SNOW ADVENTURE - RUSSIA
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Come and ride in fluffy snow, hearing the sounds of the troika sled’s bells seeing magnificent monasteries topped with cupolas and the northern lights. Warm up overnight at a wood fire in isbas in the region of the Vologda lakes, 600km north of Moscow. We follow small tracks and snowy roads leading to the villages, crossing forests of fir, pine and silver birch beside large frozen lakes. We ride the local breeds: Orlov trotter, Tersky horses, Trakehners with a chance for many long trots and canters. The cold is brisk, but very bearable because it is often dry. You can choose to ride, come in a troika or duga sled or try a combination.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - SNOW ADVENTURE
Day 1
Arrive Moscow
Depending on the arrival time of the flights - a quick visit to Red Square and the city, with a tour of the celebrated Metro, and dinner. Overnight train (comfortable sleeping compartment) to Tcherepovets, 600km North of Moscow, in the Vologda lakes region.
Day 2
Arrive at Tcherepovets around 8am. Visit to the local museum before leaving on the route to Ferapontovo, a very typical little village dominated by a great monastery on the banks of lake Borodayevskoye. Lunch and installation at the isbas, then free time to stroll in the village before this first evening with your host.
Day 3
Depart on horseback and in troikas from Zakoziye to Kirillov via small, snow covered routes through villages of isbas, through forest passages, arriving via a frozen lake to a hamlet well away from the village, and near to the great Kirillov monastery.
Visit the monastery, founded at the end of the 14th century by the monk Cyrill. It was turned into a fortress in the 16th century by Tsar Ivan to Terrible. It encompasses 12 churches an almost 2000 icons.
Day 4
Leave via the magnificent frozen lake of Silverskoye at the foot of the monastery walls, then on to the village of Priozeriye. We follow small tracks in the rolling countryside, sometimes in the fields, sometimes in the woods. We pass the monastery of Govitzy. Snow covers the entire countryside; we recognise the lakes by their flat, smooth surfaces, and by their banks, overgrown with rushes. In very deep snow in the forest we tackle some passages that can be difficult for the horses.
Arrive at Priozeriye, a picture postcard village with traditional isbas linked by little tracks in the snow.
Day 5
Stroll around to the north of Priozeriye for a hot pic-nic and piping hot tea in a forest clearing where the stewards will have lit a fire for us. Return to Priozeriye.
Day 6
Return to Ferapontovo. Small villages, abandoned monasteries, one cannot tire of this pristine countryside and frost-covered undergrowth. We ride through open countryside, then forest until, on the far side of a lake, we see the roofs and cupolas of the monastery of Ferapontovo. Don’t miss the perfect tones of the monastery’s chimes at midday.
Day 7
Set off around lake Boroayevskoye. Good trots and then beautiful gallops to warm up and follow the pace of the troika. Visit to a monastery where the precious frescos of Dionysius are guarded – one of the grand masters of Russian medieval painting, these are real works of art. Farewell dinner with our isba hosts.
Day 8
Last day on horseback. Return to the stable at Zakoziye via the school children’s path. Lunch. Transfer by bus to Vologda (1.30 hours). Visit the city: monasteries with gilded cupolas, the house where Tsar Peter the Great was born…etc. Depart by night train for St Petersburg.
Day 9
Arrive at dawn at St Petersburg. After breakfast, tour the city to see the frozen river Neva, the principal monuments of Peter the Great, and visit a few of the rooms in the Hermitage museum. Transfer to airport, and depart home.
St Petersburg extensions are available:
Day 9
After breakfast, transfer to hotel, general overview of St Petersburg including the Hermitage in the morning with the rest of the group. Then you are free to find a restaurant for lunch.
Day 10
Tour of the city and a visit to the Peter and Paul fortress. Leisure time to find your lunch, and then a visit to Yusupov palace.
Day 11
Excursion into the countryside. At Pushkine visit the palaces of Pavlovsk and Paul the first. Lunch. In the afternoon visit Pushkine . Return to hotel, and dinner at an establishment of your choice.
Day 12
Transfer to the airport and flight home.
NOTES - SNOW ADVENTURE
Horse or Troika?
The group comprises of 6 -14 participants, of whom 11 (max) will be in the saddle. The tour is anticipated to comprise of a number of saddle horses, and 1 or 2 sleds (a troika pulled by 3 horses and a duga drawn by one horse). The number of sleds depends on the number of participants having chosen sleds as their method of travel.
At the time of booking one must make known one’s choice – exclusively on horseback, exclusively by sled, or combined horseback and sled. Your basic choice will be respected, but if too few participants opt for the troika it will be necessary that each one even so will spend half a day there (in the troika), as we anticipate one saddle horse per person, and of necessity, 3 for the troika.
For example: 14 participants = 11 saddle horses and 3 draft horses for the troika.
The number of saddle and draft horses will be decided upon as a function of your choice. Please note that the choice of ‘sledding’ requires a sportsman-like approach…at times, in deep snow, if the horses cannot haul, the passengers must get out and walk in snow shoes for some metres.
St Petersburg Extensions
Known as the Venice of the north, St Petersburg's elegance, splendour and grandeur are unrivalled. From the peaceful banks of the Neva River, the Winter Palace and Hermitage Museum to the world famous Mariinsky Theater, St Petersburg is well worth a few days extra.
We can arrange extensions in St Petersburg. We can suggest itineraries and arrange appartment rental, guides, translators and transfers either for the riding group after the tour or individually. From £350 per person for 4d/3n with guide. Please enquire.
GETTING TO MOSCOW
As a fully ATOL bonded and registered agency we would be delighted to book your flights for you. Should you wish to book your own flights please see our flights page for some options.
The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
All transport in Russia, English speaking guide on whole tour, English representative in Moscow (very short visit), airport assistance and transfers, all riding horses and equipement, accommodation in homestays on a full board basis and English speaking guide in Saint Petersburg on day 9 before the flight. For the St Petersburg extension: All transfers, a guide, entrance to the museums, the hotel on a B&B basis.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
The visa fees, any extra drinks, snacks etc outside meal times, tips and items of a personal nature. For the St Petersburg extension: Lunch, dinner, and drinks, sngle supplement for hotels
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