Winter in Russia

Arrive in Moscow. It is one of the largest cities in the world, yet the historic centre is relatively compact and easily navigable on foot or by using the famed Moscow metro, with its ornate decorative statues and crystal chandeliers at a number of stations. Within the historic centre, there is grand and captivating architecture around every corner.

For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Moscow at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into either Moscow Domodedovo International Airport (DME) or Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), which are both around one and a half hours' drive from our hotel, depending on the traffic conditions, which can be busy. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to explore some of Russia's capital independently. Our hotel is situated a few minutes' walk from the Partizanskaya Metro Station making it easy to travel in to the historic centre, reaching Red Square in approximately 15 minutes. Next door to our hotel are a flea market and the Vernissage, where folk crafts and antiques are on sale.

If you have extended your stay for a night or have a flight arriving in the early morning today, then you might like to visit Lenin's Mausoleum. It's open between 10am and 1pm, entry is free, but it can be closed at times for restoration work and it is always closed on public holidays, Mondays and Fridays and there is often a bit of a queue.

If you would like to visit the opera or the ballet during one of your evenings in Moscow then we'd strongly recommend booking tickets before your arrival, as the shows are very popular and sell out quickly.

If you're booking your own flights then please ensure that you let us know whether you're arriving into Domodedovo International or Sheremetyevo International Airport so we can arrange your transfer accordingly.

The day begins with a guided tour of Moscow using the metro to get around the city. This also allows the chance to see some of the impressive underground metro stations including the particularly impressive Komsomolskaya and Novoslobodskaya stations, en route to sites including the Kremlin and Saint Basil's Cathedral. Our tour of Moscow will end in Red Square, and at this time of year, it may be possible to witness the iconic Saint Basil's Cathedral in the snow. In winter, Moscow is at its most iconic, with locals dressed in big coats and fluffy hats, and onion-domed churches speckled with snow. At night, the GUM Department Store is lit up, which just adds to the charm of this winter urban landscape.

We'll visit the massive Moscow Kremlin, which is like a city within a city. The triangular walls enclose an incredible complex of buildings, including three fine palaces, cathedrals, belfries and towers that represent Russia throughout its glorious past. Whilst here you will have the opportunity to visit the Armoury Museum, which contains a stunning collection of Imperial jewels and regalia. Included in this exhibit is the 16th century English silver sent to Ivan the Terrible by Queen Elizabeth I, with an eye towards securing matrimony.

For lunch, you may wish to visit the canteen in the GUM Department Store. This was the main shopping mall during Soviet times, and is worth a visit to see the large, opulent and brightly lit hallways and beautiful glass roof. The Soviet-style canteen has a large array of tasty foods to warm you up including authentic dishes like the classic borscht beetroot soup that can be found across Russia, or you could try the moreish Pelmeni stuffed dumplings.

After lunch, we will travel to some of the more outlying areas of Moscow by road, including Lenin Hills where we should get a great panoramic view of the city. We will also see the facade of the UNESCO-listed Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery, considered one of Moscow's most attractive monasteries with its red walls and golden dome.

Today is free for you to explore the many other sights that Moscow has to offer. Options include a visit to one of the many fine art galleries such as Tretyakova or the Bolshoi Theatre. You could wrap up warmly and take a stroll in Gorky Park, where many a spy novel has been set. If you're looking for something a bit different, then you could visit Muzeon Park, where you can view over 700 sculptures that have fallen from grace, including old Soviet statues that have been removed from Russia's main parks and squares. Alternatively, you might like to take an optional tour to Sergiev Posad - the beautiful monastery, 60 kilometres from Moscow that is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country.

This evening, we reunite to transfer to Moscow's main station to board our overnight train to Petrozavodsk, where we enter the Republic of Karelia. Our accommodation is in four-berth compartments with bedding provided. The overnight train we plan to use departs at around 8pm and arrives to Petrozavodsk at about 9.30am the following day.

The Karelian region is renowned for its charming wooden villages, churches, and its countryside full of lakes, rivers and forests. Situated on the shores of the ice-covered Lake Onega, the city of Petrozavodsk will be our base for the next three days.

After disembarking the train and having breakfast at a local restaurant, we'll visit the Karjala Husky Park where we'll have a masterclass on how to cook the local Karelian speciality of lohikeitto soup made with salmon, potatoes and leeks. We'll tuck-in to our soup along with meat and potato dishes that will be served in a tchum; the traditional tent dwelling used by the reindeer herders from north western Siberia that is covered in reindeer hide to protect it from the harsh winters.

We drive on to the tiny rural village of Kinerma that was voted one of Russia's most attractive villages. Here we can see original Karelian wooden architecture. A very small number of people still reside here permanently, continuing to live and farm the land using traditional methods. In winter, the snow-capped wooden roofs create a true winter wonderland atmosphere. Here we see a living example of a traditional Russian settlement, and visit the Chapel of Our Lady of Smolensk in the heart of the village. We'll also have tea and homemade berry pies in a Karelian house.

