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Murmansk and Beyond (M10LR)
Tsar's Gold (Zarengold) Arctic Summer Express
12 days/ 11 nights from 3692.3 £
Bucket list rail journey from Moscow to Kirkenes
This dreamlike journey takes you through Russia from Moscow to Murmansk—the Arctic Circle’s largest city—and finish in amazing Norwegian Kirkenes! We have designed a diverse itinerary during the best time of the year to travel the Arctic—the summer—when the sun barely sets and the days never end, earning this wondrous part of the world its nickname: the Land of the Midnight Sun.
After culture-filled visits to Moscow and St. Petersburg, you board your private train for the Arctic Circle, where nature and gorgeous landscapes become the focus. You make your first stops in Sortavala and Petrosavodsk, where you travel to the idyllic Kizhi Island on Lake Onega. Then it’s off to Murmansk, where you discover the city on a harbour cruise on the Kola Bay. From the Norwegian city of Kirkenes, you make your way back home. A private train on this route is an absolute rarity—you won’t find such a comfortable journey anywhere else in this part of the Arctic!
- Introduction to Your Journey
- Your Itinerary
- Accommodation
- Departures and Prices
- What's Included
- Book
The Route:
MOSCOW • Pskov • St Petersburg • Sortvala and Karelia • Petrozavodsk • Solovetsky Islands • Murmansk • Tundra • KIRKENES;
Moscow Kremlin
Discover the treasures that lie in wait for you behind the walls of Moscow’s most famous landmark: the almighty Kremlin! Home to a myriad of the city’s most exquisite cathedrals and monuments, as well as the official residence of President Putin himself, the Kremlin remains a political landmark in Russia and is visited by thousands of tourists every year.
St Basil's Cathedral
St Basil’s Cathedral is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world and is an iconic symbol of Moscow. A true architectural wonder, the cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in the 1500’s and is lavishly decorated with vivid bold colours, striking patterns and shapes. The building is made up of nine churches connected by a web of narrow corridors; each church is lavishly decorated with intricate frescoes; however the exterior of the building is equally as impressive with its famous colourful onion domes! A common myth is that once the building was complete, Ivan had the architects blinded to be sure that they never build anything as beautiful again.
Petrozavodsk
Petrozavodsk stretched along the western shore of Lake Onega – the second largest lake in Europe. It is one the major cultural and industrial centres of North-West Russia and is the capital of the Republic of Karelia.
Solovetsky Islands
Beautiful lake-dappled White Sea islands are home to one of Russia’s oldest monasteries. The islands were transformed by Stalin into Gulag. Visiting the islands is an adventure which offers you holyness of the place, gripping history and majestic natural beauty.
Murmansk
Murmansk is located halfway between Moscow and the North Pole, and 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle. As the main city of the Kola Peninsula, it started as a tiny settlement and Arctic trading post. In 1916, under pressure from the British to establish a support port, Murmansk was founded. Thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream, the port is ice-free year-round and is the homeport to Russia’s nuclear-powered icebreakers.
St Petersburg
St Petersburg is a former Russian capital and a stunning city, crowded with splendid palaces, impressive historical monuments, wide boulevards, beautiful bridges and is renowned as the Ballet Capital of the World.
DAY 1, MOSCOW
After arriving in Moscow and taking an airport shuttle to your hotel in the city center, you immediately feel immersed. That evening after dinner, you and your fellow travelers take nighttime city tour of Moscow, illuminated by the inviting lights of bridges, towers, palaces—and two spectacularly beautiful train stations that feel more like cathedrals and art museums than mass transit systems. After such an enjoyable day, you head back to the hotel where you grab a nightcap or simply rest your head and let the day’s sights populate your dreams. Overnight: Hotel Intercontinental Tverskaya (or similar). Meal Included: Dinner.
