HomeRussia General FAQ’s

Who are FlyRusia travellers?

Whether you’re travelling solo, with a group of friends, or are aged 18 or 70, there is a tour to suit your interests and comfort level. Each tour adventure has a physical and cultural grading to help you decide if the trip is right for you. No special skills are required for most tour.

How many people will be on my trip?

Good things come in small packages, which is why we keep our group sizes down. This means we’re small enough to remain flexible as we thread our way through communities without intimidating the locals. On most of our trips you’ll be part of an intimate group. Group sizes are displayed on each trip’s overview page on our website.

Does FlyRusia have family trips?

FlyRusia offers a wide range of Family Adventures. The minimum age (for Family trips) varies depending on destination, and FlyRusia has set minimum ages to ensure that the included activities suit each age range. Additionally, you’ll notice that some of the more adventurous destinations have a higher minimum age.

Who will be my group leader?

While we can’t tell you who your leader is prior to departure, we can tell you they will be awesome. Our leaders are experts in their regions, some because they’ve been travelling for years, others because they’re local to the region and can’t wait to show you around. You may change leader’s part way through – but this just means double the awesomeness.

Can I just do part of the trip?

Although you won’t be reimbursed for any portion of the trip unused, you can opt to sign off the trip if you need to leave a day or so earlier. If you let us know before travel that you’ll be arriving late or need to leave before the trips ends, we will notify our team on the ground to best accommodate your requirements.

Can I make any changes to the itinerary of my group trip, either before or during the trip?

Please make sure you are happy with your group trip itinerary before booking because we are unable to change them for individual travellers. However, if you and a group of friends, colleagues or even your school would like your own personally designed itinerary, get in contact with our very talented travel specialist. They can tailor an itinerary just for you.

Are your trips guaranteed to depart?

The vast majority of our small group tours are guaranteed to depart. That means that once you book your trip it’s confirmed to run, regardless of how many other travellers have booked. You can easily tell which departures are guaranteed by looking for ‘guaranteed departure’ next to your chosen travel date.

Can I add an extra night on the beginning or end of my group trip, either before or during the trip?

You sure can. Just ask your travel specialist at the time of booking.

Can we book a triple room?

Depending on the trip style you choose, our trips are organized on a twin, triple or multi share basis. As our bookings are made well in advance, individual room requests can’t be guaranteed.

Can I book a single room?

You can book pre and post accommodation on a single basis; however, throughout your FlyRusia trip, rooming is organized on a twin-share basis. Some trips do have a single supplement available – check a trip’s overview page on our website, or their Essential Trip Information, to see whether a single supplement is offered. If so, please request this at the time of booking.

Can you provide me a list of places we are staying at?

We are only able to provide information on your joining and finish point accommodation,

As FlyRusia likes to support numerous local businesses, we often have a few places in each city that we can alternate our groups between. For this reason, we can’t give you a full list before you travel. At the welcome meeting on Day 1, your leader may be able to provide you with this so you can email friends and family back home with the details.

What standard of accommodation should I expect?

The standard of accommodation depends on the Trip Style you have chosen.

 Is accommodation air-conditioned/ heated?

We want our passengers to be as comfortable as possible so when you are headed to a hot climate, it is likely that you will either have a fan or air-con. Of course, if you are staying in remote areas or at homestays, you will need to expect the facilities to be a little more basic.

What time can I check in at my arrival hotel?

Check-in times can vary from hotel to hotel and region to region. Generally, they are between midday and 2pm. If you do arrive earlier, you’ll be able to store your luggage with the hotel and head out to explore for a couple of hours.

Can I request an early check-in?

We can’t confirm an early check-in, but our sales team can assist in booking you a night of pre accommodation at the same hotel. If you don’t wish to pay for the extra night, you can try your luck locally (they may let you in early if the room is free) or you can store your luggage.

Are airport transfers included in the trip price? If not, how much will a taxi cost from the airport? If not, how do I get to and from airports?

Generally airport transfers are not included in your trip price You can normally add an arrival and/or departure transfer to most of our trips when you are booking your trip (or by contacting us if you have already booked). Here, we often indicate the price you can expect to pay for a taxi from the airport to the hotel. The cost of the transfer will inevitably be more expensive than a taxi, but it is important to remember that you are paying for a private service and a trusted driver who will offer the security travellers often desire when they arrive into a foreign country.

