Day 1 | Arrival in Moscow: Red Square and the Kremlin

We land at Moscow Vnukovo Airport (VKO) after approximately 3 hours of flight from Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK419 at 06:25. After passport control and baggage claim, our guide meets us. Please keep your e-visa approval document printed or digital with you; you can use the e-visa pre-check lane at customs. At 07:30, we transfer to our 4★ Edge by Seligerskaya hotel or similar; due to early arrival, rooms may not be ready yet, so we leave our luggage in storage and relax in the lobby.

At 10:00, we embark on a panoramic Moscow tour by car: Moscow State University skyscraper, Novodevichy Monastery (exterior view), and the area around Arbat Street. At 12:00, we walk through the historic Red Square, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site: St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, the Minin and Pozharsky Monument, and the facade of the State Historical Museum greet us. In the historic GUM arcade with its glass roof, operating since 1893, you can taste the famous GUM ice cream, or take shelter from the cold in the three-story Okhotny Ryad underground shopping mall opposite the Kremlin.

At 14:30, we visit the heart of Russia, the Kremlin, with entry included: The Annunciation Cathedral, the Archangel Cathedral, and the Assumption Cathedral, the 40-ton Tsar Cannon, the 202-ton Tsar Bell, and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. Large bags must be left in storage at the Kremlin entrance; comfortable walking shoes are recommended. In the evening at 19:30, we have our first dinner featuring borscht, pelmeni, and Russian salad (drinks not included). Tomorrow we will wake up early for checkout, a metro tour, and our flight to Murmansk, so please pack your suitcases tonight.

City: Moscow · Accommodation: 4★, 1 night · Meals: Dinner included · Kremlin entry: Included · Weather: -10 / -20°C in January · Luggage: Thermal clothing for Murmansk

Note: The hotels mentioned in the program are not definitive; accommodation is provided in these or similar hotels, which may vary.

Day 2 | Moscow Metro Tour and Flight to Murmansk

After the buffet breakfast at 07:30, we check out of our rooms; please pack thermal clothing for Murmansk in the top compartment of your luggage. At 09:00, we visit the historic stations of the world-famous Moscow Metro, each serving as an art gallery filled with marble, mosaics, and chandeliers. We look forward to the baroque ceiling frescoes and crystal chandeliers of Komsomolskaya, the mosaic panels depicting Ukrainian culture at Kievskaya, the 32-colored stained glass panel at Novoslobodskaya, and the 76 bronze statues at Ploshchad Revolutsii (with the tradition of touching the nose of the soldier dog).

At 11:30, we transfer to the domestic terminal by air-conditioned vehicle; check-in is done collectively with the guide’s assistance (baggage limit 23 kg). At 14:00, we fly to Murmansk, located 300 km north of the Arctic Circle, on a flight lasting approximately 2 hours. In January, the sun never rises; the polar night creates ideal conditions for the Northern Lights. In Murmansk, the world’s largest Arctic city, temperatures range between -15°C and -30°C.

At 16:00, our English-speaking guide meets us at the airport, and we take a short city tour: the 35-meter World War II monument Alyosha, the Kola Bay coastline, and the city center. At 17:30, we check into the 4★ Cosmos Murmansk hotel; this will be our accommodation for 3 nights. At 19:00, we enjoy dinner featuring selections from Barents Sea products and traditional Northern cuisine (drinks not included). At 21:30, we set off on our first Northern Lights Hunt (3 hours): the guide monitors the KP index in real-time to select the most suitable dark location; we recommend tripods and night mode. Aurora is a natural phenomenon, and no guarantee of sighting is provided; the 3-night hunt increases this probability.

Route: Moscow → Murmansk · Accommodation: 4★ Murmansk, 1st night · Meals: Breakfast + dinner · Domestic flight: Included, 23 kg · Aurora hunt: 1st night, 3 hours · Weather: -15 / -30°C

Day 3 | Sami Village, Husky Park, Reindeer and Snowmobile

We prepare for the day’s most intensive program with a full breakfast (mandatory) at 08:00; we will be outdoors all day. Thermal underwear, a -30°C coat, snow boots, thick gloves, and a balaclava are required; inadequate clothing poses health risks. At 09:30 (included, valued at €150), we meet the Sami, an ancient people of the Kola Peninsula with 3,000 years of history: we learn about Arctic life, handicrafts, joik music, and shamanistic culture in a traditional tent.

