Small Golden Ring tour

The Golden Ring is a chain of small ancient towns located North-East of Moscow and famous for forming a ring. You will be traveling on one of the oldest and most popular tourist routes through the Russian provinces. All towns along the way were built between the eleventh and seventeenth centuries and are often referred to as 'the museums under an open sky.

During this tour you will view many unique monuments of Russian architecture and observe life within Russian provinces, which, as in past centuries, remains unhurried and calm.

There has been a big debate which cities are included within Russia’s Golden Ring. Therefore the Soviets made an official list with Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl Zalessky, Rostov Veliky, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo, Vladimir and Suzdal.

Although each Golden Ring city has its own charms, the architecture is somewhat similar. Therefore it would not make sense to include all of the Golden Ring cities in your Golden ring itinerary.

Our Small Golden Ring itinerary includes the cities of Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov Veliky, Sergyiev Posad. 

Accommodation: hotel *** +, 3 times meal
Guaranteed departures from 2 pax with English, German, French, Spanish, Italian guide
Tour starts and ends in Moscow

1 DAY: VLADIMIR – BOGOLYUBOVO – SUZDAL

Depart from Moscow hotel by bus for Vladimir.

Lunch in Vladimir.

Bus city tour.

Vladimir – the old capital of north-eastern Rus’. Visit the city’s sights dating back to the 12th century: the Golden Gates, symbolizing the grandeur and power of the ancient Rus’, St. Dmitry cathedral dating back to the period prior to the country’s invasion by the Mongols, and the Assumption cathedral — the masterpiece of a white-stone architecture which boasts frescoes by Andrey Rublyov. Visit to the museum “Crystal, laqueur miniature painting and embroidery”.

Transfer to Bogolyubovo.
Visit to the castle of Grand Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky and the church of the Intercession on the Nerl.

Transfer to Suzdal, accommodation and dinner in the hotel. Free time

2 DAY: SUZDAL – IVANOVO – KOSTROMA

Breakfast in the hotel.

Bus city tour.

Bus city tour of Suzdal, a museum of a city, counting more than 200 historical monuments, many of which are UNESCO Heritage sites. Visit Trading Rows and the Trading square, the Suzdal Kremlin, the Saviour monastery of St. Euthymius and listen to the concert of church bell music, the museum of wooden architecture with the buildings of the 17-19th century, enjoy the panorama of the city from the observation platform Ilyinsky lug.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Depart for Kostroma.

Drive through the city of Ivanovo for a short city tour.

Arrive in Kostroma, accommodation and dinner in the hotel. Free time.

3 DAY: KOSTROMA – YAROSLAVL

Breakfast in the hotel.

Bus city tour of Kostroma.

Welcome to this trading city which preserved till today the old look of the architectural ensemble of the 18th century trading rows. Visit the city’s central square (nicknamed as “a frying pan”) and the fire tower of the 19th century. Visit to the Ipatiev monastery. Visit to the Museum of cheese and cheese tasting.

Departure for Yaroslavl.

Lunch in a local restaurant in Yaroslavl.

City tour of Yaroslavl with the visit to the grounds of the monastery of Our Saviour’s Transfiguration.

Outside view of the church of Elijah the Prophet. You will hear the review of the city’s history and see its major sights: the confluence of the rivers Volga and Kotorosl (“Strelka”), the Assumption cathedral, the Volga embankment reconstructed to honor the millennial anniversary of Yaroslavl, drive through the central quarters of Yaroslavl boasting unique architectural monuments included in the UNESCO Heritage list.

Accommodation in the hotel in Yaroslavl, dinner in the hotel. Free time.

4 DAY: ROSTOV VELIKY – PERESLAVL-ZALESSKY – SERGYIEV POSAD

Breakfast in the hotel

Depart for Rostov Veliky.

Excursion to the Rostov kremlin — residential quarters of the Rostov bishops.

View the architectural monuments on the kremlin grounds, the Bishop’s house, the Cathedral square, and Metropolitan’s garden. Visit the ceramics workshop. Exhibition ”Walls and passages of the Rostov kremlin”.

Transfer to Pereslavl-Zalessky.

Visit of main sights of Pereslavl-Zalessky, the home city of Alexander Nevsky and the cradle of the Russian fleet.

Lunch in a local restaurant in Pereslavl-Zalessky.

Transfer to Sergyiev Posad. Excursion to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius.

Transfer to Moscow.

• Pre/post hotels in Moscow
• Extra pre/port tour in Moscow
• transfer from/to airports in Moscow

• Single supplement in the hotels

Please contact us for Price List and reservations