Russia Holidays

Introduction

This vast, varied and unexplored country must surely represent one of the great undiscovered destinations for the 21st century. Although any visit to Russia would be incomplete by excluding St Petersburg and, to a lesser extent, Moscow, further east there are another seven time zones before arriving at the Pacific coast. In between lies a fascinating diversity of landscape, culture, wildlife and architecture.

Moscow has transformed itself into a culinary capital; St Petersburg has arguably the finest art collection in the world; Igarka has a museum which beat Tate Modern in a list of European museums; the Crimea might soon rival the Mediterranean resorts and the inky blue waters of Lake Baikal would stretch from London to Edinburgh. Along the Mongolian border, in the rich green valleys of the classically beautiful Altai region, 250 varieties of peony grow wild while, in the far east, you will find the last refuge of the Siberian tiger. Sticking out into the Pacific, the Kamchatka peninsular, once so secret it was closed off to both foreigners and Russians alike, has opened its doors for exploration.

Above all there are good hotels to be found everywhere making any travel to Russia that much more comfortable. Although we specialise in tailor made holidays to Russia, we also operate a number of specialist tours - please contact us on 01285 651010 for further details.




Client Viewpoint

"St Petersburg was wonderful. Thank you to Sally for all her expert advice and for arranging such a fantastic holiday for us."

Mrs P, Oxford.

Where To Go

Founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703, St Petersburg was capital of the Russian Empire for more than two hundred years. Now, firmly established as one of the major cultural centres of the world,, the historic center of St Petersburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



Moscow is well known as the site of the Kremlin, Saint Basil's Cathedral, with its elegant onion domes, as well as Red Square. In the last few years, it has transformed itself into one of the most vibrant, dynamic and exciting cities in the world, with chic restaurants and luxury hotels. It remains the perfect starting point for many trips within Russia.



Best known to the British for the infamous charge of the Light Brigade, Crimea lies on the far side of the Black Sea. With stunning mountain scenery, a warm sea and long summer season, it has long been a favourite holiday destination for Russians.


Experience one of the great rail journeys of the world. The Trans-Siberian offers 3 routes across Russia, including the longest single railway track in the world from Moscow to Vladivostock, and the most popular route, the Trans-Mongolian, from Moscow across to Irkutsk and Lake Baikal then south through Mongolia and onward to Beijing.


Siberia is a vast area, east of the Urals, hiding a multitude of secrets which are only now becoming viable with the advent of better communications and accommodation. Visit Lake Baikal which, at over 400 miles in length, a mile deep and holding one fifth of the world's fresh water, makes it bigger than all North America's 5 Great Lakes put together.



Visit the quieter towns outside Moscow and St Petersburg. Known as the Golden Ring, this circle of towns, some on the Volga, others just 90 minutes outside the city, are famed for their gold-domed churches which scatter the landscape and give the area its name.


Visit Kamchatka, one of the last unspoilt areas on earth. Off the east coast of Russia, this inhospitable but beautiful wilderness has a backbone of some 120 volcanoes. Visit in autumn to see the sparkling colours of the trees, visit the Inuit communities, trek to the rim of the volcanoes, bathe in sulphur springs and watch huge bears gorging themselves on salmon.



Our Expertise

Our staff have travelled extensively in Russia, so you can rely on their first-hand experience and knowledge.

Our Travel Expert, Sally, has recently visited Russia' Golden Triangle. Read about their experience in On Location or call her on 01285 651 010 to discuss your holiday.

When To Go

Russia can be visited all year round. Summer is the best time to visit with light evenings and warm temperatures. Summer is certainly the best, but also the busiest time to visit Mongolia on the Trans-Siberian railway.

Spring and autumn offer an excellent opportunity to experience European Russia in relative peace, while many consider St Petersburg at its best in the glittering snow.


Price Guide

All of our holidays are tailor made to fit exactly with our clients' requirements. However, as a general guide, prices start from about £1,600 per person.

Please speak with one of our consultants on 01285 651 010 to discuss the various options available.

Journey Ideas

Moscow & St Petersburg - 8 Days

Visit Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral, Zagorsk in the Golden Triangle, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the highlights of St Peterburg's including the world famous Hermitage.



Our Expertise

Flying time: Moscow 5 hrs Time: GMT + 3 hours

At time of writing, UK passport holders do require visas for Russia, which must be secured in advance.

Would You Like to Know More?

Please call us on 01285 651 010, email east@steppestravel.co.uk or click the link below.