Wander from the well visited cities of Moscow and St Petersburg and embark on an adventure to the sixth biggest city in Russia – Perm. The destination has so much to offer tourists including a spectacular history, a variety of museums and a wealth of culture.

 I travelled to Perm in June 2011 during the White Nights Festival and learned so much about the history, culture and attractions. Read about my trip below…

Accommodation – The Hotel Gabriel

The Hotel Gabriel was a great place to stay. The staff at the reception all spoke English and were eager to help whenever possible. The room I was given was relatively large and very comfortable. It had both a bath and a shower, which was a nice choice to have!

The hotel is situated just behind a busy street with stalls and performers, and presumably this only occurs when the White Nights Festival is on. This meant that there was a little noise at night, but didn’t cause any problems. The hotel was (roughly) only a 25 minute drive from the airport which is a decent transfer time. On arrival I was happy of this short transfer time due to the long day of travelling before.

The restaurant was located on the sixth floor of the hotel. The food was traditional and there was a good selection of options available- this was important as two of the group were vegetarians. WIFI was available in all rooms at no extra charge.

Apart from the Gabriel I would recommend the Astor and the Eurotel to clients. These were mini/boutique hotels and they too had a lot of character. If clients would prefer to stay in a larger hotel in the centre of Perm then I would recommend the Hotel Ural, the hotel maintained to retain a Russian feel while still being modern.

Excursions – Kungur Ice Caves, Perm 36 Gulag, Open Air Museum of Wooden Architecture

The excursions were really well organised with most of them being quite far out of town.

The Kungur Ice Caves were fantastic and the guide that took us round the caves was very knowledgeable. It was also handy that warm jackets were available for use at the excursion, as you can imagine it gets very chilly inside the ice caves! The caves themselves were extraordinary, especially the first Grotto which was completely covered in ice from the previous winter. It was a truly unique excursion, the kind of excursion that suits all ages and tastes. The fact that the caves are still shaping and moulding themselves with each change of season is phenomenal and something that I don’t think you will find accessible to people in many other places in the world.

The Perm 36 Gulag was a fascinating slice of history. As soon as you walk in you feel an atmosphere of oppression and you can only begin to imagine what so many people went through. The guide took us through each section of the camp and highlighted the areas of work, sleep and the section for ‘special prisoners’. Original artefacts from the various periods of the camp along with stories of certain prisoners of the camp was shown in the Gulag’s museum. To link the stories from the days of the Gulag to specific individual made the history of the camp come alive. This was truly one of the most memorable things I have ever seen in my life- and I will never forget it. The fact that it was turned in a mental asylum (and the majority of the local in the town used to live in the asylum) makes this all the more real. We would advise taking mosquito spray on this excursion during the summer months.

The Open Air Museum of Wooden Architecture was the third and final out of town excursion. This was interesting to see all of the wooden building from different periods of time, from fire stations to wooden houses to churches, they were all there. The nice thing about this excursion is that it was only a one hour drive outside of town but the views surrounding you were so beautiful. You could see a small town and lake on one side of the park and mountains and rivers at the other- truly picturesque and worth visiting just for the scenery!

Perm White Nights Festival

The White Nights Festival was interesting, but not what I was expecting! Rather than having an abundance of traditional artists and musicians dominate, the whole festival was very contemporary. When I say contemporary I mean that the majority of acts were aimed at the younger market e.g. Russian rappers and break dancers. Out with the acts on stage a number of museums had special exhibits on during the festival and a charming variety of street performers could be found in the main square.

One of the most interesting things about the festival was the fire show, which was ideally set down beside the river. After a short delay the fire show started and ended with a bang, musicians dressed in various costumes and a performer on stilts really made the show.

Highlights?

One of the main highlights of the trip for me was the local people of Perm. Because the city is not overwhelmed by tourists they are generally happy to interact with you and eager to help. This meant that I felt perfectly safe in the centre of the city (which is very rare when being in a foreign country). The city itself is rather nice and it is easy to make your way around town using the tram service.  

I cannot emphasise how great the guides were, and how open they were to our suggestions of what to do, even though we did have a pretty packed itinerary! I enjoyed getting to know everyone of them and they are all so enthusiastic about the destination.

