The breath of the Volga and the rustle of the forest: Kostroma – Ples

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We invite you to a spiritual journey through the picturesque corners of the Kostroma land.

You will get acquainted with the life and inhabitants of the moose farm, the cozy merchant Kostroma, the inspiring Volga Plain and the majestic Ipatievsky monastery. The program includes cheese discoveries, a boat trip along the Volga, excursions to ancient cities and immersion in the world of traditional crafts of flax and birch bark.

Arrivals daily until September 30, 2026

Location

Kostroma

Sightseeing tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

Hospitable Kostroma

Let's take a walk around ancient Kostroma and the ancient Ipatievsky monastery.

Boat trip

Admire the Ples and its picturesque landscapes from the water

Moose Farm

Let's go visit the good-natured forest giants

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival. Visit to the moose farm and cheese Museum
There are two possible meeting options on the tour:
Option: 08:30 group meeting at Yaroslavl-Main railway station, at the monument to S. Mamontov. Transfer for an additional fee. Transfer to Kostroma (~2 hours).
Option: 10:40-11:00 gathering of the group at the Kostroma-Novaya railway station (on the platform). Transfer to the Sumarokovskaya moose farm (~30 min).
Transfer to the Sumarokovskaya moose farm (~30 min).
The Sumarokovskaya salmon farm is one of the most unusual places in the Kostroma region. This is not a zoo or an attraction, but an operating farm where humans and forest dwellers exist side by side according to special rules developed over the years.
You will learn how over the decades a person has learned to understand a wild animal without taming it to the end, and why moose milk is considered a real rarity. The simplicity of this place hides painstaking work, patience and a special philosophy.
You will get acquainted with the life of a moose farm, learn how moose milk is obtained and how it differs in taste and properties.
And also, for an additional fee, you can try moose milk (from June to September) — a rare experience that cannot be repeated outside this place.
Return to Kostroma.
Cheese Museum tasting tour.
Immerse yourself in a world where cheese rules everything! Together with the cheese sommelier, you will discover the secrets of an ancient mansion, get acquainted with amazing artifacts, tricky gadgets and interactive challenges where you can touch, taste and be surprised. Funny, strange and sometimes incredible facts will make you look at cheese in a new way.
In the tasting room, you will learn how to reveal the taste of each piece — and learn what and how to combine it according to the real cheese laws.
Lunch at a cafe in the city.
Check-in at the hotel.
Free time.

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Day 2 - Ples: walking tour and boat trip along the Volga
Breakfast at the hotel.
10:30 Gathering in the lobby. Departure for an excursion.
Departure for an excursion to Ples (transfer ~ 1 hour).
Sightseeing tour of Ples.
Ples welcomes you with quiet streets, where every house, every carved architrave holds the secrets of centuries, and the Market Square and embankment seem to have descended from an ancient painting.
The outlines of a once-standing fortress can be discerned on Cathedral Hill, and the majestic Assumption Cathedral seems to hold the breath of the entire city. Isaac Levitan drew his subjects here, and Fyodor Chaliapin set foot here.
The Ples tour is exclusively pedestrian in nature, passing through hilly terrain with ascents and descents. We recommend choosing comfortable clothes and shoes according to the weather.
Boat trip along the Volga.
One of the most fascinating ways to see Ples and its surroundings is to take a boat trip along the Volga.
From the water, the city opens up in a new light: steep hills, which are called mountains here, golden domes of churches, and, of course, the Volga itself, majestically flowing along its channel. At such a moment, you understand why Ples has become a real source of inspiration for many generations of artists and poets.
In case of adverse weather conditions, the boat trip will be replaced by an excursion to the museum of Public places.
Free time to buy souvenirs or have a snack on your own.
If desired, for an additional fee, you can use the services of an electric car (pay yourself on the spot).
Departure to Kostroma (~ 80 km).
Dinner at a cafe in the city.
Transfer to the hotel.
Free time.

