Touring Russia
Russia is a relatively unknown paradise for a tourist, provided that you are aware of when to go and what to see and do. While Moscow, the Red Square and the Trans-Siberian Express are well-known, there are a myriad of lesser-known treasures that are easily available to travelers and often for a very reasonable price. Here are just some of those ways, below.
The sights of Moscow and St Petersburg alone are a good enough reason to visit Russia.
Coach tours to Russia
Traveling by bus through Russia has very big advantages, mainly being that you are accompanied by a guide. The feeling of safety in a bigger group or tourists, and the fact that you can watch the view for most of the trip, are other favourable factors of this type or tour. Coach tours in Russia are also cost effective and allow time to absorb the surroundings and new experiences.
However, Russia is very big, and it would be a lie to say that one can see most of the country this way. The best bus tours in Russia are probably those that visit St Petersburg and Moscow. Examples of bus or coach or even luxury escorted tours that you can take are numerous. There are tours to Russia focussed on a 5-star experience, student tours, coach tours including Russia and other countries nearby, as well as tours set on showing you the best sights of the top two cities.
Naturally, tours with a Tour Director and 5-star accommodation are the best. In comparison with many other countries and different forms of holiday, they are relatively inexpensive.
A good number of attractions are added to most of the tours to Russia. The Golden Ring near Moscow, where one visits many old cathedrals dating back to the year 800, are on display. The Kremlin, the world’s best vodka and St Petersburg’s many art museums (e.g. Peterhof and the Hermitage) are but a few more in the array of sightseeing pleasures Russia has to offer. The trans-Siberian Express and several famous river cruises also top off the rich choice that Russia offers tourists. Some even venture as far as Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake, in Siberia.
Flights to Moscow will get you to see the Red Square.
Some Russian tours mix in Scandinavia (close to St Petersburg) traveling as far as Stockholm, and for students and young professionals, the popular Contiki tours combine a few more countries and destinations.
MilesAway is constantly offering specials and has a full box of tours to Russia, as well as qualified Tour Directors and guides fluent in Russian. Simply enquire with us and we’ll show you Russia in a very special way for a special price.
Cruises in Russia are gorgeous both during the day and at night.
Cruises to and within Russia
While cruises carry a higher cost, they are more than equally entertaining and are far closer to Mother Nature. The best examples are those on the Volga River, Europe’s largest and longest waterway, which holds a special place in Russian history and also in the hearts and minds of the Russian people.
The Volga River has long served as a major route of trade, settlement, and in the past, conquest. Peter the Great sailed along the Volga from Moscow to St. Petersburg approximately 300 years ago on a quest to bring Russia out of the Dark Ages. And centuries’ worth of Russian music and literature reflect the people’s deep feeling for the river. So it is wonderful to know that you too can discover the rich history and traditions along the imperial waterways of Russia.
St Peterburg’s Peterhof is breathtaking and sits right on the water.
As example of such a cruise would start in Moscow, where you’ll stand in awe of world-famous sights such as Red Square; the Kremlin; and iconic, onion-domed St. Basil’s Cathedral. Cruise along the Golden Ring to some of Russia’s most beautiful cities—including Uglich and Yaroslavl, which are known for their white stone churches and gorgeous monasteries. Your journey would then end in St Petersburg, with visits to Catherine’s Palace and the Hermitage Art Museum (as mentioned above), and a viewing of a breathtaking ballet, all of which will bring you up close to the rich traditions and royal history of Russia.
Travelers looking to experience a grand tour of Russia would enjoy the above-mentioned cruise far more than a bus tour, unless with a guide. The cruises in Russia always include some of the world’s finest art and distinctive architecture, as well as visits to tucked-away villages with a distinctive Russian charm.