DAY 2, FROM MOSCOW TO PSKOV: YOUR FIRST STEP NORTH
In the morning, after a hearty breakfast at the hotel, you continue your informative guided discovery of Moscow. You explore the grounds of the Kremlin, including several gorgeous cathedrals from Russia’s Tsarist era. In the evening, you can enojoy a boat ride on the Moskva-River. In the afternoon, you board your exclusive Arctic train, bound for Pskov. Overnight: Hotel Intercontinental Tverskaya (or similar). Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 3, MOSCOW TO ST PETERSBURG
In the afternoon, you board the Sapsan high-speed train to St Petersburg, where you are brought to your centrally located hotel. Overnight: Hotel Park Inn Nevsky. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 4, ST PETERSBURG
Today you visit the Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral, the final resting place of the Romanov imperial family, where you can see sarcophaguses of practically all Russia’s tsars and tsarinas. You go on a guided tour through the world-renowned Hermitage Museum, where you can to see paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. The museum itself is housed in the former Winter Palace of the tsars. Tonight you can take a stroll through the city, go to the theatre, or take an atmospheric boat ride on the Neva River. Overnight: Hotel Park Inn Nevsky (or similar). Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
DAY 5, ST PETERSBURG: IMPERIAL PALACES
In the morning, you can visit the former home of the Tsar Paul I in the city of Pavlovsk, located 28 kilometers outside of St. Petersburg. You visit the Pavlovsk Palace on the banks of the Slavyansk, designed by Charles Cameron during the transition from the Baroque style to Classicism and built between 1782 and 1786. You take a stroll through the beautiful palace park. Another attraction is the collection of original objects of the imperial family of Russia. Your visit in the afternoon takes you to the city of Pushkin, once known as Tsarskoye Selo (Village of the Tsars), 25 kilometers south of St. Petersburg. Here the focus is the Catherine Palace, the former summer residence of the tsars, designed by Rastrelli in the baroque style. Its most famous room is the legendary Amber Room, a gift to Peter the Great in 1716 from Prussian King William I. The room disappeared during WWII, and in June 2003, a beautiful replica was completed. Later you board your Arctic special train, where you get settled in your comfortable compartment! Overnight: On board. Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 6, SORTVALA AND KARELIA
The first stop on your private train brings you to Sortvala on the northern shore of Lake Ladoga. You can enjoy the beautiful landscape of Karelia during a guided walking tour in a national park. You get a culinary taste of the region during a typical Karelian lunch. In the afternoon, you continue aboard your private train to Petrozavodsk. Overnight: On board. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 7, PETROZAVODSK: A DAY ON THE LAKE
When you arrive in Karelia’s capital, Petrozavodsk, you enjoy an excursion to historic Kizhi Island on Lake Onega. The island is home to a famous open-air museum that features dozens of beautiful wooden houses built in traditional Karelian style. In the late evening, your train heads further north. Overnight: On board. Meal Included: Breakfast, Dinner.
DAY 8, SOVETSKY ISLANDS: LAST STOP BEFORE THE ARCTIC
In the small historic town of Kem on the coast of the White Sea, you have the opportunity to take a bus to the harbor, where you board a ferry for the Solovetsky Islands, (weather permitting). Here you see the famous Solovetsky Monastery, one of the first sites in Russia to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy a traditional lunch. If the weather doesn’t play along, alternatives will be arranged. In the late evening, your exclusive Arctic train takes you toward Murmansk, your first stop within the Arctic Circle. Overnight: ON BOARD Meal Included: Breakfast, Dinner.
DAY 9, MURMANSK
In the morning, you enjoy a delicious meal aboard your private train, after which you go on an informative tour of Murmansk, the Arctic’s largest city, situated on the picturesque Kola Bay. In the afternoon, you visit one of the city’s most unique attractions—the icebreaker NS Lenin, the world’s first nuclear-powered surface ship. You spend the night in a centrally located hotel. Overnight: Hotel Azimut. Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 10, TUNDRA MAGIC
Today you go on an excursion after breakfast to the unique landscape of tundra. During a guided hike, you learn a lot about the flora and fauna in this fascinating landscape. Afterward, your palate enjoys a new experience: in an impressive setting you have the opportunity to taste some of the traditional dishes of the Nordic countries. Overnight: on board. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11, KIRKENES
In the morning, your train reaches the town Nikel at the Russia-Norway border, where a bus takes you to Kirkenes. During lunch in your hotel, you can look back on your adventures in the Artic Circle. Overnight: Hotel Scandic (or similar). Meal included: Breakfast, Lunch.
DAY 12, RETURN HOME
After breakfast, you bid farewell to this lovely corner of the world. It’s a bittersweet ending to an unforgettable journey! Meals included: Breakfast.
The Tsar's Gold (Zarengold) Express
The private Tsar's Gold (Zarengold) train is designed to provide you with a comfortable experience as you embark on the adventure of a lifetime and offers a range of cabins to suit every budget. Enjoy dining in the charming restaurant carriages where you are able to try the freshest local cuisine and relax with fellow passengers. Also, take the time to get involved in several lectures on board the train where you can learn about the history, people and cultures of the countries you travel through.
Choose from 3 different cabin types:
- STANDARD COMPARTMENT (CATEGORY I)
- CLASSIC COMPARTMENT (CATEGORY II)
- BOLSHOI COMPARTMENT (CATEGORY IV)
In the STANDARD CATEGORY (I), there are nine compartments per car, each for four guests. On both sides, left and right, there are two berths, one upon the other and each of them sized 27.55 inches x 74.80 inches (70×190cm). In the middle, below the window, you will find a table. Combined toilet/lavatory compartments are located at each end of the car.
In the CLASSIC CATEGORY (II), there are 9 compartments per car. A compartment is shared by two guests. Berths are sized app. 27.5 inches x 75 inches (70 × 190 cm) and arranged facing each other. There is also a table under the window. Combined toilet/lavatory compartments are located at each end of this category’s cars. In every second car there is a shower compartment.