For more information about Perm and to plan your dream trip – contact IntouristUK!

This tour provides you with the ideal mix of culture and adventure as you explore Russia’s former capital, founded by Peter the Great in 1703. On arrival in St Petersburg transfer to your 4* central hotel – the Ambassador. This 4* hotel has a 19^th century facade which is nicely complimented by the distinctly modern interior. The hotel is located in the historical centre of St Petersburg and looks out onto the iconic St Isaacs Cathedral.

The second day of the St Petersburg city break is designed to allow you to explore the city with a sightseeing tour. The guide takes you round the main sights and teaches you about the history and buildings that bring so many to the city. This tour ends in the early afternoon meaning that you have time to do some exploring of your own, we suggest that you take a stroll down Nevsky Prospekt, St Petersburg’s main street and the cultural hub. Try traditional Russian cuisine at one of the many centrally located restaurants and immerse yourself in true Russian culture.

Day three of the City Break to St Petersburg leads you to the world renowned Hermitage, which has over three million exhibits including work by Monet, Da Vinci and Matisse.  It is filled with all kinds of trinkets and treasures. Works of arts throughout the ages can be seen here and each artefact helps to tell a story of St Petersburg. If you are going to St Petersburg we would recommend that you visit the Hermitage as your time spent here is sure to be unforgettable. To see such a vast collection of beauty is truly breathtaking. From here we take a trip to the Peter and Paul’s Fortress which is swathed in history and is a spectacular structure. Many Russian monarchs lie here as their final resting place – see this fascinating slice of history.

On your penultimate day in St Petersburg visit the exquisite Catherine’s Summer Palace which is defined by its unique fusion of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture. Relax in your hotel after the excursion or choose to explore St Petersburg independently, alternatively you can add an option excursion to compliment your time here.

Day five brings your tour to an end as you transfer to the airport for your flight home.

This is a truly unforgettable itinerary that brings together the best of Russian culture, history and city life! Ask our experienced travel consultant about our St Petersburg city breaks and city breaks to other Russian cities…

However, we can’t mention Russian River Cruising without referring to our most popular cruises. The Peter the First Luxury Cruise ship is said to be one of the finest and most unique on the market. This cruise vessel is equipped with a range of spacious cabins all with en suite bathrooms giving the feeling that you are travelling on a floating hotel! Prepare to be greeted on board with a welcome cocktail which makes the experience just that little bit more enjoyable. Our Peter the First cruise is so popular with clients that availability for 2011 is limited and we have even started to take booking for 2012!

Another of our favourite Moscow to St Petersburg cruises can be taken on board the M/S Korotkov. This is a larger cruise vessel than Peter the First but you can still expect the same greeting and farewell with a glass of Crimean champagne or Russian vodka and a captain’s farewell dinner. The ship has an open air solarium and two restaurants for you to enjoy as well as lectures on Russian art, orthodoxy and history included as part of your cruising experience.

Our new range of Russian River Cruises include the Palaces by the Water, M/S Nizhny Novgorod and M/S Russ; all of which travel down the traditional Moscow to St Petersburg route. These have been introduced in order to suit a range of clientele in the way of budgets and cruising expectations. Some may look for comfort and luxury whereas others may look for modest accommodation but seek exciting and unusual excursions. To look at our full range of cruises, both new and old, follow this link to the cruising section of our newly revamped website:

http://www.intouristuk.com/russian_river_cruises.php

Our Cruising the Black Sea tour is another of our old favourites as you travel from Kiev to Istanbul on the Marshal Koshevoi. This cruise helps to provide a memorable experience as you travel down another of our most popular routes in style. On board you can enjoy drinks at the Sky Bar with friends or even soak up some rays on the sun deck, this cruise truly helps you to relax in style. From Kiev you travel to well known destinations such as Sevastopol, Yalta, Odessa and Istanbul. However, this cruise also gives you the opportunity to visit the lesser known destinations of Zaporozhye, Kherson and Constanta and improve your knowledge of their cultures and ways of life.

