Day 1 Hangzhou → Moscow (Reference flight: JD607 Hangzhou-Moscow 14:00-19:30, flight duration 10h30min)
All day
Tourists are requested to arrive at Terminal 4 of Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at least three hours in advance and meet with the tour leader and group members at the airport at the time specified on the tour notice for a pre-departure briefing, boarding and customs formalities, and then fly to Moscow, the capital of Russia.
After the tour guide picks you up at the airport, we will go to the hotel to check in. Have a good rest at night as the trip will officially begin the next day.
Day 2 Moscow → Murmansk (Reference flight: TBD)
All day
The early flight flew to Murmansk, the largest port city on the Arctic Ocean coast.
After landing, we'll have lunch. In the afternoon, we'll visit the Alyosha Monument Observation Deck, the highest point in Murmansk. This spot boasts famous World War II relics, including Nadya's cannon. A giant statue of Alyosha, perched atop a hill, gazes silently over the harbor, guarding the peace and tranquility of the bay. We'll photograph the sunset over Murmansk's ice-free port from this spot. Sunsets within the Arctic Circle are particularly captivating.
After dinner, if the weather is good, start your dream Northern Lights photography journey.
Day 3 Murmansk → Teriberka
All day
After breakfast, depart Murmansk and travel across the frozen wasteland to the small town of Teriberka, a settlement on the Arctic Ocean coast at the northern tip of Russia. It's truly "the end of the world" and was the primary filming location for the 2015 award-winning film "Leviathan."
Upon arrival, we will have lunch, check into a local B&B, and get familiar with the town’s environment, restaurants, and shops.
In the afternoon, you can take photos of the Doomsday Swing, whale skeleton, Frozen Throne, lonely wreck, etc. on the Arctic Ocean beach.
You can arrange your dinner freely. If the weather is good, you can walk freely from the hotel to the Arctic Ocean beach to start your dream journey of photographing the northern lights.
Day 4: Full day photography in Teriberka
All day
Today, we continued our hunt for the dreamy Northern Lights in Teriberka. The skies above the Arctic Circle are unpredictable, often tinged with a mysterious purple. The Barents Sea, shrouded by this purple sky, appears black. The deep black and the boundless horizon paint a mystical image of the Arctic Ocean. The snow dunes, bathed in sunlight, appear rose-gold, their textures clearly visible, making them ideal for photography.
Go to the ship graveyard at the right time to take pictures. The wrecked ships were gathered here due to the influence of ocean currents, so this place is also a paradise for diving enthusiasts.
Then drive to Xinjieli, check in and take pictures of the whale tail sculpture along the way, and take a snowmobile to take pictures of the Arctic Ocean coastline cliffs, dinosaur egg stone beach and other scenery.
You are free to arrange lunch and dinner on the day. If the weather is good, you can walk freely from the hotel to the Arctic Ocean beach in the evening to start your dream journey of photographing the northern lights.
Day 5 Teriberka → Murmansk
All day
Return to Murmansk in the morning. Upon arrival, we toured and photographed the Lenin. The Lenin has been decommissioned and is currently docked in the port of Murmansk, the largest city within the Arctic Circle. It has now become a floating museum. Thanks to the advent of nuclear-powered icebreakers, Russian ships can now access the Sea of Japan in the Far East from the Arctic Ocean, eliminating the need to detour via Singapore as was done during the Russo-Japanese War. Maintenance work is ongoing on the ship, and it remains in good condition, seemingly capable of sailing if needed.
Afterwards, we visited and took photos of the Church of Our Savior on the Water (exterior) and the lighthouse monument to the Kursk submarine disaster.
After dinner, if the weather is good, start your dream Northern Lights photography journey.
Day 6 Murmansk → St. Petersburg (Reference flight: TBD)
All day
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to St. Petersburg, the "Venice of the North." Built in 1703 on the swamps deep within the Gulf of Finland, this city, from its architectural style to its natural landscape, reflects Peter I's ambition.
First, we'll visit St. Isaac's Cathedral (entrance included, summiting at your own expense). This cathedral, the largest in St. Petersburg, sits on the square of the same name. Construction began in 1818 and took 40 years. Its lavish decorations are breathtaking, with the interiors bordering on extravagance, and the frescoes are vibrant and colorful. It's considered one of the "Four Greatest Domed Cathedrals in the World," along with St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, St. Paul's Cathedral in London, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.
Visit Kazan Cathedral at an appropriate time (inside, or outside if a worship service is in progress). Its colonnade is shaped like a bird's outstretched wings, with a semicircular plaza beyond and the 70-meter-high dome visible from behind. Originally built to house the "Idol of Kazan," a major Russian Orthodox relic, the cathedral houses numerous works of art, including many great religious paintings.
