A Rare Gem - Where East meets West

Russia

Russia

Majestic and complex, Russia we share will fascinate and captivate. Dive into the heart of its people and its politics, a terrain traversed on what has been declared the most beautiful metro system found anywhere on Earth. The Nevsky Prospect of St Petersburg will take you from ancient cathedrals to new-age boutiques, while a trip to the Red Square of Moscow will launch a grand love affair with Russian architecture. Study masterful paintings and warm up over vodka and warm Borscht beetroot soup. Russia is the largest European and Asian country that covers over 6 million square miles. While almost 28% of the land is still undiscovered, imagine the vastness of the diverse landscape Russia has to offer. From imposing, modern cities to numerous natural and protected areas, including 48 national parks. Simply, everything in Russia is grand, from art and literature to its rivers, lakes and wilderness. Here is situated the oldest mountain in the world – Uralus, and the deepest lake in the world – Lake Baikal. Discover the untouched nature of the Altai Mountains, the lunar landscape of Kamchatka or spot a polar bear up in the Arctic Circle.

Russia

Apart from Turkey, Russia is the only nation in the world that encompasses both the Asian and European continents. This unparalleled transcontinental positioning provides a vantage point from which both sides of the world can be appreciated and examined in all their many merits and faults. Visitors to Russia will find that while the comforts of western society—such as coffee shops with free WiFi and 24/7 supermarkets— are widespread, the Cyrillic characters, along with Russia’s many other idiosyncrasies provide that perfect window into the East. On a visit to Russia, you would quickly recognize the scenes depicted on the murals in St Basil’s cathedral; yet the lavish, ostentatious, showering of gold and vibrant colors are so Eastern in feeling.

History
Russian history reads like fiction, but it is reality! From the Romanovs to Rasputin to the revolution, visiting Russia brings her history alive, whichever period you may be interested in. Imagine meeting a retired KGB colonel, visiting the underground world of a secret cold war bunker, or learning about the space race from the Russian perspective at the museum of Cosmonautics. Go back over 1,000 years to the towns and villages near Moscow, lined with majestic churches dotting the virtually unchanged bucolic landscape, that make up the so called Golden-Ring. Should your interest be more Imperial, you can even stay in a former palace in St Petersburg, while visit some of the many palaces of the Romanov family.

Two Iconic Capital Cities

Russia certainly has a wow factor that is hard to find anywhere else. In Moscow, the apex of Russian political power and once the center of the Orthodox Church, the Kremlin is the heart of not only Moscow, but of the whole country. The Red Square is home to St Basil’s Basilica, one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox monuments. From the 189 carat Orlov Diamond housed in the Diamond Fund at the Kremlin, to the exquisite Faberge Eggs created for Nicholas II as gifts to his wife, Alexandra, Russians have always had a taste for the opulent. You must also visit Kuskovo, the summer estate of the Sheremetev family. In St. Petersburg, you can be in danger of experiencing palace fatigue, as there are so many! You must visit the Yusupov Palace in the center of the city, with its fascinating story of Rasputin and perfectly designed private theater. The summer palace of Peterhof is more famous for its gardens and fountains, rather than its interiors. To see a beautiful palace inside, visit the extraordinary Chinese Palace of Catherine the Great. It is the only summer palace in the environs of St Petersburg that was not destroyed during WWII and rebuilt. Catherine Palace in St. Petersburg is a must as well.