Valdai's gift. Sightseeing tour for the holidays

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Public holidays in the protected areas of the Novgorod region.

You will touch the living history created centuries ago by Grand Dukes Vladimir and Yaroslav the Wise. You will learn the story of merchant Sadko on the shores of the legendary Ilmen Lake. You will visit the first Orthodox monastery and learn about the traditions and life of the peasants of the Novgorod province in the Vitoslavlitsy open-air living museum.

On a journey along the "sovereign's road" you will get acquainted with the pearl of the Novgorod land, Valdai. A majestic lake with vast islands, on one of which stands the Iversky monastery, built in the likeness of the monastery on Mount Athos.

Location

Veliky Novgorod

Sightseeing tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

Cozy Valdai

You will travel to the city of bell ringing and get acquainted with the architecture of the Iversky monastery

A wonderful village

You will go to the real nature reserve of wooden architecture – Vitoslavitsy

Valdai steering wheels

You will be able to purchase the famous Valdai steering wheels, which were mentioned in his "Notes" by G. R. Derzhavin.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Veliky Novgorod. City sightseeing tour
07:06 (Moscow time)/10:36 (St. Petersburg) Estimated time of arrival in Veliky Novgorod. Meeting with the guide at the main entrance to the railway station from the platform. Check the meeting details the day before.
Transfer to the hotel. Check-out time in hotels is 14:00. Early check-in for an additional fee (book in advance).
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant. For tourists arriving after 10:00, breakfast is replaced with lunch.
11:00 is the approximate start time of the tour.
3-hour car and walking tour of the city.
Yaroslavovo dvorishche and the Ancient auction "Veliky Novgorod – Hanseatic city". 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).
The Sofia side. Walking theatrical interactive tour on the territory of the Kremlin. Sbyslav, the governor of the Lord of Veliky Novgorod, or Yefimiya, the governor, tells a story about how the Detinets were built, about the glorious Prince Vladimir, about the shrines of St. Sophia Cathedral, about the gates of Magdeburg, about the court of the Lord.
The faceted (Lordly) chamber. Guided tour of the expositions "The Chamber of Archbishop Euthymius II in the Courtyard of the Novgorod Kremlin" "Jewelry and decorative arts of the V-XVII centuries".
Lunch in the city center. An additional fee of 1000 rubles (only upon prior reservation).
15:30 is the approximate end time of the program in the city center. Hotel transfers are not provided.
Free time. Independent sightseeing according to the guest's card.

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Day 2 - "To the stars of the Blue domes" and "Vitoslavlitsy"
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
12:00 p.m. "To the stars of the blue domes." 4-hour auto-guided tour of the surroundings of Veliky Novgorod.
A trip to an active monastery for men, learn about the monks' lives. St. George's Cathedral was built on the territory, this temple was used as the tomb of the Novgorod princes. Alexander Nevsky's mother and brother, Dmitry Shemyaka, and others are buried here.
Excursion to the Wonderful village of "Vitoslavlitsy" — we will learn about the traditions and life of the peasants of the Novgorod province in a living open-air museum. Architectural and natural reserve of wooden architecture.
Visiting huts with a set of peasant household items and tools, a forge, a threshing floor. Acquaintance with the Novgorod traditions of the Novgorod province in the late 19th and early 20th centuries".
Lunch in Novgorod style at the Yuryevskoye Podvorye restaurant complex.
16:00 The approximate end of the program in the city center. Hotel transfers are not provided.
Free time. Independent sightseeing according to the guest's card.
Day 3 - Completion of the program. Excursion to Valdai
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Attention! 12:00 check-out time. Room release before departure for excursions (things in the hotel's luggage room for guests departing to Moscow; things on the bus for guests departing to St. Petersburg).
08:00-08:30 Meeting at the hotels of the city. There may be a slight delay in the delivery of the vehicle. In this situation, we recommend that you keep in touch with the guide.
Departure program: departure to Valdai, a small ancient city on the Moscow – Novgorod highway (140 km), a travel tour.
On the road between St. Petersburg and Moscow, A. S. Pushkin, who had passed through here before, A. N. Radishchev wrote "Who has not been to Valdai, who does not know the Valdai sheep and the Valdai flushed girls?
11:00 Visit to the Bell Museum or Bell Center with an excursion "Secrets of the Valdai bells".
Free time in the city center. Buying souvenirs.
13:00 Lunch at a cafe in the city.
13:40 Excursion with a visit to the Valdai active Iversky Svyatoozersky Bogoroditsky Monastery, located on one of the islands of the picturesque Holy Lake. The richest monastery of its time.
Visiting the monastery allows you to touch the life-giving power of Orthodoxy. We recommend that the ladies bring handkerchiefs to cover their heads.
Free time on the territory of the monastery.
15:30 Departure to V. Novgorod.
~17:30 Arrival in Nizhny Novgorod. Transfer to the railway station for tourists departing to Saint Petersburg.
~20:00 Transfer to the railway station for tourists departing to Moscow.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