What communication facilities will be available?

Communication facilities are always improving globally. Many hotels and public places have Wi-Fi so it’s usually possible to keep in touch with home every couple of days, if you so desire. In remote places on treks or homestays, you will not be able to communicate as readily. Your leader will usually give you the heads up before you leave a place so you can send a quick email or two. Phone cards are easy to get your hands on; just make sure your phone is unlocked before you travel. Or in many countries, the cheapest way to make a phone call is at an internet cafe.

How can friends and family contact you?

If family and friends are unable to contact you in an emergency through email or phone, they can contact FlyRusia directly.

 Will my mobile work?

We can never guarantee your phone will work as desired, as many of our destinations are out of the way and you may have limited coverage. Chat to your phone provider before you leave about global roaming and the costs involved, and get their advice on the coverage you’ll receive in the places you’re travelling in. Alternatively, you can usually pick up a local sim card on the cheap (just make sure you phone is unlocked!).

Will I get internet coverage?

Some places have Wi-Fi hot spots everywhere and other places will have no coverage at all. If you stumble into the latter, take the rare chance to just sit back and get to know your fellow travellers the old-fashioned way.

Will I be able to charge my electrical appliances?

In most places you’ll be able to recharge your appliances at the hotel. We recommend you bring a travel adapter with you. On our Overland trips, most vehicles come with their own power supply and you should be able to recharge onboard. Be sure to bring an extra camera battery just in case.

Can I opt out of certain activities if I want to?

Absolutely. If there are included or optional activities that you don’t wish to participate in, you can do your own thing instead. The exception to this is when we are trekking or travelling from one destination to the next. Please note that if you choose to opt out of an included activity, no reimbursement can be made by FlyRusia.

Do I get any free time?

The beauty of travelling with FlyRusia is that we encourage travellers to explore at their own pace. When you get to a destination, your leader will offer options on what you can do. Some of the group will do one activity, others will opt for something completely different while others may just choose to rest.

What if I arrive late and miss part of the trip?

If you know in advance that you will be arriving late, please let our sales staff know. We will notify your leader, who will leave instructions with the hotel reception as to where to meet your group that night or the following morning.

If you plan to arrive a day or two into the itinerary (and our group has moved to a different destination), it will be your responsibility to ‘catch up’ with the group. If this happens, we will provide you with the most up-to-date information as to where your group will be and at approximately what time.

If you are late due to unforeseen circumstances or flight delays, please call the FlyRusia cannot reimburse you for any portion of the trip unused, but this can often be claimed on your travel insurance.

How do I leave my feedback?

After any tour our tour directors provide with one page questionnaire. Your opinion is used among our company staff and helps us to improve our services and follow the standard. Meanwhile your public opinion (comments, tour rating etc.) helps other travellers to make right decision and creates our tours memory book.

Can you help me with booking air flight tickets?

Your local air ticketing agent is more powerful to find any type of best flight solution possible. There is a rule that usually air tickets are less expensive if you purchase it at flight start point.
However, our air ticketing agents are fully prepared to assist you anytime needed.

Do you provide with visa support service?

Visa is required for almost all nationalities for tours to Russian Federation or including Russian Federation and only for some fewer nationalities for tours covering EU destinations. If visa support document is required we supply that complimentary. We cannot accept any responsibility for guests arriving without valid passport and visa.

How and when do I book optional?

All mentioned as “optional” are extra paid. We highly recommend to book and pay optional before tour starts to guarantee availability. There is also a possibility to book optionals during the tour, but there is always a chance that particular option will be fully booked.

What is the currency in my destination? How much should I take in credit cards/cash? Can I use my credit card during my trip?

Travellers’ cheques are not common practice anymore so it is a good idea to travel with a credit card and ATM card, or a bank issued ‘cash card’ specifically for travel. Having a couple of options will assure that you are covered if one doesn’t work. In certain countries it comes down to potluck if you can withdraw money. One day it’ll work, the next it won’t, but it will work for your friend… Go figure! Visa cards are more widely accepted than MasterCard,

What is the best way to carry money?

We recommend having access to money from a variety of sources – cash, cards and travel money cards are all commonly used.