At 10:30, we feed Siberian huskies and take a 15–20-minute sled ride (single or double). At 11:30, we feed reindeer and go on a tour using a traditional Sami wooden sled (pulka). At 12:15, we ride powerful snowmobiles across the tundra; a short training session is provided, and helmets and overalls are supplied. At 13:00, we have lunch at a wooden cabin in Husky Park, featuring hot Russian/Sami cuisine such as soup, meat dishes, local bread, and hot drinks.

At 14:30, we stop for photos in front of Lenin (1959), the world’s first nuclear icebreaker (visiting the ship’s museum is optional and subject to an additional fee). At 15:30, there is an optional Ice Floating experience for those interested: swimming in the Arctic waters of the Kola Bay for approximately 1.5 hours in a special drysuit; no swimming skills are required, minimum age is 12, and prior reservation is necessary. This activity is not included in the tour price (€130); please inform us of your decision before departure. Dinner in Murmansk at 19:00 (drinks not included), and at 21:30, the 2nd Northern Lights Hunt (3 hours): the guide may try a different location; if the KP index is favorable, we will go to a darker spot further away.

City: Murmansk · Accommodation: 4★ Murmansk, 2nd night · Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner · Included: Sami + Husky + Reindeer + Snowmobile · Aurora hunt: 2nd night, 3 hours · Weather: -15 / -30°C

Day 4 | Full-Day Teriberka Tundra Tour

Breakfast at 07:30 and early start: the itinerary is finalized at 08:00 based on road conditions. The route to Teriberka may close due to winter storms; if it does, the Kirovsk alternative will be implemented (the guide will provide information at 08:00 in the morning): Snow Village built from snow, an ice bar and sculptures, a cable car offering panoramic views from the peak of the Hibiny Mountains, and optional, extra-fee skiing/snowboarding at the Hibiny Ski Resort.

We depart at 08:30 for a journey of approximately 80 km (1.5–2 hours) along the Arctic tundra via the R-21 highway to the coast of the Barents Sea, heading to Teriberka; endless white plains and frozen lakes accompany us along the way. At 10:30 (included, valued at €120), we arrive at Dragon Egg Beach: giant stones rounded over thousands of years, ice sculptures, and frozen waves offer unique photo opportunities (stones can be slippery, so do not get too close to the shore; the sun is low between 10:00 and 14:00, providing golden hour light). At 11:30, we visit the Ship Graveyard, where the rusted skeletons of abandoned ships from the Soviet era are located (passengers are not allowed to board the ships for safety reasons). At 12:15, we tour the Frozen Waterfall, which is partially or completely frozen and transformed into ice sculptures. At 13:00, lunch in Teriberka at a local restaurant or as a packed lunch: hot soup and fresh Barents fish.

We return to Murmansk at 14:00 (1.5–2 hours); you can rest in the vehicle and organize your photos. At 19:00, our final dinner in Murmansk (drinks not included); since checkout is tomorrow, please pack your suitcases tonight. At 21:00, our 3rd and final Northern Lights Hunt (3 hours): if KP conditions are suitable, the guide selects the most distant and darkest location; as it is the last night, more time is dedicated to individual photography support. Aurora guarantee is not provided.

Route: Murmansk ↔ Teriberka · Accommodation: 4★ Murmansk, last night · Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner · Distance: ~160 km round trip · Aurora hunt: 3rd and last night · Weather: -20 / -35°C

Day 5 | From Murmansk to St. Petersburg: Transition to the Cultural Capital

We have our final breakfast in Murmansk at 07:30, vacate our rooms, and load our luggage onto the vehicle. At 09:00, we transfer to the airport; check-in is done collectively with the guide (baggage limit 23 kg). At 11:00, we take a domestic flight of approximately 2 hours from the Arctic Circle to Russia's cultural capital; the climate, architecture, and pace change completely. Founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter I, St. Petersburg, known as the "Venice of the North," served as the imperial capital for over 200 years with its canals and baroque architecture.

We arrive at Pulkovo Airport at 13:30 and depart for a panoramic city tour by air-conditioned bus with our Turkish-speaking guide (at 14:30): along the Neva River, the city's main boulevard Nevsky Prospekt spanning 4.5 km, the facade of the Winter Palace, the main building of the Hermitage, and Palace Square with its victory column, Kazan Cathedral with its semicircular colonnade inspired by San Pietro in Rome, and views of the frozen river and historic bridges from the Neva embankment. We check into the 4★ Cosmos Pulkovskaya at 17:00 (2 nights accommodation). At 19:30, we enjoy our first dinner featuring more diverse and European-influenced flavors of St. Petersburg (drinks not included).

