinner

Day 4
Morning: Tour of the State Tretiakov Gallery will be an opportunity to visit one of Russia's most respected art museums. The picture gallery was founded by wealthy Moscow merchants, the Tretiakov brothers in 1892. Today the State Tretiakov Gallery houses the best collection of Russian paintings (from 13th century icons to early 20th century avant-garde) in the world. The main entrance hall of the gallery is clad from top to bottom in marble of various shades, while modern but stylish chandeliers bathe visitors in a spray of golden light. The Tretiakov Gallery collection now features more than 100,000 works and is divided into several historical sections: old Russian art of the 11th-17th centuries, paintings from the 18th to early 20th century (about 7,000 works), some 1,000 sculptures of Russian masters, and a huge collection of post-revolutionary paintings.
Afternoon: Shopping at the Arbat street. You will encounter a superb variety of items to choose from: paintings, wood carvings and sculptures, lacquer boxes, Easter eggs, nesting dolls of all shapes and sizes, musical instruments, hats, t-shirts, jewelry... the list can go on and on. We are certain you will find something special here to take home with you as a reminder of this exciting tour.
Evening: Theater visit.
Dinner

Day 5
Morning: Travel to Sergiev Posad.
Afternoon: Trinity Sergius Lavra. The word 'lavra' translated from Greek means 'a most important monastery'. From the 15th to the 17th century the Trinity monastery owned more land than any other Russian monastery and had approximately 100,000 serfs. Today Trinity Sergius Lavra is one of Russia's most important and highly revered monasteries. Every year thousands of pilgrims travel to this monastery to do homage to the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Lunch in the restaurant Golden Ring. You will then travel to an ancient Russian town of Yaroslavl. Accommodations at the Volga Hotel.
Dinner

Day 6
Morning: Full day tour of Yaroslavl, a town with many fine monuments of 17th century Russian culture. Yaroslavl was founded by Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev at the beginning of the 11th century on the right bank of the Volga River. You will visit the Church of Ilia the Prophet on the town's main square. The Church is a real treasure store of medieval Russian art with its carved and intricately painted portals and frescoes that have never been retouched. The town was even the virtual capital of Russia briefly during the Time of Troubles. In the old center you will find many original churches with frescoes of outstanding beauty and interest. The tour will also include a boat trip to Tolga Monastery.
Afternoon: Visit to the town Rostov the Great with a photography stop at the Kremlin. Rostov the Great is a delightful little town that reminds of Russian old legends with their turrets and forts, magic and miracles.
Dinner

Day 7
Morning: Drive to Suzdal, one of the oldest Russian towns
Accommodations at the Pokrovsky Monastery Hotel
Dinner

Day 8
Morning & Afternoon: Tour of Suzdal City tour with visits to Suzdal Kremlin, Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, Spaso-Efimevsky Monastery, white-stone churches, the ancient fairy-tale world of the living history... Within this small area you will find more than 150 historical and cultural monuments from the 10th to the 19th century. Old books predicted that pilgrims would come to this islet of history to relieve themselves from the burden of every-day life.
Dinner

Day 9
Morning: In the morning you will travel to Vladimir, the ancient capital of Russia. Our full-day tour includes Golden Gates, Uspensky and Dmitrovsky Cathedrals, two of the most famous and important cathedrals in medieval Russia. The town Vladimir was founded in 1108 by Prince Vladimir Monomakh. At that time the town was meant to become a fortress.
We will visit Museum of Lacquer Miniature and get some of Russia's best art right where it is created.
Afternoon: Free time at leisure in one of the most picturesque areas of the town
Evening: Gala Dinner in Russian National Restaurant

Day 10
Morning: Depart for Moscow
Dinner at the hotel upon arrival

Day 11
Transfer to the airport and departure from Moscow

Tour Includes:
3 and 4-star hotel accommodations (double occupancy) in Moscow and Golden Ring towns, breakfast and dinner daily, airport arrival and departure transfers, private car transportation while in Russia, services of fully-licensed Executive English-speaking tour guides, sightseeing and cultural program (as listed above), museums entrance tickets, theater entrance tickets and best seats available.

Tour Prices (2007):
Upgraded Accommodations (double occupancy): $2,975 per person
Single supplement - please add $945
Although every effort will be made to follow the itinerary closely, St. Petersburg Travel, Inc. reserves the right to make changes if necessary.