This intriguing bike tour in Russia leads from Moscow, the modern Russian capital, to the old one, St. Petersburg, through the most ancient capital, Novgorod the Great, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The contrasts among these three cities reflect the contrasts that are Russia in general.
You will be charmed by the spirit of times gone by in the age old towns of Torzhok, Ostashkov, and Staraya Russa, once powerful and prosperous cities and enjoy Russain Nature at Lake Seliger, across the forested hills of Valdai; where the mighty Volga River starts.
Other hightlights:
Staraya Russa, and the Fyodor Dostoyevsky museum I
Novgorod, among the oldest cities of Russia
Ancient Kremlin, the magnificent XI-century St. Sofia Cathedral, and wonderful Russian Millennium Memorial.
St. Petersburg and the he grand palaces and parks built for Russian Tsars
On the agenda are several visits to museums and exhibitions (some of them are little known). There is opportunity to mingle with friendly villagers and to experience authentic Russia and taste authentic Russian food that is unlike anything you’ve tasted before.
On the June 24th departure, you are in for a treat! The FIFA World Cup will take place in Russia from June 14 to July 15, 2018 in 11 cities but the most important games will be in Moscow and St. Petersburg. You will see all FIFA World Cup sites in both capitals, and if you would like, you can attend an event (at your own expense).
The tour finishes in St. Petersburg with the infamous White Nights Festival, an annual international arts festival during the season of the midnight sun, consisiting of a series of classical ballet, opera and music events.
June 24: £1109$1,972€1320NOK13310kr12286$1,597All other departures:£1151$2,047€1370NOK13814kr12752$1,658Single supplement (can be avoided if willing to share): £168$299€200NOK2017kr1862$242
extra options
Electric bike: £210$373€250NOK2521kr2327$303Tandem:£126$224€150NOK1513kr1396$182Extra night in Moscow and St. Petersburg: Twin double: £67$120€80NOK807kr745$97Single room: £59$105€70NOK706kr652$85
(There may be price increase in June and July due to FICCA event) Airport or train station transfer in Moscow and St. Petersburg (per transfer): English speaking driver: £34$60€40NOK403kr372$48
please note
Train from St. Petersburg back to Moscow is €30-60 (2nd class) and €70 - 100 (1st class).
Transfer from airport to first hotel. For departing, you can opt to fly out of St. Petersburg. You can also take a train back to Moscow. Moscow-St Petersburg and reverse is the most popular route in Russia. There are night trains with the most historic and best being the Krasnya Strela or Red Arrow. For day travel there is the Sapsan high-speed train with the journey time cut to as little as 3 hours 45 minutes.
Climate
Please check local conditions before you arrival. A good website to research regional weather including average high/low temperatures and average rainfall is weatherbase.com
Remarks
This tour requires a visa which begins with an invitation from our local operator as for a foreigner to receive a Russian visa, there must be a Russian sponsoring organization or individual. Usually the invitation is issued for up to 30 days because most folks want to stay longer. Tour is usually confirmed in January/February. Here is web site for information on obtaining Visa: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/russia.html. During the special tour date, you could check into a Fan ID: https://www.fan-id.ru/?locale=en
Tour Dates
June 24*, July 21, and August 25, 2018
*Special tour during the FIFA World Cup.During this time, you may visit Russia without a visa if you have a Fan ID.
On July 21 and August 25 you can combine the tour with the Golden Ring of Russia tour.
If these tour dates do not work for you, and you would rather cycle during the golden autumn, then our "literary" bike tour in the Central regions of Russia , from September 15 to September 23, is the tour for you. This area was home to the great Russian writers Leo Tolstoy (War and Peace, Anna Karenina), Ivan Turgenev (Fathers and Sons, Sportsman's Sketches), Anton Chekhov (Three Sisters,The Cherry Orchard, The Seagull), Nikolai Leskov (Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, The Tale of Cross-eyed Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea), and others. The country estates, where they lived and created their famous works are now museums, and are featured on this route. This year is Bicentenary of Ivan Turgenev (1818 - 1883), who spent his childhood on his mother's estate Spasskoe-Lutovinovo. This is a guided and supported tour that is unsurpassed. It begins and ends in Moscow so easy to arrrive to and depart from. Ask us for more information and join the experience.
Skill Level
This fully guided tour covers 220 miles (350 km) on the 9 day tour traversed at your own pace. Most roads are asphalt and lightly traveled. On the route you can cycle at your own pace. A support vehicle will await at appointed places along the route in the event you would like to quit riding. Experienced guides are available to assist.
Where You’ll Stay
Good quality 3 - 4 star hotels
What’s Included
Transfers airport-hotel in Moscow
All transfers along the route
Bike rental
English speaking cycling guide
Hotel accommodations for 8 or 7 nights depending on itinerary booked
All meals during your booked itinerary including buffet snacks during cycling days
Support van with luggage transfer
Guided excursions and museum fees as described in the program
Day 1: Arrival in Moscow Day 2: Bus transfer to Staritsa (230 km), cycling Staritsa to Volga, 34 mi. (55 km) Day 3: Volga - Torzhok, 47 mi. (75 km) Day 4: Bus transfer to Zdanovo (100 km), cycling to Svetlitsa, 31 mi. (50 km) Day 5: Bus transfer to Novy Brod (100 km), cycling to Staraya Russa, 47 mi. (75 km) Day 6: Bus to transfer to Borki (75 km), cycling to Veliky Novgorod, 22 mi. (35 km) Day 7: Novgorod - Selitsche, 37 mi. (60 km), bus transfer to St. Petersburg (150 km) Day 8: St. Petersburg Day 9: Departure from St. Petersburg or extension of stay.
