9 Days Aurora Trail – Moscow, Murmansk & St. Petersburg
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Pickup & Drop
Airport - Airport
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Duration
9D/8N
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Package Overview
This itinerary takes travelers beyond Russia's classic city circuit into the Arctic Circle — combining the grandeur of Moscow and the imperial elegance of St. Petersburg with a rare journey to Murmansk, one of the best places on earth to witness the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).
The trip opens in Moscow with an evening exploration of VDNKh's Soviet-era pavilions, followed by a focused city tour covering the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, and Christ the Saviour Cathedral. From here, travelers fly north to Murmansk, the largest city.....
This itinerary takes travelers beyond Russia's classic city circuit into the Arctic Circle — combining the grandeur of Moscow and the imperial elegance of St. Petersburg with a rare journey to Murmansk, one of the best places on earth to witness the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).
The trip opens in Moscow with an evening exploration of VDNKh's Soviet-era pavilions, followed by a focused city tour covering the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, and Christ the Saviour Cathedral. From here, travelers fly north to Murmansk, the largest city above the Arctic Circle, for a night-time hunt for the Aurora, a visit to a traditional Sami village — complete with reindeer sledding and hand-feeding — and a city tour featuring the world's first nuclear-powered icebreaker, the Lenin. The Arctic experience deepens with overnight stays at a genuine igloo hotel and a wooden cottage, offering a rare chance to sleep under snow and stars far from city lights.
The journey closes in St. Petersburg, where the Hermitage Museum, the Church on Spilled Blood, and the city's canal-lined boulevards provide a graceful, imperial finish to an itinerary that spans from Red Square to the Arctic tundra.
Ideal for: Northern Lights chasers, honeymooners seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience, adventure travelers, photographers, and repeat visitors to Russia looking for something beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Itinerary
- Private airport pickup in Moscow
- Transfer to hotel
- Evening Moscow night tour (5:00 PM – 9:00 PM) with visit to VDNKh Park and Pavilions of the Former Soviet States
- Overnight in Moscow
- Breakfast at hotel
- Moscow Kremlin, Red Square, Park Zaryadye & Sky Bridge
- Alexandrovsky Garden, St. Basil's Cathedral & Lenin Mausoleum
- Nikolskaya Street, GUM Mall & KGB Building
- Christ the Saviour Cathedral
- Overnight in Moscow
- Breakfast at hotel
- Check-out & transfer to airport for onward flight to Murmansk
- Arrive Murmansk & transfer to hotel
- Night excursion to hunt the Northern Lights
- Overnight in Murmansk
- Breakfast at hotel
- Sami Village visit — traditional dwellings, national utensils, the Alley of Idols, and Sami wildlife (reindeer, elk, husky dogs, foxes)
- Reindeer sledge ride
- Hand-feeding reindeer
- Murmansk city tour with the icebreaker Lenin (exterior view)
- Overnight in Murmansk
- Breakfast at hotel
- Check-out & transfer to Igloo Hotel
- Overnight at Igloo Hotel
- Breakfast
- Check-out & transfer to Wooden Cottage
- Rest day at leisure
- Overnight at Wooden Cottage
- Breakfast
- Check-out & transfer to airport for onward journey to St. Petersburg
- Arrive St. Petersburg & transfer to hotel
- Overnight in Saint Petersburg
- Breakfast at hotel
- Hermitage Museum (entrance included)
- Admiralty, Bronze Horseman & Kazan Cathedral
- Church on Spilled Blood
- Overnight in Saint Petersburg
- Breakfast
- Check-out & transfer to train station for onward journey to Moscow
- Arrive Moscow & transfer to airport for departure
Inclusions
Accommodation
- 2 Nights in Moscow
- 2 Nights in Murmansk
- 1 Night at an Igloo Hotel
- 1 Night at a Wooden Cottage
- 2 Nights in Saint Petersburg
- Daily breakfast at hotel (from Day 2)
Meals
- 8 Breakfasts (Day 2 to Day 9)
Visa
- Russia Tourist e-Visa processing assistance
Transfers
- Airport pickup on arrival in Moscow
- Airport drop-off on departure from Moscow
- Moscow–Murmansk domestic flight transfer (airport-to-hotel both ends)
- Murmansk–St. Petersburg flight transfer
- St. Petersburg–Moscow train transfer (return journey)
- All local transfers and sightseeing by private vehicle
