Journey to the Kingdom of the Firebird. Holiday tour to Ivanovo region and Kostroma

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The wonders and crafts of the Ivanovo region, the architecture of Kostroma and the city of artists Palekh will open up to you on this journey!

Enjoy interesting workshops, walks through the big and small cities of Central Russia and learn a lot about the historical heritage of these places.

The route of the trip: Ivanovo — Shuya — Kholui — Palekh — Ples — Kostroma.

Location

Moscow

Sightseeing tours

from

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Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

Traditions and secrets of crafts

Make soap according to the traditions of Shuya soap makers and try yourself as an artist-creator of Palekh lacquer miniature

Ancient Kostroma

The merchant city, which has preserved to this day the architectural ensemble of the XVIII century, will lift the veil of mystery of its unique history.

The capital of the Russian landscape

You will visit Ples, the picturesque area of which inspired great artists, singers, and writers.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Departure from Moscow. Ivanovo and Shuya
07:00 Gathering of the group in Moscow, VDNKh metro station, parking lot to the right of the Kosmos Hotel.
07:15 Departure to Ivanovo.
Lunch at a cafe.
Sightseeing tour of Ivanovo.
"Russian Manchester", the city of the cotton kings who set the fashion for Russian textiles, the birthplace of the first Soviet, an exemplary socialist city, a paradise for fans of "constructivism". All this is Ivanovo.
In the program:
The railway station in the style of "constructivism" in 1933, one of the symbols of Ivanovo;
Revolution Square is the central square of the city;
monument to Yakov Petrovich Garelin (1820-1890), one of the founding fathers of the city, manufacturer and philanthropist;
the buildings of Soviet constructivism, after Moscow and St. Petersburg in Ivanovo, there are the most in Russia.;
Shchudrov tent, the oldest stone building in Ivanovo, 17th century.
Departure to Shuya.
Shuya is a charming old town between the Volga and Klyazma rivers. A little over a hundred years ago, Shuya was a prosperous industrial and commercial center, whose entrepreneurial spirit was legendary, and the city's special relationship with representatives of royal dynasties is still a separate point of pride for its residents.
Sightseeing tour of Shuya.
In the program:
the mansion of M.A. Pavlov of the XIX century (external inspection), built according to the project of the "home" architect of the famous collector P. Tretyakov;
Shopping malls are the "heart" of the city and the unique monument "Vazhnya" — the historical scales of the Swiss architect. The preserved Shuiskaya chapel is the only one in the whole of central Russia;
merchant buildings of the XVIII - XIX centuries: estates of merchants Posylin, Zhukov, Neburchilov, Shchekoldin;
The Resurrection Cathedral and its famous bell tower are the hallmark of the city, it is one of the tallest bell towers in Russia — 106.4 m and much more.
Visits to the Soap Museum with a master class.
Shuya has long been famous for its soap makers, and it is not for nothing that a bar of soap is depicted on the coat of arms of the city.
In the program:
introduction to the history of Russian soap making and its manufacturing technologies;
washing and washing traditions in different countries, the influence of soap on the production of other goods, and much more.;
a master class on making soap according to the traditions and secrets of Shuya soap makers.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Basic accommodation: Voznesenskaya 2* or Sheddock 4* hotel, Ivanovo.

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Day 2 - Lackey and Palekh
07:00 Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Departure to the village of Kholui.
The small, ancient village became famous all over the world for its special style of lacquer miniature painting. There is a lot of life here today: folk crafts are being actively revived — now more than 300 artists live in Kholui.
A walk through the village with a tour of the Alexander Nevsky Chapel, the Teza River embankment, and the monument to Dmitry Pozharsky.
The small, ancient village became famous all over the world for its special style of lacquer miniature painting. There is a lot of life here today: folk crafts are being actively revived — now more than 300 artists live in Kholui.
A visit to the Kholui lacquer miniature art factory with a demonstration of the technological process of making papier-mache jewelry boxes.
The program includes a visit:
procurement and production workshops;
The swallow;
polishing.
A master class on painting firebirds on papier-mache brooches with real tempera paints and gold leaf. You can take the product with you as a souvenir of visiting the Lackey.
Lunch.
Departure to Palekh.
Palekh is the birthplace of the Firebird, a striking example of a Russian province, which is home to about five thousand inhabitants, one in eight of whom is an artist or icon painter.
The Palekh miniature is known all over the world and has existed for almost a hundred years.
Folk art was formed from ancient icon painting art adapted to the Soviet regime.
The introduction to folk art includes visits to three museums:
Icon Museum;
I.I.Golikov House Museum;
The Museum of Lacquer Miniatures.
Return to Ivanovo.

