Lesnaya st 43 (office 227)  Moscow 127055   Tel. (495) 926-58-82, (495) 926-58-83, (499)978-69-65  Fax. (499) 972-40-32   E-mail: moscow@travelrussia.net   Web: http://www.travelrussia.net Discover the Pearls of medieval Russia in 5 day Moscow/Golden Ring tour! Moscow – Golden Ring, 2009 Group 15 – 25 pax August, 14 - 19 5 days/4 nights The price for the tour is 608 euro per person in a double room. The price is commissionable for the agents

ITINERARY IN BRIEF Day 1   MOSCOW   Arrival in Moscow You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel by private car Check in to hotel If time allows, there will be an excursion on the Moscow subway with your guide acc o/n Suschevsky Hotel Day 2   MOSCOW am Kremlin tour (Kremlin territory, 1 Cathedral and Armoury museum) Lunch at leisure. pm City tour including visit to Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral (visit), stroll through State Department Store (GUM), pass by Moscow State University, view from Sparrow hills. acc o/n Suschevsky Hotel Day 3   MOSCOW – SERGIEV POSAD – VLADIMIR - SUZDAL am check out of your hotel. Drive 1 hour to Sergiev Posad visit St Sergius Lavra lunch Local restaurant pm drive 2 hours to Vladimir Visit the Assumption cathedral, St Dmitrius Cathedral Drive 30 minutes to Suzdal acc o/n Suzdal Sokol Hotel Day 4   SUZDAL am Visit Kremlin, Nativity Church, Cross Chamber, Pokrov Convent lunch Local restaurant pm Museum of Wooden Architecture, Kideksha acc o/n Suzdal Sokol Hotel Day 5   SUZDAL – MOSCOW – OPTION to ST PETERSBURG am Check out of hotel and drive 4 hours to Moscow, pm Transfer to airport for return flights or to train for St Petersburg optional extension.

TOUR PRICE Price is given in Euro per person in a double room Note: twin-bedded accommodation is subject to availability in Suschevsky. The offer is subject to availability and advanced reservation Season 2009 Suschevsky hotel in Moscow + Sokol hotel in Suzdal Price per person in a double room Single supplement August 14 - 18 620 265 The price includes: arrival/departure transfers 2 nights accommodation in Moscow/Suschevsky hotel standard rooms B&B 2 nights accommodation in Suzdal/Sokol hotel/Standard rooms B&B 2 lunches all entrance fees mentioned coach/guide as specified Visa support letters All applicable taxes included The price excludes: Porterage Early check in/ late check out to/from hotels Dinners The price is commissionable for the agents.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO ST. PETERSBURG Day 5   ST PETERSBURG pm Private transfer to Railway station. 16.30 Train departs for St Petersburg 21.30 Arrive in St. Petersburg. Transfer to hotel acc o/n Ibis Hotel Day 6   ST PETERSBURG am Day visit to Peterhof palace and park pm At leisure acc o/n Ibis Hotel Day 7   ST PETERSBURG am City tour including Peter and Paul fortress, St. Isaac’s cathedral pm Hermitage museum acc o/n Ibis Hotel Day 8   ST PETERSBURG   At leisure until departure to airport

ST PETERSBURG TOUR PRICE Price is given in Euro per person in a twin/double room. The offer is subject to availability and advanced reservation Season 2009 Ibis hotel 3* 2 pax 4 pax 6 pax Single supplement August 14 - 18 850 663 605 162 The price includes: arrival/departure transfers day train to St. Petersburg, 2nd class tickets 2 nights accommodation in St. Petersburg/Ibis hotel/Standard rooms B&B all entrance fees mentioned coach/guide as specified Visa support letters All applicable taxes included The price excludes: Porterage Early check in/ late check out to/from hotels meals The price is commissionable for the agents.

DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1   Moscow You will be met at the airport and transferred by private car to your hotel. Check in to hotel. If time allows, there will be a guided excursion on the Moscow Subway. The first line of Moscow metro was opened in 1935 and connected 13 stations. Nowadays the metro has 150 stations and it is considered the most beautiful in the world. Many of its stations look like palaces and boast marble columns, sculptures, inlays, stained-glass windows and other decorations. The metro is the main means of transportation in Moscow. o/n in Moscow. Day 2 AM Moscow Visit to the Kremlin Visit the oldest part of Moscow – The Kremlin. You might be surprised at just how many buildings are contained within the walls. 15th century cathedrals, the bell-tower, the Patriarch’s Palace, the Grand Kremlin Palace and of course the richest museum of all – the Armoury. While St Petersburg houses Russia’s main art collection, the Armoury houses its Imperial insignia, weapons, armour, ornate clothes, ceremonial harness and a unique collection of imperial carriages. There is also the 17th century throne of Aleksey Romanov, covered with a mosaic of turquoises and 900 diamonds, the phelonion of Metropolitan Platon, decorated with 150,000 pearls and a few of the famous Faberge eggs. PM City tour including a visit to Red Square Originally a commercial centre, Red Square has been at the very centre of Russian history since the 15th century. Encompassing an area of over 70,000 sq m, it is bounded by the Kremlin walls, St. Basil’s cathedral, the Historical museum and GUM departments store, the shopping arcade that was completed in 1893. From the time of Ivan the Great the square was used as a huge gathering place for public events, markets, fairs and festivals and over the centuries it has witnessed Ivan the Terrible’s confession of his misdeeds to the people in 1550, great demonstrations, executions and the extravagant parades of the Soviet Union’s military might. At the southern end of Red Square is the almost fairy-tale like building of St Basil’s cathedral. Commissioned in 1552 by Ivan the Terrible to celebrate his conquering of Kazan, legend has it that the architect was later blinded so that he could never replicate such a beautiful building. Built of brick and comprising many colourful asymmetrical helmet and onion domes which sit above nine chapels, the interior is full of 16th and 17th century icons and frescoes of subtle blues and pinks. If time allows you can stroll through the State Department Store (GUM). At the end of the city tour you will drive up to the Moscow State University and stop at the observation platform on Sparrow hills which gives a wonderful panoramic view of the city . o/n in Moscow Day 3 AM DAY 3 – MOSCOW – SERGIEV POSAD – VLADIMIR - SUZDAL Today, accompanied by a private guide, you depart by private vehicle for the culturally oldest part of Russia – the Golden Ring. Set amongst lakes and rivers and forming a circle which extends north-east of Moscow, these old Russian towns played an important role in the history of the Russian State, both in its early period, when the Russian lands and principalities were being united under the sway of Moscow, and later, when the independence of the country was at stake. While the architectural monuments of these towns are the stone chronicles of the country’s history, it is also an area which has preserved many old artistic traditions particularly the painting of the beautiful lacquer boxes for which Russia is so famous. Life here is completely different from the big cities and for an opportunity to see true Russia, this is a tour worth taking. drive to Sergiev Posad, (the Holy-Trinity St. Sergius Lavra), formerly Zagorsk, one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles of early Russian religious buildings. The great Monastery, founded in the 14th century, includes the 15th century Cathedral of the Trinity as well as the spectacular blue and gold Cathedral of the Assumption and other smaller churches all of which appear on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. Sergiev Posad remained the seat of the Patriarchate throughout Soviet times and continues to be a ‘functioning’ monastery. PM After lunch at the local restaurant you will drive to Vladimir. Situated 230 km (143 miles) from Moscow, Vladimir was founded in 1108 by Prince Vladimir Monomakh as a frontier fortress guarding the northeast of his domain. It reached its zenith in the 12th century when it was chosen as his capital by Prince Andrey Bogolubsky and who then strengthened its defences and welcomed architects, icon-painters and jewellers. You will visit the Assumption cathedral (1160) that was so richly decorated it was compared with the Temple of Solomon and for centuries it served as Russia's principal cathedral where all princes of Vladimir and Moscow were crowned until 1440. o/n in Suzdal Day4 AM SUZDAL Suzdal is situated on the river Kamenka, just 35 km (22 miles) north from Vladimir. Here you will find more than 50 examples of church and secular architecture dating from the mid-12th to the mid-18th century. As early as 990 prince Valdimir of Kiev came to Suzdal and established a missionary bishop here who later built the first church and the town was first mentioned in chronicles of 1024. Until the middle of the 11th century it was, however, nothing more than a small settlement and several of the streets still retain names derived from the old Slavic gods – Yarunova Street and Kupala Street among them. The town is still one of the major religious centres of the northern Russia. PM After lunch in local restaurant we continue our sightseeing tour/ Visit to Museum of Wooden Architecture, Kideksha o/n in Suzdal Day5 AM MOSCOW Check out of hotel and drive back to Moscow arriving at approximately 13.30. PM Either transfer to the airport for return flights or take the train to St. Petersburg (for extension to St. Petersburg) End of program in Russia

