MOSCOW - SOCHI - SAINT-PETERSBURG

Overview

Recommended period: May-October
Destination: Moscow, Sochi, Krasnaya Polyana, Imeriti resort Olympic Park, Saint-Petersburg
Main sights: the Moscow Kremlin, Zaryadye park, Moscow metro, Arbat street, Stalin’s Dacha in Zelyonaya Roscha, «Dendrariy» park (arboretum), resort cableway in Krasnaya Polyana, cultural and ethnographic center «My Russia», «Skypark AJ Hackett Sochi», Ethnographic museum, 33 waterfalls on the Dzhegosh stream, «Fisht» stadium, the Hermitage (the main museum complex), the Lower park in Petergof
Accommodation: 4*
Meals: breakfast
Transport: comfortable air-conditioner car/minivan/minibus

Itinerary
1 day
Welcome to Moscow - the capital of Russia! Your personal guide will meet you in the arrivals lobby and offer you to go for a sightseeing tour.
You will pass along the famous embankments and streets of the historical city: Boulevard and Garden Ring, admire the most beautiful panoramic views of the Kremlin from Sofiyskaya Embankment, see the Bolshoi Theater and Manege, Lubyanka, Slavyanskaya and Theater Squares, the legendary " Stalin's high-rises", which are often called "Seven Sisters", the most beautiful fountains and masterpieces of architecture of the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy, Ostankino tower, Kutuzovsky prospekt, Triumphal Arch, Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill, Victory museum, golden domes of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Patriarchal bridge, Swan pond near the walls of the Novodevichy Convent, observation deck on Sparrow Hills, the building of Moscow State University, Luzhniki stadium, modern Moscow-City skyscrapers and much, much more.
After sightseeing tour your guide will take you to the comfortable hotel, where you can rest and relax (check-in after 14:00) or to walk around the city center and taste Rassian traditional cuisine in one of the cozy restaurants.

2 day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
In the morning we will go for a tour to the Moscow Kremlin, which located on its territory unique monuments of architecture and art of the 15th - 20th centuries: temples, churches and chambers, magnificent palaces and front office buildings. You walk along Kremlin squares and streets, see the "Tsar Bell" and "Tsar Cannon", visit one of the cathedrals: Uspensky, Arkhangelsky or Blagoveshchensky.
After visiting the territory of Kremlin, you will walk along the famous cobblestones of Red Square and stroll along the Alexander Garden. You will see the multicolored domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, the monument of medieval Russian architecture "Lobnoye Mesto", the Temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the State Historical Museum, the Lenin's Mausoleum, the GUM building, enjoy the splendor of the panorama of the ancient Kremlin from the Sofiyskaya embankment of the Moscow River.
Then you will get acquainted with the new landmark of the city - the Zaryadye park, walk along the alleys of the Siberian coniferous forest in the very center of Moscow, visit the famous Soaring Bridge - a magnificent observation deck hanging right over the Moscow River!
You will continue this day with a visit to the Moscow metro and see a real underground masterpiece of architecture of different styles: modern, empire, gothic, where each station is unique. This is an underground museum, with architectural monuments underground palaces. And you can see its magnificent stations: "Revolution Square", "Novoslobodskaya", "Mayakovskaya", "Komsomolskaya", "Kievskaya", "Gorky Park" and enjoy the unique architecture and mosaics.
After that you can walk along the famous street of Moscow - Arbat. You can plunge into the atmosphere of the past, find out where great literary figures liked to spend time, look at street musicians and artists, Also you will have a good chance to stroll through the souvenir shops and shops of Nevsky Prospekt and buy gifts for friends and relatives.without whom it is impossible to imagine this famous street. Arbat is a symbol of old Moscow. During the tour, you will get acquainted with the history and architecture of the Arbat, its monuments and sights, learn about the Vakhtangov Theater and the monument to Princess Turandot, the A.S. Pushkin Museum and the construction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also you will have a time to stroll through the souvenir shops and shops of Arbat street and buy gifts for friends and relatives.