The Highlights of the Volga River Cruise can be described as an ideal cruise for those who are looking to steer away from the traditional Russian River Cruising route of Moscow to St Petersburg. This cruise route gives you a chance to explore more of Russia and make the most of the cruising experience. One of the highlights of this ship is the bar with swimming pool and glass roof, the ideal place for relaxation! The range of cities that are visited while cruising is extraordinary with Volgograd, Samara, Kazan and Yaroslavl all included. The departure date for this cruise in 2010 is the 29th April, in 2011 is 13th September.

The Russ vessel travels from Moscow to Perm and offers the opportunity to relax, do some sightseeing and become familiar with the varying cultures that you are likely to come across. Highlights of this tour include visits to various working Monasteries and traditional favourites the Moscow Kremlin and Church of Elijah the prophet. The cruise vessel itself was built in 1983 and boasts a restaurant, three bars and a sun deck. Departure date for this tour is the 13d of May.

A round tour on the Lena River is just what you need to make the most of your Russian River Cruising experience as it gives you the chance to float down one of the longest rivers in the world. This small ship gives you the ultimate cultural appreciate and sightseeing programme helps you to get an insight into Russian holidays and the Russian way of life as you explore extraordinary museums and taste local delicacies. One of the departures dates is already fully booked however there is still time to guarantee a place on the 3rd August departure.

The Lake Baikal Cruise allows you to explore the oldest freshwater lake on Earth while being surrounded by towering mountains. The area is often described as a buzzing hub of nature with many different species of animals and fish that are unique to the area. This cruise can also be added onto your Trans Siberian adventure and can make for a memorable trip. There are at least four departures dates for this cruise; July 12th, 25th and August 7th, and 20th.

If you would like more information on Russian River Cruising and all of our other products please visit our website www.intouristuk.com . Our website shows fixed itineraries, accommodation details, departure dates, prices and general information about us and our products. If you would like further information on any of our tours or products please do not hesitate to call one of our friendly travel consultants on 0141 204 5809 or 0207 727 4100. We look forward to hearing from you!

We chose to travel in a group of six because we thought that it would be the most exciting way to travel, and sharing an experience like that with your friends and loved ones is something that you will never forget! We all chose to travel on the Trans Siberian because we thought that it would make for an unusual Russian holiday and it was something that was new to each of us, and we all finally had time off to do it as a group.

Our Trans Siberian journey started in our hometown of Birmingham and Intourist helped us to arrange regional flights to connect to London Heathrow for our flight later that day to Moscow. It was easier for Intourist to arrange these connecting flights for us as it meant one less thing for us to organise as a group and made the whole experience simpler. Upon arrival to London Heathrow we transferred for our flight to Moscow in plenty of time. We then boarded the flight to Moscow and arrived as scheduled in the Russian capital.

We then transferred to the hotel Cosmos which was recommended by Intourist; this hotel is located on one of Moscow’s main boulevards and is one of the largest in the country. It had everything you would expect from such a large hotel (plus a nightclub and bowling alley!). We chose to dine at the hotels restaurant before retiring to prepare for a day of sightseeing. In the morning we took an excursion to the Novodevichy Convent before relaxing and embarking on some independent sightseeing. On the third day of our trip we had the opportunity to visit the world famous Kremlin grounds and the monstrous Armoury Museum. This concluded our final day in Moscow and later had our first experience with the Trans Siberian railroad as we boarded the train for Irkutsk. We had time on the train to relax and view the beautiful nature that surrounded us. One thing we were all taken aback by was our fellow passengers who were from a variety of cultures and backgrounds, it was interesting socialising with them and hearing their previous Trans Siberian tales.

On day 7 we arrived in Irkutsk and started our stay here with a city tour. This allowed us to get a feel for the city and see the main sights that the city had to offer. Irkutsk is a city that is very different from Moscow in that although both are cosmopolitan; Irkutsk is less well known but equally as mysterious and beautiful. After the city tour we had the chance to see the Open Air Ethnographic Museum which holds a unique collection of monuments dating back to the 17th century. We then transferred to the Legend of Baikal Hotel where we could relax after our long day of sightseeing. On day 8 our sightseeing adventure in Irkutsk continued as we visited the Limnological Museum in Listvyanka. Because we decided to take our Trans Siberian journey during the summer period we had the chance to take a short cruise by motorboat. This helped to bring a little fun into the trip and my friend Cassy had the time of her life! It was something that only the more adventurous members of our group had done before (and that certainly doesn’t include Cassy or me!).

