Russia
Russia, has it all – fast-paced, cosmopolitan cities with eye-popping architecture, quaint historic rural villages, mountain ranges, ancient volcanic landscapes, lakes, rivers and forests. From magnificent stretches of coastline to snow-swept tundra to semi-arid desert. Capital city Moscow is the site of the Kremlin, Red Square St. Basil’s Cathedral. Volga River cruises pass through the Golden Ring, a group of well-preserved towns dating back to medieval times. Scenic Trans-Siberian Railway journeys stop at Siberia’s Lake Baikal. Skiing and climbing are the top draws in the nearby Caucasus range, best known for Mt. Elbrus, Europe's highest mountain.
Places to visit:
Moscow, Saint Petersburg, The Golden Ring, Lake Baikal, Kamchatka, Kola Peninsula, Yamal Peninsula
Day Required:
10-12 Days
Can be combine with:
–
Best Time to Visit:
April – Oct
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country and former Soviet republic. Its largest metropolis, Almaty, is a long-standing trading hub whose landmarks include Ascension Cathedral, a tsarist-era Russian Orthodox church, and the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan, displaying thousands of Kazakh artifacts. Almaty is also a gateway to the popular ski resort Shymbulak and to Medeu, a high-altitude outdoor ice-skating rink. The capital, Astana, is defined by modern architecture like the futuristic, 97m-tall Bayterek tower. Beyond Astana are Saryarka's lake-filled nature reserves, which protect endangered birds and other wildlife.
Places to visit:
Almaty, Astana
Day Required:
04 – 05 Days
Can be combine with:
–
Best Time to Visit:
April – Oct
Ukraine
Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe known for its Orthodox churches, Black Sea coastline and forested mountains. Its capital, Kiev, features the gold-domed St. Sophia's Cathedral, with 11th-century mosaics and frescoes. The city of Odessa on the Black Sea is known for its grand Primorsky Boulevard, its 19th-century museums and theaters. Lviv is known for its coffeehouses and Rynok Square, bordered by Renaissance, baroque and neoclassical buildings.
Places to visit:
Kiev, Lviv, Black Sea, Odessa
Day Required:
06 – 07 Days
Can be combine with:
–
Best Time to Visit:
April – Oct
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, the nation and former Soviet republic, is bounded by the Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains. Baku, rings a UNESCO-listed ancient core with dazzling 21st-century architecture and sits on the oil-rich Caspian Sea. In the surrounding semi-desert are mud volcanoes and curious fire phenomena. Outside town are the reconstructed Bibi-Heybat Mosque, a pilgrimage site, and the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, housing a vast collection of ornate, locally made carpets. Gobustan National Park, surrounded by hundreds of mud volcanoes and perforated with caves featuring rock engravings from the Stone and Bronze ages. The mountain village Khinalug is a hiking destination and former center of the Zoroastrian faith.
Places to visit:
Baku
Day Required:
04 – 05 Days
Can be combine with:
–
Best Time to Visit:
April – Oct
Georgia
Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, is a former Soviet republic that’s home to Caucasus Mountain villages and Black Sea beaches. Tbilisi, capital city that juxtaposes a picturesque and walk able old town with the modern; snow-capped Caucasus mountains; wineries that are still boutique, warm and personal people, coupled with an incredibly rich history teeming with an 8,000-year-old wine culture. The 11th-century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is one of many notable Georgian Orthodox churches centered on the nearby town of Mtskheta. Gergeti Glacier is a popular trekking destination farther up the mountain’s slopes. Along the Black Sea coast, the resort town Batumi has a seaside promenade and vibrant nightlife.
Places to visit:
Tbilisi, Batumi, kutaisi, Mtskheta
Day Required:
06 – 07 Days
Can be combine with:
–
Best Time to Visit:
April – Oct
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is a rugged Central Asian country along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean. The Tian Shan mountains, which surround the old caravan route and dominate the country, are home to snow leopards, lynx and sheep. In the south, the millennia-old city of Osh has a huge, busy bazaar that was once a stop on the Silk Road.
The saltwater lake Issyk Kul also was also stopover on the Silk Road and today is a vacation destination with thermal springs and mud baths. To the west is the Soviet-influenced capital city, Bishkek. It's known for its art scene, as well as its 11th-century Burana Tower, an intricately carved minaret standing in a field. Nearby Ala Archa National Park offers skiing in a river valley. The Fergana and Pamir mountains are other popular skiing and hiking destinations encompassing tundras, meadows and highlands.
Places to visit:
Bishkek, Fergana and Pamir mountains
Day Required:
06 – 07 Days
Can be combine with:
–
Best Time to Visit:
April – Oct