| Tour | Bike |
|---|---|
| Type | Guided |
| Skill | Easy–Moderate |
| Length | 9–10 days |
| From | €1320 Rates |
| Client Reviews |
Share This Tour
Tour Dates
June 16*, July 15, August 19, 2017
Special 10 day itinerary. See below for details.
Day-To-Day Itinerary
July 15 and August 19 departures
Day 1: Arrival in Moscow
Day 2: Bus transfer to Lotoshino - Staritsa, (70 km)
Day 3: Staritsa - Volga, (50 km)
Day 4: Volga - Torzhok, (75 km)
Day 5: Bus transfer to Valday, cycling around lake Valday, (50 km)
Day 6: Bus transfer to Visuchy Bor - Staraya Russa, (75 km)
Day 7: Staraya Russa - Novgorod, (35 km)
Day 8: Novgorod - Spasskaya Polist, (70 km)
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 Lotoshino - Staritsa, (70 km)
In the morning is a bus transfer to Lotoshino. You will cycle from there to Staritsa, around 70 km by quiet country road. On the way, you may visit an unusual museum in Stepurino, an old Russian merchant village. This museum is operated by local volunteers. Overnight stay in the country hotel next to Great Russian river Volga. You may try Russian steam bath house (banya).
Day 3: Staritsa - Volga, (50 km)
In the morning we are going for the short city tour in Staritsa including recently restored Assumption monastery. Then another quiet road leads as to a charming resort hotel– one of the best in this area. Today is easy day - around 50 km. A swimming pool and beautiful Volga are waiting for us in the evening.
Day 4: Volga - Torzhok, (75 km)
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. 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 5: Bus transfer to Valday, cycling around lake Valday, (50 km)
Morning transfer to Valday in the center of Valday Hills area where many Russian rivers including Volga start. Around Valday lake the National park which has a status of Biosphere Reserve is situated. Valday is also famous for its bell making handicraft. Cycle around Valday lake, around 50 km, including visiting Iversky Monastery and the bell museum. Overnight in the hotel that faces lake Valday.
Day 6: Bus transfer to Visuchy Bor - Staraya Russa, (75 km)
Early bus transfer to Visuchy Bor. 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. Stay in the old part of the spa resort.
Day 7: Staraya Russa - Novgorod, (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 8: Novgorod - Spasskaya Polist, (70 km)
Begin your day in Novgorod and cycle to Spasskaya Polist around (70 km) along Volkhov river by quiet road. At the end of the day is a transfer back to St. Petersburg. Here you will have a Farewell dinner.
Day 9: Departure from St. Petersburg or extension of stay.
City tour with a local guide in St. Petersburg including Metro, Nevsky prospect, and downtown. Departure or extend your stay with extra nights in St. Petersburg.
June 16, Special White Nights itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Moscow
Day 2: Transfer to Uglich
Day 3: Uglich - Myshkin, 40 km
Day 4: Myshkin - Gorelovo, 75 km
Day 5: Transfer. Cycling to Ves'egonsk, 50 km
Day 6: Transfer to Uglovka. Cycling to Valday, 55 km
Day 7: Transfer to Visuchy Bor. Cycling to Staraya Russa, 75 km
Day 8: Transfer to Borki. Cycling to Veliky Novgorod, 35 km
Day 9: Vel Novgorod - Selitsche. Transfer to St. Petersburg, 60 + 10 km
Day 10: St. Petersburg
Day 1: Arrival in Moscow
You will be met at the airport by your 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: Transfer to Uglich
Today you will be transferred 240 km to Uglich and then will enjoy the 10th Jubilee Bicycle Festival, the Uglich Versta. You may join the bike parade and ride followed by the concert. We spend night in the hotel near the Volga.
Day 3: Uglich - Myshkin, 40 km
Included in the itinerary today is a visit to the Museum of Hydropower and a city tour in Myshkin as well as a visit to the Valenki (wool-boot) museum. Other highlights include the area's beautiful windmills, scenery, and folklore program. Located on the steep left bank of the Volga, Myshkin is a tiny town with a population of only 6000. Mysh means mouse in Russian. Legend has it that after a successful hunt, a Prince lay down to rest on the high bank of the Volga. He slept for a few hours, but was awakened by a mouse scampering over his face. The prince was angry at first, until he saw a snake slithering towards him. The mouse had saved his life. In honor of this the town received its name and the picture of a mouse on its coat-of-arms.
Day 4: Myshkin - Gorelovo, 75 km
Today we ride along Volga River. In Borok – small scientific town we visit one of its museum. We stay for the night in a country hotel with Russian bathhouse.
Day 5: Transfer. Cycling to Ves'egonsk, 50 km
There is 100 km to travel today to your destination, Ves’egonsk, including some unpaved road. There is a transfer scheduled for half of the way but you may cycle all the way, if you would like. In Ves’egonsk, you visit the unique winery which produces cranberry wine, the best in Russia.
Day 6: Transfer to Uglovka. Cycling to Valday, 55 km
We start the day with a bus transfer to Uglovka (260 km) and then a 55 km cycling itinerary to Valday through Valday National Park.
Day 7: Transfer to Visuchy Bor. Cycling to Staraya Russa, 75 km
Early bus transfer to Visuchy Bor. From here you cycle to Staraya Russa, around 75 km. Staraya Russa is an 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 8: Transfer to Borki. Cycling to Veliky Novgorod, 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 purported to be the most influential at one time.The center of the city including the outstanding Kremlin is World Heritage Site. A city tour is scheduled in Novgorod with local guides.
Day 9: Vel Novgorod - Selitsche. Transfer to St. Petersburg, 60 + 10 km
You will begin your day in Novgorod and cycle to Spasskaya Polist around (70 km) along Volkhov river by quiet road. At the end of the day, there is a transfer back to St. Petersburg. Here you will have a farewell dinner.
Day 10: St. Petersburg
City tour with a local guide in St. Petersburg including Metro, Nevsky prospect, and downtown. Departure or extend your stay with extra nights in St. Petersburg.
End of tour.
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.
Email or Call 800-951-4384 +1 570-965-2064
Share This Tour
Pricing Information
Travel Details
Travel
Fly to Moscow
Local Travel
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. Average high/low temperatures in degrees F in August: 68°/52°
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
Tour Operator
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 2 weeks 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.
Reply
Biked This Tour? Post Your Feedback