2 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation in a hotel in Veliky Novgorod.

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

Placement	A place in a 2-bed room	Single room	Extra space. location (3rd in a standard room)	Extra day accommodation ½ DBL/Sng
G-ca "Sadko" 3* breakfast buffet. table	22750 rubles .	24,500 rubles .	18900 rubles .	3150 rubles./ 3800 rubles./ 1700 rubles.
G-ca "Velkom Inn" 3* breakfast buffet. table	24600 rubles .	29,000 rubles .	21,000 rubles .	3750 rubles./ 5400 rubles./ 2400 rubles.
G-ca "Intourist"3* breakfast buffet. table	26100 rubles .	34700 rubles .	19550 p .	4250 rubles./ 7500 rubles. / 1800 rubles.
G-ca "Volkhov" 4* breakfast buffet. table	29950 rubles .	32350 rubles .	21950 rubles .	5500 rubles. / 6400 rubles. / 2500 rubles.
Beresta Park Hotel 4* the apartment includes a morning sauna, a swimming pool from 8:00-12:00	31500 rubles .	43250 rubles .	20900 rubles .	6200 rubles./ 10600 rubles. / 2200 rubles.

Discount for a child under 16 years of age for any accommodation – 500 rubles.

Sadko Hotel

Sadko Hotel is located in the historical part of Veliky Novgorod.

The hotel is located in a 5-storey building. All rooms at the hotel have cable TV and a private bathroom.

A wide range of Russian and European dishes are served at the Sadko Restaurant. Guests can enjoy homemade cakes at the cafe, as well as a selection of drinks at the lobby bar.

Guests can visit the Sadko Hotel's hairdressing salon during their stay at the hotel. The hotel also has a shop selling handmade souvenirs from Novgorod.

The hotel is located about 1 km from St. Sophia Cathedral and 2 km from Lake Ilmen. Moscow and Saint Petersburg can be reached directly via the nearby M10 motorways.

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Another option

The Volkhov Hotel

The Volkhov Hotel is located in the center of Veliky Novgorod, within walking distance of the ancient Kremlin and Sofiyskaya Embankment.

It offers rooms with free Wi-Fi. The rooms come with a private bathroom, a TV and a mini fridge. The windows overlook the park or the courtyard.

The Volkhov Hotel's restaurant serves delicious European and Russian cuisine. The lobby bar serves a variety of wines and other beverages.

A Finnish sauna is available on site.

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Another option

The Welcome Inn

The comfortable Welcome inn hotel is located in Veliky Novgorod, near the interchange of public transport and the main streets of the city.

Guests can stay in spacious and bright rooms, each of which is decorated in a pleasant color scheme and includes comfortable wooden furniture, modern appliances and wireless Wi-Fi access. The rooms have their own bathrooms.

Everyone can have a delicious and satisfying snack in cafes, restaurants or bars that are within walking distance from the hotel itself.

