TESTIMONIALS

We had an excellent tour to Kishi island from St. Petersburg. Our train tickets (luxury!) to and from Petrozavodsk were booked in advance. Luckily we'd had a bit of experience with the excellent russian trains before this so we had no problem. We were picked up at the train station at Petrozavodsk and taken for a short walking tour around the town before being dropped at the hydrofoil to Kizhi island and given very clear instructions on when and how to catch the hydrofoil back. At the Island, our guide was once again ready and she was a lovely lady who gave us an excellent tour of the old wooden church.

Several months ago, I arranged a trip with East West Tours, mostly because the process of obtaining a Russian tourist visa seemed lengthy and prohibitive. I worked with both Dora and Anna to customize a tour package for my family. We wanted to visit highlights: Helsinki, Tallinn, Stockholm, and St. Petersburg. The ferry, MS Anastasia, was quite well-appointed for a ferry, and the meals were amazing (we had the option that included the breakfasts/dinners as part of the price). Our room for four was very tiny: two sets of bunkbeds with a single walking aisle, little bathroom, and a door, but given we were really only in the cabin to sleep, it was workable. The other spaces on the ship were spacious, and outdoor space ample.

It was a great tour. The tour leader, Janis, was probably the best I have had and I take a lot of tours. I took this particular tour as it was different from all the rest that I found which seemed to follow a set formula. It was great with walks in national parks and talking to the locals, not just a focus on cities. Some of the accommodations didn't have AC which normally would have been OK, but we were there during a heat wave. – Mary Kimball -

We have got what we pay for. Our Volga Cruise was great and perfectly organized. Thank you Ana for everything you have done for us. – Steckiewicz -

Dearest Masha, Thank you so much for all the wonderful information you have provided us on this excellent tour of St Petersburg. You really went above the call & duty in helping us get to the third place game of the World Cup. We also think you are the most intelligent and engaging guide we have ever had. If you ever come to B.C. we would like to offer you a place to stay in our Vancouver Island retreat. You can google our Sweet Escape Qualicum Beach, we are listed on Tripadvisor and Airbnb. You can reach us at locantner@gmail.com for anything, including booking. Thank you and All the best, Kyle & Linda – Kyle and Linda -

Our three days in St. Petersburg were a real delight. WE were there during the "white nights" -- sunset around 11:30 pm, sunrise around 2:30 am. The long days were sunny and warm. Our guide, Olga Dashkevich, was a gem -- very knowledgeable and personable, she kept us moving through an array of sights and wonders. She even took us to her favorite pie shop, Stolle! The ferry Princess Anastasia was clean and comfortable; the buffet meals were well-prepared. Our only complaint: passport control into and out of St. Petersburg was a chaotic mess, perhaps because of all the World Cup fans coming and going. We would highly recommend East-West tours for their visa-free St. Petersburg options. – Tony Litwinski -