drakensberg helicopter tour

EXPLORE A WHOLE NEW World

Take a Helicopter ride and see the Drakensberg like you’ve never seen it before. Select one of our incredible flight packages and gain a new perspective on one of the most beautiful Mountain Ranges in the World. There isn’t a more thrilling activity in the Drakensberg!

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

EXPLORE THE DRAKENSBERG SKIES

Hot air ballooning.

We can do a scenic Drakensberg flight from Champagne Valley , close to The Nest Hotel 

or Drakensberg Brewery

All the balloons launch at dawn so either you have to get up at “sparrows” or you need to find accommodation close by, we can advise you on that. The balloon flights include coffee and biscuits before the flight, champagne or fruit juice afterwards, and breakfast back at the launch site. The flight itself is about 45 minutes to an hour.

Champagne Valley balloon is  R 3450  per person sharing.

Hot Air Ballooning – The important Stuff  

• When:   Sparrows, all the flights are at dawn so think about staying over somewhere.
• How many in one basket:   From 3 to 9 (including the pilot, he really needs to be there!)
• How far in advance do I need to book?   As much as possible, at least two weeks.
• Is there an age limit?   Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult, no children under 4 unless an exclusive family package.
• Is there a weight limit?   Yes – 125 kg

• See all photos

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WESTLINE AVIATION (UKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Drakensberg helicopter flip

• July 8, 2021

You have not lived until you have experienced a Drakensberg helicopter flip. Take a Helicopter ride and see the Drakensberg like you’ve never seen it before. Select one of the incredible Drakensberg helicopter flight packages and gain a new perspective on one of the most beautiful Mountain Ranges in the World. There isn’t a more thrilling activity available in the Drakensberg!

Helicopter flight packages available

Scenic Flight: From Dragon Peaks up to the main escarpment and back. Approx. 15 minute flight

Champagne Stopover: The same route as a scenic but you land on the Little Berg at around 7000ft for a glass of bubbly. Approx. 20 minute flight + 10 minute stopover

Round Trip: A flight along the escarpment with a Champagne landing. Approx. 40 min flight + 10 minute stopover

Champagne to Mweni: 1 hour flight along the escarpment with a landing in the stunning Mweni area north of Cathedral Peak. Approx. 1 hour flying + 10 minute stopover

Romantic Mountain Picnic for two: Get flown into the mountains and dropped off for a picnic for two.

Helibiking: (minimum of 4 riders) fly bike your mountain bike and a guide up into the mountains for a legendary mountain bike ride down in conjunction with Rockslide Mountain Biking.

Book you Drakensberg accommodation at Antbear Lodge and let us arrange a Drakensberg helicopter experience for you

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Helicopter Tours

Helicopter tours are the ultimate way to experience the scenic splendour of durban and surrounds..

Enjoy a bird’s eye view of sweeping panoramas of coastline and mountainsides. Touch down in unspoilt places for secluded picnics, breakfasts or sundowners. Our helicopter tours make the ideal surprise gift for a loved one with a taste for adventure.

Conveniently located at Virginia Airport in Durban, BAC Heliopter tours offer a wide range of destinations. No group is too big or too small and no destination too close or too far.

•  Go South to explore the untouched beauty of the Wild Coast and Transkei – waterfalls into the ocean, red dunes, sheer rock gorges, sandstone cliffs, turquoise water and plenty of whales.
• Go inland to the Natal Midlands, the historic Battlefields and the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains .
• Go north to Zululand – home to many Private Safari Lodges and big Game Reserves. If wildlife is your game, then an hour and a bit by air will get you to precisely the right spot.

DURBAN OFFICE

Office 3, Virginia Airport 220 Fairways Durban North, KZN 4051

Tel:   +27 (0) 31 569 1531

Cell: +27 (0) 82 688 3295

Email: [email protected]

BALLITO OFFICE

Imbonini Helistop (Imbonini Park) 4 Barbet Road Shakas Head, KZN 4399

Tel: +27 (0) 32   061 0617

• 073 612 6964
• [email protected]

Experience the Drakensberg, Kwazulu Natal Midlands & Battlefields

Drakensberg adventure, your own drakensberg adventure starts right here.

