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Why travel to Russia in winter?

Take a winter holiday in Russia and you’ll see the country in completely different light. When the snow is thick, the tourist crowds in Moscow and St Petersburg are thin - many Russia travel aficionados say winter is the best time of the year to visit Russia. A Russian winter tour in Moscow or St Petersburg will take you on enchanting wanders down snow-covered cobbled streets, and through squares and parks lit up in celebration of Christmas and New Years. Beyond the city, explore breathtaking frozen lakes, mesmerising ice caves, winter sports, ski resorts and even the chance to see the Aurora Borealis on a Russian Northern Lights tour.

Russia Winter Tours are available from November to April each year, when Russia transforms into a world of cultural festivities and fun activities against a backdrop of sparkling snow and ice.

Why visiting Russia in winter is a must-do experience:

  • Travel to Moscow in winter or embark on a St Petersburg winter tour and see Russia's world-famous landmarks appear like images from a storybook, nestled under a glittering white blanket of snow
  • Go skiing in Russia or try one of an abundance of winter activities, such as ice skating across Lake Baikal, or husky dog-sledding  through the forests of Kamchatka.
  • Hunt for the Northern Lights, on an Arctic adventure tour chasing one of the most astonishing natural phenomenon on earth across the Kola Peninsula
  • Immerse yourself in the cultures of ancient tribes such as reindeer herding Nenets of Yamal and the shamanistic Yakuts of Yakutia.

We’re not going to lie, winter temperatures in Russia can take some getting used to! However, we'll help you with what to pack for your Russian winter vacation - dress like the locals and you'll keep cosy outdoors on the coldest nights. Moreover, since the Russian winter Olympics in Sochi, winter sports have taken off in Russia. There things to do in Russia during winter on specially designed tours to make the most out of the cold season. Ride on a sled pulled by a traditional troika carriage, or warm up with a vodka tasting tour accompanied by blinis (Russian pancakes) with caviar. For winter adventure sports lovers, our Russia winter tours offer a wide range of high adrenaline activities, including heli-skiing down the mighty volcanic peaks of Kamchatka or speeding your way through the snowy forests around Lake Baikal on a snowmobile.

For an utterly unique Russian cultural experience in winter, follow the annual reindeer migration with the Nenets, on a Yamal tour where you'll experience an authentic Arctic homestay. Sleep in the nomads' winter camps and you might even spend a clear night under the glow of the Northern Lights.

And New Years Celebrations!
St Petersburg Moscow Russia winter tour Christmas New Years tour

Moscow & St Petersburg Winter Escapade

Private tour | Set your own dates
Moscow > St Petersburg (or reverse)

Experience the romantic, winter wonderland atmosphere and festive city lights of Russia’s two biggest cities and celebrate the New Year! You’ll discover some of the cities' most iconic attractions and lesser-known gems.

8days From(USD) $1,990 View Tour
Northern lights in Russia tour Moscow Murmansk St Petersburg

Northern Lights in Russia: Arctic Winter Magic

Private tour | Set your own dates
Moscow * St Petersburg * Karelia * Kola Peninsula * Murmansk

Explore main sights of mighty Moscow and cultural capital of Russia - Saint Petersburg. Head to Karelia, where we’ll stop to admire the Ruskeala Mountain Park and historic Kizhi Island. Discover the customs of the indigenous Saami in Kola Peninsula and observe Aurora Borealis dancing in the sky.

12days From(USD) $3,550 View Tour
Lake Baikal Ice Winter tour Siberia

Lake Baikal: Ice, Sun, Snow & Fun

Private tour | Set your own dates
Irkutsk * Listvyanka *Peschanaya Bay

Tour Russia's Lake Baikal in just four days, on a guided small group tour that offers the perfect combination of adventure, culture and relaxation. You will depart in mid-winter, when the sight of the world's deepest lake, transformed into an endless expanse of mirror-clear ice is nothing short of breathtaking.

4days From(USD) $1,350 View Tour
Lake Baikal ice adventure, Lake Baikal Russia tour

Lake Baikal Ice Adventure

Private tour
Ikutsk * Listvyanka * Olkhon Island * Ogoy Island

Feel as though you have stepped into a fantasy novel as you experience a magical adventure, one that you will never forget. You'll explore the frozen beauty of Olkhon Island by crossing the lake by ice roads, and experience real Siberian fun - snowmobiling and ice skating.

7days From(USD) $2,545 View Tour
Lake Baikal Ice Winter tour Russia Siberia

Lake Baikal - Frozen beauty of Olkhon Island

Private tour | Set your own dates
Olkhon Island * Ogoi island * Irkutsk

Step foot on Siberia’s most famous attraction, Lake Baikal – see its clear-as-a-mirror waters which reflect Siberia’s wildness, vastness and natural beauty. Explore the ice grottoes, caves and ice bubbles of the iconic Olkhon island and Maloye More on hovercraft and jeeps.