Do you offer Early Bird Discounts?

• Early Bird discount is offered only for Private tours in St Petersburg booked and prepaid in full 6+ months in advance. The tours must be paid for via credit card authorization form. Other forms of payment are not available to qualify for Early Bird Discount.

Do you offer military discounts?

• No, unfortunately, we are not able to offer military discounts, because they are not provided for by Russian museums.

Is there a discount for children accompanied by an adult?

• Yes, depending on the tour, children aged 7 – 17 get 10-30 USD off. Children under 7 go for free in St. Petersburg on all private tours.

There is a flat fee of 30 USD for all St Petersburg Join-in tours for children under 7 y.o. because they occupy a seat on the bus.

Do you give student or teacher discounts?

• We offer student discounts only. Please pay attention that discounts vary depending on the age of the students. There are two age groups specified by museums: 7-17 y.o. and 18+ y.o. That OVER 18 MUST have a valid ISIC (International Student Identification Card) in order to qualify for a discount. Unfortunately we don’t offer teacher discounts.

I have special dietary requirements – will they be catered for?

We will try our very hardest to accommodate all dietary requirements but in some out-of-the-way places it can be very difficult to guarantee. We will let you know if there are places on your itinerary where this is the case. Please let us know at the time of booking of any food requirements or allergies and we’ll pass the information onto your leader. It is also a great idea to bring a card with your dietary requirements written in the local language for those times you are eating away from the group.

What will the food be like on my trip?

Food is one of the most exciting parts of travel. There may be some familiar fare but often you’ll be confronted with the new, interesting and downright weird of the culinary world but we like to think of it as an adventure for all the senses. In addition to this, our flexible itineraries often allow you to eat with the group or branch out on your own – this means you can eat to suit any budget or desire.

Guaranteed departures

Guide training

All the guides with Fly Rusia are experienced professionals with all the necessary museum licenses and also accredited by the city of St. Petersburg to provide city tours!

All of us have been working in Tourism for more than 5 years and are highly experienced in dealing with foreigners with high expectations, families with children and people who need special assistance. All guides have proved themselves to be very reliable and responsible, we all work very hard to make your visit safe and easy, and always do our best to minimize your waiting time in lines. We all speak excellent English (and most of us have originally been trained to be Interpreters or English teachers) so you will have no problem understanding any of the guides.

How can I know all the feedback provided is real?

We keep track of all people that have used our tours and they will be more than happy to share their experience with you over the phone or by email.

What about children travel policy? Any discount?

For babies 0-2 year’s tours are complimentary. Hotels offer baby cot free of charge in parents’ room. For children 2-12 years old basic package and optional half price (50% discount) with extra bed in parents room. For travelers 12+ full price.

Do you do private guided vacations in both St Petersburg and Moscow?

Yes, we arrange private customs tours in both cities.

Follow these links to learn more:

Tours & Packages to Moscow & St Petersburg

St Petersburg Short Day trips

Moscow Short Day trips or contacts one of our managers

Do you offer tours from Moscow to St. Petersburg and back to Moscow? If so, what is the duration of the tours and what is the cost of tour?

• If You Have Russian Visa You Travel Moscow To St Petersburg and Back To Moscow.

Regarding prices, this needs to be calculated individually and will depend on the group size, transportation and tour duration.

Which destinations do you offer?

• We offer tours in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Golden Ring towns, Kazan, Sochi, Yekaterinburg Vladivostok, Velikiy Novgorod and Nizhny Novgorod.

 

Are lunches included into the tour cost?

• Lunches are included into the price of all Group Tours (GDT) in Saint Petersburg only in order to save valuable tour time.

A pre-ordered lunch usually takes around 45-60 minutes maximum, while enjoying lunch a la carte for larger groups may impose a serious problem to being on time and sticking to the tour schedule.

Lunches are not included into any of the private tours in Russia or Join-in tours in the Baltics.

If your group would like to have pre-arranged lunches, please let us know!

Can we photograph and video during the tour? Is there a fee? Is it included?

• Yes, you can video and take  pictures  in  almost all the museums included  into the tour itinerary with exception of Peterhof, where no photo/video is allowed at all.

There is a photo fee for Hermitage museum IF you have a big camera like Nikon or Canon. If it’s a small one and fits into your pocket, then no ticket is necessary.