Sightseeing & Experiences
Moscow
- Evening Moscow night tour (5:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
- VDNKh Park & Pavilions of the Former Soviet States
- Moscow Kremlin, Red Square, Park Zaryadye & Sky Bridge
- Alexandrovsky Garden, St. Basil's Cathedral & Lenin Mausoleum (exterior)
- Nikolskaya Street, GUM Mall & KGB Building (exterior)
- Christ the Saviour Cathedral
Murmansk & the Arctic
- Night excursion to hunt the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
- Sami Village visit — traditional dwellings (Plague, Kuvaksy), national utensils, the Alley of Idols
- Meeting with Sami wildlife — reindeer, elk, husky dogs, and foxes
- Reindeer sledge ride
- Hand-feeding reindeer
- Murmansk city tour with the icebreaker Lenin (exterior view)
- Overnight stay at an Igloo Hotel
- Overnight stay at a Wooden Cottage with leisure time
Saint Petersburg
- Hermitage Museum (entrance included)
- City tour — Admiralty, Bronze Horseman, Kazan Cathedral
- Church on Spilled Blood
Also Included
- All applicable hotel taxes
- Local representative assistance throughout
Exclusions
- International and domestic airfare (unless otherwise specified as included transfers)
- Lunches and dinners on all days
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities for guides/drivers
- Personal expenses (shopping, laundry, phone/Wi-Fi charges)
- Any entry fees not explicitly listed as "included"
- Special Arctic gear/clothing rental (thermal suits, boots), if required beyond personal wear
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Visa rejection charges, if any
- Cost escalation due to fuel price hikes, taxes, or currency fluctuation
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Inclusions
Other Info
Visa & Documentation
- Passport with minimum 6 months validity from date of return, mandatory.
- Russia e-Visa is subject to government approval; MyTourMakers assists with processing but cannot guarantee approval.
- Submit documents at least 15–20 days prior to departure.
Northern Lights Viewing — Setting Expectations
- The Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon dependent on solar activity, cloud cover, and darkness levels; sightings cannot be guaranteed on any specific night, including the scheduled excursion.
- Best viewing season is generally late September to early April; travel outside this window significantly reduces sighting chances and should be discussed with clients before booking.
- Multiple viewing attempts, extended tour duration, or advanced photography equipment do not guarantee a sighting — this should be communicated clearly to manage client expectations.
Arctic Climate & Packing
- Murmansk and the Arctic Circle region experience extreme cold, especially at night (often well below -15°C to -25°C in peak winter).
- Clients must carry proper thermal clothing, insulated boots, gloves, and headwear; certain excursions (Northern Lights hunt, Sami village, igloo hotel) involve extended outdoor exposure.
- The igloo hotel and wooden cottage stays offer basic/rustic facilities by design — clients seeking standard hotel luxury should be advised accordingly before booking.
Domestic Flights & Train
- Moscow–Murmansk and Murmansk–St. Petersburg sectors are covered by domestic flights; baggage allowance follows the respective airline's policy, separate from international allowance.
- The St. Petersburg–Moscow return sector is by train; seat/class allocation is subject to availability at time of booking.
- Flight/train schedules may cause minor itinerary timing adjustments, particularly around Days 3, 7, and 9.
Currency
- Foreign-issued cards (Visa/Mastercard) do not work in Russia due to international sanctions. Carry sufficient cash (USD/EUR) for exchange.
Itinerary Flexibility
- The Northern Lights excursion, Sami village visit, and outdoor activities are weather-dependent and may be rescheduled or adjusted by the local operator for safety reasons.
- Sightseeing sequence in Moscow and St. Petersburg may be adjusted due to monument closures or public holidays, without compromising overall inclusions.
General Advisory
- Check current travel advisories from your home country before booking, given the prevailing geopolitical situation.
- Travel insurance is strongly recommended and not included — particularly important given the remote Arctic leg of this itinerary.
- Local SIM/eSIM recommended; connectivity may be limited in Murmansk's rural/Arctic areas (Sami village, igloo hotel).
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