A Story Through Russia: A 12-Day Journey of Wonder and Warmth
It all began with a dream – one woven with the Red Square’s whispers, the golden glow of Orthodox cathedrals, the poetic melancholy of Tolstoy, and the vast silence of the Siberian wilds. If you're ready, let’s journey through Russia – a land where history and heart go hand-in-hand.
🛬 Day 1-2: Moscow – The Grand Introduction
You arrive in Moscow, a city that doesn’t whisper its stories – it shouts them in golden domes and Soviet concrete. Your first glimpse of Red Square feels surreal: the Kremlin's red walls hold centuries of secrets, and St. Basil’s Cathedral looks like a fairytale brought to life in candy-colored domes.
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Must-dos:
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Witness the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
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Ride the Moscow Metro, an underground palace
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Sip Russian tea with pirozhki (stuffed buns) in a cozy café
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Visit the Bolshoi Theatre for an evening ballet
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By night, the Moscow River Cruise shows the city's heart lit up — reflecting the past and future on the water.
🛤️ Day 3-5: St. Petersburg – The Imperial Soul
You board the Sapsan high-speed train, gliding through snow-dusted forests and open plains to St. Petersburg, Russia’s cultural capital. The city greets you with a cool elegance — a European soul with a Russian pulse.
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The Hermitage Museum greets you with over 3 million pieces of art inside a former winter palace.
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Wander down Nevsky Prospekt, the city’s main artery pulsing with students, street musicians, and babushkas.
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Marvel at the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, its mosaics telling tales of tsars and tragedy.
Dine on beef stroganoff and blini with caviar, sipping kvass as you listen to tales of Dostoevsky and Catherine the Great.
❄️ Day 6-7: Lake Baikal – The Deepest Silence
A flight takes you east to Irkutsk, the gateway to Lake Baikal, the oldest and deepest lake in the world. The air here smells of pine, and the silence speaks louder than cities ever could.
Stay in a local wooden dacha by the lake, where your hosts serve omul fish grilled over birchwood fires. Walk on frozen waters in winter or kayak in summer. You’ll see shamanic totems, hear tales of spirits, and feel a quiet humility before nature.
🐎 Day 8-9: Kazan – The Crossroads of Cultures
Next, the story shifts to Kazan, where Islamic minarets and Orthodox domes stand side by side. Here, Tatar and Russian cultures blend like the spicy scent of chak-chak sweets and strong black tea.
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Visit the Kazan Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Explore the Kul Sharif Mosque and Annunciation Cathedral
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Try Tatar cuisine: meat pies, honey dumplings, and plov (rice pilaf)
It’s a city that feels like a dialogue – and you’re invited to listen.
🏔️ Day 10-11: Sochi or Altai – Nature’s Finale
Choose your own final act:
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🏖️ Sochi – Russia's Riviera on the Black Sea. Walk the subtropical beaches, sip coffee by the marina, and hike into the Caucasus Mountains.
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🏞️ Altai Mountains – For a raw and untouched finale, head to Altai, where glacial lakes mirror the sky, and ancient petroglyphs whisper from stone.
🛫 Day 12: Farewell from Moscow
Return to Moscow for your flight home. Take a final walk by the GUM shopping gallery, feel the chill in the air, and notice how Russia — vast, layered, complex — is no longer just a country on a map. It’s a story that now lives in your memory.
🍽️ Flavors You’ll Remember
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Borscht – beet soup that warms your soul
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Pelmeni – meat dumplings with sour cream
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Caviar & Vodka – a celebration pairing
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Medovik – honey cake that melts in your mouth
🧳 Before You Go
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Best Time to Visit:
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May to September (green summers)
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December to February (snowy fairy tale)
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Travel Tips:
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Get a tourist visa well in advance
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Google Translate helps, but learning a few Russian phrases goes a long way
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Respect local customs, especially in rural and religious areas
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