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Day 3 - Kostroma: sightseeing tour, Ipatievsky Monastery, flax and birch bark Museum
Breakfast at the hotel.
Gathering in the lobby (with things). Departure for an excursion.
Sightseeing tour of the city.
Kostroma welcomes you with a fan of streets, where the well-preserved architecture of the past centuries holds the secrets of history. On Susaninskaya Square, the fire tower stands as a watchman of time, and the Shopping malls still breathe the spirit of merchant life — it smells of fresh pastries and adventures that await around every corner.
Kostroma Kremlin is a restored masterpiece of the XVIII century, where the Feodorov Icon of the Mother of God is kept in the Epiphany Cathedral.
The gold of the domes sparkles in the rays of the sun, and the air here seems to be saturated with miracles and awe: every step takes you back to the era of great historical events.
Excursion to the Holy Trinity Ipatievsky Monastery (on the territory of the monastery and the Trinity Cathedral).
The history of the Romanov royal dynasty begins in the Ipatievsky Monastery: it was here that Mikhail Fedorovich was called to the kingdom in 1613.
The white stone walls, the golden-domed Trinity Cathedral and the boyar chambers preserve legends about brave people, the fate of kings and secrets that have survived the centuries.
Excursion to the museum of flax and birch bark.
The museum of flax and birch bark reveals the heart of Kostroma. Ancient crafts come to life here: birch bark, flax, patterns and products from past centuries show how craftsmen turned simple wood and fibers into real works of art.
Every showcase, every detail of the exhibition seems to take you back to the past, allowing you to feel how traditions come to life and continue to live in the modern works of Kostroma masters.
Lunch at a cafe in the city.
Free time.
17:00 Transfer to Kostroma-Novaya railway station.
17:00 Transfer to Yaroslavl-Main railway station for an additional fee. Estimated arrival time is 19:00.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Tour organizer's comments

The Ples tour is exclusively pedestrian in nature, passing through hilly terrain with ascents and descents.

We recommend choosing comfortable clothes and shoes according to the weather.

Accommodation

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

The tour can be booked both as an excursion program and with hotel accommodation (rooms with amenities).

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

Hotel	Adult	Child under 14 years of age	Extra charge for a single room
Without accommodation	14000	13500	-
Shelestov 3* Snow Maiden 3*	20500	20000	5000
Moskovskaya zastava 3*	23500	23000	5000
*I am a 4 Hotel** Volga 4*	25000	24500	8000

Discount for additional accommodation. place – 1000 rubles.

Tour conditions

Group

From 1 to 50 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Kostroma

Included in price

2 nights hotel stay (when choosing a rate with accommodation);
Meals: 2 breakfasts (when choosing a rate with accommodation), 2 lunches, 1 dinner;
transportation services according to the program;
guided tour service according to the program.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Kostroma and back;
transfer from Yaroslavl and back – 4000 RUB/person.;
hotel accommodation, when choosing a rate without accommodation;
breakfast when choosing a rate without accommodation;
meals not included in the tour program: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 2 dinners;
additional payment for 1-bed accommodation:
- 3* hotels – 5000 rub.;
- 4* hotels – 8000 rubles.;
the surcharge for a special menu (vegetarianism, diets, etc.) is 500 rubles. for one 1 lunch.

It's important to know

Clothing should be comfortable and not restrict movement.

Dates and Prices

$278

24 – 26 Jun 3 days 2 nights

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$278

1 – 3 Jul 3 days 2 nights

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$278

8 – 10 Jul 3 days 2 nights

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$278

15 – 17 Jul 3 days 2 nights

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$278

22 – 24 Jul 3 days 2 nights

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$278

29 – 31 Jul 3 days 2 nights

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$278

5 – 7 Aug 3 days 2 nights

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$278

12 – 14 Aug 3 days 2 nights

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$278

19 – 21 Aug 3 days 2 nights

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$278

26 – 28 Aug 3 days 2 nights

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$278

2 – 4 Sep 3 days 2 nights

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$278

9 – 11 Sep 3 days 2 nights

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$278

16 – 18 Sep 3 days 2 nights

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$278

23 – 25 Sep 3 days 2 nights

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$278

28 – 30 Sep 3 days 2 nights

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Reviews Leave a review

M
Marina

about provider

19 Mar, 2026

Everything was well organized. All the tour information was sent in advance, we were met promptly, and the hotel check-in was quick and smooth.
S
Shorena

about provider

9 Nov, 2025

I’m grateful to the tour provider, overall, I really enjoyed the trip. My only comment is about the meals. For example, I don’t eat meat or dairy products, and when filling out the questionnaire, I clearly listed everything I strictly avoid. When I arrived at the café for lunch, I double-checked about getting a meat-free meal, and they assured me they had my information and would serve a suitable option. I trusted that, but after just a few spoonfuls of borscht, I found pieces of meat which was quite disappointing and irresponsible. As a result, I was left half hungry, since I could only eat a small piece of pollock with some potatoes and salad and the portions were very small. I also wasn’t happy with lunch at the Slavyansky restaurant: the borscht they planned to serve as a "meat-free" dish was clearly cooked in meat broth, so I had to refuse it. The portion of cod there was maybe about 100 grams, served with rice, so at least I didn’t stay completely hungry. In conclusion, I’d really like to see dietary requests taken more seriously. Some travelers may also have allergies, so if someone writes that they don’t eat certain foods, it’s important to pay close attention to that.

Big Country Travel

Hello Shorena, Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the trip overall. We’ll definitely share your comments with our colleagues in the region to help improve the catering quality on future tours. We hope that despite this issue, you’ll choose us again to organize your next trip around Russia!