Northern Lights Discovery in Russia

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Northern Lights Discovery in Russia

DAY 1: Arrival to Moscow

Touch down in Moscow airport. Your driver will be waiting at the airport to transfer you to your centrally located hotel. Get your first taste of life in the Russian megacity, exploring Moscow at your leisure or embark on an optional*2.5h evening cruise along Moscow river.

DAY 2: Moscow: Kremlin and Armoury Chamber

Our first acquaintance with Moscow starts with a walking tour of the historical city centre. You will see and hear the stories of the most popular places of the city: Red Square, the hub of Russia, with its fantastic "stone flower"- St. Basil Cathedral, one of the symbols of Moscow. These are places that make Moscow one of the most beautiful cities of Russia.

Have a delicious lunch in one of the multiple downtown cafes or restaurants and continue the day with a tour of the Kremlin and Armoury Chamber.

You will tour the grounds of the Kremlin and visit its strikingly beautiful cathedrals full of ancient frescoes and icons, such as Assumption Cathedral where Russian tsars and emperors were crowned; Archangel Cathedral - the burial vault of the Russian tsars until 18th centuries; and Annunciation Cathedral, a home church for the royalty. You will get to meet the 2 prominent Russian tsars in person: the Tsar Bell and the Tsar Cannon, the biggest in the world. Kremlin will surely reveal you some mysteries of the Russian state and soul.     

DAY 3: Moscow: Panoramic tour, Metro and Tretyakov Gallery

Today, we explore Moscow further on a car tour of the city, giving you a sense of the city’s sheer size, and an impression of how Moscow has changed throughout the ages. Pass by the legendary Gorky Park and the White House before a stop at the architecturally stunning Novodevichy Convent, and the observation platform at Sparrow Hills, for a bird’s eye view over this staggering megalopolis.

Next, we visit the 19th century Tretyakov State Gallery, the world’s foremost depository of Russian fine art, containing over 130,000 exhibits, with work by Rublev, Kandinsky, Repin, and many others.

We will also explore the Moscow Metro. Opened in 1935, this striking feat of engineering is one of the largest and oldest underground railway systems in the world. Its grand stations are remarkably beautiful and have become tourist attractions in their own right.

DAY 4: Murmansk city tour

Very early in the morning, you will be transferred to the airport, for your short flight to Murmansk, a destination two degrees north of the Arctic Circle, reaching the city by mid-morning. After settling in at the centrally located hotel, your guide will meet you in the afternoon for a sightseeing excursion around the town.

An important Russian naval base, Murmansk served as a port for the Arctic convoys during WWII. Our tour will include a visit to the Naval Museum and the world’s first nuclear icebreaker ship, the Lenin. We’ll return to our hotel at around 6 pm.

Tonight is the first night that with a bit of luck, we might be able to see and photograph the Aurora Borealis as it appears above the glittering night-lights of the city.

DAY 5: Teriberka village

Located on the shore of Barents Sea, 120km, three hours’ drive down an icy road from Murmansk, this small village has just 617 residents and a wide selection of picturesque abandoned houses that could serve as art objects or as a set for horror films.

During our tour of the village, we will stop at several locations, such as a wooden ships “cemetery”, which is older than 100 years and started from Imperial times. Then, we head to the Arctic Ocean coast for the weird and wonderful photos of frozen rocks and tundra against the mighty Barents Sea, and a magnificent waterfall that flows into the Arctic Ocean.

We enjoy our lunch at the local café (self-paid) before heading back to Murmansk, where we should arrive by 5-6pm, and if Northern Lights appear, we will go hunt them.

DAY 6: Saami people and gusky dog sledding

Head to one of the largest tourist complexes in the Kola Peninsula, which represents Saami settlement with its many traditional dwellings and tools. Here, you will meet the Saami’s precious reindeers, who are surprisingly affectionate and enjoy being stroked and fed by visitors.

You’ll get the chance to learn about the ancient Saami culture and be invited to play traditional games, test your lasso throwing skills and reindeer sledding abilities, and maybe even try on some traditional Saami clothing. The locals will put on an authentic lunch spread including fish soup, berry pie and herbal tea, after which you’ll be given the opportunity to purchase handicrafts.

After lunch, we head to a Siberian husky farm. Here, you’ll learn the wonderful story behind the evolution of this iconic northern breed, and spend time getting to know the charming resident dogs here as well as their reindeer stablemates. Take an exhilarating sled ride through the starkly beautiful winter forests with the husky team.

DAY 7: Snow village and Khibiny Mounatins

This morning, our destination is the Snow Village, an ambitious tourism project that has been running since 2008. Snow Village has been painstakingly constructed almost entirely out of ice and snow and features ornately decorated buildings, sculptures and labyrinthine tunnels with intricately patterned rooms, walls and corridors.

The afternoon sees a change of pace, with the chance to carve it up on a snowmobile safari in the Khibiny Mountains. After a safety brief, you will truly feel yourself “in the saddle” and will be able to enjoy the stunning winter landscapes and tranquillity of the mountains.

DAY 8: Departure from Murmansk

After breakfast, it’s time to check out of your Murmansk hotel. You’ll be transferred to the airport to catch a flight back to either Moscow or on to your next destination.

Included