Russia Tour 7 Nights Including Extra Tours Eid al-Adha Special LED-VKO
Tour details
Day 1: Istanbul – St. Petersburg, May 24, 2026
We meet our valued guests 4 hours before departure at 04:10 in front of the THY counter at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal. After ticketing, baggage, and boarding procedures, we depart for St. Petersburg at 08:10 on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK401. Upon arrival at 11:55, we transfer to our bus and begin our city tour. St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city after Moscow, is also a very important center of art and science. Having a very important place in industry as well, St. Petersburg has written its name into history in almost every field of life. Founded in 1703 by Russian Tsar Peter I, the city’s panoramic tour will include the Admiralty Building, which appears on Nevsky Prospect, the city’s almost main artery, named after Alexander Nevsky, the most famous hero in Russian history; Kazan Cathedral, a small replica of the famous St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome; Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace; Stroganov Palace; Gostiny Dvor, founded as a bazaar 250 years ago and now used as a shopping center, though not as large or deeply rooted as the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; the Russian National Library, one of the largest libraries in the world; the Singer Building, whose founding story caused considerable controversy in its time; the Eliseyev Building with its magnificent stained glass and bronze interior; Aurora Cinema, also known as Piccadilly Cinema and often mentioned in the memoirs of writer Nabokov; the famous Anichkov Bridge, which bears the traces of the Siege of Leningrad and has a special place in Russian literature; and many more structures. After the tour, overnight at our hotel
St. Petersburg City Tour included!
Day 2: St. Petersburg, May 25, 2026
After breakfast, we depart from our hotel for the Hermitage Museum. The Hermitage Museum possesses a unique collection established in 1764 by Empress Catherine II and today regarded as one of the largest and most prestigious art museums in the world. Initially created as Catherine’s private art collection, the museum grew over time through purchases and donations made during the imperial era and was opened to the public in 1852. The museum consists of six historic buildings, led by the Winter Palace, which dazzles with its baroque architecture. These structures host not only works of art but also the glorious past of the Russian Empire. In particular, the seizure of the Winter Palace during the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution became one of the most symbolic moments in Russian history. The Hermitage collection includes works by masters of world art such as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rubens, Van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso. In addition, archaeological works from ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations attract great interest. With more than 3 million works, the Hermitage is not only a museum but also a cultural temple where art and history intertwine. It offers every visitor the splendor of the past and humanity’s artistic heritage.
After our tour, we transfer back to our hotel and overnight at the hotel.
Hermitage Museum Tour included!
Day 3: St. Petersburg, May 26, 2026
After breakfast. On this special tour, which best reflects the elegant silhouette and magnificent architecture of St. Petersburg, we visit Peter & Paul Fortress, one of the first places where the city was founded. Located within the fortress walls, Peter & Paul Cathedral is of great architectural and historical importance as the burial place of the Romanov Dynasty. Its high gilded bell tower is one of the most impressive examples of Russian Baroque architecture. While touring this magnificent cathedral with our guide, you can listen to stories from the Russian Tsarist period and closely see the traces of the dynasty. After our visit to the fortress, we proceed to the harbor for the Rivers & Canals Boat Tour, which earned St. Petersburg the nickname “Venice of the North.” As we move among the elegant curves of the Fontanka, Neva, and Moika rivers, you will have the opportunity to see the Hermitage Museum, Anichkov Bridge, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Mikhailovsky Palace, and many more historical structures from the water in panoramic view. As the city lights reflect on the river surface, you will discover the romantic atmosphere of St. Petersburg from a different perspective. After our tour, return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
Peter & Paul Cathedral and Boat Tour included!
