Golden Ring of Russia

This guided bike tour in Russia is designed for the international and adventurous cyclist and will introduce you to the real Russia! The Golden Ring is a ring of ancient cities, northeast of Moscow, which combined, are living museums of the most significant events in Russian history. They also showcase monuments of Russian Architecture from the 12th to the 18th century. Cycling is the perfect way to explore as you wheel past kremlins, monasteries, cathedrals, and churches.

The tour begins and ends in Moscow, a major political, economic, cultural, and scientific center in Russia and in Eurasia.

Highlights are listed on the day-to-day itinerary!

Take a look at our other bike tour in Russia.

Day 1: Moscow arrival
Day 2: Uglich, 10 mi. (20 km)
Day 3: Uglich – Myshkin, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Myshkin – Rybinsk, 47 mi. (75 km)
Day 5: Rybinsk – Yaroslavl, 56 mi. (90 km)
Day 6: Yaroslavl, no cycling
Day 7: Yaroslavl – Vjatskoe, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 8: Vjatskoe – Kostroma, 36 mi. (57 km)
Day 9: Kostroma – Ples, 39 mi. (63 km)
Day 10: Suzdal, 12 mi. (20 km)
Day 11: Suzdal - Bogolubovo – Vladimir – Moscow, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 12: Moscow departure

*Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions, or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way, you may find temporary deviations caused by construction or road repairs that cannot be foreseen. 

Day 1: Moscow arrival
Arrival in Moscow (no cycling). You will be met at the airport and taken to the hotel. The hotel is located in the east part of Moscow next to the biggest Moscow park and a 5 minute walk from an underground station. It takes 15 minutes to get to the Red Square by metro. After a short briefing and buffet dinner, we will go for a walk in the center of Moscow.

Day 2: Transfer Moscow - Ratmanovo, Cycle to Uglich, 10 mi. (20 km)
You will take a bus to Ratmanovo (about 250 km, 4 hours). On the way, you will stop in Sergiev Posad for a tour of The Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra (UNESCO world heritage). From Ratmanovo, you cycle 20 km to Uglich. Today is a short day with lots of sightseeing. Uglich is a charming town on the Volga, one of the highlights of the tour, where you will join the Volga River which you will follow for next 7 days. After a city tour and visiting the museum of vodka.

Highlights:

• Trinity Monastery in Sergiev Posad (Unesco World Heritage)
• City tour in Uglich
• Museum of Russian vodka

Day 3: Uglich – Myshkin,  25 mi. (40 km)
First thing in the morning, you will visit the museum of hydropower, followed by a  40 km cycling itinerary on a quiet road to Myshkin. Myshkin (“mice town” in Russian) is a small town on the Volga with plenty of museums. In the evening you will be offered a tour of Myshkin with a local guide. After the tour, enjoy some free time.

Highlights:

• Museum of Hydropower
• City tour in Myshkin
• Valenki (wool-boot museum)

Day 4: Myshkin – Rybinsk, 47 mi. (75 km)
You ride along the Volga River on a quiet road. Along the road you will see lots of old wooden houses from the 19th century to the early 20th century (typical architecture of that time). After crossing the Volga by ferry, you continue to Rybinsk. In Rybinsk, you visit the historic museum of the region and then continue 18 km further to a nice countryside hotel.

Highlights: 

• Rybinsk (local museum)
• Spa

Day 5: Rybinsk – Yaroslavl, 56 mi. (90 km)
This is your longest day leading you to the capital of the region, the ancient city Yaroslavl. On the route, you stop in the small town Tutaev which preserves its authenticity. You will then visit the old 17-century church with frescos by the famous Gury Nikitin. In Yaroslavl, you stay in a modern hotel in the center of the city.

Highlights:

• City tour in Tutaev

Day 6: Yaroslavl, no cycling scheduled
Today you can enjoy some cycling at your leisure or a walking tour of Yaroslavl with a local guide. The entire center of the city has around 140 architectural monuments and has been included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Free time in the afternoon.

Highlights:

• Free time
• City tour of Yaroslavl

Day 7: Yaroslavl – Vjatskoe, 37 mi. (60 km)
After leaving Yaroslavl we make for the old merchant village Viatskoe. In the middle the road is bumpy (10 km). In Viatskoe we will find out how Russian people lived few centuries ago. We will have experience of real Russian banya (steam bathhouse, black style).

Highlights:

• Tour in Vjatskoe
• Russian bathhouse

Day 8: Vjatskoe – Kostroma, 36 mi. (57 km)
This day will be a highlight of your tour. You cycle through a forest on a sandy path (7 km) to a river crossing. After the boat transfer, you continue to cycle on a quiet road to Kostroma. You visit the Outdoor museum of Wooden Architecture & Peasant Life and stay for a night in a hotel in the very center of the city next to the river. Dinner this evening will be on a boat with a tasting of local drinks. In case of bad weather, an alternative will be made for the boat transfer.

Highlights:

• City tour in Kostroma
• Outdoor museum of Wooden Architecture & Peasant Life

Day 9: Kostroma – Ples, 39 mi. (63 km)
Today the route leads to the small town of Ples where the famous 19th-century Russian artist, Isaak Levitan lived and work. The town is also famous for its incredible landscape. In Ples, you visit a famous coffee shop named after Sofia Kufshinnikova, a friend of Levitan. Here you may try the favorite cookie of I. Levitan and Russian cheesecake “Kuleika”.  Bus transfer to Suzdal (150 km, about 3 hours).

Highlights:

• City tour in Ples

Day 10: Ivanovo - Suzdal, 13 mi. (20 km)
A short cycling itinerary is on the agenda today. You will stop near the old church of Boris and Gleb (1152) in Kideksha. After city tour by bike in Suzdal, you have a guided tour in Spaso-Ephimy monastery. Farewell dinner in the best restaurant in the town.

Highlights:

• City bicycle tour in Suzdal (Unesco World Heritage)
• Spaso-Ephimy Monastery
• Kideksha

Day 11: Suzdal - Bogolubovo – Vladimir – Moscow, 31 mi. (50 km)
If weather permits, you cycle to Bogolubovo on rural roads.If weather does not permit, you can enjoy the scenery during a transfer.You will visit the famous Church of Intercession on the Nerl. Then bus transfer to Vladimir to have a guided tour of the historic center including the Assumption monastery with Andrey Rublev frescos. Bus transfer to Moscow (180 km). Arrival in  Moscow around 7-8 pm depending on traffic. Dinner at the hotel.

Highlights:

• The Church of Intercession
• Vladimir

Day 12: Moscow departure

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Accommodations

You will be accommodated in good quality 3 to 4-star hotels. We can provide a sample hotel list on request.

Bicycles

Hybrid Bike

Marin

• Frame - aluminum, 15-23"
• Fork - rigid
• Wheels - 28", 700C x 35-40 mm
• Derailleur - Shimano Acera, Altus
• Speeds - 21-27
• Seatpost - 27.2 mm
• Pedals - flat platform
• Brakes - V-brake
• Rear rack - yes
• Water bottle cage - yes
• Fenders - front and rear depends on model

Ebike

Tsinova KUPPER UNICORN PRO

• Frame - aluminum alloy
• Speeds - 8
• Brakes - disc hydraulic
• Rear rack - yes
• Battery: Lithium-ion 36V (70 km)
• Wheels - 26-inch