Dates and Prices 2019

Price per person: 1714 eur (double occupancy), 1506 eur (single occupancy)

Tour Code    Dates
CRG-1 24.05-31.05.2020
CRG-2 14.06-21.06.2020
CRG-3 28.06-05.07.2020
CRG-4 12.07-19.07.2020
CRG-5 26.07-02.08.2020
CRG-6 09.08-16.08.2020
CRG-7 23.08-30.08.2020

Included:
• 5 overnights in 3+* – 4* central located hotels;
• 7 buffet breakfasts;
• 3 dinners;
• English speaking tour leader services escorting the group;
• Tourist class coach service (no airport transfers);
• Bicycle trailer from day 2 to day 6;
• Rental bicycles from day 2 to day 6 (one extra for emergency);
• Pannier bag (10 l);
• Guided city tours in Moscow;
• Sightseeing bike tour of St. Petersburg;
• Visa support;
• Entrances: Moscow Kremlin.

Moscow

Highlights: Moscow city tour, the Kremlin of Moscow, Moscow river cruise (optional)

The trip begins in Moscow – the city that has been the heart of Russian political and cultural life and home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, including a number of World Heritage Sites.

Start your Russian adventures with the Moscow city tour that brings you to the world-famous Red Square, Moscow’s Kremlin and the stunning St. Basil’s Cathedral. Once you see this incredible ensemble, you will never forget it! Visit the Kremlin and learn about its history that is tightly connected to the dramatic history of the country.

In the evening you can choose to book an optional Moscow river cruise to admire the views of the majestic walls of the Kremlin, the Golden domes of Temples and the modern architectural structures in the evening lights.

Overnight: 4* centrally located hotel in Moscow

Moscow – Sergiev Posad

Highlights: Abramtsevo Estate, the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra

Today you will leave the bustling metropolis of Moscow and go to the historical town of Sergiev Posad.

You will start cycling in the picturesque Abramtsevo Estate that was home to a Russian colony of artists that became known in the 19th century for fostering the revival of Russian folk art. Together they designed their own houses and collected local crafts – all of which you can see here today.

You cycling route will end with the impressive ensemble of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, also called the Russian Vatican. It is a sacred place of the Russian land and a World Cultural Heritage site. Here you will step into the world of history and see “the pearl” of the Russian church architecture of the 15th-18th centuries.

Cycling: 25 km

Meals: B + D

Overnight: 3*+ centrally located hotel in Sergiev Posad

Lake Seliger – Valday

Highlights: Lake Seliger, Nilov Monatery

This morning you will cycle along Seliger lake – nature’s gem with crystal-clear water, sandy beaches, groves of birches and pine forests filled with the smell of resin. Cycle in this god-blessed environment through charming lakeside village of Svyatoe along to the Nilov Monastery located on an island in the middle of the lake.

Visit to the monastery, which was one of the largest monasteries in the Russian Empire. Today the monastery complex remains one of the most impressive ensembles of Neoclassical architecture in Eastern Europe and a popular pilgrimage destination for Orthodox believers.

There is the option to climb the stairs up the bell tower for breathtaking views. Later drive for about 3,5 hours (205 km) to Valday town, an ancient town famous for it’s bells. For many centuries, they served as a clock for the citizens, telling them the time for labor or rest, grief or happiness. Here visit the Museum of Bells presenting various bells from all over the world.

Cycling distance: 30 km

Meals: B+L

Overnight: 3*+ centrally located hotel in Valday

Valdayski National Park – Veliky Novgorod

Highlights: Valdaysky National Park,  Valday Iversky monastery, Veliky Novgorod

Spend the day cycling in Valdaysky National Park, a wonderful land of rivers, hills and lakes with a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status. It’s glacial landscape was formed during the ice age creating the Valdai Hills and 76 lakes of various origins. Today you will cycle in this amazing natural scenery. The route will bring you to the major site of this region  – the Valday Iversky monastery, located on the beautiful Selevetsky island in Valday lake. Since the 17^th century the monastery has been one of the most important centres of Orthodox religion in Russia; nowadays it’s a unique architectural monument and a centre of crafts – enamel, wood and stone carving arts. Don’t miss a chance to buy some authentic souvenirs from this special place.

Finish the day in Veliky Novgorod, a city called “the birthplace of Russia” that was a capital of Novgorod Republic and the biggest partner of the Hanseatic League in 12th-17th centuries, the link between medieval Europe and ancient Rus. Veliky Novgorod is called a city-museum of Old Russia, because no other place has preserved the same number of great monuments of architecture and monumental painting. Explore its outstanding architecture and frescos preserved in the medieval churches, monasteries and fortifications whose history is full of amazing as well as tragic pages.

