The Varangian way. A trip to Staraya Russa along the waterway from the Varangians to the Greeks

Embark on an exciting journey to the Novgorod region along the Varangian trade route of the XII century. 

Here you can see with your own eyes the traces of great battles, peaceful trade voyages, fishing and the daily life of our ancestors, and in the splash of the waves you can hear not only the sound of the surf, but also the bustling of the gusli of the famous epic merchant Sadko.

You will visit the Novgorod Kremlin, the F.M. Dostoevsky House Museum in Staraya Russa and the Rurikovo settlement.

Location

Veliky Novgorod
from
$285
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
2 Days
1 Night
Departures
  • Group departures
    • 7 – 8 June
    • 14 – 15 June
    • 21 – 22 June
    • 28 – 29 June
or
Accommodation
  • Hotel
    1 night
Comfort
  • Midscale
  • Upscale
  • Premium
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for everyone
Group
From 3 to 50 tourists
Group meet at
Veliky Novgorod
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
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Tour highlights

Detinets – "the stone chronicle of Novgorod"
You will see the most famous sights: the Kremlin walls, the monument to the 1000th anniversary of Russia, the St. Sophia Bell Tower and St. Sophia Cathedral.
Literary Staraya Russa
Go to the house museum of F.M. Dostoevsky, where the novel "The Brothers Karamazov" and other works were written
Rurikovo settlement
You will travel to the residence of the prince, the founder of the first Russian ruling dynasty, where every inch of the earth hides finds and secrets.

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Arrival in Veliky Novgorod. Sightseeing tour of the city. An excursion to the house-museum of F.M. Dostoevsky or an immersive performance-promenade "The Brothers Karamazov"

    11:00 Walking tour program: Detinets – "stone chronicle of Novgorod". Sightseeing of the Kremlin territory: walls and 9 preserved towers, monument to the 1000th anniversary of Russia, Sofia Belfry, St. Sophia Cathedral (self-entry).

    Crossing the pedestrian "humpback" bridge, a panorama of architectural monuments.

    A visit to the territory of Yaroslav's courtyard and the auction: barns and shops were located here, trade was in full swing, and ships of overseas merchants approached the marinas.

    The oldest building on the territory of Yaroslav's courtyard is St. Nicholas Cathedral (1113).

    13:30 Departure by high-speed boat on Lake Ilmen to Vzvad, the place of princely hunting and fishing. This place was mentioned in the treaties of Novgorod with the princes of Vladimir, Tver, and Moscow.

    Approaching Novgorod in 1477, Ivan III gave the order: to become "other voivodes at Lake Ilmen at the Siege and at Dinner."

    14:30 Arrival in the village The waterfall.

    15:00 Transfer to Staraya Russa.

    15:30 Lunch at a cafe in the city.

    Accommodation at the hotel.

    17:00 Guided tour of the F. M. Dostoevsky House Museum, where the novel "The Brothers Karamazov" and other works were written. The interiors of several memorial rooms have been recreated here.

    18:00 Free time.

    19:00 Walking tour of places related to the life and work of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky in Staraya Russa.

    You will see the monument to F.M. Dostoevsky, the ancient Paraskeva Pyatnitsa Street, now Svaroga Street, where the Dostoevsky family first stayed at the Rumyantsev priest's house, where the chapters of the novel "Demons" were written.

    The Church of St. George the Victorious (XV century) is the parish church of the Dostoevsky family, the place of baptism of the youngest son of the writer Alyosha, the miraculous icon of the Old Russian Mother of God – the main shrine of Staraya Russa with an amazing history.

    Dostoevsky Embankment is a picturesque green embankment along the Pererytitsa River, an ideal place for leisurely walks.

    or

    The immersive play-promenade "The Brothers Karamazov" – Dostoevsky's last novel, the pinnacle of his work, in a sense the main work of his whole life and one of the greatest works in the history of Russian and world literature – is forever associated with Staraya Russa.

    Get ready to overcome time and space, lift the veil of mystery and find yourself in the fictional world of a genius!

    Special 3D headphones will help you become a participant in the audio performance, and city streets with key sights will turn into live scenery, filling the space with images of Skotoprigonevsk and its inhabitants performed by honored Novgorod artists.

    During the audio performance, you and your guide will walk through the literary city of Skotoprigonevsk, the prototype of which was the 19th-century Russian provincial town of Staraya Russa.

    21:00 Free time in the city center.

    2 more photos
  • Day 2 - Rurikovo settlement. Completion of the tour
Difficulty
Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Hotel
    1 night
Comfort
  • Midscale
  • Upscale
  • Premium

The tour includes accommodation at the Polist Hotel in Staraya Russa.

The cost of the tour for 1 person: 22,500 rubles.

Sanatorium "Polist" 1 night

The sanatorium "Polist" is located in Staraya Russa. They took a responsible approach to their business here and created all the conditions for a wellness holiday: there is modern equipment, qualified doctors, SPA treatments. It offers Wi-Fi, parking, luggage storage and more.

The updated rooms are presented in various categories. The atmosphere will delight you with tranquility and cleanliness - what you need for a great vacation. There is everything for a comfortable stay.

A buffet food system is provided for guests. It is also worth visiting the Karamazov restaurant, where you can enjoy a combination of noble cuisine with modern Italy.

Visitors have the opportunity to observe many attractions, because they are within walking distance. Not far from the sanatorium there is a large green Victory Park, F. M. Dostoevsky Embankment, Cathedral Square and a water tower. The train station is 1.4 km away.

2 more photos

Tour conditions

Group
From 3 to 50 tourists
Duration
2 days 1 night
Group meets at
Veliky Novgorod

Included in price

  • habitation;
  • meals specified in the program:1 buffet breakfast, 2 lunches;
  • tour service;
  • entrance fees;
  • guide services;
  • transportation service;
  • transfer by boat on the route Vzvad-Staraya Russa-Vzvad.

Paid extra

  • railway tickets to Veliky Novgorod and back;
  • meals not included in the program: breakfast on day 1 in Veliky Novgorod (from 500 rubles/person), dinners;
  • insurance;
  • personal expenses.

It's important to know

Are plane tickets included in the tour price?

Air and railway tickets are not included in the price of the tour. You can purchase them yourself or contact us for help.

Is insurance included in the price of the tour?

Dates and Prices

  • $285
    7 – 8 Jun 2 days 1 night
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    No need to pay now
  • $285
    14 – 15 Jun 2 days 1 night
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    No need to pay now
  • $285
    21 – 22 Jun 2 days 1 night
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    No need to pay now
  • $285
    28 – 29 Jun 2 days 1 night
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    No need to pay now
  • $285
    5 – 6 Jul 2 days 1 night
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    No need to pay now