Combination of two cultures

DAY

Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival to Kazan (airport). Meeting the guide. Transfer to Hotel. Check in after 14:00.

Meeting with guide in the hotel hall.

Highlight tour around the city which includes Kazan Kremlin (main sightseeing of history and architecture located in the Kremlin, Kul Sharif mosque). Tour also includes historical part of the city: Bulak creek, Kamal Tatar Drama, stylish Tatar village "Tugan Avilim" (native village), Millennium park, Bauman and Peterburgskaya (pedestrian) streets, Tukay and liberty squares, National cultural centre "Kazan" and modern part of the city which includes tour around Universiade buildings (World Student Games which took place in Kazan in 2013), family centre "Chasha" (in the form of cup), new puppet theatre, Basket-hall.

Duration-4 hrs. Free time.

DAY 2

Breakfast.

Meeting the guide in the hotel hall.

Excursion to Sviyazhsk island with interactive programme "Streletskie zabavi". True to life battle of warriors in armoury. You will get acquainted with armoury of different centuries. In 1551 in 4 weeks was built this town, which firstly was built in Uglich and sent to Sviyazhsk. This town became combat outpost of Ivan the Terrible before Kazan conquest. Mostly all ancient buildings remain till nowadays.

Lunch in the local cafe.

Excursion to Raifa men monastery. It was built in XVII-XIXth centuries and now includes temple which has Georgian Madonna miracle-working icon, the smallest church in Europe. Also sight of all religions temple.

Duration - 9 hrs

Free time.

Tatar Folk Dinner show.-1,5 hrs

Theatricalized folk show ''Kazan''. The theatrical action takes the guests to the ancient Tatar legends, whose characters acquaint guests with the history of Kazan through songs and dances. The performance fascinates from the first minutes and does not let you go until the very end, leaving unforgettable impressions even in the most experienced tourist. In the end, the guests can take part in interactive activities with artists and take a free photo with the show participants.

DAY 3

Breakfast.

Meeting the guide in the hotel hall.

Excursion to Bolgar. The Bolgar Preserve is one of few, if not the only, Volga Tatar historical and architectural complex of its kind. It is located on the craggy left bank of the Volga, 195 km from Kazan.

Historical and literary sources connect Bolgar with the names of Kul Gali, Peter I, Catherine II, Pallas, Marjani, Pushkin, and many famous scientists and travelers.

It was here in Bolgar that the first foundations of today?s Tatar state were laid, and here that Bolgary, capital of Volga Bulgaria, officially converted to Islam and tied its fate to the cultures of the Muslim world.

The preserve is classified as a historical and cultural heritage site of federal significance, and as an especially valuable site of cultural heritage of the Republic of Tatarstan. In 2014, Bolgar Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve was included in UNESCO list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Places to see in Bolgar:

- Monuments of Muslim masonry from of the 13th - 14th centuries: Cathedral Mosque with its reconstructed Grand Minaret; North Mausoleum, housing an exhibit of notable inscriptions; East Mausoleum; Small Minaret; Khans?Tomb; White Ward; Black Ward; Lesser Town; Khans?Baths;

- The Memorial sign, consecrated to the adoption of Islamic religion in the Volga Bulgaria. On the second floor in the centre of a spacious and magnificent hall, the biggest printed Koran in the world is placed. It is made of malachite, semiprecious stones and leather by Italian masters. The length of the Koran is 2 meters and its width - one and a half. Its weight is 500 kilograms. Masters used a special sort of paper, Lorenzo with gildings.

- Museum of Bread;

- Museum of Bolgar civilization, which presents a detailed exposition of the history of the Bolgars from the first mention of the Bolgar tribes, and has a rich collection of archaeological finds;

- White Mosque - 46 meters tall minarets was made in the image and likeness of minarets of Prophet?s mosque in Medina.

Lunch in the local cafe.

Arrival to Kazan.

Duration-11 hrs

DAY 4

Breakfast. Check out until 12:00!

Meeting the guide in the hotel hall.

Old Tatar Settlement is a unique district of Kazan, valuable in both cultural and architectural way. Here you will see the life, culture and customs of Kazan Tatars, and also visit the oldest mosque. This excursion is for those who want to get the first-hand knowledge about hospitality traditions of Kazan Tatars.

Museum of chak-chak, where you will plunge into the atmosphere of a cozy Tatar house, learn about ancient Kazan, enjoy hot tea from a samovar, listen to Tatar tales and tunes. All this is combined with the tasting of the main Tatar delicacy - chak-chak.

Duration-2 hrs.

Transfer to airport