Day 1: Arrival
Welcome to the legendary capital of Russia - Moscow! Upon arrival, your private driver transfers you to the hotel for check-in.

The rest of the day is free to relax in your cozy room, dine in one of the nearby restaurants or start exploring the amazing city center on your own.

Day 2: Moscow City Tour & Visit to the Kremlin
Following breakfast you meet your private guide at the hotel lobby and go on a wonderful 8-hour city tour around the most outstanding Moscow landmarks.

During the tour you explore the fairy tale Red Square that is especially charming in winter with all this sparkling snow covering the bright domes of the St. Basil's Cathedral, which you get to enter and explore from inside too, see the brightly illuminated exteriors of the GUM and enjoy one of the best city views at Sparrow Hills.

After lunch in a city restaurant, you explore an incredible Moscow must-see icon - the Kremlin. You go inside the Kremlin walls to visit it's famous Armoury Chamber that houses a unique collection of crown jewels, stunning coronation finery, hand-forged armor and weapons, royal carriages and sleighs, and world-famous Fabergé eggs.

After the tour you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free.

Day 3: Tretyakov Gallery & Moscow Subway Tour
Following breakfast, you meet your guide at the hotel lobby and have a transfer to the world-famous treasure trove of the Russian fine art, the Tretyakov Gallery, where you have amazing time viewing the gems of its collection, including the famous masterpieces of Ivan Aivazovsky, Mikhail Vrubel and Viktor Vasnetsov.

After the tour, you take a ride on the Moscow Subway and feel the taste of local life and explore the most beautiful stations of Moscow Subway, which is known to be one of the most beautiful and efficient metro systems in the world. After touring the subway, you walk back to your hotel and have the rest of the day free.

Day 4: Russian Cooking Class
In the morning after breakfast you check out from your hotel and meet with your driver. You will be taken on an exclusive cooking class to get the real taste of Russia.

Together with a professional English-speaking chef you first go to a local market to buy fresh local produce. Then during the cooking class you learn the secrets of making a perfect Russian borscht, learn to make traditional pelmeni dumplings and thin blini pancakes.

After the tour you are transferred to the airport.

Day 4: Arrival
Upon arrival to Murmansk you have a transfer to the hotel. The rest of the evening is at your leisure.

Day 5: City Tour & Northern Lights Tour
Upon arrival to Murmasnk, your driver takes you to the hotel. 

In the hotel, meet your local guide to have a city tour of Murmansk.

Today you visit the memorial complex Alesha in honor of the defenders of the Soviet polar region during the Great Patriotic War. You get to rise to the observation platform, opening incredible views of the Murmansk city center. Then you continue to the monument "Zhduschey" connected with the life in the Russian extreme north. Also, you visit the memorial complex dedicated to the tragic events that took place on the Kursk Submarine, see the Spas on Water church and the lighthouse. A definite highlight is a 1-hour guided visit to the famous Lenin Nuclear Icebreaker.*

Later in the evening, you are in for an overwhelming and unforgettable activity as you are going to Northern Lights seeking**. Tonight you see fantastic winter landscapes accompanied by magnificent views of the Northern Lights - this is a trip you will remember for years to come! You return to the hotel at about 2 a.m.

*Note: a tour of Lenin Nuclear Icebreaker is not guaranteed and may be unavailable during your visit.
**Depending on the weather conditions Northern Lights seeking tour can be rescheduled for the next day with a higher possibility of witnessing the Aurora Borealis.

Day 6: Snow Village & Snowmobile Tour
Following breakfast meet your guide-driver and start a tour to the Snow Village. 

Located at the foot of the Khibiny Mountains, the unique Snow Derevnya Complex boasts a large territory that encompasses a snow labyrinth, beautiful snow, and ice sculptures, as well as a visitor's center and a gift shop. You have about two hours to explore the village on your own.

As a highlight of the day you are invited to go on a snowmobile tour. In about 1.5 hours you travel about 25 km along the glacier valley of Kukisvum to the Kukisvumchorr Path that connects the South and North parts of Khibiny. The tour ends at the Serdtsevidnoye Lake, from where one can get a good view onto the Kuniyok River valley. On your way back you do a speed circle on the thick ice of Maly Vudyavr lake.

After the tour, you are transferred back to the hotel.

Extra meal included: lunch

*Note: Snow Village is available from December 23d. Snowmobile Tour is available from December 1st.

Day 7: Husky Park and Saami Village Tour
Following breakfast meet your guide-driver in the hotel lobby and start an exciting tour to Husky Park and Saami Village.

Meet the beautiful blue-eyed dogs and learn about this breed. Then enjoy the beauty of winter nature behind a bunch of wagging tails during an exciting Husky dog ride. Your dog sledding distance is of about 1.5 km, taking in the beauty of the winter forest. 

Following a traditional lunch, you are taken to the territory of the Saami settlement to meet the locals. During the tour, you get to learn about the daily life and history of the Saami people and visit the enchanted alleys idols of 4 elements - fire, earth, water, air and 5 enchanted idols of love, happiness, luck, fate, and health. You also go reindeer sledding, play traditional Saami games and take pictures in the national clothing of the Saami people.

After the tour, you are transferred back to the hotel. 

Day 8: Departure 
Following breakfast in your hotel, you check out and depart from Murmansk.

Day 8: Arrival
Upon arrival, your driver meets takes you to your centrally located hotel for overnight.

Day 9: St. Petersburg City Tour
After breakfast, you meet your guide at the hotel lobby and go on an amazing panoramic city tour around the most outstanding attractions of St. Petersburg.

During the tour you visit the gorgeous St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood which stands on the site where Russia's great emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded, and the Peter and Paul Fortress - a burial place of almost all the Russian emperors and empresses from Peter the Great to Nicholas II and his family.

You are then invited for afternoon tea in Astoria where you have a wide choice of Russian sweets, crapes with sauces, traditional Russian meat pirozhki, sandwiches and cookies, as well as coffee and tea.

After the tour, you return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free.

Extra meal included: appetizers and beverage

Day 10: Trip to Pushkin, Troyka Ride & Russian Vodka Museum
After breakfast, you meet your guide and driver who take you to the outskirts of St. Petersburg to Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo) to explore the brilliant Catherine's Palace that is a striking example of baroque architecture gifted by Peter the Great to his wife Catherine I.

During the tour, you take a walk through the lavish parks and gardens of this outstanding palace and enjoy its gorgeous interiors, including the replica of the world-renowned Amber Room.

Later this day you enjoy a traditional Russian amusement - a famous Russian troika ride.

You are then invited to the famous Russian Vodka Museum - the first museum in Russia and in the world dedicated exclusively to Vodka. Here you get to learn interesting facts about vodka history, culture and drinking traditions and taste different types of this spirit drink.

After the tour you return to St. Petersburg and have the rest of the day free.

Day 11: Tour of the Hermitage Museum
Following breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel lobby and go to the legendary Hermitage Museum, that houses its unique collection of world art, including the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, El Greco, Francisco Goya and Thomas Gainsborough, in the halls of the Winter Palace.

They say that if you were to spend three minutes by each of the exhibits in the Hermitage, it would have taken you three years to see the entire exhibition. But don't worry - you have an experienced guide, who will show you the best rooms and halls of the exhibit within several hours.

Day 12: Departure
Today is the final day of your exciting winter adventure in Russia. After breakfast, you check out from the hotel and your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight back home.

We hope you enjoyed your Russian experience and will plan your next trips with Firebird Tours!