Day 4 St. Petersburg – Moscow (by high-speed train) May 27, 2026
After breakfast, check-out from the rooms and transfer to the train station. After a pleasant journey by high-speed train and being met upon arrival, the places we will see on our Moscow city tour with our private vehicle include the historic center, Red Square, which has witnessed political and social upheavals; St. Basil’s Cathedral, built by the Tsar known as Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century, whose every dome corresponds to a Russian victory; the monument statue in front of the cathedral depicting two famous Russian princes, Minin and Pozharsky, one of the city’s symbols; the GUM Shopping Center immediately after it; the neighboring Kremlin Palace; the magnificent Lenin Mausoleum, housing the mummified body of Lenin, the symbol of communist ideology worldwide; the Karl Marx statue and, directly opposite it, the famous Bolshoi Theater building, operating since the 18th century; a little farther on, the famous Duma Parliament Building, where Russia’s first elected parliament began work in 1906; Voskresensky, built in the 16th century and bombed in 1931 so that tanks could enter Red Square, once considered the entrance gates of Red Square; and the Russian Historical Museum. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel and free time. Overnight at our hotel.
Moscow City Tour included!
Day 5: Moscow, May 28, 2026
After breakfast, we depart from our hotel for our Kremlin Palace and Novodevichy Nazım Hikmet’s Grave tour. Our first stop on the tour is Novodevichy Cemetery. The Novodevichy Convent, which we will first see panoramically, was founded in 1524. Over time, it became the place where the stars of many would-be tsarinas faded. Although it was ordered to be destroyed by Napoleon in 1812, the nuns managed to prevent this decision. Completely evacuated in 1922 and left to its fate, the convent reopened after restoration in 1994. In addition to the Novodevichy Convent within the complex, the cemetery of Nazım Hikmet and his wife Veronica, as well as the graves of Anton Chekhov and Gogol, are also located here. After our history-filled tour, we head to the Kremlin. Meaning “castle,” the Kremlin is not only a symbol of Moscow but also of Russia as a whole, a complex of structures. While the structure defining the eastern boundary of Red Square with its eastern walls was built at the end of the 15th century, the original wooden walls date back to the 12th century. Today, within the grounds containing the Kremlin museums, the Grand Kremlin Palace Complex, the Concert Hall, the Presidential Building and administrative buildings, as well as two cathedrals, there is also a “Space Tree.” The tree, planted two days after Yuri Gagarin, the first human to go into space, completed his mission and returned to Earth, can also be seen from the Moscow River. The story of the bell tower and cannon built by Tsar Ivan is both entertaining and informative thanks to the enjoyable narration of the tour guide. The famous Empress Catherine’s crown, made of 5,000 diamond stones, also awaits those who want to see it in the museum. After our tour, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
Kremlin Palace and Novodevichy Cemetery Tour included!
Day 6 Moscow, May 29, 2026
After breakfast, we depart from our hotel for our Moscow Metro and Arbat Street tour. Our tour begins with a visit to the Moscow Metro, which is considered by almost the entire world to be the most beautifully decorated metro. This artistic marvel, used daily by millions, began construction in 1931 and continues to the present day. Afterwards, we head to Arbat Street, Moscow’s busiest avenue. Today, strolling along Arbat Street, the most famous street in Moscow and Russia, whose history dates back to 1493, and which takes its name either from the word “Gorbat,” meaning “hill” in Slavic languages, or according to another explanation from the Arabic Rabad, meaning “suburb” or “outskirts,” we will live its history and watch the artistic works of anonymous painters along the street, one after another. After our tour, return to our hotel and overnight at the hotel.
Moscow Metro and Arbat Street Tour included!
Day 7 Moscow, May 30, 2026
After breakfast, we set off for one of Moscow’s most impressive museums, the World War II – Victory Museum. In this museum, which contains the most comprehensive works related to the period Russia calls the “Great Patriotic War,” we will have the opportunity to see sections narrating the war years chronologically, medals, military equipment, interactive reenactments, and impressive panel wall paintings.
Then, by taking a short walk in the Victory Park (Park Pobedy) area, we have the opportunity to examine tanks, aircraft, and war vehicles displayed outdoors. At the end of our tour, we transfer to our hotel at the designated time. Overnight at our hotel.
World War II – Victory Museum Tour included!
