We love travelling, but we love exploring even more!  We take our guests around the world to unforgettable places and provide them with incredible, authentic experiences.  To do this we need to do our research, and this is something we take very seriously (it’s a tough job but somebody has to do it!).

Most recently we have been scouting out Russia, St. Petersburg and Moscow, to find those hidden gems that only the locals know about. This is something we do for all our tours to make sure we have genuine, first-hand local knowledge that we can pass on to you by providing a perfectly planned itinerary.

Insiders view of St. Petersburg

With a time difference of only two hours, and a relatively short three hour flight, Russia is ideal as a long weekend destination.  It is also the one place where vodka is cheaper than a cup of tea!

You could spend hours walking around St. Petersburg, full of tradition, history and stunning architecture, and there are lots of coffee shops if you need a break.

Everyone is really friendly and you can feel safe wandering around.  It can get really busy in summer but everything stays open until 2am, many places opening all night, but thankfully this doesn’t mean lots of people wandering around who have perhaps had one too many…! Lots of people speak English and handily there is an English translation on signposts.

The Subway can be a challenge, especially knowing which one of the green lines to take, this is definitely where an experienced guide is a bonus.

Top 3 places to visit

The State Hermitage Museum is always top on everyone’s list.  The breathtakingly large art displays within the magnificent Winter Palace are truly amazing to see.  Given the sheer scale of the Hermitage, a bit of forward planning is needed to stay away from the crowds and ensure you have a peaceful and unique experience.

St Isaac’s Cathedral is another visit top of the list, you have to see it to truly appreciate its beauty.  Many people bypass the museum in favour of climbing the 262 steps to catch the city views, but it is well worth doing both.

To complete the top three list is the Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood.  This five-domed masterpiece is one of St Petersburg’s most elaborate and took over 24 years to build. Not hard to see why.

Insiders view of Moscow

Moscow’s metro system is a destination in itself and one of the busiest and most beautiful in the world.  It’s more like a museum than a subway, with 44 of its 200 stations being listed as cultural heritage sites.

One top tip, it is extremely hot inside so always take some water as there is a distinct lack of air con.

We currently offer two tours to Russia; a journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow or a deluxe river cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg.  Please get in touch for further details about any of our escorted tours.

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Holiday tours are operated by The Big Journey Company Limited. Registered in England. Registered office: Marron Bank, Branthwaite, Cumbria, CA14 4SZ. Registered number: 6532140. The Big Journey Company Limited is a member of The Travel Trust Association member number U5675 and holds an Air Travel Organiser’s License number T7282.

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