If you’re traveling with a big camera just let us know in advance and we will get you a camera ticket for the Hermitage as a bonus.

Are all tours guaranteed departure and what about cancellation policy?

All tours with tour code and date indication are guaranteed departure no matter of how many guests registered. We apply individual policy for tailor made or special request group tours. For cancellation made 28-21 days prior to arrival a cancellation fee of 30% basic tour costs is charged, for cancellations made 20-7 days prior to arrival – 60% of the basic tour price, for cancellations made 6-1 days prior to arrival – 70% of the basic tour price, for “no show” – 75% of the basic tour price.

How do I book any tour with you?

To book a tour please goes to On Line Booking.

1) Click ‘Book Tour’

2) Enter your personal data, group details and select whether you are a hotel guest or a cruise passenger.

3) Add tours to cart from the pop-up Tour Menu and learn your tour price.

4)  If you are a cruise passenger, you will be requested to enter passport details for all guests for visa-free paperwork processing.

5) Review your details and selected tours and submit your reservation.

Once your reservation arrives, we will review the details and will send you a link for secure on-line deposit payment (if required).

Your reservation is complete and confirmed when you receive a .pdf Tour Confirmation and Tour Tickets (if you are a cruise passenger).

When do I pay for the tours?

• Once your reservation form is submitted, our managers will review it and will prepare an on-line invoice for deposit payment. 100% per person deposit to guarantee your reservation.

Cash Payments

• We Accept Cash Payments In Russian Ruble Only. Please make sure you receive a receipt from our tour manager when making the payment.

Can I Prepay In Advance

• If you would like to take care of all your tour payments in advance we can accept your advance payment visa.

 

Are we assured that we will be back at the ship on time? Is there ever an issue of bad traffic?

• All our tours are Worry Shore Excursions and we 100% guarantee that we will get you back to the ship on time! In the extremely unlikely case of our clients missing their ship we will deliver them to the next port of call at our expense.

We are two adults. Can you arrange for us to join a group to keep the cost down?

• Yes, you are welcome to join our GDT programs – Guaranteed departure small group tours in a variety of destinations that we offer:

– St. Petersburg

– Moscow

Do you put groups together to allow for sharing of the costs?

• We put groups together only upon customer’s request.

Usually such join-up tours tend to be still quite private, maximum 10-12 people altogether.  Although we can easily accommodate a larger group should a customer ask for it. For such on-request group tours all prices are not confirmed until the group filles up. To put it simple, if you are a party of 4, but would like to make it a group of 8 to lower the cost, then we will happily confirm your tour at the price for 4 people and will keep the group open for others to join. Once more people join, your tour price will be recalculated and your tour confirmation will be updated.

To find tour mates, you can do both – post at our Roll Call and go to Cruise Critic’s Roll Call boards to find more people!

Do you provide tours from any cruise line?

• GDT (Guaranteed departure tours) at fixed per person price are offered for select cruise lines only. Please check with one of our tour managers.

What does GDT mean?

• GDT = Guaranteed Departure Tour – it’s a group tour with fixed price per person and group sizes limited to 16 up to 32 passengers depending on the destination. GDTs are offered in Saint Petersburg, Moscow. Not all GDT are available for all cruise lines, please check with one of our tour managers.

Can a driver be hired to take us to places we want to go (i.e. without a guide?). Does the driver speak English?

• Yes, you can hire a driver, but he will not be able to take you inside any sights for tours and you will have to go on your own, However, this option is NOT available for VISA-FREE cruisers.

Please note that there is no guarantee that your driver will be able to speak any English. Some drivers do, some do not.

I’m interested in doing a tour but don’t really want to travel by vehicle. I’m big on walking. Is it required to travel by vehicle with a guide or just suggested?

• Getting a vehicle is just suggested. Of course you don’t have to hire a driver if you don’t wish to. However, if you are arriving with a cruise, then you will need to get a taxi to get out of the port to the public areas where public transport is readily accessible. It’s around 1 hr from the port to the downtown by public transport.

Is Gold/Diamond Room included into the standard Hermitage tour?