Day 8 Moscow-Istanbul May 31, 2026
After breakfast, check-out from the rooms and free time until the time our guide specifies. At the designated time, our airport transfer takes place. Departure to Istanbul at 19:25 on Turkish Airlines flight TK416. After a comfortable and pleasant flight, arrival in Istanbul at 23:25 and the end of our tour. We bid farewell to our valued guests, hoping to see you again on your next trip.
Hotels to Be Used for Accommodation;
Moscow 4* Edge by Seligerskaya or similar
St. Petersburg 4* Park Inn Pulkovskaya or similar
What's included
Included Services:
• Plane tickets on Turkish Airlines scheduled flights on the Istanbul-Moscow / St Petersburg-Istanbul route
• 4 nights in Moscow, 3 nights in St. Petersburg, accommodation with breakfast in 4* hotels
• Moscow City Tour, Kremlin Palace and Novodevichy Cemetery Tour, Moscow Metro and Arbat Street Tour, 2 World War II Museum Tour
• St. Petersburg City Tour, Hermitage Museum Tour, Peter & Paul Cathedral and Boat Tour, Peterhof Palace Tour
• Economy class ticket for the Sapsan Express Train between St. Petersburg and Moscow
• Airport-Hotel-Airport transfers
• Turkish Guide Service
Not included
Services Not Included:
• Overseas Departure Tax Stamp
• Electronic Visa Fee
• Travel Insurance (Up to Age 65)
• Travel insurance (ages 66-75)
• All kinds of hotel extras and personal expenses
• Extra Tours
• Hotel taxes (a mandatory payment of 50 Euros per person, including city tax, check point fees, local service charges, handling fee, bus entry fees, and operational service expenses, will be collected in cash by the guide before the departure of the tour)
Need to Know
GENERAL CONDITIONS
1- General Conditions are an integral part of the tour program and cannot be considered separately from the tour program.
2- If sufficient participation is not achieved for the trip; the Agency may cancel the tour up to 21 days before the departure date. In such a case, the cancellation information will be communicated to the guest. The full tour price will be refunded to the guest. For the refund of additional services purchased outside the tour; the domestic connecting flight purchased from the Agency will also be refunded to the guest, but visa services and travel health insurance cannot be refunded if a visa application has been made on behalf of the guest using these services, as they will have been used. If no visa application has been made, the visa and travel health insurance will also be canceled and the fee refunded. If the guest purchased the domestic connecting flight from a different product provider independently of the Agency, they cannot request any refund from the Agency if the trip is canceled by the Agency. The guest accepts in advance any material or moral losses that may arise due to the cancellation of the tour when purchasing the tour, and the Agency cannot be held responsible.
3- If sufficient participation is not achieved for the trip, the Agency has the right, in good faith, not to cancel the tour. In this case, since the tour will be provided individually for the guest, the guide service included in the package will only cover the overseas round-trip airport transfer.
Cancellation and Changes
4- On our tours, tickets for transportation are issued at the time of reservation. For cancellations made more than 30 days before the tour departure date, the cost of these non-refundable flight tickets, which are not eligible for cancellation, change, or refund, will be charged as a penalty.
5- Our guests have the right to cancel without penalty, provided that they notify the Agency in writing up to 30 days before the tour departure date, excluding airline tickets that have been paid for and/or committed to by the Agency. If there are fewer than 31 days left until the trip start date, they may cancel by paying a penalty equal to 50% of the remaining tour fee after the flight ticket cost; if there are 15 days or less left until the trip start date, they may cancel by paying the full tour fee as a penalty. In the event of a cancellation request, information should be obtained in advance regarding the refund status of additional services such as domestic connections, visa services, and travel health insurance, as the cancellation/refund conditions may vary depending on the cancellation request period. The Agency cannot make any commitment regarding the cancellation/refund of additional services.
Guiding Services and Optional Tours
6- The days and times of the tours specified in the program may be changed by the guide according to the opening/closing status of museums and historical sites at the destinations and weather conditions. Different guides may accompany our guests during the tours.
