St Petersburg – Valaam Island - magnificent Ladoga lake
From
£1,500pp
St Petersburg – Valaam Island - magnificent Ladoga lake
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Included
- Hotel Overview
- Dates Available
A unique mix of traditional Russian and modern European, St Petersburg's history is exceptional. It's inspired a myriad of poets, artists and revolutionaries and, over time, has combined three different cities into one. St Petersburg for the Tsars, Petrograd for a nation at war, and Leningrad for the Bolsheviks.
Impossible not to fall in love with the place, its attractions are many. The Hermitage State Museum, which is one of the world’s largest and oldest museums, never fails to impress. The distinctively decorated Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood also makes for an impressive visit.
Or just take a walk around the city's beautiful canal network to understand why St Petersburg is nicknamed the Venice of the North.
This tour includes a river cruise to Valaam island, the “Pearl of Lake Ladoga”.
Highlights
- Take a walk along Nevsky Prospekt which, running through the heart of the city, is flanked by some of its most incredible buildings, bridges and squares
- If you're lucky enough to visit over the summer, take a boat trip around the city's rivers and numerous canals
- Explore the Hermitage which, featuring 3 million artefacts, is absolutely huge. Composed of five main buildings and exhibiting works from the Stone Age to the modern day, remember to stock up with a hearty breakfast and wear your best walking shoes.
Day 1 – St Petersburg
Upon arrival in St Petersburg, you will be taken to your hotel. Along the way, you'll get your first chance to glimpse the incredible sites the city has to offer.
Day 2 – Sightseeing tour (morning)
Crammed with splendid palaces, impressive historical monuments, tree-lined avenues and beautiful bridges, it's no wonder St Petersburg is known as Russia's cultural capital. A relatively young city, it was founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, but it's still managed to pack a lot into its rather short life. From the early days of its inception to the 1991 coup d'etat, the city has always felt alive with mysterious intrigue and bloody revolution.
The tour will take you to the city's major attractions, including the impressive Kazan Cathedral and the Stroganov Palace, which houses a waxworks museum. The Peter and Paul Fortress, which is the city's original citadel, and the Bronze Horseman, a monument to Peter the Great, are also en route.
Along the way, you'll also be able to admire views of Vasilievsky Island from the Palace Embankment and take a stroll down Nevsky Prospekt. Religious icons such as the golden-domed St Isaac's Cathedral and the distinctive Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood are included, too.
The Hermitage State Museum (afternoon)
Absolutely enormous, the Hermitage is the biggest museum in the world. Consisting of five main buildings, it's visited by several million people every year.
Founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great, the bulk of the museum's 3 million artefacts are housed in the Winter Palace, formerly the official residence of the Romanov Tsars. Only a small part of the museum collections is on display, but you're not missing out – works by Titian, Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt as well as a whole host of others are on view for all to see.
Our guided tour is designed to help you find your way around this huge building and its exhibitions, including a detailed tour of the main site.
P.M. option
Day 3 - Tsarskoe Selo
(Free morning)
Tsarskoe Selo & Amber Room tour (afternoon)
A guided half-day trip to Tsarskoe Selo. Tsarskoe Selo is a suburban Tsarist estate about 25 km outside St Petersburg. Built for Empresses Catherine I, Peter the Great's second wife, and Elizabeth I, their daughter, it offers a fascinating glimpse into imperial country living.
Decorated externally in distinctive pale blue, white and gold, all the buildings are impressive, but the Catherine Palace is perhaps the most so. An astonishing example of baroque architecture, its striking interiors include the legendary Amber Room. A hall decked with slabs of real amber, it paid the price for its ostentation during World War II, when looters stripped it of its glory. It took until 2003 for it to be fully restored, a painstaking process which took over 20 years and cost more than $12 million. Tour includes an English-speaking guide, transfer to Tsarskoe Selo, and the entry fee to the Catherine Palace.
* Kindly ask you to pay attention that during high season (May - September) actual timing for your tour might differ from your initial itinerary. Timing will be finalized within 14-9 days prior to visit to Catherine palace
Day 4 – Peterhof & Valaam
Peterhof
Enjoy a guided tour to Peterhof Grand Palace & Park in the morning.
5.00 P.M. Leave the hotel to start your Russian river cruise adventure to Valaam island on MS Furmanov.
Valaam island is often called the “Athos of the North” and "Ladoga Pearl", as this place is characterised by architectural sights, picturesque scenery and an ancient male monastery dating back to the 10thcentury.
Enjoy the beauty of Lake Ladoga (which is an ancient sea, in fact) and its amazing landscape views.
20.00 Departure from St Petersburg river port to Valaam Island with MS Furmanov.
Day 5 - Valaam
08.00 Arrive in Valaam, transfer to the monastery by runabout
09.00-12.00 A walking tour across the central estate of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery.
