Big Country Travel: Trips to Russia, Adventure Tours & Vacation Packages

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If you want to see as much as possible during a short vacation and plunge into the atmosphere of Christmas, then this tour is what you need! We will visit the most popular locations, take a lot of memorable photos and, if desired, participate in a fruit tasting.

And also: we will visit Tauric Chersonesos, the wine bazaar in Gaspra and the Nikitsky Botanical Garden.

Location

Simferopol

Sightseeing tours

Tour highlights

The most beautiful palaces and temples

We will see the Livadia Palace, the Swallow's Nest, the Holy Cross Church and take the most beautiful photos!

Nikitsky Botanical Garden

Let's plunge into the atmosphere of summer by visiting evergreen gardens with exotic plants

The greatness of Sevastopol

The Grafskaya Pier, the monument to the Sunken ships, Primorsky Boulevard and other locations are waiting for us on a city tour

Itinerary

Day 1 - Meeting, visit to the Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai, the road to Sevastopol
The group will meet at the railway station from 10:30 to 11:00 under the clock on the tower.
We are going to Bakhchisarai, the former capital of the Crimean Khanate. An exciting tour of the picturesque streets of Bakhchisarai.
We visit the Khan's Palace, the residence of the Crimean khans of Girey. The main architectural idea of the palace is the embodiment of the Muslim idea of a garden of eden on earth.
You will see the Khan's Mosque, the Council and Court Hall, the Golden Fountain, the Persian Courtyard, the famous Fountain of Tears, the Khan's private chambers, and the harem.
Free time. We buy souvenirs, have lunch at the national cafe, Crimean Tatar cuisine (ordering dishes from the menu for an additional fee).
The road to Sevastopol will introduce you to the story of Pope Clement, who was exiled for preaching Christianity and killed by order of the Roman Emperor Trajan in Inkerman.
We visit Inkerman Cave Monastery, the oldest monastery in Crimea, and the shrine of St. Clement.
We are staying at a hotel in Sevastopol.

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Day 2 - Tauric Chersonesos, sightseeing tour of Sevastopol
We visit the Tauric Chersonesos Nature Reserve, an open-air museum. The city-polis was founded by Greek colonists more than 2500 years ago.
A tour of the excavations of the polis: streets, towers, inns, a blacksmith shop, a winery, basilicas of the ancient city, a Greek theater, a Fog bell.
Chersonesos is a historical place, the cradle of Christianity in Russia. We will visit the Vladimir Cathedral, which was built on the site where, according to legend, Prince Vladimir was baptized.
Next, a rich tour of Sevastopol. We will walk through the most interesting places of the historical center of the city: Grafskaya Pier, monument to P. S. Nakhimov, monument to Sunken ships, Primorsky Boulevard, recently reconstructed Matrossky Boulevard, Vladimir Cathedral-tomb of admirals.
We have provided free time for you in the center for a leisurely stroll along the embankment, buying souvenirs. If desired, you can take a boat trip (according to the weather, for an additional fee) along the bays of the hero city with an inspection of the city and warships from the sea.
Those who wish to have lunch in the cafe (ordering dishes from the menu for an additional fee).

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Day 3 - Vorontsov Park, Swallow's Nest, Yalta, Christmas dinner
In the morning, after breakfast, we check out of the hotel and drive along the Southern coast of Crimea to Alupka.
In Alupka, Vorontsov Park awaits you – a calling card, one of the most romantic parks in Crimea, forming a single ensemble with the Vorontsov Palace.
On a walk through the park, you will see its amazing and unusual beauties: Small and Large Chaos – fragments of frozen magma that collapsed under the influence of earthquakes, which managed to blend seamlessly into the landscape of the park through the efforts of its creator Karl Kebach.
We will walk to Trout, Mirror and Swan Lakes, visit Sycamore, Sunny, Contrasting and Chestnut meadows.
The Trilby Fountain, shrouded in legends, will mentally transport you to the shores of the foggy Albion. You will get acquainted with the guardians of the park – the lions of the Lion Terrace, sleeping, waking and awake.
At the Swallow's Nest castle, we take photos for social networks (how can we do without them!).
The wine Bazaar in Gaspra is the place with the largest assortment of drinks in Crimea from 45 manufacturers! To whet your appetite, we'll visit him too.
Next, a hearty lunch in the cafe (we order a la carte dishes for an additional fee).
We're going to Yalta.
On Christmas Eve, we visit St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The famous Yalta embankment has a festive atmosphere: everything is fabulously beautiful!
We hope that a leisurely walk-tour with a guide's story about celebrities who visited Crimea in different years will set you up for a festive mood.
The embankment is not the only main street in Yalta.
We suggest you take a walk along Pushkinskaya Street, which is richly decorated with sculptures, fountains, and rare exotic plants.
We listen to a concert of organ music in a solemn Roman Catholic church.
We immerse ourselves in the magic of music that fills the soul with awe.
An organ at Christmas, what could be more beautiful...
We are staying at the hotel.
We invite you to the hotel restaurant for Christmas dinner (not included in the price).
According to Christian custom, the Christmas menu includes 12 traditional dishes and intimate conversations.…