Route: Murmansk → St. Petersburg · Accommodation: 4★ SPB, 1st night · Meals: Breakfast + Dinner · Domestic Flight: Included, 23 kg · City Tour: Panoramic, 4 points · Weather: -5 / -12°C

Day 6 | Catherine Palace, Amber Room and Hermitage Museum

Breakfast at 08:00; today we visit two major cultural sites, and comfortable shoes are mandatory as you will walk a lot at the Hermitage. At 09:00, we travel to Pushkin town, Tsarskoye Selo, located about 25 km south, in approximately 30 minutes. At 09:30 (entrance included), we tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site Catherine Palace: the turquoise-and-gold baroque palace, the legendary Amber Room covered with 6 tons of amber and gold leaf (the room taken by the Nazis during the war was restored and reopened in 2003; photography inside is strictly prohibited), the Grand Hall lined with mirrors and chandeliers for 300 meters, the Chinese Room, the Picture Gallery, and other rooms, as well as the Winter Park, which looks beautiful under the snow for photos.

We return to central St. Petersburg at 12:00. At 13:30 (entrance included), we enter the Hermitage, one of the world's largest museums: 3 million works of art across 6 historic buildings; our guide follows an optimized route. Among the highlights to see are the Jordan Staircase adorned with gold leaf and frescoes, the Malachite Room which served as the Empress's official reception hall, the Renaissance Gallery featuring works by Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, and the Impressionist collection including pieces by Monet, Matisse, Picasso, and Van Gogh. Since the museum is very large, you may walk 8–12 km; there is a café inside the museum, and large bags can be stored in lockers.

At 17:00, an optional ballet performance is available for those interested: The Nutcracker or Swan Lake at the Mikhailovsky or Mariinsky Theatre (price and program depend on the date, advance reservation is required, not included in the tour price; dinner time will be adjusted for ballet participants). Dinner at 19:30. The return flight departs at 02:10 (TK404); please be ready at the airport by 23:00; pack your suitcases tonight.

City: St. Petersburg · Accommodation: 4★ SPB, last night · Meals: Breakfast + dinner · Catherine Palace and Hermitage entrance: Included · Weather: -5 / -12°C

Day 7 | St. Isaac's Cathedral, Church on Spilled Blood, Nevsky and Farewell

Breakfast at 08:30 and hotel checkout; luggage is stored in the vehicle, only a day bag is needed today. At 10:00 (admission included), we visit St. Isaac's Cathedral, the largest cathedral in St. Petersburg: a dome plated with 100 kg of pure gold (an iconic structure visible from every point in the city), 16 malachite and 2 lapis lazuli columns, and over 600 m² of mosaics and frescoes. The colonnade on the outer terrace with a 360° view is optional and additionally paid for. At 11:30 (admission included), we see the Church on Spilled Blood, the only example of Russian-Byzantine architecture in the city, located at the site of Tsar Alexander II's assassination and featuring a mosaic collection spanning 7,000 m²; extra time is allocated for wide-angle shots from the canal embankment, and interior mosaics can be photographed completely.

Free time at 13:00 on Nevsky Avenue: last-minute shopping, a coffee break, or a walk along the Fontanka–Moika canals; the guide will announce the meeting time in the morning. Recommendations: the upper-floor café of Singer Department Store (view of Nevsky and Kazan Cathedral), Eliseyev Emporium since 1903, Literaturnoe Café open since 1816, and the sculptural group of four bronze horse tamers on Anichkov Bridge. At 19:30, enjoy the farewell dinner of the tour, "Farewell Dinner from Russia" (drinks not included). At 21:15, we transfer to Pulkovo Airport; customs declaration may be required for those carrying significant amounts of souvenirs or amber.

We depart from St. Petersburg at 02:10 on Turkish Airlines flight TK404, arriving in Istanbul at 06:15; the tour concludes here. We recommend planning your local transportation in advance. 3 cities, 6 nights, 4 flights, 3 aurora hunting nights, and more than 10 included venues. We hope to see you again on your next journey.

Route: St. Petersburg → Istanbul · Meals: Breakfast + farewell dinner · St. Isaac's and Church on Spilled Blood admission: Included · Return flight: TK404, 02.10 · Istanbul arrival: 06.15