DAY 1 | ARRIVAL IN MOSCOW
Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. A driver with a sign saying 
will wait for you in the arrival area of the airport. Free time in Moscow.
Night in Moscow.
DAY 2 | TOLSTOY AND 1812
Breakfast at the hotel.
Guided tour of the Lev Tolstoy Memorial-Estate at Khamovniki - Tolstoy bough this Moscow estate in 1882. He spent 19 winters here with his family up until spring 1901 when he moved to his summer estate of Yasnaya Polyana for the last time. In the writing room here, Tolstoy wrote over 100 works, including the novel Resurrection and the novellas The Death of Ivan Ilich, The Kreutzer Sonata and Father Sergius. Tolstoy would spend on average 8-9 hours a day writing and in his study you will see a writing table which he sat at and one at which he stood.
Guided tour of the War of 1812 Museum – this museum has over 2,000 rarities from the time of the Napoleonic Wars, including weapons, uniforms, document and paintings depicting events and battles of the war, as well as the silver frame of Emperor Alexander I's letter of gratitude to the Moscow nobility, signet rings, tobacco cases and medals of participants the Patriotic War as the conflict in known in Russia. Items of note include personal belongings of commanders of the war: Kutuzov’s samovar, Wittgenstein’s baton, and Napoleon’s sabre which was given to Count Shuvalov.
Guided tour of the Christ the Saviour Cathedral - the original version of the cathedral was built to commemorate the victory over Napoleon. It took over 40 years to build, only to be subsequently blown up by the Bolsheviks. The current version was built after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Duration: 7h | 
Transportation: by a private car
Night in Moscow.
DAY 3 | YASNAYA POLYANA
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Yasnaya Polyana Estate.
Distance: 200km
Yasnaya Polyana is the main place of pilgrimage for fans of Lev Tolstoy. The unique Russian estate was the family home of the Tolstoys. Tolstoy was born here, spend a great deal of his life here and is now buried here. Yasnaya Polyana was his favourite home and was considered the ‘nest’ of his family. By coming here you can immerse yourself in the world of Tolstoy and his works, as he wrote chapters of both War and Peace and Anna Karenina here.
Excursion around the estate - the highlights of this tour with a local guide include:
- Tolstoy’s House – Tolstoy moved into this house (which is actually a wing of the original which was sold and dismantled) in 1856 and lived here, mainly just for the summer, until his death. The house has many original artefacts and pieces of furniture which creates the impression that the author could return home at any minute.
- Prishpekt Alley – this is the main alley in the estate and leads from the entrance towers to Tolstoy's house. Tolstoy used to enjoy walking along the alley which is lined with trees.
- Kuzminsky Wing – in 1859 Tolstoy opened a school for local peasant children in this building. Now it holds an exhibition detailing the life, work and era of Tolstoy.
- Tolstoy’s Grave - Tolstoy is buried in a very simple grave in the forest on the estate. Tolstoy believed that somewhere around here there was a green stick on which the secret of happiness was written.
At the end of the excursion you will have free time to walk around the estate.
Duration: 7h | Transportation: by a private car
Transfer to Moscow.
Night in Moscow.
DAY 4 | BATTLE OF THE BORODINO
Breakfast at the hotel.
Guided tour of the Borodino Panorama - the highlights of the tour include:
- Kutuzov’s Cabin – on 1 September 1812 Kutuzov held a meeting here, in what was then the village of Fili, where it was decided to abandon Moscow to the French.
- Battle of Borodino Panorama – this panorama was created by the famous battle scene painter Franz Roubaud. The panorama was unveiled in 1912 in the presence of the emperor and his family. The painter has succeeded in conveying the dynamic and drama of the battle which took place on 7 September 1812. It is 115 metres wide and 15 metres tall.
- Triumphal Arch – a memorial to the heroes of the War of 1812, which was restored during the Soviet era.
Transfer to Mozhaisk.
Distance: 110km
City-tour around Mozhaisk - After the Battle of Borodino on 7 September 1812, the French troops pursued the retreating army to the city of Mozhaisk. It is located 12 kilometres from Borodino Field and 110 kilometres west of Moscow, and the French vanguard met the Russian rearguard in battle here. On the first day of the battle the French forced the Russians back and bombarded the city with artillery fire. The French eventually captured the city which was practically destroyed and over 10,000 Russians soldiers, who were recovering in the city following the Battle of Borodino, were killed. Tolstoy describes the scenes in Mozhaisk in War and Peace.
Transfer to Borodino.
Distance: 15km
Tour around Borodino Field - This field was the scene of one of the bloodiest and largest battles of the 19th century – the battle lasted 12 hours and each minute it is estimated that around 100 people died. In total it is believed that somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 men died. Interestingly both the Russians and the French consider themselves the victors in the battle. Technically it was a victory for the French as the Russians retreated. However the Russian army was not destroyed and able to recover, whereas the French were fatally wounded at Borodino. When researching War and Peace, Tolstoy himself visited Borodino Field and he describes the course of the battle in great detail.