Cycling distance: 38 km

Meals: B

Overnight: 4* centrally located hotel in Veliky Novgorod

Veliky Novgorod

Highlights: Veliky Vovgorod’s Kremlin, authentic Russian villages, Yuriev monastery, Open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture “Vitoslavlitsy”

Today will be an intensive day full of remarkable sights. Immerse yourself in the history of Russia by discovering the ancient Novgorod lands by bike: start the day in Veliky Novgorodby visiting the oldest Russia’s Kremlin till nowadays astonishing its visitors with its thoroughly planned strength and defensibility.

Drive (25 km) to the town of Borksi and continue cycle through authentic villages where you have a feeling of travelling in a time machine to see how babushkas are still living in wooden village houses.

Go back in time by visiting the 12^th century Church of St. George and Yuriev monastery, cited as Russia’s oldest monastery and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit the open-air museum of Wooden Architecture recreating the atmosphere of an ancient Russian village with amazing wooden churches and rural houses built in 16th – 19th cent.

Return to Veliky Novgorod. Ride ends next to the Novgorod Kremlin.

Cycling distance: 38 km

Meals: B

Overnight: 4* centrally located hotel in Veliky Novgorod

Veliky Novgorod – St. Petersburg

Highlights: Saint Petersburg cycling tour

Today continue to the beautiful city of Saint Petersburg (200 km, 3 hrs.). This city is called “The Cultural Capital” of Russia for a number of serious reasons: it houses several hundred museums and theaters, including the world’s top ballet.

Get on the bike and follow your guide for the Saint Petersburg cycling city tour to explore the city from an unusual angle. For three centuries, Saint Petersburg has been impressing visitors from all over the world and it doesn’t take much time to fall in love with this splendid city.

Cycle along the canals with lines of elegant places and bridges, admire the fairy-tale like cathedral “Our Savior on the Blood” and discover the Peter and Paul fortress, the birthplace of the city.

Cycling distance: 21 km

Meals: B

Overnight: 4* centrally located hotel in Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

Highlights: Saint Petersburg, the Hermitage museum (optional)

Enjoy a free day in St. Petersburg by visiting some of the numerous museums and palaces, buy souvenirs of traditional handcrafts, or maybe go to see the famous Russian ballet…

We offer an optional tour to the world-famous Hermitage Museum, located in the Winter Palace – the baroque masterpiece and residence of the Russian tsars. It boasts a collection of art from the Stone Age to the 20th century. The Hermitage is so large that, according to experts, it would take you 9 years to look at each item of the museum collection for just one minute! So, don’t get frustrated if you can’t see it all, but take away some special memories from this visit, because the Hermitage is definitely a “must see” museum for any art lover.

Meals: B

Overnight: 4* centrally located hotel in Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

Breakfast. Departure to the airport.

Payment Policy:

-10% non refundable 14 days after confirmation.

-90% non refundable 30 days before tour starts.

The payment must be made in EURO by bank transfer to the Baltic Blues account. Banking commissions and other banking charges resulting from the Customer’s bank are for the Customer account.

Force Majeure:

Baltic Blues Travel is not responsible for any alterations, cancellations or other changes beyond its control or due to force majeure.

Roads and bikes:

On this trip we will cycle 144 km over five days. We cycle mainly on quiet country roads and some gravel tracks. The route is mostly flat, but many provincial roads have potholes – although it is easy to avoid them on bike. The tour leader will lead the rides and a support vehicle will accompany the rides at all times.  The journey level is graded as easy.

The bikes that will be used are 8-gear Kalkhoff Voyager hybrid bikes (or similar) with front suspension. The correct frame size for your height will be chosen. A water bottle holder and rear pannier is included, as well as the facility to fit your own saddle (male frame stem size 27.2 mm, female frame stem size 30.5 mm). It is NOT possible to fit your own pedals to the bike.  You should bring your own helmet.

Tour packing information:

Clothing when cycling: quick drying cycle tops, padded cycle shorts, lightweight wind and water proof jacket and warmer breathable layers where local conditions require. Respectful clothing is required for the monastery visits, with shoulders covered.

Footwear when cycling:  If you are not bringing cycle shoes then try to bring stiff-soled shoes as these are better for cycling because they transmit your energy into the pedals more efficiently. This becomes more relevant and recommended the more demanding the grade is and the distances to cover. SPD cycle shoes are not well-suited to trips that combine sightseeing with cycling. Comfortable shoes, trainers, sandals or flip flops are useful when not on the bike.

Luggage: We recommend bringing a daypack and one main piece of luggage (total allowance of 20kg) which will be transported between hotels while you cycle.

Equipment: It is mandatory to bring a helmet on the tour.

Tipping: Voluntary; however, tipping is a part of life in this region