Moscow & The Golden Ring, Russia
This AstridTravel Club Trip focuses on the history of Russia as told by Moscow and the ancient towns of the Golden Circle. Visit awe-inspiring cathedrals, world-renowned museums, enjoy a rare opportunity to see the Russian countryside, and leave with a profound knowledge and appreciation of the rich culture of Russia. This trip is for adventurous travelers looking to gain a glimpse into the real Russia.
Interested in this trip? Fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
This Trip at a Glance
Dates: TBD | Price: $5,950
This trip features both luxury and casual experiences. You will stay in 5-star accommodations in Moscow, dine in fabulous restaurants, and attend a performance at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre. You will also ride the Moscow metro system, dine in casual local restaurants, and spend one night in a rural Russian lodge. The pace is moderate, and participants should be comfortable walking and standing for extended periods of time.
If you wish to take this trip at another date, either solo or with a group of your own, contact us and we’ll work with you to customize this trip for your needs.
The Itinerary — 7 Days, 6 Nights
Day 1
The Hotel National, Moscow. Photo source.
Arrive to Moscow by early evening. A guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to the Hotel National, an elegant, historical hotel, situated in the very heart of Moscow. Boasting fabulous views of the the Kremlin and the Red Square and in close proximity to many museums, sites and shops, the Hotel National is our hotel of choice in Moscow. This atmospheric accommodation features two fantastic restaurants, one a luxurious caviar bar, and the other a fashionable Russian restaurant with stunning decor, magnificent views, and cuisine so divine, reservations are required at least a week in advance. While certainly a classic, the Hotel National is anything but an ordinary hotel. Spend the evening relaxing and rejuvenating here after a full day of international flight travel. Scheduled activities will begin on Day 2.
Meals Included: None
Day 2
St. Saviour Cathedral. Photo source.
Meet with your guide in the hotel lobby and embark on a City Tour of Moscow which will include some of the city’s most famous sights such as the Newmaiden Nunnery and St. Saviour Cathedral, one of the tallest Orthodox Christian churches in the world.
Enjoy a delightful two-course lunch at the Tretyakov Brothers Restaurant in the Tretyakov Gallery, the world’s most famous museum of Russian art. After lunch, visit this cherished Russian art collection which contains more than 130,000 exhibits and offers a rich and revealing insight into the history of Russia.
On the way back to the hotel, you’ll take an interesting guided tour of the opulent Moscow Metro System. This awe inspiring, art-adorned subway system, decorated as a palace with marble arches, crystal chandeliers, sculptures and mosaic tile, is a glorious remnant of the Soviet era.
Enjoy a lovely dinner at the beautiful Bolshoi Restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Assumption Cathedral, Moscow Kremlin. Photo source.
Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and journey to the Kremlin, the Russian Citadel, birthplace of Moscow, seat of Russian power, and home of the President of the Russian Federation. This tour will take you inside the Armory Chamber, which houses an amazing collection of tzarist paraphernalia, and the Diamond Fund which houses some of Russia’s finest gems, including the diamond encrusted coronation crown of Catherine the Great.
After your Kremlin tour, enjoy lunch at the Mishka Bar located in beautiful Red Square, Moscow’s most famous landmark. Later you’ll take a guided tour of St. Basil’s Cathedral and learn of its construction in the 1500s under the Tsar Ivan the Terrible. The mere fact that this cathedral still stands is somewhat miraculous as it has survived fires, Napoleon’s invasion, and even a demolition plan by Joseph Stalin who believed that the cathedral hindered military parades in Red Square.
Journey back to the hotel following the tour and enjoy leisure time to refresh before attending a memorable, evening performance at the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
Suzdal, Russia. Photo source.
After breakfast check-out of the Hotel National and meet your guide in the lobby. From there, you’ll travel to the railway station and board a train for the town of Vladimir - the first stop on your Golden Ring Tour. Upon arrival, dive straight into a Vladimir Historical Tour highlighting some of the most famous monuments of this 12th century city which once served as the capital of Russia.
Afterward, take a drive to the picturesque city of Suzdal where you’ll tour the Suzdal Kremlin, visit the Cathedral of the Nativity, and learn about classical, ancient Russian architecture at the mesmerizing Museum of Wooden Architecture.
Following the tour, check-in to the Pushkarskaya Sloboda Hotel and enjoy a 3-course dinner at the hotel restaurant, Ulej, an eclectic eatery offering a fine selection of authentic Russian cuisine.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5
Alexandrov Kremlin. Photo source.
Check-out of the Pushkarskaya Hotel and enjoy a scenic drive to the city of Alexandrov, the residence of the Tsar Ivan the Terrible for 17 years. During this ruler’s time here, Alexandrov became an art center with many talented artists coming and working in the area. Ironically, after Ivan the Terrible’s departure, the city abruptly turned into the quiet village it once was with the only notable change being the grandiose royal monuments left behind this notorious Russian tsar. On your visit to Alexandrov, you will tour Ivan the Terrible’s impressive Kremlin complex and hear historic and fascinating tales of his infamous reign.