Walk to Favor mountain, crowned with the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. Here, you will see the unique monastery garden, which is a miracle in itself, considering the severe weather conditions. Visit to the marble Znameskaya Chapel, built after Alexander II’s visit to Valaam. Tour includes a Valaam monastery choir concert.
12.30 Lunch back onboard the boat
15.00-18.00 Walking tour of Valaam’s “skits” (small, separate settlements for hermit monks)
Valaam archipelago is famous for its spiritual life. Walk from Nikon skit towards Voskresensky, Gefsiman and Konevsky skits.
Voskresensky skit. Andrei the First-called preached Orthodox Christianity here some 2000 years ago. He also erected a stone cross here. The tour ends with a visit to the Monastery farm.
20.30 MS Furmanov departs for St Petersburg
Please bear in mind that you will have at least 3 hours of extra time after the planned end of the tour. The reason for this is the unpredictable weather and Ladoga lake conditions such as fog etc, which may cause a delay.
Please kindly respect the Valaam monastery rules:
For Gents: please don’t wear any headdress. Decent, modest attire is a must (not sports style)
For Ladies: please wear a headdresses (a shawl) and a skirt. You can borrow both items at the entrance to the monastery if required. Decent, modest attire/skirt is a must (not sports style)
All visitors: the monastery is not a tourist site. Please keep silent, and please turn off your telephone. No video or photos within the territory are allowed unless you have special permission. No food or chewing
Day 6. Return to St Petersburg and departure to the airport for flying back home.
08.00 Arrive at St Petersburg river port
Our driver will meet you at the River Port upon docking, and will take you and your luggage to the airport.
OPTION: Extra guided tours in St Petersburg, depending on your flight times – transfer to airport with guide (not included in this package, tailor-made programme will be prepared upon request).
- Accommodation: 4* Demetra Art Hotel in St Petersburg – 3 nights
- Meals: 3 breakfasts at hotel.
- Stay for 2 nights and FB (full board) on motor ship Furmanov
- Transport: for transfers and sightseeing tours, we use a comfortable car or minibus; on our sightseeing trips, we may also go on foot or use public transport (mainly the Metro, which is very efficient and helps to avoid traffic congestion)
- Tour staff and support: English-speaking guide, transfer driver
- Guided sightseeing city tour
- Guided tour to the Hermitage
- Guided tour of Catherine Palace
- Valaam tour includes:
· Round trip on a comfortable motor ship: St Petersburg-Valaam-St Petersburg
· Valaam excursion programme (see itinerary Day 5)
· Full board
· English-speaking guide service at Valaam
Flights and Visa services are not included in the tour, though you can choose and book your flight using our smart and easy tool at: https://www.visitrussia.org.uk/flights/
St Petersburg: Demetra Art Hotel 4*
This design hotel is located in the centre of St. Petersburg, 150 metres from Chernishevskaya Metro Station. The Demetra offers free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour reception with tour desk and ticket service.
The individual interiors at the Demetra Art Hotel were designed in Italy, and all feature a theme representing a different period in the history of St. Petersburg. All rooms include air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and are soundproofed.
The hotel restaurant serves either a buffet or an à la carte breakfast each morning. The shops, cafés and restaurants of Nevsky Prospekt are just a 20-minute walk away.
Moskovsky Train Station is 1.5 km away, and Pulkovo Airport is 22 km from the hotel.
Motor Ship "Furmanov"
For 1 adult
cabin А2(III)
A Double cabin located on the main deck. All facilities (sink, WC, AC). In the cabin: 2 SGL beds, fridge, radio, cable&satellite TV, hair dryer, pliads, panoramic window.
For 2 adults:
Cabin type А2(III).
A Double cabin located on the main deck. All facilities (sink, WC, AC). In the cabin: 2 SGL beds, fridge, radio, cable&satellite TV, hair dryer, pliads, panoramic window.
For family of 2 adults & 1 child up to 14 y.o.
Junior suite
Big spacious cabin, located on boat deck, all facilities (a sink, shower cabin, WC, AC).
One Kingsize bed (can be transformed in 2 separate beds, a sofa for child, nightsstand decks, a safe, writing table, bench, armchair, fridge, radio, cupboard, plaids, hair dryer , cable && satellite TV,shaving kits, panoramic windows, balcony, furniture for relaxation.
Shower kit, bathrobe, slippers, dishes, drinking water, "welcome gift" (Sparkling wine, fruits), minibar (not included), capsule coffee machine (first cup is FOC).
Please see below the calendar with departure dates and prices including and excluding flights.
Enquire with us to include flights from your preferred airport.
* Flight inclusive prices are estimated from the UK and the rate can be slightly different
Departure date |
Price per person Excluding flights |
Price per person Inc. flights * |
10.07.2019 |
£750 |
£1150 |
24.07.2019 |
£750 |
£1150 |
06.08.2019 |
£750 |
£1150 |
14.08.2019 |
£750 |
£1150 |
27.08.2019 |
£750 |
£1150 |