From here we left Irkutsk and boarded the train for Vladivostok. This journey took a few days and we ended up in Vladivostok. This city was so breathtaking and it felt like there was a mix of Asian and European cultures which could be seen in the hotels, architecture and people. After transferring to the hotel we visited the Oceanarium and took a city tour which allowed us to see the city in all of its splendour and glory.

On our final day of our Trans Siberian adventure we were given breakfast before transferring to the airport for our flight back to the UK. We just wanted to write this to show our gratitude to Intourist for helping us to organise this adventure of a lifetime. The customised service that we received from Intourist felt personal and they always gave us their time and advice. If we can organise this adventurous trip then so can you! We have already recommended it to our other friends and family and are looking to go on a Trans Mongolian railway trip in the next few years so that we can visit Beijing. Thanks again Intourist, excellent as always!

Intourist offer the holiday of a lifetime with their ‘Real Russia’ tour. Starting off in Moscow this tour took us round the cities greatest sights as we visited the breathtaking Kremlin Grounds and the famous Armoury. Travelling with a tour guide and group made us feel right at home, so much so that we really didn’t want to leave! Before going to Moscow my friend and I always knew that there was so much to be discovered, boy did we underestimate this magnificent capital! A city tour threw us straight into the heart of the action on our second day as we toured round the splendid domes and architecture that remain dominant characteristics of Moscow. Keeping us entertained was easy as we transferred to the Tretiakov Art which contains over 100,000 works of art. From here we visited the Moscow State Circus. Before travelling to Russia I had never been to the circus and truly didn’t know what to expect, in the end I was blown away! The performers were so talented and varied and it made for such an enjoyable night! After the second day we already knew that we would be returning for another one of Intourist’s great Russian City Breaks!

The third day could be described as the ultimate in Russian City Breaks as we had the opportunity to tour the almighty Kremlin grounds and on top of this a visit to the Armoury as well. Both my friend and I were astounded by the amount of beautiful artefacts and precious paintings that were on display to the public. It was so thrilling to see the Moscow Kremlin so close up as it is one of many iconic images synonyms with Russia architecture. After doing this we had some free time on our hands and decided to explore Moscow independently, this gave us the chance to have a thorough look around Moscow’s famous Red Square where the buildings seemed to burst through the sky! On our final day in Moscow we visited some of Moscow’s famous Metro Stations that are known for their intricate architecture, half of the time it was hard to believe that we were actually in a metro station as opposed to a museum! After spending some time shopping in the Arbat district we then moved onto St Petersburg and travelled by overnight train.

St Petersburg is so unique from Moscow and it was hard to accept that we were still in the same country! When you think of St Petersburg you should think of stunning architecture, beautiful waterways and sheer elegance, because that is what this city embodies. After transferring to our Hotel Moskva and enjoying a well needed rest during breakfast our travels began again as we embarked on a city sightseeing tour. This is the perfect way to get to grips with life in St Petersburg and lets you see all of the most famous sights in one afternoon! This was enough to satisfy us for one day and we returned to the hotel for a rest, so that we were ready to take on our next day in this wonderful city.

On day six of our Classic Russia tour the Hermitage Collection was on the itinerary. This colossal museum holds over three million exhibits from all around the world. From here we were also blown away by the Peter and Paul Fortress which was once used to defend St Petersburg, the history behind this attraction is truly overwhelming and has been everything from a fortress to a prison and is now a tourist attraction!

Our penultimate day in St Petersburg took us to the pretty Pushkin Palace which has the most magnificent gardens, fountains and architecture; all of which are truly breathtaking. It was named in honour of Catherine the First and is also often referred to as Tsarskoe Selo and has been the subject of a thousand iconic images of Russia. This was our final excursion in Russia for this trip, but that is certainly not to say that it was our last trip to Moscow! After this excursion we chose to do some more sightseeing and had a tasty meal in one of the many local restaurants, the greatest Russian Blini I ever had! We gladly retired to our hotel to rest for our travels home the next day.