7- The panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours organized for the general introduction of the cities and are conducted panoramically with guide commentary from inside the vehicle, lasting at most 2-3 hours and not including museum or historical site entrances. If panoramic tours, including the other tours specified in the program, cannot be carried out because local authorities do not permit visits or entry on the day and at the time of the tour, or due to closed roads because of any event, or if weather conditions make the tour impossible, the agency is not responsible for the inability to carry out the tours in question. Some tours may, where possible, be conducted by public transportation or on foot at points where roads are closed or vehicle access is not permitted.
8- Our guide may make changes to the city tour and/or additional tour days depending on the content of our tours, the number of participants, and whether museums and historical sites are closed. This also applies in the event of any changes in flight times.
9- Things to keep in mind on our tours conducted by Speed Boats: do not eat a heavy meal immediately before boarding the boat and do not drink excessive amounts of water. Guests with stomach, back, or neck complaints, as well as pregnant guests, must inform their guide of their condition.
10- If a tour or meal service included in the services listed in the prices is not participated in, there is no refund.
About Flights
11- The Agency is an intermediary between the airline and the passenger, and in possible disputes, the relevant provisions of Turkish legislation, as well as the Hague Protocol and the Warsaw Convention, shall apply.
12- Delays or flight time changes may occur on scheduled and special flights. The Agency is obliged to notify such changes as soon as possible. The passenger has purchased the trip accepting the risk of flight time changes/cancellations.
13- Children aged 0-2 pay only the airport tax.
14- According to airline rules; if the outbound flight of round-trip tickets is not used, the return flight will be canceled by the airline.
15- Check-in and boarding procedures for those participating in tours with flights are personal procedures, and it is mandatory for the guest to complete these procedures before the flight at the airport, from the relevant airline counters, or online on the airlines’ websites.
16- Last-minute delays and gate changes that may occur on flights are announced aloud at airports and displayed on information boards in the area. This information must be followed personally by the guests.
17- The Agency is not responsible for guests who do not arrive at the specified airport at the times announced in accordance with airline rules for participation in the tour, who do not complete check-in and boarding procedures on time, or who complete check-in and boarding on time but do not board the plane, if they are unable to take the flight. All expenses related to obtaining new round-trip flight tickets required for missed flights to join the tour and transfers in the destination area, etc., are the responsibility of the guests.
18- The general baggage weight limit for flights departing from Turkey is 20 kg. This weight may vary depending on the airline and the country of destination. If there are domestic flights in the destination country, the baggage weight on those domestic flights may be reduced to 15 kg. Excess baggage weight/price rules are determined by the airlines and are not the responsibility of the Agency.
19- For guests who wish to upgrade their flight tickets with miles (to business or first class); upgrade procedures may be carried out after the tickets are issued, depending on the airline’s availability (check the airline of which you are a member). No mileage guarantee is given for each flight. Please check whether the program’s tickets are in an upgradeable class.
20- Food, beverage, and online check-in services may be subject to an extra charge on some airlines.
Other Matters
21- The Agency will not accept responsibility for any changes or cancellations made by the guest by contacting the hotel directly. In this case, the Agency’s cancellation conditions will apply.
22- In cases where only category information is provided for the hotel(s) in the tour program without specifying the name, and/or where options are offered for the same destination, the guest will be informed by the Agency 48 hours before departure.
23- During special periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., hotels may be used at a greater distance than the specified locations or kilometers. In such a case, information will be provided by the Agency 15 days before the departure date of the tour.
24- During registration for the purchased tour; the guest must accurately enter/declare the name as shown in the passport, date of birth, and passport number into the system. Flight tickets are issued according to this information. Penalties arising from cancellations or changes to flight tickets due to incorrect information will be charged to the guests.
25- To use your mobile phones abroad, before leaving Turkey, check whether your phone is enabled for international use by contacting the company to which your line belongs.
26- For accommodation, hotel check-in time is 15:00 and check-out time is 12:00.
27- The Agency informs the hotel of room-related requests (high floor, near common areas, smoking/non-smoking, bed type). The reserved rooms are arranged according to the guest’s preferences, subject to the hotel’s availability. Fulfilling these requests depends on availability at check-in and cannot be guaranteed by the Agency.
