There's a lot of small and big cities in the vast space of Russia that preserve the distinctive features of the past centuries. Novgorod, one of the oldest cities of Russia, is situated 200 km away from St. Petersburg. The city is indeed as old as the Russian country, and once was related to as "Novgorod the Great". It was founded in the middle of the 9th century (in 856), and named Novgorod that in Russian means 'the new city'. At an early date it became the center of the Russian Domain that stretched from the Baltic Sea to the area of the Volga upper stream and the Ural Mountains.

Once being a mighty rival to Kiev and Moscow the city turned eventually into a tourist Mecca teeming with numerous historical monuments, and masterpieces of the medieval architecture.

We invite our guests to visit the land of the legendary Sadko. On the way to Novgorod the Great the guests will see the typical landscape of the Russian North, will pass many Russian villages with wooden houses, will learn a lot about the thousand year history of this former Hansa city that stood in the trade way from the Varangians to the Greeks, and will hear the historic legends associated with the oldest Russian city. They will also learn many interesting facts about this land and its people, about their everyday life, customs and traditions.

For a more detailed survey of the city we offer a two-day trip to Novgorod with an overnight at the hotel 'Beresta'.

Day 1

On arrival at the hotel 'Beresta' in Novgorod (about 11 a.m.) the guests are welcome with "bread and salt" in the Russian traditional way. Check-in.

Lunch with Russian specialists at the restaurant "Detinets" in the Pokrov Tower of the Kremlin dating from the 16th century. Tasting the traditional brands of drinks and the wine made of honey.

Tour of the Kremlin including a visit to the Cathedral of St. Sophia, laudation in the old business part of the city (Yaroslav Court) famous for the architectural monuments of the 11th-17th centuries.

Visit to the workshops of handicrafts and folk crafts, to a weave factory, a factory of samovar assembling, to the workshops where the guests are taught to make articles of birch rind and folk costumes.

A boat trip along the Volkhov river and lake Ilmen with excursion (Kremlin, Yaroslav Court, museum of the wooden architecture in the open air, Yuri's Monastery, the Church of the Savior on Nereditsa).

Dinner accompanied by music.

Day 2

Tour of the museum in the open air "Vitoslavlitsy" The authentically restored Russian village gives an excellent idea of the way of life and customs of the Russian peasantry. The church and the chapel date back to the 16th-18th centuries. One can see here farmers' houses and subsidiary huts built by the Russian craftsmen and carpenters without a single nail.

"Folk festival" in the village "Vitoslavlitsy" with bell chime, songs, dances, demonstration of Russian customs and traditions, playing Russian folk musical instruments.

Lunch at the restaurant "Pri Dvore" ("By the Court") with Russian delicatessen. Departure.