I just want to say a quick thanks to Intourist for all of the help they gave me when organising one of the best Russian City Breaks of my life! It has encouraged me to be more adventurous in my travels and my friend and I are currently considering going to Ukraine, another fantastic trip that we will be sure to book with Intourist! As anyone who has travelled to Russia in recent years will know, Russian visa application forms are not the easiest to complete and we both received all of the help that we needed from the helpful travel consultants at Intourist.

Thank you very much Intourist!

Intourist can help you arrange every aspect of your Russian River Cruise, from flights, to accommodation and from excursions to transfers, we’ve got it covered. One of Intourist favourite cruise routes is the classic Moscow to St Petersburg sailing path. Intourist currently offer three different cruise ships which sail this route so as to provide you with the choice and variety which makes for a fantastic holiday.

The Luxury River Cruise Ship M/S Peter the First sails from Moscow to St Petersburg via Uglich, Yaroslavl, Goritsy, Kizhi and Mandrogui. This lavish cruise ship is a favourite of Intourists clients and is said to offer you one of the most unique Russian river cruises on the market. This 12 day cruise is enough to provide you with a feel for Russian culture and a taste for luxury cruising.

Another of Intourists classic Moscow to St Petersburg Cruises is carried on the M/S Korotkov. This follows the same route as the Peter the First Vessel but is suited to passengers who prefer comfortable cruising as opposed to opulence. The final Moscow to St Petersburg cruise that Intourist offers is on the Palaces by the Water Cruise, a new addition to our website! This cruise is on board the M/S Nikolay Chernishevsky which is the perfect floating hotel for a sightseeing tour of Russia’s greatest cities!

If you’ve already seen St Petersburg, or you wish to try out a different route for the first time the Highlights of the Volga River Cruise may prove the ideal holiday for you! This ship sails from Moscow to Astrakahn and visits exciting destinations such as Volgograd, Saratov and Samara before arriving at the final destination. The cruise are very popular, so book now to avoid disappointment!

The Korotkov ship is considered one of the finest vessels on Russian Waterways and it travels from the Russian Capital of Moscow to Perm. A unique feature of the Ural Mountains by River Cruise is the lectures provided by guides in order to help you appreciate Russian culture, history, art and mythology. This combination of sightseeing, relaxation and education make for a thrilling adventure on board the M/S Korotkov.

The Lena cruise on board the M/S Mikhail Svetlov gives you the chance to float down one of the longest rivers in the world. The itinerary for this cruise is a round tour, meaning that the cruise starts and finishes in Yakutsk; this gives you the opportunity to view the finest sights on the Lena while sailing on a relatively small cruise ship which offers everything that you would expect from the larger cruise liners plus Russian language and song lessons.

The Lake Baikal Cruise provides the perfect addition to your trip in order to enhance your experience in Siberia. Lake Baikal is the oldest, deepest freshwater lake on Earth, and is surrounded by towering mountains. The nature that surrounds and is embedded in Lake Baikal is unique to the area, which makes for fascinating sights. The excursions and activities that you can join in on this tour include fishing and indulging in a Russian Banya! All of which makes this cruise unique and thrilling for nature and culture lovers.

Intourist can provide you with some of the finest and unique Russian River Cruises on the market. It gives you the opportunity to view this mysterious country in a distinctive and exciting way, it goes to show that cruising really can suit a variety of people and can make or complete the perfect holiday in Russia!

The first place that often comes into peoples minds when thinking of Russia is the glorious capital of Moscow, and rightly so! This mysterious city has much to offer first time and return travellers, with its beautiful and regal architecture and unique and interesting art and culture. When travelling to Moscow it is best to find your footing with an introductory city tour, compressing all of Moscow’s famous sights and buildings into a short journey and allowing you to plan your trip ahead. Intourist are happy to help you arrange any excursions that take your fancy, we have a wide variety of excursions on offer and we would love to tell you about them! During your stay in Moscow you should make a visit to the famous Red Square and St Basils Cathedral where you can witness some truly impressive architecture. Moscow’s Metro System is a fantastic sight to see on your holidays to Russia as Stalin’s Palaces of the People can be described as a museum in itself.