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Day 3 - Ples and Kostroma
07:00 Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Departure to Ples.
Sightseeing tour of Ples, the "capital" of the Russian landscape, the picturesque area of this city inspired great artists, singers, and writers.
Sightseeing of the city:
Cathedral Mountain, from which you will enjoy a picturesque panorama of the city;
The monument to Vasily I is the first and only monument to Prince Vasily I, the son of Dmitry Donskoy, the long—term ruler of the Russian land.;
The market square, on which stands the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, built in 1817;
Plesa Embankment is a string of two hundred—year-old houses, each with its own history. Stone merchant properties.
Departure to Kostroma.
Lunch at a cafe in the city.
Sightseeing tour of Kostroma, the most beautiful city on the Volga, one of the pearls of the Golden Ring.
The ancient merchant city, which has preserved to this day the original appearance of the architectural ensemble of the XVIII century, will lift the veil of mystery of its unique history.
In the center there are:
The fire tower of the 19th century is an outstanding monument of classicism;
The guardhouse building;
a beautifully preserved ensemble of Shopping malls, which are still in service.
Kostroma is the cradle of the Romanov dynasty. It was in the Ipatievsky monastery in Kostroma that Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov hid from Godunov's disgrace. Ipatievsky Monastery (external inspection) is the main symbol of Kostroma.
An inspection of the territory of the recreated Kostroma Kremlin, where the miraculous icon of the Fedorovskaya Mother of God is kept in the Epiphany Cathedral.
It was written around 1239 and is famous for its great miracles and healings. This is the oldest work of Kostroma icon painting. The icon has long been revered as the defender of the city and the guardian of the Romanov family.
Excursion to the Museum of "Theatrical Costume" with a visit to the exhibition "Snow Maiden" on the Kostroma stage.
The name of A.N. Ostrovsky is closely connected with Kostroma, with the Shchelykovo estate. The fabulously unique nature of this place came to life in the wonderful landscapes of the play "The Snow Maiden".
It is no coincidence that the Kostroma Theater has turned to this play seven times over the past hundred years. The exhibition features 20 costumes, unique in their design and implementation.
Departure to Moscow.
23:00 Approximate time of arrival in Moscow (metro station "VDNKH").

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

2 nights

Comfort

Upscale

The tour provides accommodation in hotels in Ivanovo to choose from.

The cost of the tour for 1 person depends on the hotel and meals, RUB.:

Hotel	Breakfast only	No dinners: breakfasts and lunches	Surcharge for a single room
Voznesenskaya 2*	23 590	25 990	5 000
"Shaddock" 4*	27 590	29 990	7 000

The hotels are indicated approximately, it is possible to replace them with similar ones.

It is possible to change the price for some dates, please check the current information when booking.

Voznesenskaya Hotel

Voznesenskaya is one of the largest hotels in Ivanovo. Its convenient location on Lenin Avenue makes it attractive for both business and leisure trips. Facilities include a gym, a gift shop, and free high-speed internet. Staff at the 24-hour front desk will help you stay and answer your questions.

Of the 150 classic-style rooms, each guest will be able to find a category that suits their needs. All accommodation options are equipped with comfortable furniture and necessary appliances.

The on-site cafe will delight guests with culinary delights from professional chefs, as well as a large selection of exclusive dishes and drinks.

The distance to the train station is about one kilometer, and the airport is 7 km away. During the trip, you should visit attractions such as the Art Museum, Litos Clio, and the Horseshoe House, which will take a few minutes to reach.

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Another option

The Sheddock Hotel

Opened in 2013, the Sheddock Hotel offers accommodation in Ivanovo. Despite the short period of its existence, it has already become popular with vacationers.