Continue the day’s journey to the city of Sergiev Posad where you’ll visit the most sacred Holy Trinity St. Sergius Monastery, the spiritual center of Russian Orthodox Christianity.
After your Sergiev Posad tour return back to Moscow and the Hotel National and enjoy a taste of fine Russian cuisine at the famous Doctor Zhivago restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
Kolomenskoye Palace. Photo source.
Meet with your guide in the morning and venture to Kolomenskoye, the gigantic wooden palace built by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great. As you tour this marvelous royal estate, you’ll learn what the gilded life was like for the Russian tsars, tsarinas over 200 years ago.
Afterward, return to Moscow and visit the Pushkin Art Museum which houses one of the most impressive collections of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings in the world. The day’s next stop will be a tour of Bunker-42, an underground Cold War Museum which focuses on the problematic relationship between Russia and the United States.
Return back to the hotel and enjoy leisure time to refresh before departing for your Farewell Dinner at Pushkin Café, one of Moscow’s most famous and beloved 5-star restaurants. Designed and furnished to replicate a 19th-century Russian aristocrat’s home, dining at the Pushkin Cafe is truly a magical experience!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7
Check out of Hotel National and transfer to airport for return flight home.
Accommodatoins
The Hotel National
Nights 1 - 4, Night 6
The Hotel National is a five-star hotel housed in an incredibly charming, historical building located in the heart of Moscow. Built in 1903 by famed Russian architect Alexander Ivanov, the Hotel National is an iconic landmark. Styled with authentic 19th-century furnishings and decor, this hotel exudes character. It features two fabulous restaurants, one a luxurious caviar bar, and the other a fashionable Russian restaurant with stunning decor, magnificent views, and cuisine so divine, reservations are required at least a week in advance. While certainly a classic, the Hotel National is anything but an ordinary hotel.
Pushkarskaya Hotel
Pushkarskaya Hotel, Suzdal. Photo source.
Night 5
The Pushkarskaya Hotel is located in the quaint Russian town of Suzdal. Located along the River Kamenka, and with views of the Suzdal Kremlin, this hotel is truly unique. It features rustic, Russian log cabins in addition to a modern annex which includes a gym, a traditional Russian banya and spa. The in-house restaurant serves up Russian specialties as well as a variety of European dishes. Though not a luxury hotel, staying at the Pushkarskaya Hotel offers guests a unique insight into life in rural Russia - an opportunity many who visit this country rarely get to experience.
Photo Gallery
![kolomenskoye-palace-tsar-alexei-3[6].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eab077231b17f4c11a9c31f/1589217018726-II1C6DZB389XINZZKPOL/kolomenskoye-palace-tsar-alexei-3%5B6%5D.jpg)
Additional Trip Information
Inclusions
5 nights in the National Hotel in Moscow
1 night in The Pushkarskaya Hotel in Suzdal
All tours mentioned in the itinerary
Train tickets for the Lastochka fast train from Moscow to Vladimir
Tickets to the Bolshoi Theatre
English-speaking, private guides
Airport transfer
Local travel concierge
Gratuities
An AstridTravel Club Representative on-site
Exclusions
Airfare
Meals not specified in itinerary
Miscellaneous personal expenses
Travel Insurance
Payment Schedule
$1,200 deposit is required upon booking
$2,800 payment due on or before June 1, 2021
$1,950 payment due on or before August 1, 2021
Monthly payment plans available. Contact us for details.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your trip 90 days or more prior to departure, and you will receive a full refund of any monies paid to the ATC. Cancel your trip between 89 - 60 days prior to departure, and you will receive a 50% refund. Cancel your trip between 59 - 30 days prior to departure and you will receive a 25% refund. Cancel your trip less than 30 days prior to departure, and you will receive no refund.
All cancellations must be sent via email to contact@astridtravel.com and are effective the date we receive this correspondence.
ATC reserves the right to cancel this trip for any reason. Such reasons include, but are not limited to, attaining an insufficient number of participants necessary to make the trip feasible, weather, and similar unforeseen circumstances. In such event, you may choose to either receive a full refund or apply your payments to another trip if approved by ATC.
Traveler Requirements
Travelers must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months following the return travel date.
Travelers are responsible for making their own flight arrangements.
Travelers must provide a copy of their desired flight reservation before booking to ensure that all information is correct. If you would like assistance booking your flight, please contact us.
Travelers must purchase travel insurance to go on this trip. In the event that you are unable attend this trip due to an illness, family emergency, missed or canceled flight, act of terrorism, natural disaster, etc., Astrid Solo Travel Advisor, AstridTravel LLC, the AstridTravel Club LLC, nor any affiliated person or party will be held responsible for payment repatriation. Protect yourself against any unforeseen trip disasters and purchase travel insurance. More details will be provided after you make a trip reservation.
Interested in Joining?
If you are interested in this trip to Moscow and the Ancient Towns of the Golden Ring, fill out the brief, no obligation, interest form below and we will reach out to you via email. Please feel free to include any questions or comments you might have about this trip.