Russia (Start Helsinki)

12 days
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
The name might just be Russia, but with 5 countries on the cards, there’s much more to this tour. Starting in Helsinki, make your way through colourful cities of the former Soviet Union. From ‘Venice of the North’ to the economic hub of Moscow, there’s loads of history & stories to discover. Do as the Romans (or Russians) do & sample vodka, see the fa...

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • See the Sibelius Monument, the Olympic Stadium and Senate Square
    • Visit the 'Church of the Rock'
    • Locally guided tour of historical St. Petersburg
    • Locally guided tour of the Hermitage, former home of the Russian Tsars & one of the world's largest Art & Culture Museums
    • Visit Peterhof Palace Gardens
    • See the Church of the Spilled Blood and the Admiralty
    • See the St. Peter and St. Paul Fortress
    • Locally guided tour of Novgorod's old town
    • See the Millennium Bell
    • Visit Red Square, the Kremlin & see Lenin's Mausoleum & St. Basil's Cathedral

What's this trip about?

    The name might just be Russia, but with 5 countries on the cards, there’s much more to this tour. Starting in Helsinki, make your way through colourful cities of the former Soviet Union. From ‘Venice of the North’ to the economic hub of Moscow, there’s loads of history & stories to discover. Do as the Romans (or Russians) do & sample vodka, see the famous Moscow Circus & tour the Kremlin. You’ll tour the Hermitage Grounds in St. Petersburg, Brest Fortress in Belarus & the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw as you head west into Poland.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityEurope/Helsinki
End CityEurope/Warsaw

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Russia

Attractions

  • Helsinki
  • Moscow
  • St. Petersburg
  • Warsaw

Activities

  • Culture
  • Trekking

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Helsinki

Check-in to your hotel and meet up with your fellow travellers and Trip Manager. A blend of Finnish and Russian influences, Helsinki is a 21st century city with a lot of quirky aspects. Your Trip Manager will take you to check out Temppeliaukio, a church cut out of ...

Day 2 Helsinki to St. Petersburg

Leaving Helsinki today, the coach travels through pine forests and Finland’s vast wilderness, before crossing over the border into Russia, the world’s biggest country. Get ready for arrival at the imperial city of St. Petersburg, sitting right at the crossroads of Eu...

Day 4 St. Petersburg

Get a feel for the city’s UNESCO World Heritage centre and a look into Peter the Great’s imagination as our Local Guide uncovers many of St. Petersburg’s best-known sites. You’ll see the Admiralty and the stunning Church on the Spilled Blood, where Alexander II was ki...

Day 5 St. Petersburg to Novgorod

There’s a definite change of pace as we enter the peaceful, shady streets of Novgorod, an ancient fortress city. Filled with old churches and a Kremlin of its own, this lovely town once suffered terribly at both the hands of Ivan the Terrible and, more recently, the ...

Day 6 Novgorod to Moscow

En route to Moscow we make a stop in Klin, the former home of famous Russian composer Tchaikovsky, and see where the creator of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker worked. Later today, we arrive in Moscow, Russia’s economic powerhouse, political point of power and cultural ...

Day 8 Moscow

With two full days, there’s plenty of time to uncover Moscow. Chalk up a truly local experience with a ride on one of the planet’s busiest subway systems. The Metro is packed with art that was installed under Stalin, meaning that Moscow’s Metro stations double as fasc...

Day 9 Moscow to Minsk

We pass by Borodino, where the bloodiest single day of battle took place during the Napoleon led invasion of Russia. Later, pull into the capital of Belarus, Minsk. Torn to the ground in World War II and then rebuilt by Stalin, Minsk became the model Communist city ...

Day 10 Minsk to Warsaw

Start the day with a visit to the 19th century Brest Fortress, a stronghold of Russian resistance during the German invasion of Russia in World War II. Back on the coach, journey on to budding Warsaw. See how Poland’s capital started up again from scratch after Worl...

Day 11 Warsaw

Go back in time as our Local Guide gives you a crash-course in Warsaw’s troubled history. You’ll see Warsaw’s Ghetto, Chopin’s park, as well as the old town. Hear how this town has been all about survival, being literally reduced to rubble, and how Warsaw then picke...

Day 12 Depart Warsaw/Berlin

The trip ends after breakfast in Warsaw and it’s time to say farewell to your new friends. Otherwise catch a free transfer back to Berlin where your trip ends upon arrival.

Hotel

Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,449
Price per day$121
Last Updated: 0/18/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Contiki.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Staff was great. From tour manager, Jelly, to the local guides. All knowledgable and great!

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Tour Operator

Contiki

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We’re firm believers that life’s greatest experiences are made better by the people you share them with. That’s why Contiki invented group travel for young people in 1962 and we’ve spent the past 53 years perfecting it. You’ll explore amazing destinations with a group of 18-35 year olds from around the world who share your passion for adventure, good times and creating memories that define what it is to be young, wild and free.

No two travellers are the same and we know that, which is why we offer eight unique ways to explore the world. We have a number of options to choose from to create a vacation that’s perfect for you, from budget to accommodation style.

We're all about exploring the world with like-minded people, which is why we only run trips for 18-35 year olds, to celebrate being young, spirited and curious. You can expect to join a group of 18-53 awesome people from around the world on our Europe, Australia, North America and New Zealand trips, and in Asia and Latin America it's all about small group adventures with up to 25 travellers. Don't worry if you're not traveling as a couple or with a friend from home – though there are plenty of pairs, 50% of our travellers set off solo, meaning you'll have a ton of opportunities to make new friends.

With over 270 trips around the world and plenty of departure dates to work into your schedule, you'll never be short of options on where to go for your next great adventure.

About the company:
Contiki are the world leaders in social youth travel. We’ve been providing amazing travel experiences for young travellers, from 18-35 years old, since 1962. Imagine how good you would be at something if you had been doing it for more than 60 years?

Everything about Contiki is deeply rooted in our core values ‘Make Every Moment Count’ and ‘We’re about people’. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk and live by our brand philosophy of ‘Travel.Together.’ which means to travel with one another, the destinations we visit, the cultures we enjoy and the environment, too.

Why we love this operator
Their trips create life-long memories for young people setting off to discover the world.
What they’re known for
Social travel for 18-35 year olds around the world.

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Logistics

Accommodation

11 nights accommodation: 11 nights in hotel upgrade Modern, air-conditioned coach with powerpoints for charging Overnight cruise Hotel tips, local taxes & service charges,
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
  • 11 breakfasts
  • 1 lunch
  • 1 Regional Dinner: Polish feast in Warsaw
  • 4 dinners
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
contiki-contiki-274

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