Tour condition: Grade B
Activity: snowmobile safari (total length of the route on a snowmobile – 240 km)
ITINERARY
Day 1. Arrival in St. Petersburg. Our English-speaking guide will meet you at the international airport or at the railway station. Transfer to the hotel. Today you will have a guided city tour around St. Petersburg. You will see the major sights of St. Petersburg, including the Peter & Paul Fortress (the oldest building in St. Petersburg, used as a political prison before 1917), St. Isaac´s Cathedral - one of the world’s most beautiful cathedrals, the Church of Christ’s Resurrection (The Saviour of the Blood), which revives the traditions of 17th century Russian church-building and other major highlights of this legendary city. Free time in the afternoon. In the evening, you can enjoy a ballet or opera performance at one of the best St. Petersburg's theatres (tickets on request). Overnight in a hotel.
Day 2. Breakfast in the hotel. Visit to one of the world famous museums, the Hermitage, housed in the former Winter Palace. The museum contains an enormous collection of Western Art, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso and many other great masters. There are also Historical, Russian and Oriental sections which are definitely worth visiting. From the 1760s, the Winter Palace was the main residence of the Russian Tsars. Magnificently located on the bank of the Neva river, this baroque-style palace is perhaps the major attraction of St. Petersburg. In the evening transfer to the railway station to catch your train to Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia region.
Day 3. Meeting at the railway station, transfer to the hotel which hosts the snowmobile parking. After breakfast you will receive equipment and safety briefing and snowmobile driving training. Then off we go! We will have a snowmobile ride along the beautiful Onego lake and its numerous islands. Arrival and accommodation in a guest house. Russian banya (sauna) and dinner.
Day 4. Breakfast. Today we will have a guided snowmobile excursion to Kizhi island. You will be driving among the beautiful Russian churches. The Kizhi museum is one of the most interesting cultural sights in the Northern Russia, it is also included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. After visiting the Kizhi Museum we will head for the Kizhi Necklace – the islands of the Onego Lake with old wooden chapels surrounding the Kizhi island like a precious necklace. Lunch en route. Return to the guesthouse. Dinner. Russian sauna (at your own expense).
Day 5. After breakfast we will start our last day of adventures and discoveries. We will have a snowmobile ride to Petrozavodsk enjoying beautiful winter Karelian landscapes. Lunch en route. Upon arrival to Petrozavodsk – Russian sauna (optional). Dinner.Transfer to the railway station to take the train back to St. Petersburg.
Day 6. Arrival in St. Petersburg. Transfer to the hotel or airport to catch your flight back home. If your flight is in the afternoon you can enjoy some additional sightseeing in St. Petersburg.
Major Highlights of this Tour:
Optional: At your request we can organise for you one of the following activities:
- Visit to the Russian Museum. The Russian Museum in St. Petersburg has the largest collection of Russian art in the world, ranging from ancient icons to modern paintings.
- Visit to the Yusupov Palace. Yusupov Palace, once belonging to princes Yusupov’s noble family, is one of the most beautiful palaces in St. Petersburg. The palace retains its original 19th and early 20th century interior. Motives of various styles have been used in the decoration of the halls and chambers. The influence of the art of different countries and epochs can be traced in the Turkish study, Oaken dining-room, Musical chambers, Moresque chamber and the chamber of Henry II. The palace is worth visiting from a historical point of view. The cellar of the palace became the setting of the murder of one of the most scandalous figures in Russian history Grigory Rasputin. Nowadays the cellar where the dramatic events took place, houses an exhibition of Grigory Rasputin.
Some places you visit in this journey are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Please click here to view the UNESCO review page:
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