• The tour of the Golden/Diamond Room is not included into the General Hermitage tour, but we can easily include it per your request. There’s a 100% guarantee if booked/ordered at least a month in advance, if your reservation is made later than that the museum reserves the right not to confirm the tour.

Are you able to customize the tours to our personal preference?

• Of course, isn’t this the point of getting a private guide?

We will happily customize any of the private tours for you. Simply let your tour manager know that you would like to make some changes and your program will be adjusted and recalculated.

I am concerned about the political stability of the country through which my trip will travel. The safety of our passengers, leaders and operators is a major priority for FlyRusia. With this in mind, we monitor world events very closely and FlyRusia makes operational decisions based on informed advice from a number of sources,

How safe are my belongings whilst on the trip?

While we take all the precautions we can to make sure your belongings are safe, we are travelling to some exciting destinations that are sometimes home to some pretty skilled thieves. Travel insurance is a must and a lockable bag or money belt will always help too.

 Will refrigeration be available for medicines? eg. Insulin

Availability of refrigeration cannot be guaranteed. As a general rule, many of our city hotels provide access to small fridges; however, you cannot rely on access to refrigeration. Please be sure to advise FlyRusia if you are travelling with medication that requires refrigeration.

What are the medical and vaccination requirements?

Medical and vaccination requirements differ between nations and as we are not medical practitioners, we unfortunately cannot advise on this issue. Please see your local GP or travel doctor for details and advice about current vaccination requirements.

What if I get ill or injured on the trip and unable to continue?

Our leaders are trained to deal with these situations and we will endeavor to get you help as quickly as possible. If you must leave the trip early due to illness, our local offices will help you find appropriate medical care and ensure someone at home is aware of the situation. We will do whatever we can to get your home or on your onward journey. Your travel insurance, which is compulsory on all our trips, should cover any costs incurred if illness occurs.

Do you provide with visa support service?

Visa is required for almost all nationalities for tours to Russian Federation or including Russian Federation and only for some fewer nationalities for tours covering EU destinations. If visa support document is required we supply that complimentary. We cannot accept any responsibility for guests arriving without valid passport and visa.

Special needs

We try to assist our travellers with special needs with care and love and do everything what is in our power. All our hotels are equipped with handicapped rooms. If you have any type of special needs or requirements, do not hesitate to contact us individually.

Can we omit all shopping from our tour? We never buy anything.

• Of course it’s absolutely NOT necessary to do any shopping. Since yours will be an entirely private tour, the decision whether to do shopping or not is entirely yours.

I’m travelling alone – is that OK?

This is the beauty of the FlyRusia style of travel: many of our travellers join because they are travelling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people.

If I am travelling solo, will I be charged a single supplement?

As a solo traveller, you will be paired up with another passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you’re not comfortable sharing a room with someone of the same gender, you also have the choice to pay for a single supplement (available on the majority of our trips).

If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly.

I have a disability – can I join an FlyRusia trip?

FlyRusia is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We ask that you carefully consider whether you are physically and mentally able to complete the itinerary you have chosen, recognizing that on many trips you will be required to carry your own bags and use public transport.

Where we can we will make reasonable adjustments to the operation of  our trips to facilitate the requirements of disabled travellers – such as booking ground floor accommodation, or having our leaders communicate important directions in writing as well as verbally. Many travellers with disabilities have been able to enjoy our trips by travelling with a friend or companion who can assist with specific needs. If joining a group trip is not practical we may be able to provide you with a private departure. Please contact our sales team for further information on any of our itineraries.

Do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance is compulsory for all FlyRusia travellers and should be taken out at the time of booking. You must provide proof of your travel insurance on the first day of your trip; you will not be able to join the trip without it.

What does my policy need to cover?

At a minimum, your travel insurance should be ‘comprehensive’, providing cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability, we also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.

What type of ground transportation is used?

If it moves there’s a good chance you’ll be riding on it. The type of transport used depends on your trip style.

 

PERSONAL INFORMATION

What information is required to book a tour?

If you are arriving by plane or train and already have a Russian Visa, then the only information we need from you is your name and your phone number.

If you are a cruise passenger and require visa-free service, then we need the following information from you to be able to arrange for you blanket visas – this information is submitted with the Russian customs

So that they would be able to let you disembark without a visa:

1. Full Name
2. Passport Number
3. Date of Birth
4. Citizenship

Your personal data is safe with us and is not transferred to any third parties, unless required so by law.

