Military Tour of Russia

Day 1: Arrival in Moscow

Welcome to Moscow! Your driver will be waiting for you at the airport arrivals gate with your name on a sign. He will take you to the hotel where you can relax after your flight or explore the surrounding city.

Day 2: Red Square and Kremlin

Today your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and take you on one of the most interesting tours in the world. You will visit the famous Red Square and go inside St. Basil’s Cathedral, built by Ivan the Terrible in the 15th century. Next is the Kremlin and the World War II Memorial in the Vorobyevi Hills Park, as well as the spectacular Cathedral of Christ the Savior, destroyed by the communists and restored only a few years ago.

The Kremlin is the most recognizable symbol of Moscow. This ancient citadel was constructed in 1147 to defend the city from the Mongols and the Lithuanians. Moscow has since grown beyond the original walls, but the Kremlin has remained a representation of political power in Russia.

St. Basil's Cathedral stands as one of the most impressive architectural sites in Moscow. This colorful cathedral is also known as the Cathedral of Basil the Blessed and was built between 1555 and 1561. 

The duration of the tour program for this day is 8 hours. You will be accompanied by a guide at all times.

Day 3: Russian Weaponry, First Hand

After breakfast you will head  to the Museum of Armed Vehicles and Equipment, the largest museum in the world of its kind. There are 24 rooms showcasing the history of the Russian Military from the beginning of the 18th century until today. The collection includes over 800,000 military and historical objects, among which are the Victory Banner that was raised over the Reichstag building in Berlin, personal belongings and decorations of famous government and military leaders, trophies from World War II, weapons, and even items that belonged to Hitler, Rosenberg, Rommel, Goering, and Paulus.

Day trip is 6 hours long.

Day 4: Russian Air Force Museum or Stalin's Bunker

Today you will visit the Moscow Subway, constructed not only to streamline the city's transportation, but also to celebrate the accomplishments of the Soviets. The entire subway is a work of socialist realism, making passengers feel as though they are entering various underground palaces, not merely riding the subway to work. On top of immense cultural value, Moscow's subway is a highly efficient transportation system that carries three million passengers daily and spans the entire city in a star-like fashion. Interestingly, the subway can also serve as a nuclear shelter in case of war. 

After the subway tour you can choose from two options.

Option 1: You may visit the largest aviation museum in Russia, located 35 km east of Moscow. It preserves the history of Russian aviation from its inception to the present, with many amazing displays that impacted and challenged the skies during recent wars.

OR

Option 2: You may go to Stalin's secret bunker.

After either tour, you will depart Moscow and travel to St. Petersburg. Economy air or first class train tickets are included in the price of your trip, as well as transfers to the airport or train stations. If you prefer to spend an extra night in St. Petersburg, we recommend taking a flight. If you would like to experience an authentic journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg, you should take a train ride.

Notes: Hotel check out is at noon. You have two options: you can either check out before going on today’s tour and leave your bags in the hotel luggage storage room, or you can request your travel specialist to arrange a late check out.

Day 5: St. Petersburg City Tour

Welcome to St. Petersburg, Russia’s most beautiful city! St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia until the Revolution of 1917, but remains Russia's most dynamic and amazing city. With the canals of Venice, the palaces of Paris, and the churches of Rome, you will not be disappointed by its beauty and culture.

You will have the best guides in St. Petersburg to make the most of your visit to one of the top ten travel destinations in the world. They will take you on a panoramic tour of the city with stops at the Peter and Paul Fortress and the cruiser Aurora.

The Peter and Paul Fortress was designed to defend the city from naval attacks, but was used as a political prison for dissidents of the tsarist regime and as a museum during the soviet era. The fortress now stands as the tomb for the Russian imperial family.



The Cruiser Aurora Museum in St. Petersburg fired the shot that started the Bolshevik Revolution. The Aurora was one of three Pallada-class cruisers, built in St. Petersburg for service in the Far East  (on the Pacific). All ships of this class served during the Russo-Japanese War.

Day 6: St. Petersburg: The Winter Palace

The Hermitage Museum is to St. Petersburg what the Kremlin is to Moscow. Located in the gorgeous Winter Palace, it sits in the very heart of the city, a palace so beautiful that not even the Bolsheviks could destroy it during their takeover in 1917. They say that if you were to spend three minutes by each exhibit in the Hermitage it would take you three years to see everything. With an experienced guide leading you through the sea of heart-stopping exhibits, you will see the best of St. Petersburg’s art in four hours. You may continue exploring the palace on your own after the tour. 

Tip: Hermitage played an important roll in Russian military history. During World War I, the tsar Nikolas II ordered the fourth story to be converted into a military hospital. Russia's history was forever changed here when the Bolsheviks attacked the tsarist guards.

Optional tour for this day: Tour of the Siege Museum led by a curator - $77 per person

Day 7: Pushkin Town or Artillery Museum

Today you have two tour options to choose from.

Option 1: You may go to the outskirts of St. Petersburg, Pushkin, to visit Catherine Palace. A gift from Peter the Great to his wife, Catherine, it is located in the town of Pushkin (also known as Tsarskoe Selo) and is most famous for its Amber Room, which was looted during World War II by the Germans during their 300 day siege of St. Petersburg. This legendary room was only recently reconstructed.

OR



You may stay in the city center for an educational tour of the Artillery Museum. The tour will be led by the curator of the museum.
With an enormous collection of arms and heavy artillery from the Middle Ages to the present day, this museum is located just across a narrow canal from the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Day 8: Departure

Your driver will take you to the airport where you will be leaving Russia with a lifetime of memories. We hope you return to this enigmatic country soon!