Day 1:Arrival in Moscow You will be met at the airport by a guide and taken to the hotel Izmailovo. The hotel is located in the east part of Moscow next to one of Moscow's largest park and a 5 minute walk from underground station. It takes 15 minutes by metro to get to the Red Square. After short briefing and buffet dinner, enjoy an evening walk in the center of Moscow.
Day 2: Bus transfer to Staritsa, cycling Staritsa to Volga, 34 mi. (55 km) In the morning is a bus transfer to Staritsa (230 km) followed by a city tour here. Staritsa is located at the confluence of the Staritsa and the Volga rivers, and is known for a rich history that began in 1297. Highlight will be the recently restored Assumption monastery. Then, on quiet roads you cycle to a charming resort hotel in Volga, one of the best in this area.
Day 3: Volga - Torzhok, 47 mi. (75 km) From Volga, you continue on your way to Torzhok, around 75 km. The quiet road has little traffic and winds through nice forest which makes today's ride scenic and relaxing. On our way we will stop near house-museum of famous Russian opera singer Sergey Lemeshev. Torzhok, an old Russian town, famous for its unique architecture and folk craft of gold work embroidery. Interestingly, chicken cutlets (called Pozharskie) were invented here. The great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin used to eat them here. Perhaps you can try this famous dish for dinner. The hotel has excellent spa facilities.
Day 4:Bus transfer to Zdanovo (100 km), cycling to Svetlitsa, 31 mi. (50 km) You start the day with bus transfer to Seliger lake. Here you visit the Saint Nil monastery. Overnight this everning is in the hotel near lake Seliger. You may try a real Russian steam bath (banya).
Day 5: Bus transfer to Novy Brod (100 km) - cycling to Staraya Russa, 47 mi. (75 km) Early bus transfer to Novy Brod. From here you cycle to Staraya Russa, around 75 km. Staraya Russa is old provincial town famous for a balneological (spa) resort and Fedor Dostoevsky museum. (Fyodor Dostoevsky used to live in Staraya Russa from 1872 till his death in 1881. Here he wrote his novels The Brothers Karamazov and The Possessed.
Day 6: Bus to transfer to Borki (75 km). Cycling to Veliky Novgorod, 22 mi. (35 km) After visiting Dostoevsky museum there is short bus transfer to Borki where you cycle a scenic road along lake Ilmen to Veliky Novgorod (35 km). Veliky Novgorod is one of the oldest Russian cities supposed to be the most influential in that time which gives us grounds to call it the first capital of Russia. The center of the city including outstanding Kremlin is World Heritage Site. City-tour in Novgorod with local guides.
Day 7: Novgorod - Selitsche, 37 mi. (60 km). Transfer to St. Petersburg (150 km) You start in Novgorod and cycle to Spasskaya Polist around 60km along the Volkhov River on a quiet road, finishing near the ruins of Arakcheev barracks. Bus transfer to St. Petersburg.
Day 8:St Petersburg Day to explore St. Petersburg! City tour with a local guide in St. Petersburg including Metro, Nevsky prospect, and downtown. Farewell dinner.
Day 9:Departure from St. Petersburg or extension of stay. Departure or extend your stay with extra nights in St. Petersburg. Bus tour to Peterhof park is optional.
June 24
Day 1: Moscow, bike tour of the city, bus transfer to Volga (220 km) Do note that the ovenight in Moscow on June 23 is NOT included with this special itineary. Please check http://hotels.fifa.com/ Day 2: Volga - Torzhok, 47 mi. (75 km) Day 3: Bus transfer to Zdanovo (100 km), cycling to Svetlitsa, 31 mi. (50 km) Day 4: Bus transfer to Novy Brod (100 km) - cycling to Staraya Russa, 47 mi. (75 km) Day 5: Bus to transfer to Borki (75 km). Cycling to Veliky Novgorod, 22 mi. (35 km) Day 6: Novgorod - Selitsche, 37 mi. (60 km). Bus transfer to Zelenogorsk (200 km) Day 7: Zelenogrosk - St. Petersburg, 44 mi. (70 km) Day 8: St Petersburg
If you’re looking for a different flavor, check out our full list of bike tours in Europe or view all our featured bicycle tours, specials, and news.
This tour is operated by Russian Cycle Touring Club. We do not run these tours ourselves, we never have. We work on commission from our local partners plus a small administration fee of €20. We pride ourselves on the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
Customer Feedback
Elaine Sullivan 11 months ago
This tour (Jun 16 2017) which included a bicycle festival in Uglich and the White Nights festival in St Petersburg was fabulous. The guides were wonderful, knowledgeable, and helpful. Accommodations were super. We toured many small museums along the route, had an excellent city tour of St Petersburg led by an incredible tour guide. Too many great things to list.
Customer Feedback
Elaine Sullivan 11 months ago
This tour (Jun 16 2017) which included a bicycle festival in Uglich and the White Nights festival in St Petersburg was fabulous. The guides were wonderful, knowledgeable, and helpful. Accommodations were super. We toured many small museums along the route, had an excellent city tour of St Petersburg led by an incredible tour guide. Too many great things to list.
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