Drakensberg is made for adventures. Fondly known as ‘the Berg’, the mountains are a breathtakingly beautiful series of mountain peaks that forms the border between KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. These enchanting mountains, centrally positioned on the eastern side of South Africa, are a favourite adventure destination for South Africans and international visitors alike.

Enjoy an exhilarating 5.4 km downhill descent on the monster mountain scooter, crossing steep terrain, meandering grasslands and an indigenous forest. A free 4×4 ride takes you to the top of the hill. Scooters are non-motorized making this Eco-friendly. These Swiss-designed scooters are used in the Alps during the summer season on the ski slopes when the snow is gone.

book your Scootours experience now

Experience the awesome thrill and peaceful serenity of hot air ballooning on the edge of the Drakensberg mountains. Giants Castle, the Champagne Valley, the Kamberg Vallay. The hot air balloon take-off is from a site in or around the Kamberg Valley and within sight of Giants Castle. You will meet at the hot air balloon launch site approximately 30 minutes before sunrise, your pilot will then give you a safety briefing. Once the hot air balloon is heated and you are in the balloons basket you will enjoy a flight of around an hour. After helping to pack the hot air balloon you will return to a location close to take off point for an Alfresco breakfast and Champagne.

Book your hot air ballooning experience here

Situated in an indigenous forest of the Central Drakensberg, in the shadow of the towering Cathkin Peak, the Drakensberg Canopy Tour® awaits you. Boasting Africa’s first elevated rock face walkway with a good mix of both cliff face and treetop platforms, and cable slides over the forest up to 60 metres high, the Drakensberg Canopy Tour® must automatically go to the top of your “must do” list.

Experience nature like never before as you slide through the forest canopy and enjoy a unique birds-eye view on the world around you. Set within the magnificent Blue Grotto forest, the Drakensberg Canopy Tour® is guaranteed to take your breath away.

Book your Drakensberg Canopy tour now

Drakensberg horse trails and horse safaris that are offered that are as good an experience as they come. The Drakensberg Mountains presents splendid opportunities for both the experienced and the beginner to ride this magnificent countryside on horseback and spend the day exploring the mountains.

Almost all the resorts in the Drakensberg offer guided horse trails, and several include overnight adventure rides for groups of five or more.

Horse trails through a game reserve brings you closer to game than you can possibly achieve on foot. Imagine that incredible feeling as you move amongst a large herd of giraffe or wander with a white rhino across open savannah. Or simply view a large herd of impala against a backdrop of shimmering water and mountain at Spioenkop Dam.

Horse Trails in the Drakensberg

• Antbear Horse Safaris offers very affordable horse trails in the foothills of the Drakensberg with spectacular views of Giants Castle. These horse trails are ideal for beginners and you could even get a horse riding lesson before the ride.
• Zulu Waters Horse Trails offers a horse back safari through the Zulu Waters Private Game Reserve. Get up close and experience the Drakensberg foothlls like never before
• Khotso Horse Trails offers overnight or 1 and 2 hour rides in the beautiful Southern Drakensberg Mountains on fine basotho horses. Our working cattle and horse farm is situated outside Underberg. Overnight in our comfortable self-catering cottages or log cabins. Enjoy trout fishing, river tubing and rafting in summer, snowboarding in winter and horse riding and mustering cattle on the farm.
• uShaka Horse trails central Drakensberg is situated at the foothills of the Cathkin, Champagne Castle mountain range. On a 600 acres farm bordering Bell Park dam ushaka Horse Trails offer unforgettable adventure trails on horse back.
• The Northern Horse provides an equine experience of a lifetime in the Northern Drakensberg! Climb mountains, forge rivers and race over plains atop hardy mountain horses and ponies and enjoy unspoilt scenery in the foothills of this World Heritage Site. One Hour Trails: Two grooms take groups of up to ten riders on trails around the Montusi Estate. Trails vary from gentle plains to steeper valley trails to suit all levels of confidence.
• Oaklands Country Manor offers world class riding facilities and equipment. This unique and relaxing activity is a great way to take in the gorgeous views and fresh mountain air. Horse riding activities include outrides and children’s arena rides on our beautifully schooled horses. Their experienced staff are on hand to assist beginners, whilst seasoned riders are welcome to explore the area unaccompanied following an assessment ride.

Based at Cathedral Peak and Dragons Peak , take a one hour or a fifteen minute helicopter flight, sip a glass of champagne on top of the peaks, or enjoy a high altitude picnic lunch.