3 day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant, check out.
After breakfast and check out yout guide will accompany you to the airport where you will take a flight to Sochi, so called the "summer capital" of Russia.
Welcome to the largest resort town of Russia sunny Sochi! You will meet your guide in the airport and start your an unforgettable and unique journey. This flight will take about 2,5 hours.
First we will go for a sightseeing tour around Sochi along seashore. You will explore the most popular places of Sochi - the famous Russian seaside resort and learn about its history. You will go through the historic center: the Winter Theatre, the Sea Port, Primorsky Boulevard, you will see the monument to Archangel Michael - the patron saint of the city of Sochi, the health resorts resembling magnificent palaces.
After sightseeing tour you will have a visit to Stalin’s dacha located in Zelyonaya Roscha. Stalin's Dacha is one of the most important sights of the city. In a huge, shady and quiet park, past and present intersect. Here you will learn details that reveal the character and lifestyle of the Russian leader, see the preserved interiors and pieces of furniture, enjoy the atmosphere of that era and the unique air.
Then you will go through «Dendrariy» (arboretum) - a subtropical park. The arboretum is one of the main attractions of Sochi and its visiting card. It is home of 2,000 exotic and rare plants brought from different parts of the world, a unique collection of subtropical flora and fauna is collected. In addition you can meet there a variety of vegetation, rare animals and birds can be seen on the territory of the arboretum.
After excursions your guide will help you to check-in at the hotel (check-in after 14.00). There you can rest and gain strength after a busy day, as well as have lunch or dinner on your own in one of the nearby restaurants - your guide will be happy to tell you where to go.

4 day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
After breakfast you will meet with tour guide at the hotel lobby and go along the old mountain highway to Krasnaya Polyana.
On the way to Krasnaya Polyana we will stop at a viewing platform in the Akh-Tsu gorge - which has a unique and inimitable landscape, formed about 20 million years ago. You can take photoes against the backdrop of gorgeous views and also see the rocky road to the famous village.
Krasnaya Polyana is an unique and rapidly developing mountain resort, which has many historical, cultural and natural attractions annually visited by thousands of tourists. You will be amazed by the magnificent views open from its mountain hills and the clean mountain air always gives strength and energy. During the Olympic Games in 2014 Krasnaya Polyana successfully hosted competitions in most sports disciplines. Now it is a favorite place for skiers and fans of extreme sports. Then you will go on the cable car with an ascent to an altitude of + 2000m and enjoy a panorama of the Caucasus Mountains and Olympic facilities in the Imeretinsky lowland on the shores of the Black Sea.
After that we offer you to visit cultural and ethnographic center «My Russia» — 11 thematic pavilions representing Russia in a miniature, museum exhibits and interactive areas. Each building is built taking into account the cultural, historical and architectural features of the region represented.
Then your tour guide will recommend you to get a rest and to taste national cuisine in one of the local restaurants on the territory of Krasnaya Polyana.
The tour continues with breathtaking excursion to the «AJ Hackett Skypark Sochi» - one of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in the world. The park is located in the Akhshtyrsky gorge, the vaults of which rise 200 meters above the Mzymta River. Beautiful panoramic views are the hallmark of Skypark. The Caucasian mountain range, the Akhshtyr gorge, the Mzymta river, the Black Sea, Korabelny rocks - these are just some of the beauties that a visitor of the park will see.
At the end of this tour day we turn you back to hotel or to the center of Sochi.