Other Places To Go To During Your Russian Holidays!

If Moscow doesn’t take your fancy then why not travel to another of Russia’s most well known cities, St Petersburg. Its elegance and beauty and fantastic waterways have earned it the name of ‘The Venice of the North’ and with its beautiful palaces Peterhof and Pushkin it is a must for travellers. While in St Petersburg take the opportunity to organise an excursion to the infamous Hermitage which holds over 3million trinkets and treasures within its walls. St Petersburg is also the home to world class ballet in the Mariinsky Theatre; Intourist can help to arrange any of these excursions and would be happy to assist with any requests that you may have.

If you are looking for an alternative way to enjoy your holidays to Russia but still want to revel in the delights that are Moscow and St Petersburg then the group guided Golden Ring tour may be the perfect arrangement for you! As well as visiting Moscow, Russian cities Vladimir, Suzdal, Yaroslavl and Rostov Velikiy are also included; the tour can also be extended to include St Petersburg and any other destinations in Russia that you have a desire to visit!

Another appealing way to explore Russia’s vast landscapes is to take a Russian River Cruise. Intourist offer a wide variety of cruises to visit different destinations and to experience Russia in a completely unique way. The Peter the First, Palaces by the Water and the M/S Korotkov cruises all travel on the classic Moscow to St Petersburg route and give you a chance to view the beautiful surroundings that epitomise Russia. The Russian River Cruise on the M/S Russ offers a different route as it travels from Moscow to Perm; this is perfect for the return traveller who wishes to enjoy an alternative to the classic Moscow to St Petersburg route! The Highlights of the Volga cruise is ideal for those looking to explore more of Russia as the range of cities visited includes Astrakhan, Kazan, Yaroslavl and last, but certainly not least, Moscow!

Intourist are here to assist you with any help you may need when planning your holidays to Russia, from flights, accommodation, transfers and excursions, we’ve got it covered.

Booking with Intourist made a somewhat intimidating journey seem easy and exciting as they offered me many different add on tours and options to allow me to tailor make my holiday in Russia. The helpful staff also provided me with useful information on the countries and routes that I would be travelling through so that they could help me plan my journey every step of the way. They also suggested that I spend more time in Beijing so that I could fully enjoy the sights and cultural delights that the capital of China has to offer.

I took them up on this offer and decided to extend my adventure by four days and booked the four star Jianguo Garden Hotel with Intourist, this add on package also included many excursions such as a city tour, visits to the Badaling Great Wall, the Sacred Road and Ming Tombs. What I really liked about this add on package is how easy it made things for me, for example most of my transport, excursions, accommodation and meals were included, it really allowed me to make the most of my time away.

The Adventure Of A Trans Siberian Railway Tour!

The increased accessibility of Trans Siberian railway tours is initially what attracted me to booking with Intourist. I knew what cities I wanted to visit most and they were able to help draw up an itinerary that suited my needs. They also gave me a few options to choose from but in the end I selected the Classic Trans-Mongolian tour. It was the kind of adventurous once in a lifetime holiday that I was desperate to take with my long term partner George. This was also the first time that George had ever taken a trip like this and we wanted it to be perfect.

Starting off in the Russian capital of Moscow began the trip on a high as we saw many famous sights such as the historic Novodevichy Convent, Kremlin and Armoury. Our personal favourite was the Armoury; the sheer size of the building was overwhelming and the amount of beautiful trinkets and treasures gave us a taste of Russian history and culture. After spending three days in Moscow we boarded the train for the first time, to head towards Irkutsk.

The train journey from Moscow to Irkutsk took three days. This may sound like a long time but it flew by, chatting to fellow passengers, relaxing and admiring the beautiful scenery outside. The changing landscapes that passed by made it clear that Russia is such a diverse country with much more to see than initially meets the eye. Although not as well known as other larger Russian cities, Irkutsk was one of my favourite stops on the journey. The city tour of Irkutsk allows you to see its true beauty before transferring to the Open Air Ethnographic Museum.