Transfer to Mozhaisk.
Free time in Mozhaisk
Transfer to the railway station to catch the Lastochka high-speed train to Smolensk.
18:30 departure of the Lastochka to Smolensk
22:46 arrival in Smolensk. Transfer to your hotel.
Night in Smolensk.
DAY 5 | SMOLENSK
Breakfast at the hotel.
City-tour around Smolensk - Smolensk is one of the oldest cities in Russia and was the first Russian city to face Napoleon. The city managed to hold out for two days, as the 200-year old walls of the city’s kremlin bore the brunt of bombs and shot. French attacks were met with strong Russian counter attacks. The Polish troops fighting in Napoleon’s army fought especially hard in the hope of winning back Smolensk, which in previous centuries had been captured and ruled by Poland. As a result of the constant firing, Smolensk went up in flames and its future defence became futile. The Russians retreated across the River Dnieper and blew up the bridge. Local citizens retreated along with the Russian army; a foreboding of the fate soon to be shared by Moscow. The loss of Smolensk as the first Russian city to fall to Napoleon was massively demoralising for the Russians.
Duration: 4h | Transportation: by a private car
Free time in Smolensk.
Night in Smolensk.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time in Smolensk. You can explore the city on your own or take our tour to Talashkino (see optional extra tab)
Transfer to Smolensk railway station.
15:51 | Night train to St Petersburg.
DAY 6 | SMOLENSK
09:44 | Arrival in St Petersburg Some of the most captivating scenes of the recent BBC adaptation of War and Peace were those filmed in St Petersburg.
City tour around St Petersburg - the highlights of this tour include:
- Peter and Paul Fortress – this is the place where the city began; over the centuries it has served as a prison and a crypt for the Russian emperors and empresses.
- Palace Square - this is the main square in St Petersburg; it is known as Dvortsovsaya Ploschad in Russian. The BBC version includes scenes from Palace Square as St Petersburg’s most famous sight is situated here - the Winter Palace, now home to the State Hermitage Museum. During the events of War and Peace the palace was the official residence of the emperor. The BBC series includes a scene with Pierre Bezukhov and Elene Kurganina arriving at the palace.
- Winter Canal – Pierre and Andrey Bolkonsky are seen walking along this canal philosophising about their life and future.
- Yusupov Palace (exterior only) – scenes in the theatre where Natasha Rostova first met Anatoly Kuragin were filmed here.
- St Michael’s Castle (exterior only) – this castle, which was built for Emperor Paul, is also known as the Engineer Castle. In the series it filled in for a masonic lodge. This is actually rather fitting as there is a lot of masonic symbolism in the castle, as Paul himself had links to the Masons. Paul was assassinated in the castle which he had built for his protection, it is said that his ghost has been seen at night walking around his former residence. It is now a museum and staff here have a tradition of saying “Good day, your Majesty” if they hear a door slamming or a gust of wind.
- Malo-Konyushenny Bridge – in the opening scenes of the BBC Series, Pierre is seen walking over the bridge to attend Anna Pavlovna’s ball.
DAY 7 | ST PETERSBURG
Duration: 4h | Transportation: by a private car
Night in St Petersburg.S
Breakfast at the hotel.
DAY 8 | CATHERINE PALACE AND GATCHINA
Excursion to Gatchina – the Gatchina Palace doubled as both the palace of Pierre Bezukhov and the Bolkonsky palace in the BBC series.The actual palace is one of the most interesting of the imperial palaces located in St Petersburg’s suburbs as it is reminiscent of a mediaeval castle. It was built in 1766 but only took its final form in 1781. It was the favourite residence of Emperor Alexander III.
Excursion to Catherine Palace – one of the most celebrated scenes in the BBC series - the scene at the Tsar's Ball where Natasha first dances with Andrey - was filmed in the Catherine Palace's Mirrored Ballroom. The palace served as a summer residence for the imperial family and is located just outside of St Petersburg in the city of Pushkin (formerly known as Tsarskoe Selo). It was here that the famous Amber Room, a gift from Frederick the Great, was installed. The original was lost without trace during the Second World War, but it has since been completely recreated according to original plans.
Duration: 8h | Transportation: by a private car
Night in St Petersburg.S
DAY 9 | DEPARTURE ST PETERSBURG
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer from the hotel to the airport.
Intro
Itinerary
Cost
Notes
9 Days
1812
Deep into Russia
All year
1712km
The story has over 600 characters, including real historical figures such as Napoleon and Kutuzov. The main protagonists though are Countess Natasha Rostova, Count Pierre Bezhukov and Prince Andrey Bolkonsky and their families. We see through these characters differing views on the theory of life, including those of the author himself, while at the same time Tolstoy also explains the run up to war and describes in detail the course of various battles. As such the book is as much a work of philosophy and history, as it is of literature.
Other languages upon request.