Fly to the battlefields in Northern Natal and get met by a guide who will tell the story or get flown to a number of golf courses in the area.

Book your Drakensberg helicopter flight now

Let your imagination fly and we’ll take care of the rest.

Berg Adventures conducts overnight hiking trips exclusively in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg World Heritage Site, or as it known to us locals as the “Berg”.

The Berg consists of the High Berg and the Lower Berg, each with its own beauty, ruggedness, challenges and spectacular views. Hiking in the Berg, is very different to many other hiking venues as here YOU are very alone, you may not even see another person for days.

It is all about solitude and wide open spaces, where you can free yourself from the rush of everyday life, and take time to reflect and ponder about what life is really about. Take the time to explore and find rest for your soul.

Book your guided Drakensberg hike here

Quad bike trails are popular in in the Drakensberg and Natal Midlands. Its little wonder what with the open spaces, beautiful landscapes and sunny weather. Quad bike trails  are on offer where you bring your own quad or you can rent quad bikes  too. Quads make for a great day out even better a weekend getaway.

All Out Adventures  Guided quad bike out rides. A stunning quad experience, which includes a briefing and a scenic guided quad bike outride along the either the Puterill’s Stream or Tugela River Trail.  The trails covers a range of exciting terrain, including a river crossings and hill climbs.  This is a great introduction to quads for new riders, without being too dull for those with some experience. All riders receive a briefing and must complete a basic competency test before departing on the ride.

Sani Pass Hotel

Four River rafting Quad bike outrides. Guided Quad Outrides:The group will be met by an experienced guide that will give a safety briefing and instruction on how to use the bikes. The bikes that we use are Automatic thus allowing novices to get the hang of riding quite quickly. Then the group will head off with the guide leading the way on an enjoyable ride with natural obstacles for the group to test their talent. This activity is for those clients that are 16 years & older (when using our quad bikes)

Four River rafting Quad Tracks. This is an adventure filled activity for kids and adults of any age. On offer is a 850m big track and a 150m small track. Ideal for families with littlel kids.

Cliffdale Quads Quad bike trails offered for the ultimate getaway for the Quad lover – at very economical rates. You bring your own quads and you ride the quad bike trails unguided. The whole farm is yours for the weekend, and gates are colour-coded for you to know where to go. There are dongas for you to play around, steep mountains and rivers to test your quad bike skills and 250km of dirt roads, with 3 passes into KwaZulu-Natal (Colin-, Normandien- and Mullerspas). Cliffdate also has a very beautiful and scenic 4×4 route, suitable for 4×4, 4×2 and quads. Accommodation is available at the Cliffdale Sandstone Lodge

Drakensberg Quad Tracks  Drakensberg Quad Tracks operate from  Cathedral Peak  Hotel in the  Central Drakensberg . They offer various fun activities suited for everyone, whether it be families at leisure or corporate companies looking for a nice break from the stresses of work.

The  Drakensberg offers 4×4 ofroading and 4×4 trails that are amongst the best in the South Africa. Natural obstacles – steep slopes, rock steps, sand river crossings, mud shale slopes will challenge all 4×4 enthusiasts. Or if you prefer the less rugged, make it an easy outing, using a map of the Drakensberg region and GPS co-ordinates to explore all that the Drakensberg Mountains has to offer.

• Mikes Pass –  This 4×4 trail is located in the  Cathedral Peak  Section of the  Central Drakensberg . This 32km trail is one of the most scenically beautiful anywhere. It includes some steep climbs and a hair-raising 7km downhill on the pass.
• Thule Beacon Trail –  From St Bernards Peak in  East Griqualand . This trail is renowned as a tough 4×4 trail that takes you high into the southern  Drakensberg mountains . The experts say that this trail is much tougher than Sani Pass.
•   Sani Pass  – This is a fairly challenging 4×4 route with access from  Himeville  in the  southern Drakensberg . The pass twists and climbs upwards, beneath towering cliffs and buttresses, reaching the top of the Drakensberg escarpment at 2 873m. You need a passport to cross the border post into  Lesotho  at the top.

Request information and reservations for your 4×4 Drakensberg holiday

Abseiling, although a relatively “old” adventure sport, it is still a favourite amongst adrenaline seekers. It is practised in a controlled environment which makes it a very safe activity, yet stepping backwards over the edge and descending down the cliff will give you an adrenaline rush! Abseiling down the cliffs of the Drakensberg is something that you need to tick of your bucket list!