After leaving Irkutsk and arriving in Ulan Bator on day ten of the trip I was ready to immerse myself in the unique culture of Mongolians. Exploring places that are so unusual and beautiful such as Terelj National Park while doing something that I would never dream of doing in a million years (horse riding) is what made my trip so amazing and thrilling! (Thank you Intourist!) The next part of our time in Mongolia was truly my favourite part of the whole trip. Eating lunch with our hospitable Nomad family gave me a deep sense of appreciation for their culture and way of life. Afterwards sleeping in a Mongolian Ger was much more enjoyable and I had the best sleep I have had in a long while. Spending another day in the heart of Mongolia was thoroughly pleasant with sightseeing on the agenda before retiring to our hotel for the night.

George and I arrived in Beijing on day thirteen of our trip. Beijing is his favourite city in the world and he was excited to show me everything that he loves about the city. After enjoying our day sightseeing and trying some traditional Chinese food I was smitten with the city and couldn’t wait to explore it further. After this we embarked on our extended Beijing travel package and we saw all of the fantastic sights that I mentioned before. On behalf of George and myself, I would like to thank Intourist for all of the help that they have given us in planning one of the most thrilling Trans Siberian railway tours I would ever hope to experience. (Notice that I say ‘one of the most’ and not ‘the most’ as I will sure to be back to book again in the very near future!) Without their help and expertise this fantastic trip would not have been the same!

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Having a few days off of work made for a great opportunity to uncover the intrigue of the Russian capital with a Moscow City Break. After choosing my destination I decided that the best way for me to explore Moscow was in a three night, four day trip with plenty of excursions. When going on this trip I felt it was important that I experienced true Russian culture while still being able to visit many famous tourist hotspots.

Moscow is truly a burst of energy and this was apparent from the moment I stepped onto Russian soil. Being particularly interested in Russian history and art I wanted to ensure that I visited museums with a classical air around them such as the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum and the Tretyakov Gallery. The State Historical Museum of Russia was one of my personal favourites and is centrally located between Red Square and Manege Square. As well as being a fantastic piece of neo-Russian architecture it also houses wonderful exhibitions ranging from priceless artefacts from the Romanov Dynasty to a mass of over 500,000 fine arts.

Seeing many great sights that I could only dream of such as the Kremlin and Armoury made for the perfect Moscow City Break. I achieved this on day two of my trip while embarking on a Moscow city tour and was amazed by the amount of famous architecture and sights that could be seen in such a short amount of time. Afterwards a trip to the world famous Tretyakov Gallery was on the cards. This gallery is internationally known for holding the best collection of Russian art and icons; it was easy to see why with many beautiful and unique pieces of artwork on display to admire.

On the second evening I took a trip to the world famous Moscow State Circus. Usually I am not interested in anything resembling a circus; however, this is something that I would recommend to anybody staying in Moscow. From thrilling trapeze acts to unusual and exciting dancers and contortionists this was the perfect night out.

The Moscow Kremlin is one of the largest architectural ensembles in the world and it is also became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990. I had the privilege of exploring these fantastic architectural structures on the third day of my Moscow City Break and found it to be a truly enthralling experience. Following this I made a trip to the Armoury (which is located within the grounds of the Kremlin) where you can witness true Russian treasures such as the famous Faberge Egg Collection and the sleigh that Elizabeth rode from St Petersburg to Moscow for her coronation.

For my penultimate day in Moscow I chose to visit the famous Arbat and Metro. The Arbat Street is one of the most prestigious and desirable residential areas in Moscow, due to its pure beauty and architectural delights. Considering it is one of the oldest surviving streets in Moscow it has faired well as you can feel the buzzing energy with its many cafes and fantastic selection of fine foods. After visiting Arbat Street I moved on towards the famous Moscow Metro System. The undiluted intricacy of the art adorning the walls of the subway stations are truly an extraordinary sight. It is often described as a museum in itself, and this is something that I could personally vouch for.

This final excursion was the climax of my Moscow City Break before I had to travel home. Moscow is one of the most fascinating and mesmerising cities in the entire world. It embodies Russian art, culture and history and I am so thrilled to have been able to get the opportunity to travel to Moscow and experience all that I did in such a short period of time.