Malachite: Ural gems. Winter railway cruise to Kazan, Yekaterinburg and Nizhny Novgorod

Breakfast on the train.

07:00 Arrival of the train in Kazan, meeting with the guide on the platform, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated in the voucher).

Sightseeing tour "Kazan millennial".

Bus and walking tour of the most interesting sights of Kazan, which will show you Kazan from all sides.

You will see ancient streets where every stone has its own story, and a modern metropolis living in the frenzied rhythm of the capital.

You will visit:

• in Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda, located on the picturesque lake embankment. Kaban, where the houses of Tatar merchants and mosques of the XVIII century have been preserved.;
• on the streets of old Kazan, with its cathedrals, monasteries and temples that miraculously survived during the Soviet years (with a visit to the monastery where the miraculous list of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is kept);
• Freedom Square is the administrative heart of Tatarstan, where the City Hall (former Noble Assembly), the M. Jalil Opera and Ballet Theater, the S. Saidashev Concert Hall, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Tatarstan, etc. are located.;

You will see:

• The Palace of Farmers on the Palace Square and the new embankment (panoramic view);
• sports facilities built for the Universiade 2013 (panoramic view).

Walking tour to the Kazan Kremlin Museum-Reserve, the living heart of the ancient city, which has experienced more than one exciting event in its centuries–old history!

Founded as a Bulgarian fortress at the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries, it has changed its appearance more than once along with its mighty lords and today it is a unique complex of architectural, archaeological and historical monuments that reveal the centuries-old history of the city.

On the territory of the museum-reserve, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, you will see:

• Kul Sharif Mosque and Annunciation Cathedral;
• The Spasskaya Tower, erected by Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiryai, builders of St. Basil's Cathedral;
• The Presidential Palace and the leaning Tower of Suyumbike.

Lunch with a master class "Secrets of Tatar cuisine". The chef of the restaurant will demonstrate the technique of cooking national dishes and teach you how to cook them at home.

Free time in the city center to buy souvenirs.

Transfer to the railway station.

16:00 Departure of the train to Yekaterinburg.

The time difference is + 2 hours / the time in the program is local.

Breakfast on the train.

09:50 Arrival of the train in Yekaterinburg, meeting with the guide on the platform, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated in the voucher).

Sightseeing bus and walking tour of the city.

During the tour, visit the dam, one of the symbolic places of the city, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Iset River, stroll through the rock garden (an exhibition of huge minerals that were brought here from all over the Urals), make a wish at the "heart" of the Rhodonite stone city, find out who were the founders of the city.

You will walk through an underground passage dedicated to many people whose lives and music have become part of the legendary Sverdlovsk rock club! You will come to the most beautiful building in the city – the Sevastyanov house, which contains almost all architectural styles!

Visit to the museum of the history of stone-cutting and jewelry art.

You will get acquainted with the history of stone processing, malachite products and modern author's stone-cutting and jewelry art.

The world-famous K. Faberge products are a source of pride.

You will see with your own eyes amazing works of metal and stone from the world of Bazhov's fairy tales, because the Urals is Bazhov's homeland.

A master class on jewelry making.

Lunch at a cafe in the city.

Transfer to Yekaterinburg railway station.

16:30 Departure of the train to Nizhny Novgorod.

Breakfast on the train.

10:00 Train arrival in Nizhny Novgorod. Meeting with the guide on the platform, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated on the voucher).

Sightseeing bus and walking tour of the city with sightseeing of the main attractions: Nizhny Novgorod Fair, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the new Nizhny Novgorod stadium, where the World Cup matches were held, Rozhdestvenskaya St., Rozhdestvenskaya Church, Bolshaya Pokrovskaya St., National Unity Square, Nizhne-Volzhskaya Embankment and much more.

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin walking tour.

Of course, the main attraction of the city is the unique ensemble, built at the beginning of the 16th century in accordance with the highest achievements of military and defensive art.

During numerous sieges, it has never been captured by the enemy.

A walk through the territory, an inspection of the interior – walls, towers, the building of the former governor's palace, an exhibition of military equipment, a memorial complex and an Eternal Flame, an observation deck – a view of Strelka, the Zachatskaya and Borisoglebskaya towers, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel: the oldest stone temple, traces its history back to the founding of the city.

Walking tour along the main pedestrian street of the city – Bolshaya Pokrovskaya. Nizhny Novgorod Arbat.

One of the oldest streets in Nizhny Novgorod was considered noble until 1917. There are a large number of architectural monuments on the street.

Now the street is full of boutiques, cozy restaurants, cafes, and you can also buy products from Nizhny Novgorod artisans. Guests of Nizhny Novgorod involuntarily compare Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street with the Arbat.

Transfer to the railway station.

15:20 Departure of the train to Moscow.

23:30 Train arrival at Yaroslavsky railway station in Moscow.