What information do you need to process Visa Support?

By Russian Law, the following details are required for Visa Support processing for each tour participant:

1. Full Name as in passport
2. Passport Number
3. Date of Birth
4. Citizenship
5. Gender
6. Arrival date to Russia
7. Departure date from Russia
8. All cities that will be visited while in Russia
9. Hotel names where you will stay

Your personal information is safe with us and is NOT transmitted to any third partiers unless required by law.

How much tip should I leave?

• Your tour price doesn’t include gratuities to your guide and driver. If you are happy about the tour and would like to thank your tour team for the job well-done you are welcome to do that at the end of your tour. Please have some cash with you for that purpose. The amount depends solely on you, but it is recommended to leave 15% tip. Usually the gratuity is divided 2/3 (10%) to the guide and 1/3 (5%) to the driver. However, you might want to modify that according to your preferences. It’s better to tip your guide and driver separately.

Is tipping of the tour guide optional, or expected?

• Tipping is optional. But your guide will be very grateful if you decide to tip her/him.

What vehicles do you use for Small Group Tours (GDT)?

For Saint Petersburg Small Group Tours we use Mercedes Sprinter mini-buses that comfortable seat 16-18 passengers + guide + driver.

All mini-buses are air-conditioned and equipped with a microphone.

All mini-buses have full insurance coverage.

What does a +1 hr for delivery mean?

A “+1 hr delivery” means that a driver will add one extra hour for the delivery of the vehicle to the total hours at the end of the day, this is a standard practice among all the drivers, it’s like with a taxi – you get in and the meter automatically adds on for seating. It’s just the way it is.

What type of vehicles do you use?

We use only comfortable foreign-made air-conditioned vehicles with full insurance coverage. We have business-class sedans and SUVs available for individuals and couples, as well as mini-vans to seat up to 5-7 people and mini-buses for larger groups (up to 17). All the drivers are highly experienced, polite and non-smoking; most of them speak a little (or more than that) English and several other European languages.

Large Coach Buses are offered for all groups over 18 passengers.

What about safety and security?

We are very much concerned about how safe and secure guests feel during the tours. Our tour guides provide with safety and security instructions during welcome meeting and are always ready to answer your questions.

We highly recommend taking care of your personal belongings and carrying your documents or cash in safe travel wallets.

Always be aware of non-licensed taxis, try to find out distance and total price before you start your taxi journey.

Do you offer roommate finding service if I am a solo traveller?

We do not take responsibility for finding a roommate. We recommend to book and pay single occupancy supplement or find travel mate by your own.

How bilingual tour is organized?

We offer tours in several languages such as English, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Find your language indication by the tour program. Our tour escorts are university graduates and have been specially trained as guides and as bilingual tour escorts. The tour escorts are very experienced and most have been working for us for many years.

What does basic package price include?

Published price is on 1 person sharing twin room basis. Package price includes all mentioned below the program “included”. If you want to have single occupancy room, you have to pay single supplement. You can add optional (extra paid) excursions, meals, transfers to your basic package booking as well.

What is a maximum group size?

The average number of guests is around 30-35. We allow a maximum number of 42 guests on the same tour.

We will be travelling with my 75yo father. He wants to know whether toilets are readily accessible on the tour; and will the driver and guide be willing to detour to find one if necessary.

Yes, of course! On private (and even group tours) the guide and driver work to make YOU happy! Guides are very good at finding restrooms! No worries about that!

What languages do you offer for PRIVATE tours?

• We are able to provide tour guides in all major world languages for a private tour:

English, French, German, Italian, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish

Chinese (Mandarin), Vietnamese, Japanese

Armenian, Swedish, Finnish and others!

200 USD surcharge per group on top of the prices quoted on-line if your tour language is Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, French, Mandarin and Indian.

Surcharge might differ for other languages.

Russian electronic visa with Tour.

Customers who purchase packages for Russia from FlyRusia, in the territories for which an electronic visa is granted, can contact us for more information and for the help with the compilation of the online consular forms. We can fill in the electronic visa request on your behalf and then forward you the Visa by e-mail. It will be possible to make use of our services to complete the online forms for any destination, and the service will be provided free of charge to those who purchase our tourist packages. To receive more information and to purchase the service, you can contact us at the e-mail address info@flyrussiatour.com….

