A guide will be waiting to meet you at Kursky Railway Station to hand you your train tickets for the journey to Tula. Please note that you must share your passport details with us in advance so that we can purchase your tickets in advance. You can do this by emailing us at info@moscowurbanadventures.com.

Your guide will lead you to your train carriage before departing. During the two-hour journey you will see some spectacular Russian countryside scenes and have the opportunity to take a nap to prepare for the busy day ahead. 

Your local Tula guide will meet you when you get off the train. Together, we’ll hop into a taxi towards Yasnaya Polyana. During our 40-minute taxi ride, your guide will give you an introduction to the area, discussing its history and regaling you with interesting facts and stories about the locals over the centuries.  

We will also talk about Count Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, better known as Leo, often cited as one of the world's greatest authors. He wrote many novels and short stories in the 19th century but he is most famous for the ultimate literary beast of a read, War and Peace, and the sweeping romantic epic, Anna Karenina. Tolstoy was born in Yasnaya Polyana and spent a lot of his life there, drawing inspiration for his most well-known works from the peaceful surroundings of his family estate. 

Yasnaya Polyana is made up of one thousand acres of forests and meadows, apple orchards, lakes and parks. Tolstoy’s house has not been touched since the day he left in 1910 and because of this, it genuinely feels as though you have been transported through time. We will spend some time exploring the house, hearing stories about the famous Tolstoy family. We will visit the Chief’s grave, enjoy a picnic made up of local products in one of the many picturesque meadows on the Estate and take a stroll through the beautiful English park.

On our way back to the city, we’ll make a stop to sample delicious local honey blended with different berries and nuts. 

Upon arrival in pretty Tula, we’ll head to our favourite cafeteria for a taste of some authentic Russian flavours. Together we will try traditional pelmeni or vareniki (Russian dumplings with meat or potato) and mors (a traditional berry drink).

After filling our bellies with local treats, we will take a walk through the city centre to the most ancient place in Tula - the Kremlin – to hear about its amazing history and to take some postcard-perfect pictures. As you admire the shiny gold domes above you, you will hear about the dramatic events that took place here. We’ll check out nearby Lenin Square too, where a statue of the former leader of the Bolshevik Revolution still stands.

After soaking up all that captivating Russian history, there will be time to enjoy some authentic souvenir shopping with the help of your local guide. 

If you’re still feeling peckish, we will make one last stop for a coffee and a dessert at a popular café within the Kremlin walls. 

Then we’ll take a local bus back towards the train station where your tour guide will leave you, once they have helped you locate your carriage. Before you go, don’t forget to ask your guide any burning questions that you’ve not had answered yet. If you require some advice on how to get back to your accommodation once you arrive back in Moscow, now is the time to ask!