Afterward, we walked to the exterior of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. Built between 1883 and 1907, it's one of the few purely Russian-style buildings in St. Petersburg. Its model was the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed on Red Square in Moscow. Its colorful onion domes are a classic example of Eastern Orthodox church architecture. Tsar Alexander II was assassinated here on March 1, 1881, and the church was built in his memory.
Afterwards, check in to a hotel near St. Petersburg to rest.
Day 7 St. Petersburg full day photography
All day
After breakfast, we will go to the Hermitage Museum (enter), one of the four largest museums in the world, also known as the famous Winter Palace. It is one of the four largest museums in the world, on par with the Louvre in Paris, the British Museum in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Winter Palace houses a collection of artworks from all over the world, including paintings, statues, carpets, furniture, and handicrafts. Among them, the three collections of ancient Greek vase painting, ancient Roman sculpture, and Western European art are world-renowned. There are four must-see treasures in the museum: Egyptian mummies (exhibition hall number 100), the Peacock Bell (204), Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna (214), and Rembrandt's "The Return of the Prodigal Son" (254).
After lunch, we'll proceed to the Catherine Palace (enter). The two-story palace boasts a facade stretching over 300 meters. Its primary colors are blue, white, and yellow, said to represent the queen's blue eyes, white skin, and golden hair. The Amber Room, adorned throughout with amber and gold, is magnificent, showcasing the ingenuity of German and Russian craftsmen.
In the evening, you can go to the Winter Palace Theater to watch the original ballet "Swan Lake" performed by the Royal Ballet Company (at your own expense).
Day 8 St. Petersburg → Moscow (High-speed rail reference time: TBD)
All day
After breakfast, we'll visit the Peterhof Gardens (inside the palace). The Russian Summer Palace, also known as Peterhof Palace, is nestled in the forest on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, 29 kilometers from the city center. Construction began in 1714 and is divided into the Upper and Lower Gardens, with the Grand Palace (the exterior) located in the Upper Garden. Its magnificent architecture has earned it the nickname "Russian Versailles." In front of the Grand Palace stands the Grand Cascade, a fountain complex (closed in winter). In the center of a large semicircular pool stands a statue of Samson wrestling a lion – the famous Lomson Fountain.
Then take the Russian high-speed train back to Moscow.
Day 9 Moscow Full Day Photography
All day
Rise early and drive to the Sparrow Hills Observation Deck to capture the morning scenery. Sparrow Hills is located southwest of Moscow, Russia, and is the city's highest point. The observation deck, facing the main entrance of Moscow State University, overlooks iconic landmarks such as the Moscow Central Business District, Luzhniki Stadium, the Luzhniki Railway Bridge, and the Hotel Ukraine.
After the morning photoshoot, we headed to Moscow's metro stations. Known as Russia's "underground art palace of the 1970s," the Moscow Metro is considered one of the world's most beautiful metro stations. From Line 5 to Line 2, tourists will be able to experience Russian culture and traditional architectural craftsmanship. Led by our tour leader, we'll photograph and check in at several of the most iconic stations.
In the afternoon, we visited Russia's famous Red Square for a photoshoot. This public square in the Tver region is surrounded by several famous buildings, including Lenin's Mausoleum, St. Basil's Cathedral, and the Kremlin. After the photoshoot, we headed to a restaurant for lunch.
The afternoon focused on photographing the Kremlin (inside) and Alexander Gardens (inside). The Kremlin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "Kremlin" in Russian means "castle," and while many ancient Russian cities have their own "kremlins," none rival the stature of Moscow's. Ever since the unification of Russia by the Principality of Muscovy, and with the exception of the more than two hundred years of the "Petersburg period," this place has been the heart of the country.
In the evening, I photographed the sunset over the Moscow River and the illuminated Red Square from the observation deck of the bridge in front of Red Square. The Moscow River is 502 kilometers long, about 80 kilometers of which flows through the city. As dusk fell, the tracks and the river blended harmoniously, with the golden-domed churches and the setting sun in the distance, making for a truly stunning photo.
You will be at your own expense for dinner today, and you can explore Moscow's Russian cuisine on your own.
Day 10 Moscow → Hangzhou (Reference flight: JD608 Moscow-Hangzhou 21:30-11:30 (+1), flight duration 9 hours)
All day
You can have a good rest this morning and set off to take pictures of the Russian [Military Museum].
This is a little-known open-air museum located deep in the snow outside Moscow. It has a vast area and displays a variety of military equipment of various fighting nations. Tourists can take pictures to their heart's content.
There is also a Russian Orthodox church here that is worth taking a photo of, full of Russian aesthetics.
Arrive at the airport 3.5 hours in advance in the afternoon and take the flight back to Hangzhou.
Day 11 → Hangzhou
All day
Arriving at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport this morning, we concluded our aurora hunting trip to Murmansk, Russia! We believe every tourist enjoyed a truly rewarding experience. Feel free to share your photos on China-TravelNote Photography Network upon your return!