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Another option

Intourist Hotel

The Intourist Hotel is located in Veliky Novgorod. It offers free access to a free Wi-Fi network. Car owners will be able to use private parking. If necessary, you can use a washing machine and ironing facilities.

The hotel offers 118 rooms decorated in a modern style. They are equipped with everything that is so necessary for a cozy and comfortable stay. The bathroom must have a hairdryer and personal hygiene products.

In the morning, you can order a delicious breakfast at a reasonable price. Groceries can be purchased at nearby stores and supermarkets. You can also have a delicious meal at the nearest restaurant.

A conference hall for 60 people is available on site especially for business people. It is fully equipped with special appliances and furniture.

Next to the hotel there is the Church of Simeon the God-Receiver, the Dostoevsky Drama Theater, as well as the Dukhov Monastery. The distance to the airport is approximately 187 kilometers.

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Another option

Beresta Park Hotel

Beresta Park Hotel is located in the center of Veliky Novgorod, close to various attractions and recreation areas.

The room stock is represented by various categories of rooms, which are decorated in a single style. The modern interior and cozy atmosphere are complemented by comfortable furniture and necessary amenities: TV and telephone. There is a hairdryer in the bathroom.

The on-site restaurant will delight guests with a wide range of dishes on the menu.

You can hold a business event of any format in the spacious conference hall for 200 people. It is equipped with necessary appliances and furniture.

The spa center with a swimming pool and sauna is an excellent choice for relaxing after a hard day. Within walking distance there is a spacious amusement park with access to the river. The distance to Pulkovo Airport is 152.1 km, to the railway station - 2.6 km.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 3 to 50 tourists

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Veliky Novgorod

Included in price

accommodation in a hotel of the selected category;
meals included in the program: 3 breakfasts, lunch in Novgorod style at the Yuryevskoye Podvorye restaurant complex, lunch on Valdai;
guide services;
tour service;
entrance fees;
transportation service.

Paid extra

railway tickets to Veliky Novgorod and back;
meals not included in the program: lunch on day 1 – 1000 rubles/person, dinners;
personal expenses.

It's important to know

Yes, all children under 16 years old get a discount of 500 rubles.

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification

$314

20 – 22 Feb, 2027 3 days 2 nights

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$314

6 – 8 Mar, 2027 3 days 2 nights

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Reviews Leave a review

S
Svetlana

about provider

20 May, 2026

The trip was extremely informative and full of memorable experiences. I visited three different cities and took part in several excellent excursions. I was especially impressed by Veliky Novgorod: Yaroslav’s Court, the Rurikovo Gorodische, the Khutyn Monastery, and of course the Kremlin with St. Sophia Cathedral, the Chamber of Facets, and the Center of Musical Antiquities. Everything was very well organized. I also had the chance to attend a performance by the local drama theater at the Philharmonic Hall, and the actors were absolutely captivating!!! We were also taken by car to the Iversky Monastery, located near the town of Valday. However, I do regret that the itinerary did not include the Valdaysky District Museum. It’s a small museum right in the center of Valday and would have been a great addition to the trip. Since we traveled such a long distance, it would have been nice to see more of the town itself, the program only included the Museum Bell Center. Another highlight was the unforgettable excursion to Staraya Russa. Elena accompanied us by car and shared a wealth of fascinating information along the way. The Dostoevsky Museum left a particularly strong impression on me, thanks in large part to the excellent guide there. Thank you very much for the excellent organization of the tour!
L
Lyubov

about provider

27 Mar, 2026

Everything was clear, on time , and ran smoothly , thank you very much!
A
Alyona

about provider

29 Oct, 2025

The provider was great, they responded to all questions quickly and clearly

Valdai's gift. Sightseeing tour for the holidays

Location

Tour highlights

Itinerary

Accommodation

Tour conditions

Included in price

Paid extra

It's important to know

Dates and Prices

Reviews Leave a review

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