St Petersburg To Istanbul

All content by Intrepid

32 days (ex St Petersburg)

Destinations visited: Ukraine, Russia, St Petersburg, Hungary, Budapest, World

Physical rating:
Culture shock rating:

Physical Ratings

The physical rating gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the trip. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our ratings follows:

Rating 1

These trips are a relaxing break. You don't have to worry about doing anything physically demanding unless you want to.

Rating 2

Some easy physical activities included in your trip. No physical preparation is required to make the most of the journey.

Rating 3

This trip will raise your heartbeat. Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.

Rating 4

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. The majority of activities included on this trip will be challenging. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your holiday.

Rating 5

Intrepid’s highest physical rating. Get ready for a heart-pumping adventure with plenty of challenges and some extreme conditions. You will be required to be seriously fit for this trip as difficult activities are included.

Culture Shock Ratings

The culture shock rating considers the level of development in the location, the area's infrastructure and how easy it is to access services. It also takes into consideration how different the food and customs are and whether English is widely spoken. While generalisations are always tricky, here’s a summary of the ratings:

Rating 1

This is the least confronting of Intrepid's product range. English is the native language and the food, customs and access to services will be familiar to you.

Rating 2

You will probably have experienced food like this in restaurants back home and English is commonly spoken. Services are available most of the time but there may be some cultural differences.

Rating 3

Expect some culture shock. You will be exposed to signs of poverty and access to services may be sporadic. The food will be quite different to home and English speakers harder to find. Respecting the local culture will make it easier to fit in and really experience the location.

Rating 4

The comforts of home are more of a rarity. English is not common and the food will be quite different to what you are used to. It is important to observe some of the local customs to not cause offence. Many of the locals' standard of living may be confronting.

Rating 5

You're really out there! You'll need to pay specific attention to health and hygiene. A large proportion of locals' living conditions are a world away from standards you are used to. You may have difficulty finding an English speaker and there is little or no access to services. Paying heed to local customs is essential.

from USD$5,620

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Description

Join us on a journey to discover the splendours of St Petersburg, the iconic Kremlin in Moscow and ancient Novgorod, the birthplace of history and religion in Russia. Travel onwards through Ukraine by train and head to Kyiv, elegantly situated along the glorious Dnipro River. Take time out to explore the majestic Carpathian Mountains before crossing stunning countryside to arrive in romantic and cosmopolitan Budapest. Continue this epic Eastern European adventure past the haunted castles of Transylvania and across stunning mountains to Bulgaria and beyond. Be enchanted by medieval monasteries, old-world towns and the warm hospitality of this region before ending the journey in magnificent Istanbul.

Highlights

Marvel at the beauty of St Petersburg.
Explore Moscow's many treasures.
Discover a tragic past in Ukraine.
Soak up the romance of Budapest.
Sample 'Bull's Blood' in beautiful Eger.
Experience traditional peasant life in a Maramures village.
Be spooked at Dracula's Castle.
Travel through the stunning Carpathian Mountains.
Go hiking in the Bulgarian mountains.
Visit Byzantine ruins in Plovdiv.
Admire Istanbul's majestic mosques.

Itinerary

Day 1-2 St Petersburg

Arrive in St Petersburg, Russia, and be dazzled by a multitude of palaces, museums and galleries.

Days 3-4 Novgorod

Travel to Novgorod on the banks of the Volkhov River. Explore the graceful Kremlin with a local guide before joining a local family for a Russian tea party.

Days 5-6 Moscow

Arrive in the enigmatic city of Moscow and grab some pirozhki - Russian pastries - to fuel explorations of the Kremlin, Red Square and Lenin's mausoleum.

Days 7-9 Kyiv

Roam the cobbled streets of Kyiv, the 'Mother of Slavic Cities' and gain valuable insight into Ukraine's tragic history with a visit to the Chernobyl Museum.

Days 10-11 Carpathian Mountains

Travel deep into the stunning Carpathian Mountains and join in a cooking class, learning to make traditional Ukrainian delicacies. Appreciate the Carpathian's eclectic mix of Eastern European culture, discover lovingly decorated Hutsul houses, complete with private chapels and ornate wells, and soak up the immense natural beauty of this region while hiking.

Days 12-13 Lviv

Be captivated by the crumbling facades of Lviv's old town.

Days 14-15 Budapest

Head out on a cycling tour to uncover what Budapest, the 'Pearl of the Danube', has to offer.

Day 16 Eger

Sip on 'Bull's Blood', a red wine native to Hungary's Eger region, while exploring wine cellars in the evocatively named, 'Valley of the Beautiful Women'.

Days 17-18 Maramures

Discover one of the last peasant cultures in Europe on a visit to rural Maramures, the heart and soul of Romania.

Day 19 Sighisoara

Travel through pastoral fields to Sighisoara before crossing into Transylvania, a magical place that conjures images of haunted castles, gothic churches and vampires – it doesn't disappoint!

Day 20 Viscri

Enjoy a home-cooked dinner with a local family in Viscri.

Days 21-22 Brasov

Why not change things up with a night out in the lively medieval town of Brasov.

Day 23 Bucharest

Travel on to Bucharest, where a guided tour visits the expansive Piata Unirii Square and prodigious 12-storey Palace of Parliament, supposedly the largest civilian administrative building in the world.

Days 24-25 Veliko Tarnovo

Cross the Friendship Bridge into Bulgaria and travel to scenic Veliko Tarnovo. Wander the Tsarevets Fortress that looms impressively over the town, tread the cobblestone streets of the Old Quarter or relax in the cafes or vinarnas and people watch.

Day 26 Sofia

Make tracks to Sofia. Marvel at the gold-domed Aleksander Nevski Church.

Day 27 Gorno Draglishte

Be a guest of a local family during a stay in the Rila Mountains.

Days 28-29 Bansko

Stretch legs on an invigorating hike through alpine scenery and try the local cuisine at night.

Days 30-31 Plovdiv

Wander among impressive Byzantine ruins in Plovdiv and take an optional trip to a nearby hot springs before an overnight train to Istanbul.

Day 32 Istanbul

Finish up among a myriad of mosques and a bevy of bazaars in Istanbul, Turkey's eclectic and very beautiful capital.

Group Size

Maximum of 12 travellers per group

Accommodation

Hotel (15 nts), Guesthouse (7 nts), Overnight sleeper train (5 nts), Pension (3 nts), Homestay (1 nt)

Transport

Boat, Metro, Bus, Taxi, Overnight sleeper train, Train, Minibus, Tram, Bicycle

Budget

Allow USD $300 for meals not included.

Check dates and prices
Book this trip with Intrepid Travel on their site

from USD$5,620

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