Red Stars Travel Agency - Tours and Travel - What You Need To Know About OurTours

Russia Tours

The Golden Ring: Ancient Russian Towns 9 days / 8 nights
"Golden Ring", - these two words unite a group of ancient Russian towns to the northeast from Moscow. These ancient towns, which have been experiencing a long life full of interesting and fascinating events, rises and falls, preserve the memory about the most important and significant events in the Russian history. In our days the towns are often called "museums under open sky" where the unique monuments of Russian architecture of the 12th-17th centuries are collected, reminding about the dramatic events and fabulous people.
Day 1	Arrive in Moscow, meet and greet at the airport and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.
Day 2	Your day will start with Moscow city tour and include a visit to Kremlin (residence of Tsars and Patriarchs), Armory Museum (collection of gold, silver and jewelry), the Diamond Fund, Red Square, Alexandrovsky Garden and Novodevichy convent (charming place, rich in the spirit of the past and hidden behind a wall in the 20th century inner city).
Day 3	In the morning you will visit Kolomenskoye Estate (summer residence of Tsars since the time of Ivan the Terrible) and its church, built in 1530, once called the 8th wonder of the world. The rest of your day is free with many optional excursions available. On the way you will make a short stop at the Vorobyovy Hills to enjoy a panoramic view of the city including Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow State University and the Victory Park.
Day 4	Morning departure from the hotel by coach to the town of Vladimir (appr. 4 hours in route). Arrive in Vladimir one of the Russia’s oldest towns, named after its founder Prince Vladimir Monomach. Built in 1108 the town became a capital of North-Eastern Russia in the 12th century. A city tour will begin as you arrive in Vladimir and will include visits to Uspensky and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals (12th century) as well as museum of folk Arts in Troitskaya Church. Enjoy a traditional Russian lunch at the local restaurant and continue your journey by coach to Suzdal. Arrive in Suzdal and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.
Day 5	Today you will take a city tour of Suzdal, the town built in 1024 and considered to be one of the best preserved historical places, which possesses specimens of the Russian architecture of different epochs. You will visit the Suzdal Kremlin with sublime Cathedral of the Nativity of our Lady (13-16 century), the Bishop Palace (the former residence of the local clerical sovereigns) and Spaso-Efimievsky Monastery (including bell concert). Lunch in route at the local restaurant and transfer by coach to town of Kostroma. Arrive in Kostroma and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.
Day 6	Enjoy a city tour of Kostroma in the morning. Kostroma played a particular role in the Russian history as the birthplace of Romanov’s Dynasty. You will visit Ipatievsky Monastery (where in 1613 the boyars blessed the young Mikhail Romanov to become the Tsar of Russia), Voskresenia na Debre Church (17th century) and the Epiphany-Anastasian Convent that contains the holy “Federovskaya” icon of the Virgin believed to perform miracles. An afternoon free will give you time to relax and enjoy shopping at local souvenirs stores.
Day 7	Morning departure from the hotel by coach to Yaroslavl, the city famous for its craftsmen and stone-masons, potters and blacksmiths, painters and sculptors. Arrive in Yaroslavl in the afternoon and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel. Your day will be completed with a Yaroslavl city tour, which includes visit to Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery (built in 12 century and houses an extensive museums of early Russian icons, paintings and folk arts) and Elija the Prophet's Church.
Day 8	This morning’s drive takes you to Rostov Veliky, located on the coast of Nero lake and built in the 9th century. In 1474 Rostov Veliky became a religious center for the Moscow principality and the Metropolitan's residence. A short drive brings you to Pereslavl-Zalessky, established in 1152 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky at the bank of Pleshcheev lake. Explore the town with its embankments of the Kremlin wall built by Yuri Dolgoruky and the white-stoned Savior Resurrection Cathedral, which reminds you of the ancient times. Continuing to Sergiev Posad, the town named after Saint Sergius and visit the most famous and largest Russian Monastery Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. You return to Moscow and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel. Tonight your tour ends on a festive note as you enjoy a farewell dinner with your travel companions.
Day 9	Your journey comes to an end as you are transferred to the airport for flight home.
Included in this tour	3 meals a day First class hotels Sightseeing excursions Porterage Transfers All transportation during tour
Book this tour now