Places to go abseiling in the Drakensberg

• Drakesberg Adventure Center. The abseil takes place on Chicken Hill which is 25m high. The first 10m is on a cliff face and for the remaining 15m you are abseiling down an overhang. The walk to the top of the abseil is approximately 15 minutes from the office.
• Berg Ventures abseiling offers a lovely beginners abseil site. You are driven to the top of the cliff face and where under the safe guidance of your abseiling instructor Deon Small you will be ready to face your daemons.

The sweeping views of the  Drakensberg are best enjoyed from the air on a Paragliding Adventure. Paragliding gives you the chance to join the eagles of the sky in the simplest form of flight. A paraglider gains height by flying thermals so you get a very good idea of what it feels like to soar like a hawk! Flying on a paraglider means unobstructed views, which is great since the Drakensberg is on of South Africa’s most scenic regions.

The best places to go paragliding in the Drakensberg

Wild Sky Paragiding School is run by Hans and Ria Fokkens. They offer tandem flights, courses and guiding. With our vast experience and good safety record you will be in great hands learning to fly here. The backpackers’ lodge is set at the foot of Amahaqwa (Bulwer) Mountain, which is a world-famous flying site, with both thermic and smooth ridge soaring conditions. It is a perfect paragliding training ground.

The Tugela River starts it journey in the mighty Drakensberg where it plunges 947 metres down the Tugela Falls. This river is the largest in Kwa Zulu Natal and adventure seekers come here for a fun filled action packed White Water River Rafting Adventure with rapids ranging from Grade 1 to 5. You can also test your rafting skills on the Injusuti River, Bushmans River and Umkomas where nail biting twists and turns are sure to keep your adrenaline pumping!

White water rafting tour operators

• Itchyfeet SA – River Rafting The Tugela River is our playground when it comes to white water rafting and kayaking. Where else than Tugela River? You won’t find more action, excitement and bush anywhere else. It really is one of South Africa’s best white water destinations. We operate on quite a lengthy part of the river; about a hundred and thirty kilometres
• Tugela River Rafting – From Nov through to April, the summer rains in the upper catchment turn the still pools of the Tugela River into an exciting stretch of white water. From our bushcamp, nestled in the heart of the Tugela Canyon, there is a 20km stretch of rapids and pools on which the SA white water rafting champs have been hosted. Water levels rise and fall, with 8 and 4-man rafts used in higher volumes whilst the two man crocs and kayaks are ideal for lower levels.
• Four Rivers rafting and adventures offers White water Rafting 1, 2 and 3 day trips.
• Zingela White Water Rafting – The 30km stretch of river known as the canyon provides some of the most thrilling white water in the country. The South African leg of the Camel White-Water Challenge took place at Zingela and the venue received rave reviews from participants and organisers. A wide choice of river-rafting packages is available – from half a day to four days on the river. One man Kayaks, two man crocs and eight man rafts are used on the river, in accordance with water levels and the groups abilities.

Book your white water rafting trip today

The Drakensberg is a mountain wilderness area. The long, bushy walk-ins and unpredictable weather mean that it’s the preserve of serious mountaineers. The Drakensberg is a huge escarpment nearly 200km long. It consists largely of basalt formed by the outpouring of molten lava. Unlike the clean layers and horizontal cracks found in sandstone, the basalt has weathered into rounded overhangs, lichenous blocks and vegetated gullies that take some getting used to. The high altitude and heavy rainfall also mean that weathering has taken its toll – the rock is often crumbly so caution is required when climbing here. In fact local climbers will often quip that the best holds are the tufts of grass that adorn most routes.

But don’t let that put you off. The nearly 3000m-high peaks beg to be climbed. Topping out on one of the ‘Berg summits is a very special experience, well worth the toil. Most of the classic routes are on the free-standing peaks. They include the Bell (one of the easiest climbs, accessed from Cathedral Peak), Devil’s Tooth, The Column, Monk’s Cowl and Giant’s Castle. There are also excellent climbs on the Sentinel. There is no bolting allowed. The most popular routes have abseil chains for safety reasons.

