How was your Explore Tour Leader?

We had 2 leaders, one for Moscow and one for St Petersburg.  They both were very informative on Russian history.  Elena especially made it very interesting.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Have a look at the temperatures on line the day or so before you go, it was unseasonably cold for us and we needed our thermals. Don't automatically book all the optional trips, it's leaves very little free time if you do - and there is lots to see and it is very easy to get around on your own.

Do you have anything else to add?

"The final meal was a disappointing end to the holiday. If the guide suggests 'Idiot' give it a miss. Food was below average,it was over-priced and we were all on little tables rather than sitting together.  

If you have some spare time in Moscow go to the Sculpture Park, it is fascinating to see where all the communist leaders statues have ended up.  The modern art gallery in the park is also well worth a visit.

In St Petersburg the Artillary Museum is excellent, plenty to keep the men entertained."

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Friendly, knowledgeable and willing to let us explore on our own.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Summer or winter - you will see a different perspective of Russia so choose the timing wisely.

Do you have anything else to add?

Highly recommended tour

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Really enthusiastic and excellent

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Take warm clothes!

Do you have anything else to add?

Excellent tour leader.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Our tour leader was sublime - I have voted for her as the best tour leader. We are talking about Elena Lavinskaya and I cannot praise her highly enough.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Be prepared for all tipes of weather - we had well over 30C in Moscow and the temperature plummeted to 12C in St. Petersburg. Be prepared to be "busy" from morning to night because there is so much to cram into a short time which is so memorable that one will never forget it. Go on all the optional tours which are offered because they are worth it and on top of this I did more things independently.

Do you have anything else to add?

Just go - St.Petersburg in my opinion is one of the most beautiful places in the world and I have travelled literally all over the world.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

The Best...Elena's knowledge, enthusiasm and passion is the pinnacle to aim for.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Money: lots if optional extras (more than I'd anticpated) which are worth it but come prepared with extra money

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Lena was fabulous! Extremely knowledgeable about her nation's history. Plus the fact that she could relate to us what it was like to live in Russia, and experience the changes that occurred over the last 30 years

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Book extra night in both Moscow & St Petersburg - you'll need it!

Do you have anything else to add?

Really an amazing trip - Thanks Lena and Explore!

For me, two of the highlights of my trip  were a couple of optional extras - well worth the money! The Yusupov Palace in St Petersberg didn't really look anything impressive from the outside  - but once inside it seemed to go on for ever with one amazing room after another. The second to   Sergiev Posad and it's stunning monastry. What an interesting and varied history. (WR - 23rd October 2010)

Highlight - Red Square Moscow - St Basils Catherdral. Unexpected - the european'ness of St Petersburg!  Advice - be prepared to stand firm in queues - especially passport control! (WR - 23rd October 2010)

Russia would not be Russia without snow for which we had a plenty.  If you want to experience the magic of Moscow and St. Petersberg in the pure white, then this is the tour.  Amongst the snow and ice you see a range of colourful and attractive buildings which just adds to the magic, sometimes it felt a bit like fantasia with the elaborate design.   

The tour began in Moscow where you soon learn how easy and effective it is to get around.  Meeting the Russian underground is an experience in itself, no litter or graffiti, but lots of mosaics and bronzed statues. Make sure you rub the nose of a bronze dog for luck, one of the many Russian supersticians which you will witness occurring by regular Russian people.  The Underground comprises of a simple colour and number system, chose where you want to go, count the stops and remember the colour of the line, also once in the underground, one ticket / coin takes you as short or as far as you want for the one price, you can’t go wrong.    Red square felt like the coldest place with a wind trap, but St Basils Cathedral and Red square is wonderful, check it out at night time when it is all lit up, gives the magic of Christmas that we would have sensed as children.   

St Petersberg is also another magical city, a range of great architecture, music and art. You will not be disappointed with the visits.  The Hermitage is the biggest art museum you could imagine with a range of famous artists e.g. Van Gough, Rembrandt, Piccasso, to the more unknown and contemporary, something for everyone.   The palaces are truly in awe, so many gems, stones and crystals that you won’t know where to look.  It shows a real glimpse of Russia as a ‘Super power’ and the strong history it is steeped in.   

The evenings offer an opportunity to see Kozak  dancing which also provided us with an interval of caviar and champagne, the ballet and the opera, all a part of the strong Russian traditions and  definitely something to take advantage of and see whilst there.    

I would definitely recommend you to explore this tour for the culture, music, art and of course Russia would not be Russia without Vodka. (WR -30th January 2010)