5days From(USD) $2,885 View Tour
Lake Baikal Ice Photo Tour Russia Siberia

Lake Baikal Photography Tour

Group tour
Irkutsk * Listvyanka * Olkhon island

Stay for 4 days on the famous Olkhon Island in Lake Baikal. Walk on the glass-clear ice and catch the perfect shots of this amazing frozen beauty! We will spend plenty of time on the ice, crossing the lake in vehicles and stopping at various spots such as ice grottos, huge ice blocks and beautiful ice mounds.

8days From(USD) $3,240 View Tour
Northern lights Murmansk, Russia aurora borealis

Northern lights in Murmansk - Quest for Aurora Borealis

Group tour | Guaranteed departures
Murmansk * Teriberka village * Saami settlement * Northern Lights hunt

Spend 3 full days in Arctic city of Murmansk on the Kola Peninsula, where you will enjoy snow activities such as husky dog sledding and snowmobiling during days and will get a chance to hunt Aurora Borealis at nights.

4days From(USD) $975 View Tour
Winter Murmansk Trans-Siberian Northen Lights Aurora Russia

Northern Lights in Russia - Railway Adventure to the Arctic Circle

Imperial Russia private train | Group railway journey | Set departures
Moscow > St Petersburg > Petrozavodsk > Murmansk > Vologda > Moscow

We invite you to feel the atmosphere of the magic of winter St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, Vologda and witness the Northern Lights beyond the Arctic Circle on the shores of the Barents Sea with a glass of sparkling champagne, joy and laughter. Truly, an unusual and colourful journey, like the elusive Aurora Borealis themselves!

10days From(USD) $5,990 View Tour
New Years addition series
Trans Siberian Winter Northern Lights

Arctic Rail Explorer - Quest for Northern Lights

Golden Eagle private train | Group railway journey | Set departures
St Petersburg * Kirkines * Murmansk * Petrozavodsk * Vladimir * Suzdal * Moscow

Take in the beautiful cities of St Petersburg and Moscow before exploring deep into the Russian and Norwegian Arctic Circle in pursuit of the magnificent Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

12days From(USD) $13,795 View Tour
Trans Siberian winter tour Imperial Russia

Trans-Siberian Winter Fairytale

Tsars Gold private train | Group railway journey | Set departures
Moscow * Suzdal * Ekaterinburg * Krasnoyarsk * Lake Baikal * Ulan-bator (Mongolia) * Beijing (China, extension)

Go on a troika sleigh ride or stroll through a snow forest under the winter morning sun. Sleep snugly on the Tsar’s Gold, your heated private train, on this 13-day private journey from Moscow to Ulan Bator via Lake Baikal, with the option to prolong your journey for 3 more days and travel to Beijing.

16days From(USD) $4,390 View Tour
Kamchatka Winter tour, Russian winter holiday

Kamchatka Winter Adventure

Group tour | Guaranteed departures
Avachinsky volcano foothill* dog-sledding * snowmobiling

Enjoy skiing from Kamchatka’s fiery volcanic peaks, relax in thermal hot springs and experience the most popular winter activities - dog sledding and snowmobiling.

7days From(USD) $1,750 View Tour
Kamchatka heli-ski Russia winter tour

Kamchatka Heli Ski

Group tour | Guaranteed departures
4 heli-ski days * 2 days for additional activities

Fly high above the untamed peaks of Kamchatka in a Russian chopper, and carve down the untouched slopes of the peninsula.

8days From(USD) $5,850 View Tour
Cultural immersion
Reindeer herders festival

Reindeer Herders Festival in Yamal 2023

Group tour | Guaranteed departures
Salekhard * Nenets camp

Visit the Yamal region of Russia to witness the Reindeer Herder's festival and immerse yourself in the rich culture of local nomads - the Nenets people. On this tour you will enjoy this colourful event in Salekhard, and will spend a couple of days with the Nenets family, learn about their way of life, beliefs and traditions.

6days From(USD) $2,570 View Tour
Reindeer herders migration Nenets of Yamal Peninsula, Russian Festivals

Reindeer Migration with the Nenets in Yamal

Group and Private tour | Set and private departures
Salekhard > Polar Ural Mountais > Nenets camp > Salekhard

Be a part of the ancient nomadic culture of the Siberian Arctic on this immersive experience, participating in massive reindeer migration and staying in the winter camps of Nenets – nomad people of Yamal. Our tour starts in Salekhard and will drive to the Polar Ural Mountains, where we meet our hosts.

12days From(USD) $2,960 View Tour

A custom tour made to order

We understand sometimes our set departure dates do not align with your ability to travel at that time, or you just want to travel bespoke. We got you covered.

Go custom — gives you the choice & flexibility of creating your own bespoke itinerary, using our tours for inspiration.

Go custom
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