Most climbs require overnight stays, either in caves or tents. Climbers must obtain permits from Ezimvelo KZN Wildlife and sign the appropriate mountain registers before setting out. Always go prepared for foul weather and watch out for thunder and lightning storms in summer.

In winter there is also good ice climbing, particularly on the south face of Giants Castle and at Sani Pass.

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The Drakensberg Mountains

Tour the Drakensberg, where to stay, what to do and how to do it

The Drakensberg area is an area so stunning that you imagination will fall short. The Drakensberg Mountains are fondly referred to as “the Berg”  Central Berg,and can be divided into 3 sub regions.

The Northern Drakensberg includes Royal Natal , the Amphitheatre, the Tugela Falls, Cathedral Peak, Mweni, the Didima Valley and Bergville . The Central Drakensberg includes Monks Cowl, Injisuthi, Champagne Valley, Giants Castle , Winterton and Estcourt. And The Southern Drakensberg consists of Kamberg, Vergelegen, Cobham, Sani Pass, Bushmans nek, Himeville and Underberg.

These Mountains are truly awe-inspiring  and stretch well over 200 kilometers forming a natural. The Drakensberg  is riddled with incredible waterfalls, rock pools, mountain streams, caves, hiking trails and crisp mountain air. Its little wonder that the berg draws so many tourists each year.

Dramatic Drakensberg Valley

The Drakensberg Mountains are also a  world heritage site, known as Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. Not only does it boast some of the most incredible scenic beauty, but it also has thousands of examples of San rock paintings in caves throughout the mountains.

Aside from hiking, spectacular rock art and relaxing, the Drakensberg offers much to do. There are horse trails, canopy tours, white water rafting, abseiling, helicopter flips, microlight flights, local arts and crafts and hot air ballooning

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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Westline Aviation

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Westline Aviation - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Choose your tour from R1250 pps

Choose your tour, number of passengers, date and time.

All our bookings are made for the entire helicopter. The helicopter type and size will be dependent on the number of passengers flying with us. All food, drinks, picnics, and activities are included in our tour prices. Call us for more info if you are unsure and we will provide you with the experience of a lifetime.

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Monino aviation museum tour

The Central Airforce Museum in Monino, some 32km from Moscow is extremely popular among aircraft enthusiasts. Pre-soviet and Soviet planes, helicopters and jets are on display here. The tour price includes cost of transportation by car. You will be picked up from your hotel and taken back by car.

What to see in the museum:

ANT-2 - the first all-metal Russian aircraft

On ANT-25 several record-breaking flights were performed. Among them - a 60 hour non-stop flight from Moscow to Portland, Oregon in the United States.

The first ever supersonic passenger aircraft Tu-144

A unique, all-titanium reconnaissance jet-bomber the Sukhoi T-4

Tour duration : 5-6 hours Tour cost: 250 USD for 1-2 people, 280 USD for 3-5 people. Car/minivan service is included

This tour does not have a discounted price in winter

Additional expenses: museum entrance fee (150 RUB per person) 

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The Assumption Belfry and Ivan the Great Bell Tower

View from a corner of Assumption Cathedral on the architectural ensemble of the Assumption Belfry (at the left) and Ivan the Great Bell Tower (at the right) built in the Moscow Kremlin in 16th century. The tower’s name implies that it had once housed St. John’s Church, and that it used to be the tallest building in Moscow (height with cross is about 80 m). For many decades the bell tower was also the main watchtower in the Kremlin, and later also a fire tower. Petrok Maliy, the Italian architect who built the Kitai-Gorod wall in Moscow, started the construction of the church of the Resurrection, later renamed Church of the Nativity, next to the Ivan the Great Tower in 1532. Decades later was converted to a four-tier belfry for large bells, known today as the Assumption Belfry after its main 64-ton bell placed in the middle of the fourth tier. The Assumption bell tolled only on great holidays and to announce events of exceptional significance.

Photo #043 taken on June 29, 2016 during a tour of Moscow Kremlin with my dear client from Lebanon, Jacques Saade.

About Me in Short

My name's Arthur Lookyanov, I'm a private tour guide, personal driver and photographer in Moscow, Russia. I work in my business and run my website Moscow-Driver.com from 2002. Read more about me and my services , check out testimonials of my former business and travel clients from all over the World, hit me up on Twitter or other social websites. I hope that you will like my photos as well.

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