28- Breakfast served in hotels differs from the rich breakfast commonly known in Turkish cuisine. It is generally served as a continental breakfast with limited options such as butter, jam, bread, tea, or coffee, and for groups it may be served in a separate hall allocated to the group.
29- In some cases, there may be a double bed instead of twin beds. Most European hotels offer rooms with 2 beds that can be joined if necessary.
30- The child and extra bed policy may vary according to each hotel and room type.
31- Any extra bed and baby cot are provided upon request and subject to the hotel’s availability, and must be approved by the hotel.
32- The capacity for an extra bed or baby cot in the room is 1 (maximum).
33- In 3-person rooms, an extra bed is used; in such rooms, the bed allocated to the 3rd person is smaller than standard beds. 3-person rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. Extra beds are foldable beds and coach beds. Our guests are deemed to have declared that they accept the possible cramped conditions in the rooms and the bed type due to the extra beds added to the standard room in 3-person and/or child-inclusive reservations.
34- If the number of children staying with adults and the ages of the children specified in hotel reservations are incorrectly declared by our guests, the relevant hotels may charge an additional fee. In such a case, responsibility lies with the guest who made the incorrect declaration. The hotel may request identification for age verification of children.
35- In reservations with 2 adults + 1 child, there may not be a separate bed for the child. Child prices are valid only if the child stays with two adults. Child discounts are valid for the “single child” matching the age group staying with 2 adults.
36- Exchange rate fluctuations during the day are reflected in TL prices. The exchange rates valid at the time of payment apply. Your additional requests and some extra services you receive at the hotel (minibar, ironing, etc.) are subject to an extra charge by the hotel. These expenses are not included in the price at the time of purchase and are paid directly to the hotel during your stay.
37- Some countries have different practices regarding city, tourism, or local taxes. Any such city, tourism, or other taxes applied in this way are collected by the hotel from the guest upon entry or exit.
38- The road distances given in the programs are map-based. Travel times may be extended due to traffic, weather conditions, the geographical location of the destination country, roadworks, and road conditions.
39- In mandatory situations or when deemed necessary, the Agency may change the order of the cities in the program and the main airline to be flown, without altering the content of the program.
40- The personal belongings, bags, suitcases, and passports/IDs of the people participating in the tour are under their own responsibility, and the Agency is not responsible for forgotten/lost/stolen items. In cases where forgotten items are found, the costs incurred in delivering them to the country and/or person are the responsibility of the owner of the item.
41- It is mandatory for persons participating in the tour to have their travel health insurance policies and, if they have any health issues, the relevant medications and medical reports with them.
42- For possible extra expenses, the hotel may request a photo ID/passport issued by official authorities and a credit card or cash deposit at check-in. The refund of the deposit requested at check-out is a transaction between the hotel and the guest, and the Agency has no involvement.
Visa and Passport
1- Our guests’ passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the end date of the trip.
2- For customs crossings/border gates, your passport must have at least 2 blank pages so that entry/exit stamps can be placed in it.
3- Being exempt from a visa for entry into the countries in this tour and having obtained a visa does not mean that entry into or exit from the country is guaranteed; the passport police have the authority to refuse entry/exit, and the Agency is not responsible for this situation; responsibility lies with the passenger.
4- Our guests who are not Turkish citizens or who hold dual citizenship and will join the tour using the passport of the other country must personally consult the relevant consulates regarding the visa procedure applied by the country to be visited to the passport they will use; otherwise, the Agency will not be responsible for any consequences that arise.
5- In order to avoid problems with customs police at the border gate of the country to be visited due to passports that are torn, worn, wet, and/or subjected to similar damage(s); passports must be renewed. Otherwise, responsibility lies with the passenger.
6- Since there is a possibility that passengers under 18 may be asked by the police officer at country entry-exit points to present a document showing the mutual consent of the parents when traveling alone or with only one of their mother or father; we recommend that our guests under 18 and their parents pay special attention to this matter.