Yaroslavl

DAY 1
Meeting at the airport in Moscow.
A trip to Yaroslavl (76 km). On the way you’ll learn many interesting facts about the history of the capital of Russia. Arrival in Yaroslavl. Accommodation in a hotel.
Lunch.
Departure to a sightseeing tour to the city. You’ll hold the sightseeing tour «Myths and Legends of Yaroslavl». You’ll visit an ancient Spaso-Preobrazhenskiy monastery (the XIII century), will listen to a small bell concert and will see the alive symbol of Yaroslavl - she-bear Masha (summertime).
You will visit Ilya the Prophet church - a unique monument of the XVII century where the world relic - a particle of God’s Cope was kept.
OR
Departure to a tour «In searche of riches of Yaroslavl».
You are going to have a very active program with the use of echoteambuilding elements in the historical part of the city of Yaroslavl (temples, monastic walls, territories of museums, old houses, quay) as in a basis of the game the legend connected with the historical realities of Yaroslavl.
During carrying out of game participants get acquainted with historical and architectural monuments, and also take part in the game with master - classes in crafts.
Participants are divided into 3-4 teams. During the game participants pass some stations - historical master-classes. Movement from station to station is according to a map. In the game master - classes are submitted to: lists of tiles, felting, curring, producing of doll-guards, curing cucumbers, a master - class in peals.

OR
Further you’ll held a fascinating excursion to the factory of valenki - «Magic valenki», where nothing has changed since the data of its foundation, 100 years ago. You will see, how valenki – the symbol of Russia-are broken, beat and are even cooked, and all this is done manually! After excursion there will be an opportunity to get true Russian valenki.

OR
You are going to the excursion to the first private museum in Russia «Music and Time», where it is possible to get acquainted with a collection of " alive music » - bells, street organs, record players moreover and to listen to the sounds, to play and to get unique souvenirs. You will see the porcelain collection numbering about 2000 exhibits.

OR
«The Secular reception» - a solemn reception in a governor's house - museum. Alive music, a buffet table or tea drinking in the govenor’s study, the story about the life of the Yaroslavl governors, excursion on an exposition of a museum. A photo for your memory in an armchair and at the table of the Governor.

OR
«The children's railway»
You get on the children's railway, where the main workers are children!
You will sweep on a picturesque pine forest. There are two stations on the road - "Pioneer", "Meadow" and a platform "Green". The road is equipped by semi-automatic blocking.

OR
Further you will have a remarkable walk across Volga - you will admire a magnificent panorama of the city of Yaroslavl. (The organization of a buffet table on the steam-ship is possible for additional payment).

OR
Dinner in a restaurant - museum with Russian traditions.

We can also offer our new programs:

CITY 1612
Animation game on walls of the ancient Kremlin

Yaroslavl in summer of 1612... The Time of Troubles...
Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and head Kuzma Minin arrived to the Spaso-Yaroslavl monastery to collect here a national army and to reject pressure of Polish nobles. In reply to dispatch of appeals by them across all Russia, here, in «cradleof thhe home guard», gather «the best elected people» from all cities.
You will get acquainted with pages of «the Yaroslavl standing» from the characters of a XVII-th century, then will rise on the ancient monastic walls opened only for this program, and will pass a train of tests for dedication in civil guardsmen. Reconstruction of ancient fight, visiting of the Uglichesky tower (for the first time opened for city visitors), game "action" with competitions and a memorable gift will not leave anyone indifferent!

PHANTOMS OF THE ANCIENT KREMLIN
Unusual travel to secrets Spassky storehouse of antiquities

You will go to surprising travel in inner sanctum of the Spaso-Preobrazhenskiy monastery —storehouse of antiques. Kept here for centuries of the manuscript and finds are hidden from curious eyes, and its visitors can touch ancient riddles!
You will learn about secret of the ancient manuscript "the Song of Igor's Campaign" found by count Alexey Musin-Pushkin. You also will see the unusual show during which time you will meet phantoms of heroes of a poem who bravely stand against enemies, and who hope and trust. All action is filled with supernatural sounds and spirit of that time in which there is a great tragedy of war and history of huge love between Yaroslavna and prince Igor.
You will learn history of a find of the manuscript, test yourself in a role of the copyist in book business, will walk on corridors scriptorium — a writing workshop where during ancient times books for church and for the secular nobility had been copied. And in the end of excursion visitors can try honey wine from monastic stocks!