5 day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
After breakfast your guide invite you for the excursion to the Lazarevsky district - the most northern district of the city, where you will explore the most remarkable places on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, the natural landmark called «33 waterfalls on the Dzhegosh stream».
At first you will see a legendary Tulip Tree (Liriodendron Tulipifera) in Golovinka village – it is a huge tree with giant flowers, which is already 750 years old and it takes more than 10 people to embrace the trunk of this tree.
During this tour you will learn about the Caucasian ethnography, about the lifestyle and traditions of the native inhabitants of the coast, enjoy the magnificent mountain landscapes, visit the Ethnographic museum.
Then you will ride an off-road vehicle along the bed of the greatest river in the Lazarevsky region, the Shakhe and see the natural monument «33 waterfalls on the Dzhegosh stream» which is one of the most popular excursion sites in the Lazarevsky district of Sochi. In the picturesque gorge there are numerous small in height waterfalls, rapids, which attract tourists and sightseers with their beauty. At the end of the excursion, you will have the opportunity to walk in the park, make a beautiful photo session, breath in the clean mountain air, this excellent place for walking will not leave you indifferent, and will leave only pleasant memories for a long time.
And at the end of this tour day your guide will accompany you to the hotel where you can relax or walk around the city on your own.

6 day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant, check out.
In the morning your guide will invite you to the Olympic Park - one of the most important objects of the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. You will go to the Imereti resort town of Adler and enjoy an exciting walk through the Olympic Park by golf carts – you can observe ice arenas, «Fisht» stadium, take photos on Medals Plaza against the background of the Wall of Champions, bowls of Olympic flame and other Olympic objects. There are sports facilities where competitions in figure skating, speed skating, ice hockey, short track, curling were held. Finally you will have a chance to visit to «Fisht» stadium: the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games-2014 and other landmark matches of the FIFA World Cup-2018 were held here.
And at the end of the journey your guide will accompany you to the airport, where you will take a flight to Saint-Petersburg - the Nothern capital of Russia! Your flight will last about 3 hours.
Upon arrival your guide will meet you at the arrival hall of the airport in Saint-Petersburg.
You start your first day in Saint-Petersburg from a sightseeing tour, which will acquaint you with the long history of the Northern capital.
You will admire the panorama of the beautiful Neva, see magnificent ensembles of the central squares, drive along the central avenues and streets of the city. Everything that attracts guests from all over the world will appear to your attention: Nevsky Prospect, Kazan Cathedral, a monument to Catherine II, the Admiralty building, Senate Square, the Bronze Horseman monument, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the monument to Nicholas I, the Winter Palace, the Palace Bridge, Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, Kunstkamera, Stock Exchange building, Rostral Columns, University Embankment, Peter and Paul Fortress, Troitsky Bridge, Savior on Spilled Blood Cathedral, Summer Garden, Mikhailovsky Palace, Marble Palace, Mikhailovsky Castle, Field of Mars and other famous attractions.
After sightseeing tour guide will accompany you to the hotel for accommodation (check in - after 14.00).

7 day
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
After breakfast you will visit the Hermitage - one of the largest museums in the world. The Hermitage was founded as a personal collection of Empress Catherine II, who, wishing to establish herself as an "enlightened empress", began collecting works of art. Painting experts, European scholars, collected and bought collections of paintings for the Russian empress, and soon Russia accumulated enormous wealth - a collection of works of Western European old masters. For a long time, the museum remained closed to the general public, and became public only in the middle of the 19th century. Now his collection numbers over 3.5 million items. Among them are paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Velazquez, Goya, Watteau, Poussin, Gainsborough, antique sculpture, Egyptian antiquities and much, much more.
Your guide will offer you free time for a lunch in a cafe or in a city restaurant.
You will continue this day with a country excursion to the brilliant Peterhof - the "capital of fountains" and the favorite residence of Peter I. In splendor and richness of decoration, Peterhof surpassed its prototype - French Versailles and became the most beautiful palace and park ensemble in Europe. You will get acquainted with the history of the creation of this man-made miracle, admire the most famous fountains and cascades, learn the engineering secrets of its construction, walk along the shady alleys of the Lower Park, and also admire the panorama of the Gulf of Finland.

8 day
After breakfast at the hotel restaurant and checking out the rooms, you will have time to stroll through the souvenir shops and shops of Nevsky prospect and buy gifts for friends and relatives.
Then you guide accompany to the airport.