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Day 4 - Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God, Livadia Palace, Holy Cross Church
We're going to Nizhny Oreanda. It was here that Anton Chekhov came up with the idea of the novel "The Lady with the Dog".
We visit the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God of the Romanov family, which has preserved unique mosaic panels by Antonio Salviati: an unusual face of Christ – not canonical, young, without a beard.
Next, enjoy a walk along the Sunny (Royal) trail. The hiking trail without steep ascents and descents is a favorite hiking destination of the Romanovs, and today of many tourists. We will also pass, charged with positive energy.
Visit to the Livadia Palace, the former residence of Emperor Nicholas II.
Italian courtyard. Holy Cross house Church of the House of Romanov.

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Day 5 - Nikitsky Botanical Garden, departure
We have breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to the village of Nikita.
We decided that this day should be filled with the beauty of the nature of the Crimea. A guided tour of the famous Nikitsky Botanical Garden awaits you. You will get acquainted with a unique scientific institution, see samples of rare ornamental plants that were brought to Crimea from all over the world. There are a lot of evergreens in the park, so there is no feeling of winter in it…
Those who wish can take part in a fruit tasting at the NBS (additional fee, order when buying a tour).
Tasting set:
Canned olive;
jam from feijoa;
ziziphus compote;
rose petal jam;
fig jam;
lavender syrup;
herbal tea.
On the way to Simferopol, we make a stop at the observation deck above Gurzuf, where there is a magnificent view of Gurzuf, Mount Ayu-dag and the Black Sea.
Those who wish to have lunch in the cafe (ordering dishes from the menu for an additional fee).
In Simferopol, the end of the tour.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

4 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale

The tour provides accommodation at the Atlantica Hotel, Sevastopol — 2 nights and the Darsan Boarding House in Bolshaya Yalta or similar hotels of the same level.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the accommodation, RUB.:

Placement	2-local	1-local
Cost per adult	25 200	34 100
The cost is 60+	23 950	32 400
The cost is up to 12 years	23 950	-

Atlantika Sevastopol Hotel is located a 10-minute walk from the sea. It offers air-conditioned rooms. The hotel has a restaurant and a 24-hour front desk. Room service is available. Free Wi-Fi is available.

The rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. A work desk is also provided.

A buffet breakfast is served every morning at the Atlantika Sevastopol Hotel. Guests can enjoy the bar and relax on the terrace.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 4 to 16 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

5 days 4 nights

Group meets at

Simferopol

Included in price

habitation;
meals specified in the tour program (breakfast, except for 1 day);
travel services of a tour guide;
entrance tickets to museums according to the program;
meeting at the railway station;
return transfer to the railway station.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Simferopol and back;
meals not specified in the program (lunches, dinners);
optional tastings and excursions (excursions for an additional fee);
additional services at the hotel;
boat trip in Yalta:adult – 600 rubles/person;children 6-14 years old – 400 rubles/person.;
fruit tasting – 300 rubles/person.

It's important to know

What must you have if you are going on an excursion tour of the Crimea:

Comfortable clothes and shoes. It should be borne in mind that on an excursion tour you will have to walk a lot, so the shoes should be such that you can walk a lot in them. The ideal option is sneakers, moccasins. The clothes should be seasonal.
Cash. We recommend taking cash with you, because shopping stalls and souvenir shops are not always equipped with terminals, and there may not be a nearby ATM. We recommend that guests carry money in small bills.

Christmas in Crimea