Northern Lights Explorer: Moscow - Kirovsk - Murmansk - St Petersburg (10 days/9 nights)

Day 1 (Friday), Moscow

Arrival in Moscow. You will be met at Moscow airport and transferred to your hotel. Check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day free at leisure in Moscow to recharge and take a breather. Most shops are open in Moscow even on weekends and usually up to 22:00 – you have lots of opportunities to chase souvenirs and gifts for your friends. Accommodation in Moscow.

Day 2 (Saturday), Moscow

A full day city sightseeing tour shows you the “heart of Russia”, the Kremlin and the impressive orthodox cathedrals on Kremlin ground. On the east side of the Kremlin you walk over the famous Red Square and explore the amazing GUM department store. The panoramic bus tour further takes you to see the Bolshoi Theatre, the Parliament Building (Duma), continuing along Moscow River to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Arbat Street, Sparrow Hills with the mighty Lomonossov University, one of 7 Stalin-era skyscrapers, Victory Park and Novodevichy Convent. Around midnight you board the Northern Lights Express for its almost 2000 km journey to the north. Accommodation on board the Northern Lights Express.

Day 3 (Sunday), Onboard the Northern Lights Express

A full day on the train, you get a feeling for the huge dimensions of Russia which stretches more than 10.000 km from east to west and more than 5.000 km from south to north. While you watch a fully snow covered land with outside temperatures well below 0° C, you enjoy a warm environment in your cabin and in the restaurants and bar-lounge. Our tour escorts today give you lectures with a deep insight view into history and culture of Russia. After dinner a taste of various sorts of the famous Vodka will be celebrated. Accommodation on board the Northern Lights Express.

Day 4 (Monday) Kirovsk

In the morning you reach the station Apatity, from where a short transfer to the nearby city of Kirovsk. There you visit a unique Snow Village which consists of Igloo’s constructed from ice cubes. If weather permits, in the evening you have the opportunity for going outside the city and chasing Aurora Borealis. In the evening we will take you into the mountains where its best to chase the Northern Lights.  Accommodation in Kirovsk.

Day 5 (Tuesday)   Kirovsk - Murmansk

In the morning you continue the journey to the north by bus to a Sami village where you get an introduction into the culture and life of the local people who call themselves Sami. You see how they live and have the opportunity of a short sledge tour with reindeers. In the evening you reach Murmansk, the most northern point of the tour. The second opportunity for an Aurora Borealis Hunting will be after dinner. Experienced local Aurora specialists will take you to the places where there are the greatest chances to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Accommodation in Murmansk.

Day 6 (Wednesday)   Murmansk

Murmansk was founded only little over 100 years ago, in 1915, on the shore of the Barents Sea. The harbor is ice-free in winter thanks to the gulf stream. Murmansk is the biggest city of the world north of the Arctic Circle. In the morning a panoramic tour takes you around the city to see the most important places. The afternoon is free at leisure. In the evening, there will be the third opportunity for an Aurora Borealis Hunting. Today our experienced local Aurora experts are taking you to other places which might allow the best chances to catch sight of the Northern Lights – of course, as always, if weather is permitting. Accommodation in Murmansk.

Day 7  (Thursday) On the train

In the morning a transfer takes you back to the Northern Lights Express train which today takes you back south, to St Petersburg. While you relax, enjoy your meals with local specialities, listen to the lectures of our tour escorts, you will have the opportunity of watching the scenery of a white winter miracle. Accommodation on board the Northern Lights Express.

Day 8  (Friday)  St Petersburg

Before lunchtime you arrive in St Petersburg, Russia’s “window to Europe” on the Baltic Sea. The city was founded more than 300 years ago by Tsar Peter the Great who invited European architects to design the city. A panoramic bus tour in the afternoon takes you to the sights of the Winter Palace (Hermitage), St Isaac’s Cathedral, Church of Our Saviours on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress, Nevsky Prospekt. Accommodation in St Petersburg.

Day 9 (Saturday)  St Petersburg

Today you visit to Hermitage Museum (Winter Palace) is a cultural highlights of the tour. The Winter Palace used to be the residence of the Tsars, today it is home of one of the finest art collections of the world. An excursion to St Catherine Palace with its remarkable Amber Chamber is another unforgettable highlight. Accommodation in in St Petersburg.

Day 10  (Sunday)

St Petersburg Airport transfers are provided by our service team to connect with your flight departing St Petersburg. Have a save flight back home!