Specification
Compartment height: 100.4 inches (255 cm) Compartment depth: 74.8 inches (190 cm)
Compartment width: 71.6 inches (182 cm)
Bed length: 73.6 inches (187 cm)
Bed width: 26.8 inches (68 cm)
Space between the beds: 16.5 inches (42 cm)
Luggage case under beds: height 14.2 inches (36 cm); width 18.5 inches (47 cm); depth 25.6 inches (65 cm)
Luggage case above door: height 12.2 inches (31 cm); width 58.7 inches (149 cm); depth 21.7 inches (55 cm)
The newly refurbished Category II Superior now presents interiors in a nostalgic look. The compartments have two lower beds, one on each side of the compartment and measuring 67 cm x 187 cm / 26.5 × 73.6 in. The nine compartments in a wagon share two combination wash and toilet facilities located at its ends. Depending on the train configuration, a shower facility is shared by guests from two to four sleeping cars. (The sanitary facilities were also modernised as part of the refurbishment, with the wagons now outfitted with the practical vacuum toilets, which are preferable both for the user and the environment.
This category of compartment offers the opportunity to truly travel in the style of the red tsars. You travel in a nostalgic ambience that would even make past Soviet leaders feel at home – but with all of the 21st century’s modern amenities.
Each of these of these rolling hotel rooms offers not only two comfortable beds (ca. 80 × 185 cm / 31.5 × 72.8 in.) placed one above the other, but also an armchair from which to enjoy the passing landscape. Each of two neighbouring compartments shares a semi-private lavatory with wash basin and simple shower located between them. Combination wash and toilet facilities are located at both ends of the wagons.
This category of compartment, with its illustrious name, offers 5.57 m² (almost 60 sq. ft.) of space. It has two beds, with the upper measuring 80 × 176 / 31.5 × 69.3 in. and the lower 110 × 187 cm / 43.3 × 73.6 in. This compartment also offers comfortable seating, a generous-sized table, and a small clothes closet. The Bolshoi category has its own lavatory equipped with a toilet, wash basin, and integrated shower with a full shower curtain. This configuration of wagon has only six compartments.
The Bolshoi Platinum compartment provides 7.15 m² (almost 77 sq. ft.) of space, even more than the Bolshoi compartment. The lower bed measures 120 × 184 cm / ca. 47.2 × 72.4 in., the upper 82 × 174 cm / ca. 32.3 × 68.5 in. Each compartment has a spacious clothes closet and its own lavatory outfitted with a separate shower cabin. This category of wagon offering the highest level of comfort available on the Trans-Siberian Railway contains only five compartments and offers space for a maximum of just 10 guests.
Myrmansk and Beyond via Tsar's Gold Arctic Summer Express
Moscow to Kirkenes, 12 days/11 nights
| DEPARTURE 2021 | STANDARD from | CLASSIC from | BOLSHOI from | ||||
| excl flights | Supplement for the 3d guests only | excl flights | SGL supplement (train&hotel) | excl flights | SGL suplement (train&hotel)) | ||
29 MAY - 09 JUNE
| 3692.3 £ | 642.77 £ | 4596.54 £ | 2124.41 £ | 8180.79 £ | 4161.66 £ | |
Kirkenes to Moscow, 12 days/11 nights
| DEPARTURE 2021 | STANDARD from | CLASSIC from | BOLSHOI from | ||||
| excl flights | Supplement for the 3d guests only | excl flights | SGL supplement (train&hotel) | excl flights | SGL suplement (train&hotel)) | ||
07 - 18 JUNE
| 3692.3 £ | 642.77 £ | 4596.54 £ | 2124.41 £ | 8180.79 £ | 4161.66 £ | |
| Supplements | Per person |
| SGL supplement Hotel Only | 413.99 £ |
Flight details:
The flights are excluded from the price, please contact us for a quote
Please note:
The deposit is payable on the tour. Non-refundable deposit of 15% on the land tour is due after the reservation
We use live currency update, price may slightly fluctuate daily
IntoRussia Ltd reserves the right to change hotels to similar ones of the same standard and change the order of excursions
Extras:
If you are a group and want to add extra days or excursions, or you are looking for more independence,
contact our Destination Experts for a tailor-made package
Payment conditions:
Non - refundable deposit of 15% of the land tour is due after the reservation
If you include flights to the package, these are non refundable and payable at the time of the booking
Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure
Cancellation conditions:*
Up to 92 days prior to departure: 15% of total price
Between 91 and 42 days prior to departure: 45% of total price
Between 41 and 11 days prior to departure: 80% of total price
10 and less days prior to departure/no-show: 90% of total price
* Please note that the above cancellation conditions apply to land only tour. If you add flights to the package booking, these are non refundable.
Included in price:
• 5 overnights on your private train with guaranteed accommodation in the category booked from St. Petersburg to Kirkenes
• 6 hotel overnights in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk and Kirkenes
• High - speed train between Moscow and St Petersburg
• Excursions and sightseeing according to itinerary, including entrance fees, with local English-speaking tour guide for up to 26 guests
• All transportation according to itinerary
• All meals according to itinerary
• Baggage service in all train stations
• Vodka tasting and typical Russian snacks
• Informative, informal talks about the Murman Railroad as well as local geography and history
• Doctor on board
• Shower facilities on board
• Travel guide and brochure with current insights into the country and people per booking
• International flights (subject to availability)
Not Included:
• International flights (please contact us for the best flight options)
• Visa fees
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses
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