 

How do I find out about the visa requirements for the trip I am interested in?

While we do include information in our Visa Section about visa requirements, we always recommend that passengers check with their local embassy as visa rules can change without warning. Embassy websites in your home country will always have information about requirements, visa costs and will provide the required forms. If you are uncomfortable with the visa process, you can visit a travel agent who can arrange these for you at a cost.

How do I organize my Visa?

Please contact the relevant local embassy, or visit a travel agent, to organize your visa/s.

Do you help with Visas?

FlyRusia can’t assist in the actual application of visas, but you can do this through the embassy or with the support of a travel agent.

 

What is a Tour Ticket?

A Tour Ticket is an equivalent of a Russian Visa for all Cruise Ship passengers. It is extremely important to print it out ahead of time and have it ready and available when you go through passport control in Saint Petersburg cruise port.

Failure to present a printed Tour Ticket MAY result in admission denial.

We will do our best to solve this problem however no promised can be made. Please value your time and money! Do not misplace your Tour Tickets!

We live in Dubai, but we are Indian Citizens. Do we need Visa?

NO, as you are Indian citizens and hold Indian passports then you DO NOT need a visa. If you choose to travel with your Dubai passport then you WILL NEED a visa. Please click here for a Complete List of Visa- countries.

Where can I get information about obtaining Russian Visas?

• Please visit Consular Section of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in India http://www.russianembassy.org/page/visas

If you hold other country’s passport rather than the US, please refer to the World-wide Russian Consulate Locator http://www.russianembassy.net/

If you are willing to do full visa processing, contact ILS – Russian Visa Center (In visa Logistic Services)

How much notice do you require to obtain visa-free paperwork/blanket visas?

• Normally we request at least 1 week notice to be able to process all the paperwork on time. It’s advisable to send in information 2 weeks before the tour date to avoid any problems, though.

If it’s an emergency, we can process the documents within 72 hours, too.

We’re on a cruise ship. Do we need to obtain any visas prior to arriving in Russia and touring with you?

• No, you don’t. Fly Rusia is a fully licensed tour operator registered with the Federal Ministry of Tourism. Under the federal license and under the special agreement with the port and customs authorities, we do Visa-free tours for all cruise ship visitors. A visa-free tour (or a Blanket Visa tour) means that you will leave the boat and will come back only accompanied by your guide. If you wish to have more flexibility and explore the city on your own after the tour, you will need to obtain your own Individual Russian Visas. (expecially applies to those passengers that arrive onboard Oceania’s Regatta, Seabourn cruises or SilverSea – as they dock in the city center) if you don’t know where to start – ask us!

 

What is a Russian electronic visa (E-Visa)?

• Russian electronic visa (E-Visa) is an official permission that allows entry to only certain regions of Russia. E-Visa is issued electronically by the consular department of MFA of the Russian Federation.

 

How can I apply for the Russian electronic visa (E-Visa)?

• You can request a Russian e-visa yourself from your home computer, through the following link –

https://evisa… or https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/spb_home  To apply for a Russian e-visa, you will only need: a valid passport with a validity period more than 6 months from the date of application, a recent digital photo that you will attach to the application (you can attach a photo taken with the front camera of your mobile phone, with a plain wall of light color in the background), and a travel medical insurance with coverage in the Russian Federation.

You can monitor the status of your application on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation- https://evisa…. By using your application number (your ID and your password), you will track the state of your application.

For more information also visit our website visa information section how to apply Russia visa.

How much time prior to my visit dates do I require to obtain a Russian E-Visa?

• The deadline for the issuance of the e-visa is a maximum period of 4 calendar days from the day of your request. Though it is usually ready in 2 days. You can apply as early as 20 days and no later than 4 days before the date of your entry to the Russian Federation.

Which cities/places can I visit with a Russian E-Visa?

Saint Petersburg and Leningrad region

Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad region

Far Eastern Federal District regions

It’s very important to know that arrival/departure to/from all the above cities/places with e-visa possible only through certain air, naval, automobile, and pedestrian checkpoints located in the territories of these cities/places.

