Motley dance of the Volga region

1 DAY

09:00 meeting of the group at the airport. Luggage storage at the hotel.

10:00-11:00 Breakfast in the city cafe.

11:00-14:00 Bus tour of the city. From the windows of a comfortable bus you can see modern buildings and passages modestly standing for centuries, you will drive along modern avenues and ancient streets. Another feature is the tolerant attitude between religions. Here the belfries alternate with minarets and the gospel echoes with the azan. During the excursion you will drive to central square named Tukay square, square of the 1 of May, Freedom Square, square of Sultan Galeev. You will admire sparkling winter parks and appreciate the beauty of the city from the observation deck, where you take amazing photos against snow-covered Kazan. You will be got amazing shots, don’t doubt! You will visit one of the main places of interest of Tatarstan is Staro-Tatarskaya sloboda. During excursion you will be acquainted with culture of nation and its traditions. Optionally it is also possible to visit the Bogoroditsky Monastery, where the miraculous list of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is kept.

14:00-15:00 Lunch in a cafe of the city with a master class in Tatar cooking.

Tourists discover the secrets of cooking one of the national dishes. The process is accompanied by the story of the origin of the food. After this dish is served on the table.

15:00-17:00 Walking tour of the Kazan Kremlin – of the object of UNESCO world heritage site. You will see ancient white stone walls and towers, including the falling tower of Syuyumbike, Governor's Palace that was built on the place of Khan's Palace, and also the Mausoleum of Kazan Khans. During the tour is provided a visit to the Annunciation Cathedral and the pearl of Kazan - Kul Sharif mosque, which combines prayer halls, and is also a cultural and educational center.

17:00-18:00 Walking tour of Bauman street, or the so-called "Kazan Arbat". This is the first merchant part of the city, formed in the late 17th century. The history of its origin is very interesting, and its appearance was formed for centuries!

During the tour you will see:

• Oriental clock with figures of characters of Tatar fairy tales
• the world's first monument to the great Opera singer Fyodor Chaliapin
• sculptural compositions in the form of fountains
• the building of the drama theater, founded more than a hundred years ago
• an exact copy of the carriage of Empress Catherine the great
• monument to Kazan Cat
• a memorable sign "the Zero Meridian of Kazan" and the Avenue of stars

And also learn:

• About underground passages and gold reserves of Russia
• what is the height of the Epiphany bell tower
• which building resembles an expanded book and why

In addition: you will be able to visit souvenir shops and get acquainted with Handicrafts.

18:00-19:00 Master class "Tatar costume" in the Tatar national village "Tugan avylym" you will not only see a variety of Tatar folk costumes, but also be able to try them on, feeling like a resident of medieval Kazan. Photo shoot and photo printing as a gift!

Transfer to hotel. Settlement.

Free time.

2 DAY

Breakfast at hotel.

08:50 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

09:00-20:00 Excursion To Yoshkar-Ola.

An exciting trip to Mari El awaits you. Within one day you will get acquainted with an amazing people, its customs and traditions, beliefs and rites of one of the oldest pagan peoples of Russia. Bright and memorable will be the promenade in the capital - Yoshkar-Ola. It is amazing how they could fit in the small town of Amsterdam and Bruges, Moscow and Florence. The embankment of the Malaya Kokshaga River is enlivened by the abundance of water lilies, the pedestrian bridges connecting its banks are elegant and original. A “fairy tale alley”, “Yoshkin cat” and “Yoshkin cat” will share a good mood with you.

Lunch.

City History Museum.

Visiting an ethnographic village. Having tasted the dishes of national cuisine, we find ourselves in an ethnographic village. The cheerful keeper of the holiday house will meet you with songs and dances, he loves to eat deliciously, and he will treat you with the right local pancakes and delicious tea on local herbs. Here you will learn how to cook national Mari pancakes in the oven. You will create a charm for the house “God's Eye” with your own hands, you can compete in archery and ride on traditional Mari swings, which have a sacred meaning. Games and fun, folk dances and songs will entertain in an amazing space of goodness and hospitality.

20:00 Return to the hotel.

Free time.

3 DAY

Breakfast at hotel.

08:50 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

09:00-19:00 Tour to Bulgar The ancient city of Bolgar, the historical homeland of the Tatars, is located on the right bank of the Volga River, 200 km from Kazan. The city from where Islam spread throughout the Volga region. You will be fascinated by the land of the Volga Bulgars with its rich beauty and landscapes. You will visit the Museum-reserve, see the Northern and Eastern mausoleums with a 700-year history, as well as the most mysterious and majestic building of Bulgar-the black chamber. An experienced guide will tell you about a beautiful and mysterious legend associated with it. White mosque will amaze your imagination, and staying on this historic land you will feel like a real archaeologist-traveler.

14:30 Lunch in Bulgar.

19:00 Return to Kazan.

Free time.

4 DAY

Breakfast at the hotel.

Room release.

Meeting with a guide in the hotel lobby.

09:00-16:00 Tour to Sviyazhsk. (On the way a visiting the universal Temple) You will make a fascinating journey to the ancient Russian city, founded by the Russian Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible in 1551. The natural landscape will surprise you with its beauty, because the city is surrounded by water on all sides.

On arrival, you will take a sightseeing walking tour of the island with a tour of the complex of the assumption monastery, you will visit the oldest Trinity Church in Russia.

You will also learn:

• what was the original name of the city connected with
• which of the emperors visited Sviyazhsk and who sang it in their works
• what are the times of the "red terror" remembered
• why for half a century Sviyazhsk became a forgotten island with a sad fate.

Visiting to the horse yard, pottery and craft workshops.

Visit to the Museum of the History of Sviyazhsk.

Lunch on the island.

16:00 End of the program. Airport transfer.

The tour price includes: accommodation in the hotel of the selected category (check-in after 14-00, release until 12-00); meals according to the program; accompaniment of the group by a tour guide; entrance tickets to museums according to the program; transport services according to the program.