Overview
Recommended period: all the year round
Destination: Kazan, town-island of Sviyazhsk, ancient town of Bolgar
Main sights: the Kazan Kremlin, the Kul Sharif Mosque, tower of queen Suyumbike, the Annunciation Cathedral, town-island of Sviyazhsk, the Holy Trinity Church, the Cathedral of the Joy for All Who Grieve, Raifa Virgin Monastery, ancient town of Bolgar, the White Mosque (Ak Mechet), the Memorial Sign, Bauman street ("Kazan Arbat"), National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan
Accommodation: 4* Bilyar Palace Hotel
Meals: breakfast
Transport: comfortable air-conditioner car/minivan/minibus
1 day
Welcome to one of the most picturesque places in Russia - the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan.
Upon arrival at the airport or at the railway station you will meet with your personal guide. Then you will go for a walking sightseeing tour of the ancient and multifaceted Kazan.
It will begin with a tour of the Kremlin , the heart of Kazan, which embodies the culture of the East and West. On the territory of the Kremlin, you will visit the main mosque of the city - Kul Sharif - its minarets rise high into the sky, you will see the shining golden domes of the oldest Cathedral of the Annunciation in Kazan and the famous symbol of Kazan - the “leaning” tower of queen Suyumbike.
Then you will go on a bus sightseeing tour . You enjoy the original beauty of Kazan, see the bright colors of its streets and squares with your own eyes, learn where teeming treasures of Khans of Kazan are kept. The sites of the millennium-old city combine the culture of the West and traditions of the East: Old Tatar Settlement where Tatar residents lived from the 16th century, Textiles Settlement originating as a result of industrial reforms by Peter I, fountain squares, Kaban lake with its mysteries and legends, a simulated Tatar village Tugan Avylym (My Native Village), Farmers' palace with a 20-meter bronze tree, a new building of the Puppet Show, Kazan Federal University, Liberty Square as a cultural and administrative center of Kazan. During the sightseeing tour, you will see a variety of minarets and cupolas, crescents and crosses, which is a proof of a good neighborliness of the two native peoples – Tatars and Russians.
Then the guide will take you to the hotel, where you can regain strength to continue your journey. The guide will also recommend restaurants where you can taste the national dishes of Tatar cuisine.
2 day
Breakfast at the hotel.
After a breakfast you will go for an excursion to the Island Town of Sviyazhsk. Sviyazhsk is a historical and cultural gem of the Republic of Tatarstan. At present, the place where an ancient fortress used to be is surrounded with waters of the Volga river. In the past, the fortress served as a military outpost in the Volga region and a place to prepare troops for an assault against an unassailable fortress of Kazan. In the course of time, as its value as a military facility diminished, Sviyazhsk became a spiritual center of the Middle Volga. The sightseeing tour in Sviyazhsk comprises unique monuments of history: the Cathedral of the Joy for All Who Grieve, one of the oldest wooden temples of Russia – the Holy Trinity Church, an operating Assumption Monastery featuring an architectural ensemble of the 16th-17th centuries, Stable Yard, workshops.
Then you will continue your tour with a visit to the Raifa Virgin Monastery.
The Raifa Virgin Monastery located 30 Km from Kazan in a sanctuary forest, on a bank of an enchantingly beautiful lake. The monastery was founded in the 17th century. Its architectural ensemble, one of the most magnificent in the Middle Volga, was shaped for centuries. The main relic of the monastery is a wonderworking Georgian image of the Most Holy Virgin (17th century).
By the end of the day, the bus will return you back to Kazan, where you can relax in the hotel or take a walk on your own around the evening city or we recommended you visit a unique program "Rich Landlord’s House" and learn more about the traditions of Tatarstan.
3 day
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning you can get acquainted with the ancient town of Bolgar - one of the main attractions of the republic. You will see one of the most significant construction added to the contemporary collections of the architectural heritage of Tatarstan – Ak Mechet (the White Mosque).
During the walking tour, one can walk along the remains of white-stone walls of ancient buildings to imagine the life thriving there many centuries ago… See all the landmarks remaining in the territory of the ancient town site: Congregational Mosque, East and North Mausoleums, Khans’ Mausoleum, Minor Minaret, Black Chamber, White Chamber, Khans’ Bathing House, Khans’ Palace. Visit the Memorial Sign built to commemorate the official adoption of Islam by the ancient Bolgars, where the world-biggest printed Quran is kept.
You will end this day with a walking tour along Bauman street (so-called "Kazan Arbat") - is one of the most favorite places to walk for both residents and guests of Kazan. During the tour you will make a lot of amazing discoveries: jets of fountains, belfry and Epiphany cathedral, a building of the National Bank, zero milestone, Peter and Paul Cathedral. Meet Su Anasy and learn the story of the Cat of Kazan, whose monument always attracts crowds.
Here you can also buy national souvenirs and gifts for family and friends.
After that, the guide will take you to the airport or the railway station.
4 day
Breakfast at the hotel.
We will end this journey with a visit to National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan . The museum’s funds were formed throughout its more than 120-year history with the participation of scientists from Kazan University and the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan collectors. The museum collection numbers more than 850 thousand exhibits and reflects the history, culture and traditions of the peoples of the Volga region and Russia, Western and Eastern world cultures. The exhibits are presented in the expositions «The Ancient History of Tatarstan» and «Kazan Province in the XVIII Century».
After that, the guide will take you to the airport or the railway station.