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE…
You get in a theatrical art inner sanctum — to the first theater in Russia.
Everything here is filled with spirit of ancient theatrical action under the protection of the Melpomene.

The theater history, as the legend says, goes back to a tanning barn in which two and a half centuries ago young merchant’s son Fedor Volkov with his brothers and friends arranged the first performances of the troupe. Then Fedor built a special building for theater, made suits, scenery. The hearing about young actors from Yaroslavl reached empress Elizabeth who caused them to Petersburg … Since then Yaroslavl «theatrical temple» on the bank of Volga is considered as a root from which Russian national professional theater has grown.
By the XIX-th century end the Yaroslavl theater was well-known to all Russia not only as the oldest, but also as one of the best. Here, in Yaroslavl in 1900 had passed celebrations of the 150 anniversary of the Russian theater, and in 1911 under the project of architect Spirin the new building of Volkovskiy theater has been constructed, and theater is there to this day.
You will glance in a mysterious behind-the-scenes, learn where and how scenery and suits for performances are made, certainly will visit the theatrical scene and even performance rehearsal!

«THE YAROSLAVL FAIR» *
Wide fair of the workman people will be shown to you, as if by magic, directly on an edge of fantastic wood.

The fair city, as well as all Russian settlements has the streets and a central square. In the centre of small fair town is situated the mobile belfry, whence flows a crimson ring. And names of streets are also craft: "Potter's", "Smith’s", "Lacy" etc.
At the fair buffoons entertain the visitors. They invite the people on fair and tell everything about it. In a celebratory attire you will be met by owners of fair: the potter, the smith, the woodcarver, masters of weaving from a rod and a bast, lace master, masters of a majolica and enamel painting. And, of course, ther’s no fair without a notable entertainment! Sellers will offer you delicacies for all tastes: a pretzel, a steering-wheel to tea and sugar candies on a stick. Two picturesque cooks will invite you to try traditional Russian pancakes with the most delicious stuffing. And on pleasure to a stomach, and for visitors fun at our fair there will be a pig on a spit, bread golden, loaves fragrant, rolls fragrant, pies notable, porridges from гречки, a Russian cabbage soup from an oven, berries wood, honey intoxicated and of course alcohol tinctures and horse-radish wine.
Fair waits for visitors, there is a lot of news, the goods, hasten, if you have money!

* Copyrights to the program «Yaroslavl fair» belong to Open Company "Volga-tour ".

DAY 2
Breakfast in your hotel. A trip to Uglich (70 km).
Excursion in the Uglich Kremlin where you will see the church of tsarevitch Dimitry «on blood», the exiled bell, the Chambers of apanage princes and the Spaso-Preobrazhenskiy cathedral well-known for the fresco "Transformation" which reproduces a well-known Vatican work by Rafael.
A trip to Myshkin.
Departure to Myshkin - the most original city of the Golden ring. Travel will begin from visiting the unique thing in the world «The museum of the mouse».
Then you are going to the true tourist village - here you’ll see both wooden log huts, and domestic utensils of our ancestors, and ancient mills, and even antique technics.
And now - the most interesting - the house of crafts where you can try a role of the smith, the joiner and the potter.
In the museum you will see «The transformation of a linen sunflower seed», how flax is broken, kneaded, scutched. During the master - class you will make a flax doll – guard with your own hands, which you will take as a souvenir.
You will visit the true mill and the house of the miller where the mistress will treat you with pancakes, will show the house and with humourous catchphrase will tell you about the life of the miller and his family.
A trip to village Martynovo. You will visit the «Katsky museum», where you will get acquainted with a way of life, customs and myths of wonderful people - inhabitants of Katskaya volost of Myshkinskiy district. And then in a rural log hut you’ll try the treatment from Russian stove - shchi, potatoes, baked milk is available!
Returning to Yaroslavl. Dinner.

