Best of Russia

When all tour participants have arrived, we meet for a welcome greeting and refreshment, with introductions. The evening’s program is getting to know each other and we eat dinner together in true Russian style. Those who are not tired after the long journey may go to a local bar nearby.

(Explorer & fun day)

Moscow walking tour. We visit the Kremlin and the Red Square, GUM, metro, and many other interesting places. On this day we also exchange money, buy local sim cards, prepare bikes, buy rain suits and other supplies if you forgot something. Team dinner in the evening.

(Driving day 1: 420 km/262 miles)

We leave Moscow and ride to the spectacular Valday National Park. We ride fun back roads and enjoy ourselves in the national park.

(Driving day 2: 330 km/206  miles)

More curvy back roads, small villages, and charming towns. Our last stop in Novgorod, one of the oldest cities in Russia; 1155 years old. We walk to the Kremlin and eat a nice dinner at one of the restaurants on the bank of the Volkhov river.

(Driving day 3: 250 km/156 miles)

Welcome to one of the tour highlights; Saint-Petersburg. Legendary St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Marvelous palaces, churches and cathedrals, small streets and canals, Neva river, and Baltic Sea. We arrive early and go on a city tour. In the evening we meet for dinner in Rumochnaya №1.

(Explorer & fun day)

Full day city tour. We visit Peterhof, Hermitage, Savior on Blood Cathedral, and many other breathtaking sights.

(Explorer & fun day)

Half-day city tour. Rest of the day to explore at your own preference.

(Driving day 4: 280  km/175 miles)

We head north to the Karelia Republic. We will drive 3-4,5 miles (5-7 km) of gravel road before we reach a truly spectacular 70 km driving leg full of curvy roads, ups and downturns and great views. We stay in Sortavala in the hotel complex on the Ladoga Lake. Be ready for the famous Russian sauna and a tasty dinner in the evening.

(Driving day 5: 350  km/109 miles)

One more great riding day to the capital of the Republic of Karelia. When we reach Petrozavodsk, we go straight from the bike into the boat to see Kizhi, a unique wooden museum complex in the middle of another big lake with old wooden houses and churches.

(Driving day 6: 250  km/156 miles)

Late departure for Vitegra, a small town with a population of only 10,000 people. You will experience the life of the Russian backyard country. In the evening we have dinner on the banks of the river channel.

(Driving day 7: 320  km/200 miles)

We set course back to Moscow and will visit several ancient cities, e.g. Vologda; a traditional small town with a very quiet way of life, small streets, old buildings, cozy restaurants, and nice people.

(Driving day 8: 250  km/156 miles)

Yaroslavl is considered to be the most beautiful city of the Golden Ring. All of its center is considered to be UNESCO Heritage site.

(Driving day 9: 380  km/237 miles)

This will be our last riding day, and we drive to Moscow, making plenty of stops on our way in different towns along the Volga River. In Sergiev Posad, we stop on the observation deck of the famous Sergieva Lavra monastery.

We say goodbye to Russia and return home. Thanks for a great ride, good times, and sincerely thank you for choosing to tour with Explorify. We wish you a safe trip home and hope to see you again on one of our other tours in the US, South America, Asia, Oceania or Europe.

Note: This program is a guideline for activities and experiences on the tour. Deviations may occur, but we guarantee that our positive tour leaders will do their utmost to execute the program as described – as far as it is feasible and circumstances allow. We are continually working to improve the program, thus you may experience positive surprises.