EXTENSIONAL TOUR TO ST. PETERSBURG Day 5   MOSCOW - ST PETERSBURG Pm – Private transfer to Railway station. Day train to St. Petersburg at 16.30 21.15 - Arrive in St. Petersburg. Transfer to hotel, check in o/n in St. Petersburg Day 6 AM ST PETERSBURG   Lying on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, Peterhof, or “Peter’s Court”, was built by Peter the Great in 1715 and is a former summer residence of the Russian Tsars. Famous for its magnificent cascades, fountains, gilded statues and extensive formal gardens this glorious palace is a firm favourite with both Russians and foreigners alike. Within the palace grounds are a number of buildings, the Grand Palace (Russian Versailles), now a vast museum of lavish rooms and galleries, Monplaisir, Peter’s outwardly more humble villa, the Grand Cascade, the centre piece of the palace grounds with over 140 fountains, the Marly Palace and Alexandria Park. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the population of St Petersburg was invited to dine here at a great summer fete held every year. PM At leisure. o/n in St. Petersburg Day 7 AM ST PETERSBURG In the morning you will have a chance to get acquainted with one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, Saint Petersburg remains one of the most romantic cities in Russia. Of the many poetical names applied, the most common are “Northern Venice” and “Northern Palmyra”. The fascinating palaces and cathedrals, beautiful bridges over Venice-like canals, spacious squares and wide streets, monumental sculpture and lacy iron grilles and, of course, the special spirituality of the city which infects all visitors. In 1991 the city was placed on the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage. With the world famous Hermitage on the banks of the Neva river, the city is Russia’s most popular destination, drawing visitors from all over the world throughout the year. Begin the tour with a visit to the Peter and Paul fortress. Standing on a small island at the centre of the Neva delta, the fortress was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great and is the oldest building in the city. Up until 1917 the fortress was mainly used for the incarceration of political prisoners who have included Dostoyevsky, Lenin’s brother and Peter the Great’s own son Alexei. At the heart of the fortress is the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, with its landmark gold spire, where most of Russia’s Tsars were buried. On the other side of the river Neva, the weighty mass of St. Isaac's Cathedral dominates the skyline. Its gilded dome, covered with 100 kg of pure gold, soars over 100 meters into the air, making it visible far out onto the Gulf of Finland and is the third largest cathedral in the world. PM The Hermitage is undoubtedly the largest museum of the world, possessing over 3 million exhibits within its four buildings and attracting around 3 million visitors a year. The exhibitions are diverse with works by Da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, an impressive collection of impressionists and the largest collection of Titians in existence. The main building of this complex is the Winter Palace built between 1754 – 1762, which was once the main residence of the Tsars. It was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great purchased a collection of 255 paintings from Berlin. o/n in St. Petersburg Day 8 AM ST PETERSBURG At leisure, until departure to airport End of program in Russia

ACCOMODATION DESCRIPTION Holiday Inn Sushevsky 4* (Moscow) The Holiday Inn Moscow Suschevsky opened its doors at the beginning of 2006. The Hotel is a short distance from the city centre and is a 50 minute drive from the international airport Sheremetyevo – 2. The Holiday Inn Moscow Suschevsky is an ideal choice whether you are here for leisure or for business. The Hotel provides 312 modern rooms equipped with coffee/ tea maker, hairdryer, minibar, satellite TV with pay movie channels, high speed Internet. The hotes has got a bar, restaurant, 24 hour room service. Sokol 3* (Suzdal) The Hotel is situated in the historical part of the city, close to the Kremlin and the central shopping district. From the hotel there is a splendid view onto the churches, the central street and square. Ibis hotel 3* (ST. Petersburg) Ibis St Petersburg Moskovsky Vokzal Hotel is a 3 star hotel with 221 comfortable rooms. It is located in the centre of St Petersburg, close to Nevsky Prospekt and only 500 metres from Moscow railway station.