Arriving back in Petrozavodsk we have the evening free to have dinner.

This morning we board a hovercraft travelling to Kizhi Island in the centre of Lake Onega. In winter the lake is normally frozen, so we'll have the surreal experience of floating above the icy waters as we cruise across on board the hovercraft. During the times of the Soviet Union, various pieces of wooden architecture were collected from around the country and brought to Kizhi to protect and preserve them. Today there are nearly 100 wooden structures showcasing true examples of traditional Russian wooden architecture, symbolised by their octagonal shapes, and spires topped with magnificent domes. During our visit we will see the Kizhi Pogost; a UNESCO-listed wooden church - one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world. The structures here are considered to be among the most beautiful in Russia.

After spending time exploring the island, we visit the local cafe in the harbour where we'll have a traditional herbal tea tasting along with sampling Karelian pasties, also known as kalitka. After warming up, we travel back by hovercraft to Petrozavodsk.

This afternoon we explore the city of Petrozavodsk and become acquainted with the history of the capital of Karelia. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703 initially as an iron factory and quarrying centre; the name Petrozavodsk literally meaning 'Peter's factory'. Today the city has fine examples of 18th century Neo-Classical architecture, this tour will visit the main sites including Lenin Square and we'll see the surrounding historical buildings, Kirov Square, and take a walk along the lakefront promenade, where we can see monuments that have been gifted to the city over time. With strong ties both culturally and linguistically to neighbouring Finland, Petrozavodsk has been described as a Russian city with a dash of European influence.

This morning we drive to the Nordic Husky Farm. After an introductory briefing, we spend time getting acquainted with the beautiful huskies, learning some facts about their breed and characters. The musher will advise on how to harness the dogs and how to control the sledge. The sledding route follows approximately three kilometres through the snowy forest. Depending on the size of our group we'll either be accompanied by a musher or manage the huskies ourselves on our sleds.

After a barbecue lunch at a nearby cafe we'll drive onwards to Kivach Nature Reserve where the natural beauty of the region becomes apparent, especially in winter. Visit the impressive frozen Kivach Waterfall surrounded by snow covered pine forest, and learn more about the local flora and fauna at the museum and dendarium - botanical park.

Next we drive onto Marcial Waters where the first ever Russian spa was created. In Soviet times it was the best sanatorium in Karelia and is still very popular today. Whilst at the spa we'll have the chance to taste the waters that are reputed to have healing properties. We'll also visit the ancient Church of Saint Peter, which was designed by Peter the Great.

Returning to Petrozavodsk this evening you are free to have dinner in one of the many restaurants that serve creamy fish soups, meat stews and hearty mushroom dishes, perhaps followed by a glass of Karelian balm; an alcoholic drink infusing 30 types of berries and herbs.

In order to make the most of our time in St. Petersburg we will board the early morning train to the city, which will mean leaving our hotel at about 5.30am. Whilst on board you'll be able to rest and watch out the window as the wintery scenery rolls by. We'll be given a packed breakfast from our hotel and it is possible to purchase other refreshments and snacks on board. Our train will arrive into the city at around midday and we'll be able to check-in to our hotel by about 2pm.

The rest of the day is free for you to get your first impressions of this elegant city and so you can choose to do as little or as much exploring as you please. You may choose to visit the Saint Peter and Paul Fortress - the original 18th century citadel of St. Petersburg or Yusupov Palace where the 'mad monk' Rasputin was famously murdered.

St. Petersburg, formerly known as Leningrad, was founded by Peter the Great as his 'window on the West'. Built on the Neva River, the city is considered to be Russia's cultural capital and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, with its intricate architecture, and picturesque bridges crossing the river and canals that are often frozen at this time of year.

If you would like to visit the opera or the ballet during one of your evenings in Moscow then we'd strongly recommend booking tickets before your arrival, as the shows are very popular and sell out quickly.

St. Petersburg has a wealth of history for us to uncover, and we begin this morning with a guided tour by road to see the many historically important monuments and buildings in the city. We'll see the exteriors of Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Smolny Cathedral and the Church of the Saviour of the Spilled Blood.

This afternoon we will visit the Hermitage Museum, one of the largest and most prestigious art galleries in the world, with works by artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Raphael, Velazquez, Rubens and Rembrandt, as well as contemporary pieces by Matisse and Picasso. Founded by Catherine the Great in the late 18th century, the Hermitage collection is so large that if you were to see all the works on display and stop for one minute at each, it would take approximately nine years to complete.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in St. Petersburg.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from St. Petersburg at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Pulkovo Airport (LED), which is around one hours' drive.