Which nationalities are allowed to apply for a Russian E-Visa?

Today an e-visa can be requested by the citizens of the following countries:

Saint Petersburg and Leningrad region	Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad region	Far Eastern Federal District regions
Andorra	Andorra	Algeria
Austria	Austria	Bahrain
Bahrain	Bahrain	Brunei
Belgium	Belgium	India
Bulgaria	Bulgaria	Iran
China (incl.Taiwan)	China (incl.Taiwan)	Qatar
Croatia	Croatia	People’s Republic of China
Cyprus	Cyprus	North Korea
Czech Republic	Czech Republic	Kuwait
North Korea	North Korea	Morocco
Denmark	Denmark	Mexico
Estonia	Estonia	United Arab Emirates
Finland	Finland	Oman
France	France	Saudi Arabia
Germany	Germany	Singapore
Greece	Greece	Tunisia
Hungry	Hungry	Turkey
Iceland	Iceland	Japan
India	India
Indonesia	Indonesia
Iran	Iran
Ireland	Ireland
Italy	Italy
Japan	Japan
Kuwait	Kuwait
Latvia	Latvia
Liechtenstein	Liechtenstein
Lithuania	Lithuania
Luxembourg	Luxembourg
Malaysia	Malaysia
Malta	Malta
Mexico	Mexico
Monaco	Monaco
Holland	Holland
Northern Macedonia	Northern Macedonia
Norway	Norway
Oman	Oman
Philippines	Philippines
Poland	Poland
Portugal	Portugal
Qatar	Qatar
Romania	Romania
San Marino	San Marino
Saudi Arabia	Saudi Arabia
Serbia	Serbia
Singapore	Singapore
Slovakia	Slovakia
Slovenia	Slovenia
Spain	Spain
Sweden	Sweden
Switzerland	Switzerland
Turkey	Turkey
Vatican	Vatican

* United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia are excluded from the e-visa procedure. But it is yet to be seen which nationalities can request a Russian E-Visa from 2021.

What type of luggage do you recommend I take?

On most FlyRusia trips you will be required to carry your own luggage, sometimes up stairs and on and off transport. We therefore recommend you travel with a backpack.

Can I store excess luggage at the starting point hotel?

Most starting point hotels can store your excess luggage for you; however, this is at your own risk. Often a nominal fee is charged for this service. Of course, this is only an advantage if your trip is circular (i.e. returning to the same starting point).

Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?

We only have a handful of itineraries where sleeping bags are required and these are generally trips that involve camping. When we use homestays, blankets are provided but some travellers feel more comfortable with their own sleeping bag or sleep sheet. This decision is a personal preference.

What clothes and footwear should I take on treks?

On a more physical trip, hiking boots are definitely recommended. If the physical rating is under 3, hiking boots or sneakers/runners will be adequate. Many FlyRusia treks will be hiking in near freezing environments so please be sure to research the climate and weather conditions at the time of year you will be trekking and pack accordingly.

What essential documents do I need to take?

It’s important that you always travel with your current passport, visas, travel insurance and documentation.

On your trip

Arrival information

What is the waiting time before the tour start?

• Group Tours in the St Petersburg

Please be advised that regular waiting time for all group tours in St Petersburg cities is limited to 15 minutes only. After 15 minutes the tour will depart and no refund will be offered for No Show. Waiting time is limited to 2 hrs. This time is considered to be part of your tour already, this is especially important for short tours. If your planned tour start time was 10am and tour duration 4 hrs. thus until 2pm, and you showed up at 11am. Then your tour will still take place but the duration will be 1 hour shorter because of waiting = 3 hrs, until 2 pm as originally planned.

Are there normally long waits for entry into places such as the Hermitage? Can you arrange for VIP entry (i.e., earlier than normal opening), and does your tour include seeing the winding of the Peacock Clock?

• For private small group tours that we do there’s no long wait involved. The Hermitage regulates admission times strictly and you have to be at the museum at the appointed time on the ticket (your guide keeps track of the timing).

We can arrange a VIP early opening and Monday opening of the museum on request, but there’s always a chance that the museum will not approve. We prefer that clients are aware of this possibility from the start.

No, general tour of the Hermitage does not include the Peacock clock show/winding. It’s done publicly once a week, on Wednesdays at 1pm