Saint-Petersburg + Pskov + Izborsk + Pechory (6 day tour)

Saint Petersburg is a very young city in comparison with old European capitals and probably the only city in the world that has acquired so much historic significance in such a short time. After spending 3 days in this beutiful city you will see the ancient Russian towns like Pskov, being first mentioned in a chronicle of the year 903 as Pleskov. The town became important in the Middle Ages as a centre for trade between the interior of Russia and the Hanseatic seaports of the Baltic. Old Izborsk, a sleepy village is indeed ancient – it celebrated its 1150th anniversary in 2012. The main attraction here is the ruined stone fortress, which overlooks lovely countryside, and there's the peaceful Gorodishchenskoye Lake further afield. Pechory is derived from the Russian word for a cave “pesсhеra” and relates to the system of caves here. In 15th century these caves became part of the Pskovo-Pechorsky Svyato-Uspensky Monastery, which is today the city’s most famous sight.