Russia - Moscow to Saint Petersburg Bike Tour 2018 Guided 9 days / 8 nights Commons.wikimedia.org The cycling route goes from Moscow, the modern Russian capital, to the old one, St. Petersburg, through the oldest one, Novgorod the Great (UNESCO world heritage). You will be charmed by the spirit of olden times in Staritsa, Torzhok and Staraya Russa. In Staraya Russa we will visit the museum of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, who wrote his famous novels while living there. IN Novgorod you will see its ancient Kremlin (Detinets), magnificent XI century St. Sofia Cathedral and the wonder Russian Millennium Memorial. You will be surprised with the luxurious beauty of grand palaces and parks, built for Russian Tsars in the St. Petersburg area. After the tour you can return to Moscow by comfortable train or stay longer in the north capital of Russia.
Itinerary Day to Day Day 1: Moscow arrival Arrival in Moscow (no cycling). You will be met at the airport by a guide and taken to the hotel. The hotel is located in the east part of Moscow next to the biggest Moscow Park and five minutes walk from the underground station. It takes fifteen mintues to get to the Red Square by metro. After short briefing and buffet dinner we will go for a walk in the center of Moscow. (Moscow accommodation is not included in June World Cup tour.) Day 2: Staritsa - Volga 55 km Early bus transfer to Staritsa (230 km). After short city tour in Staritsa including recently restored Assumption monastery we set up our bicycles. A quiet road through Russian countryside leads us to a charming resort hotel. A swimming pool and the beautiful Volga, the longest European river, are waiting for us in the evening. Day 3: Torzhok 75 km We continue our way to Torzhok. The road almost does not have cars and twists through a nice forest. On our way we will stop near house museum of famous Russian opera singer Sergey Lemeshev. Torzhok an old Russian town, famous for its unique architecture and folk craft of gold work embroidery. Chicken cutlets (called Pozharskie, were invented here. Great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin used to eat them here. To be in Staritsa and not to try Pozharsky cutlets is impossible. Day 4: Lake Seliger 50 km We start a day with bus transfer to Seliger Lake (100 km). We visit the Saint Nil monastery. Overnight in the hotel near Lake Seliger. You may try a real Russian steam bath (banya). Day 5: Staraya Russa 75 km Early bus transfer to Novy Brod (100 km). From here we cycle to Staraya Russa around 75 km (mostly good road with very few cars). Staraya Russa is old provincial town famous for a balneological (spa) resort and Fedor Dostoevsky museum. (Fyodor Dostoevsky used to live in Staraya Russa from 1872 until his death in 1881. Here he wrote his novels The Brothers Karamazov and The Possessed.) After settling in the hotel we walk in the spa resort with mineral water tasting.
Day 6: Veliky Novgorod 35 km After visiting Dostoevsky museum there is a short bus transfer to Borki (75 km) from where we cycle a scenic road along Lake Ilmen to Veliky Novgorod (35 km). On our way we stop in Ur evo to see the oldest Russian monastery and the open air museum of wooden architecture "Vitoslavitsy". Veliky Novgorod is one of the oldest Russian cities and is supposed to be the most influential in that time which gives us grounds to call it the first capital of Russia. The center of the city including outstanding Kremlin is World Heritage Site. We stay in a hotel next to the Kremlin. City tour in Novgorod with a local guide. Day 7: Novgorod St. Petersburg 60 km You start in Novgorod and cycle to Spasskaya Polist around 70 kilometers along Volkhov River by a quiet road. We finish near the ruins of Arakcheev. From there we will take a bus to St. Petersburg (150 km) Day 8: St. Petersburg City tour with a local guide in St. Petersburg including Metro, Nevsky prospect, downtown, Hermitage. Farewell dinner. Day 9: St. Petersburg departure It is time to say goodbye, hopefully we ll see you back soon on our future trips. We wish you a good flight back home or a pleasant stay in St Petersburg.
Route Technical Characteristics: Route Profile: Easy. Relaxed cycling in mostly flat terrain. Most roads along the route do not have heavy traffic and are paved with asphalt except one gravel road (14 km). Distance: 350 km Travel Season: Departure dates: June 24; July 21 and August 25, 2018
Price per Person: June Tour July and August Tour Double Occupancy 1200.00 1250.00 Single Supplement 200.00 200.00 Bike Rental (21-24 speed) 100.00 100.00 Extra Night Moscow Double/Twin Room without breakfast 80.00 80.00 Extra Night Moscow Single Room without breakfast 70.00 70.00 Extra Night St. Petersburg Double/Twin Room with breakfast 85.00 80.00 Extra Night St. Petersburg Single Room with breakfast 70.00 70.00 Airport transfer to St. Petersburg after the tour 40.00 40.00 Accommodation: We stay only in comfortable hotels (double or single accommodation with private bathroom). Included: Visa application support Transfer from airport in Moscow Accommodation All meals (from dinner on the arrival day until breakfast on the departure day A sag wagon (support vehicle and baggage carrier) All transfers along the route Guided excursions and museums fees as described in the itinerary English speaking cycling guides and mechanic Map T-shirt Not included: consulate fee for visa processing flight or train to/from Moscow health and travel insurance alcoholic drinks permission for photo-video-taking in the museums bicycle rental
Bikes They have aluminum frame, no shocks, 28" 40 mm wide wheels, 21 or 24 speeds. They equipped with a rack, bottle holder and fenders. Different sizes are available Hybrid Bikes Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. www.okcycletours.com THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 TICO Ontario Registration No: 50022848