The hotel has 45 comfortable rooms, with modern decoration, new furniture and a private bathroom. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.

A fragrant and hearty breakfast is included in the price of your stay. There is a restaurant on site where you can enjoy fresh and delicious dishes from the menu. Nearby you will find various cafes and shops.

Supermarkets, cinemas and numerous attractions are located nearby. The nearest airport is 11 km away.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 50 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Moscow

Included in price

accommodation in a selected hotel with all the amenities along the way in standard rooms;
meals according to the selected option (only breakfasts / breakfasts + lunches);
guided tour service according to the program;
transportation service.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Moscow and back;
the surcharge for a single room is 5000 / 7000 rubles, depending on the chosen accommodation.;
choice of a seat on the bus – 1,470 rubles (to be booked when buying a tour);
additional excursions on request;
personal expenses.

It's important to know

The time of departure and arrival in Moscow is indicative and cannot be considered a mandatory item of the program.
The company reserves the right to make changes to the excursion program depending on objective circumstances while maintaining volume and quality. It is possible to replace some excursions with equivalent ones. And also to replace hotels of the same category or higher.
If the number of tourists in a group is less than 20 people, a minibus of a foreign tourist class can be provided.
The company does not arrange room check-in for your safety and comfort.
This program is recommended for children over 6 years old.
The seating on the bus is fixed. Seats on the bus are provided automatically 1 day before the start of the tour. In case of an emergency, the available places are determined by the guide.
The "Location selection" service, the manager will fix the desired location for you in advance (the cost of the service in the prices and discounts section).
The time according to the tour program (especially the arrival time) is indicated approximately. There may be delays due to circumstances beyond the control of the Tour Operator/ Travel Agent (traffic jams, vehicle breakdowns, etc.), and therefore the arrival time of the bus at the final destination along the route may be extended by 2-3 hours.
When self-booking travel documents by Tourists for further travel to their destination (permanent residence), it is necessary to take into account the possible increase in time on the tour. There is no compensation for travel tickets (air, railway) in case of a delay in vehicles during the tour for reasons beyond the control of the Tour Operator/ Travel Agent.
Joining children's groups to the tour is on request.

Dates and Prices

$326

12 – 14 Jun 3 days 2 nights

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Reviews Leave a review

T
Tatiana

about provider

14 May, 2026

Many thanks to “Big Country” for this wonderful tour. The entire trip was organized exceptionally well: the hotels, meals, and transportation were all excellent. But the real highlight of the journey was our tour guide, Denis!!! Honestly, without him the trip would not have been nearly as memorable. Visiting so many churches and historical sites without meaningful context would have quickly become monotonous. Most of the local guides simply rushed through the program with dry facts and dates, almost like a school lecture. Denis, however, made everything come alive. Even before we arrived at each destination, he was already sharing fascinating stories and background information on the bus, which helped us appreciate the places so much more once we got there. Not a single person was late for the bus in the mornings! Everyone was eager not to miss his stories!!! He has an incredible knowledge of the history and geography of the region, and he could make even the scenery outside the window interesting!!! Listening to him never felt tiring because he spoke with such enthusiasm and passion!!! For the last two days we had a different guide, and the contrast was huge - unfortunately, it just wasn’t engaging at all. To sum it up: excellent organization, comfortable travel conditions, and an outstanding guide like Denis made this trip truly special!!! I only wish there were more professionals like him.

Big Country Travel

Hello Tatiana, Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the trip and especially appreciated Denis’s work as your tour guide. We will be sure to pass your kind words on to him. We have also shared your comments regarding the local guides with our partners on the ground. We would be very happy to welcome you on another of our tours across Russia in the future!
I
Ivan

about provider

10 Apr, 2026

I really enjoyed the trip. I learned a lot more about my country and its history, and visited many historic cities and monasteries. It’s an experience I will remember for a long time. Everything along the route was well organized. Special thanks to our guide, Zhanna, who accompanied us throughout the trip!! She made everything so engaging and interesting. Wishing her all the best.
M
Marina

about provider

4 Mar, 2026

Everything was perfectly organized. From boarding the bus in Moscow to our return home. Every detail was handled smoothly, and there was never a moment of concern. A truly relaxing time. Thank you very much.