DAY 3
Breakfast.
Departure to Kostroma - the native land of the Snow Maiden (the grand daughter of Father Frost, Russian Santa Claus).
You will visit the working female Bogoyavlensko-Anastasiin monastery, Bogoyavlensky cathedral. Then, you will go to the working man's Svyato – Troitsky Ipatjevsky monastery.
Visiting the Snow Maiden’s Tower. The heroine of a fairy tale will lead the visitors to the Tower and will show the most interesting. In a smart room you’ll see a puppet-show. In the Ice room - trying of fragrant Russian drinks.
Lunch.
Returning to Yaroslavl. Dinner.

DAY 4
Breakfast. A trip to Gavrilov-Yam.
There is the folklore program «Yamskaya suburb»: with riding in coachman's carts, games and entertainments!
Visiting «The Museum of the coachman», where there is a unique monument to the coachman in Russia who, according to a legend, once has based a post station Yam on a place of the present city. Then you are going to visit Mary-iskusnitsa. Here it is possible to make the doll guard with your own hands, and certainly, to get souvenirs.
Lunch.
We are going to the ancient russian manor "Karabikha", a unique nobiliary manor in Yaroslavl region which has kept the former architectural shape.
Owners in celebratory clothes will lead you on smart halls and inhabited rooms, will tell about the way of life in Russian manor, will treat you with strong fragrant tinctures of local making.
Here the entertaining program waits for you, during which time you learn, in what games your contemporaries played in the last century.
And, of course, you will learn to traditional Russian national games in which you can play.
Returning to the hotel. Dinner.

DAY 5
Breakfast.
You will take the excursion "City Knjazhy", one of the oldest and the most beautiful cities of ancient Russia Rostov the Great. You will see the Rostov Kremlin and the Uspensky cathedral’s belfry known all over the world. You’ll visit the walls’ transitions of the Rostov Kremlin (in summertime).
The masters of the unique ceramic workshop, who work with blackglazed clay, will help you to master the secrets of the craft.
You will visit the factory of enamel, where you will see how a unique Rostov enamel is born, and if you are interested in it you can make a souvenir with your own hands or buy products by eminent masters.
Lunch. Returning to the hotel. Free time.

DAY 6
Breakfast. Departure to Vladimir (182 km) and Suzdal (32 km).
Excursion round this ancient city, visiting the unique Dmitrievsky Cathedral decorated with carved stones as if lacy. You will visit the Uspensky Cathedral well-known for the A. Rublev’s and D. Chyorny’s frescos and will see a symbol of the city - the Golden gate.
Lunch. Departure to Suzdal (32 km).
You are going to visit pearls of Suzdal - the Kremlin, the Christmas Cathedral. Further you will visit man's Spaso-Efimievsky monastery (a museum — reserve).
Then you are going to the Museum of wooden architecture and country life. You will also visit a tourist-entertaining complex the Farmstead of masters, where you can see the work of national craftsmen, get souvenirs.
You will learn history and traditions of honey-making in Russia and will try honey of Suzdal!
Returning to Yaroslavl. Dinner.

DAY 7
Breakfast. Check out from hotel.
Departure to Pereslavl - Zalessky (130 km) to Berendey’s empire. A sightseeing tour across Pereslavl - Zalessky. You are to travel on mysterious and legendary Pereslavl land: a sacred place of ancient Slavs on the coast of Pleshcheev lake - the mysterious Dark blue stone possessing ability to move and to grant wishes.
You will visit the true rural holiday of courtship, with round dances and songs in the game program in Pereslavl Museum — reserve.
You will visit the ancient Spaso-Preobrazhenskiy cathedral of the XII century where the son and the grandson of Alexander Nevsky are buried. The cathedral is surrounded by once powerful defensive earthen shafts.
Lunch.
You will get acquainted with pagan rites. In the workshop - a smithy of souvenirs you’ll see how the berendejki-toys are born, buy them for memory. There is the folklore program with honey liqueur treatment.

OR
You will have a travel in time – you will find yourself in the true Peter assembly. After a buffet table in magnificent interior you will acquire with dandy rules accepted in a secular society, learn fan language and front sights’ language, you will master dancing intricate figures of the ancient minuet. You can play chess with tsar Peter Alekseevich, and, the most unforgettable - be photographed wearing the magnificent suits of a Peter epoch.
Departure to Moscow.

P.S. You can modify this program to your mind and taste.