Golden Ring

In the morning our driver and representative will pick you up to depart for Vladimir by car or mini-van. Vladimir is located about 2-3 hours' drive from Moscow.

Arrival in Vladimir.

Lunch at the local restaurant.

Panoramic city tour. During the city tour you will become acquainted with the main highlights of the city. The first stop is the Assumption Cathedral, a unique monument of the white-stone architecture of Vladimir. The cathedral was built in the middle of the XII century by Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky as the main church of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality. World-famous frescoes by Andrei Rublev are preserved there. You will then proceed to the small, one-domed cathedral of St. Dmitry, built in the beginning of the XII century by Prince Vsevolod as his palace church. The cathedral´s interior still features frescoes of the XII century.

You will also visit the Golden Gates - considered to be the door to Vladimir built in the early XII century by Prince Andrei Bogolubsky. In ancient times they served as the main military tower of the fortress.

We will also visit the Museum of Crystal, lacquer miniatures and embroidery. It possesses an amazing collection of traditional Russian handicrafts and folk art, lacquer miniature papier-mâché boxes, embroidery, rock crystal and glass pieces.

Excursion to Bogolyubovo, the residence of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky built between 1158 and 1165 at the mouth of the Nerl River. Andrei spent 17 years of his reign here until his murder in 1174. Russian Orthodox Christians believe that Bogolyubovo was founded on the spot where Andrei Bogolyubsky saw a vision of the Virgin Mary who appeared to him in a dream-like vision holding a scroll in Her right hand, and commanded him to build a church and monastery on the place of the vision. On this spot the Church of the Intercession of Neri was constructed. Today the church is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

After the tour, you will be taken to the town of Suzdal, often called the Russian Mecca. It is just 32 km from Vladimir. Suzdal is amazingly tranquil and beautiful with its numerous churches, wooden houses, bird songs and the ringing of bells throughout the day.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, a sightseeing tour will take you to the oldest part of the Kremlin, the heart of Suzdal. Specialists believe the Kremlin dates back to the X century and first appeared in the chronicles in 1024. On its territory you will admire the Cathedral of the Nativity, dating back to the beginning of the XIII century, the largest relic of which is the Golden Gates. The next stop will be to the Archbishops´ Chambers, a large architectural masterpiece that took several centuries to be built. It houses a unique collection of historical and archaeological objects, including the Cross-Vaulted Chamber.

The open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture recreates the life and traditions of the people of Suzdal in the XVIII-XIX century. The ensemble includes churches, log houses and other structures.

* During the low season the museum of Wooden Architecture will be substituted with the Spaso-Yevfimievsky Monastery of Our Savior.

Lunch at the local restaurant.

Transfer to Kostroma.

Dinner at the restaurant of the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel you will be delivered to Kostroma for a city tour which will take you to the five-domed Epiphany Cathedral that was the first stone edifice in the city. You will then visit the Ipatievsky Monastery and admire the frescoes at the Trinity Cathedral painted by the famous Kostroma master, Guri Nikitin and his team of expert icon-painters.

Transfer to Yaroslavl. The ancient Russian town of Yaroslavl stands on a high, steep bank of the Volga river surrounded by boundless forests.

After lunch at the local restaurant we will go on a city tour with a visit to the Savior Transfiguration Monastery and the Church of Elijah the Prophet*.

*During the low season the Church of Elijah the Prophet will be substituted with the Icon Museum at the Prior´s chambers.

Dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Rostov Veliky.

Rostov Veliky (Rostov the Great) is located on the shores of Lake Nero and is one of the oldest towns in Russia, dating back to 862 AD. You will go on a city tour with visit to the Kremlin and the Museum of Finift (enamel painting).

Lunch at the local restaurant.

Transfer to Pereslavl Zalessky.

During the short visit to Pereslavl Zalessky you will have some time to walk on the Red Square and take some pictures.

Transfer to Sergiev Posad. Considered by some to be the Russian Vatican, Sergiev Posad is the temporary residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. Our tour starts with the Trinity St. Sergius Monastery (Lavra), built in the first half of the 1340s by the son of Rostov Boyar, Sergius of Radonezh, who remains one the most venerated saints in Russia. The monastery includes more than fifty edifices constructed by Moscow, Pskov and Yaroslavl craftsmen. In 1993 it was entered into the UNESCO World Heritage list. The History and Art museum within the walls of the monastery contains a rich collection of old Russian paintings and various works of art dating from the 14th thru 17th centuries. The collection includes over 120,000 items: ancient icons, medieval manuscripts and old printed books, icon and ornamental embroideries, church utensils, articles of gold and silver, paintings, engravings, folk and contemporary art. Sergiev Posad is also famous for being home to the world's first matryoshka doll.

Departure to Moscow airport/hotel.