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Can Travel Be a Force for Peace? This Tour Leader Thinks So.

‘We tend to think of travel in terms of distance, but I think travel is really a lifestyle, a state of mind,’ says Aziz Abu Sarah of Mejdi Tours, which explores both sides of longstanding conflicts in places like Belfast and Jerusalem.

By Paige McClanahan

Aziz Abu Sarah and his business partner, Scott Cooper, had a big ambition when they started their tour company: They wanted to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Well, sort of. It was kind of a joke between the two of them, Mr. Abu Sarah said recently. But the two friends — one a Palestinian who grew up in Jerusalem, the other an American Jew — had worked together in international conflict mediation and resolution in places like Syria, Afghanistan and Colombia. Feeling limited by the number of people they could reach through that work, Mr. Abu Sarah and Mr. Cooper decided to apply their experience in a completely different realm: tourism. Their goal was nothing less than to transform travel — and travelers — into a force for peace.

A defining feature of the tour company they founded in 2009 is the “dual narrative” tour, in which a group of tourists is led by two guides: one from either side of a longstanding conflict or division that has affected the area that the group is visiting. On the company’s tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland, for example, a Unionist and a Nationalist jointly lead the tour of sites around Belfast, Derry and Dublin. And on their tour of the Holy Land, the groups visit Tel Aviv, Bethlehem and Jerusalem accompanied by both a Palestinian Arab and an Israeli Jew.

“Literally, everyone we knew told us this was the dumbest idea,” Mr. Abu Sarah said recently from his home in South Carolina. “They thought that nobody would ever pay to do something like this. But within a year, we proved them wrong.”

More than a decade after its founding, Mejdi Tours has hosted over 20,000 guests, and the company now runs trips to the Balkans, Colombia, Egypt, Morocco, Chile and Costa Rica, among other places. Meanwhile, Mr. Abu Sarah has been named a TED Fellow and a National Geographic Emerging Explorer . He has also written a book that makes the case for travel as a force for peace.

The company’s tours have been mostly on hold during the pandemic, but Mr. Abu Sarah and Mr. Cooper used the downtime to develop or expand several new trips in the United States, including a history-of-civil-rights tour of the U.S. South, an Indigenous tour of the U.S. Southwest, and “Red/Blue Divide tours” of Washington, D.C., and Detroit.

When I reached him, Mr. Abu Sarah was about to head off to lead a group tour in Egypt. But he took the time to talk about the danger of the single narrative, the power of bringing together opposing perspectives, and what he learned from the hardest trip he’s ever taken.

Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Why is the dual narrative approach so important?

In so many places that Scott and I had traveled to, we always came across a single dominant narrative, and then there were all these other narratives that were never given a voice in the public sphere. So with our tours, we thought: “No more single story. No more single narrative.” We decided to start in Jerusalem, Palestine and Israel, because Scott is Jewish and I’m Palestinian, and that’s the area we knew the best. And what we’ve seen is that the dual narrative is so powerful because it gives you the opportunity to hear different opinions, but also to understand the people you meet, to understand their fear and their anger, and to really fall in love with the place you’re visiting.

The discussions must get heated sometimes. Have you ever had problems with tension in the groups?

It’s extremely rare. If there are conflicts, it’s personality oriented, which you would see on any group tour. We have very conservative people and very liberal people coming on the same trips, but because these two guides with different backgrounds are able to hold a conversation, that somehow helps the group to hold these conversations, as well, without starting to fight. So we almost never have a problem between the guests themselves — or between the guides, which was the other worry people had.

And now you’re applying this approach to tours in the United States?

I used to live in Washington, D.C., which is a very segregated city, especially on a class level, and I realized that my friends and I wouldn’t venture out of the neighborhoods we already knew. So we started to develop a tour of the city, and we got a Republican and a Democrat to colead it. That first trip was incredible. Watching the news, you would think that if you put a Republican and a Democrat together, they would just talk past each other. But that wasn’t the case at all. One of the most interesting conversations we had was on a visit to the Heritage Foundation, which is very conservative. Some of the liberal people in the tour group had never had this kind of open conversation with a conservative that wasn’t just sound bites, but a real, productive conversation. By the end of it, the discussion was about “What’s the solution?” rather than “You’re doing this wrong or that wrong.” It was fascinating. And that’s what happens on our tours in Israel and Palestine. That’s what happens in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia.

You spent your childhood in a place with a long history of conflict. How has that experience informed this work?

I grew up in Jerusalem, but I never had a real conversation with a Jewish-Israeli person until I was 18 years old. My brother was killed by being beaten up in prison by Israeli soldiers, so I grew up very angry, very much with the idea that the other is evil. And then when I was 18, I decided to study Hebrew because I had to — not because I wanted to. Living in Jerusalem, you can’t survive without Hebrew. I remember walking into the class thinking, “None of these people probably want me to be here.” And I couldn’t have been more wrong. My Hebrew teacher was the most incredible human being. She even tried to speak Arabic to me to make me feel welcome. And that was the first time I felt like I was treated like a human being by the other.

But before that moment, I only knew one narrative of Israel, and many Israelis probably only know one narrative of Palestinians: the one they hear in the news.

Is that what you mean when you say that the most difficult trips can be the ones that are closest to home?

I think it can be much easier to be open to learning about issues or problems that are happening five or six thousand miles away. Often when I talk about my work with Syrian refugees, people will say, “Oh, I would like to go and volunteer with Syrian refugees in Jordan or Turkey.” And I ask them, “Have you volunteered with Syrian refugees in your own community? Because if not, you should start there, and then maybe go to Syria.”

We tend to think of travel in terms of distance, but I think travel is really a lifestyle, a state of mind. And if you learn to travel in your own community, you’ll learn to travel when you go abroad. For me, the hardest trip I ever took was going from my home in East Jerusalem to West Jerusalem. It’s just a 15- or 20-minute walk, but making that trip brought about the biggest change for me, because it challenged me the most.

Many people want to relax when they go on vacation. Why should they choose to go on a challenging, dual-narrative trip?

There’s an assumption that when people travel, they’re not interested in learning. And that’s not true. Even surveys tell us it’s not true. People want to do good as they travel, and they are looking for culture and connection. I have fun in my travels: I go see museums, I swim in the ocean, I enjoy music, all of that. But that’s not all that I do. I like to say that travel is an act of diplomacy: Be a diplomat as you’re traveling and go out and meet someone new and hear their stories. And it’s so much fun! It’s the thing that you will remember, and that you’ll tell people about when you come back.

Paige McClanahan is the host of The Better Travel Podcast .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places list for 2022 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

Trips to the Middle East

Interested in Pilgrimage and Advocacy-Oriented Travel ?

Plan Your Next Trip with CMEP

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) partners with MEJDI tours to offer custom group travel to Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Turkey, and other destinations in the Middle East. Trips to the region offer pilgrimages and advocacy-oriented travel. If you travel to the Holy Land, trips provide the chance to hear multi-narrative perspectives through the use of two local guides, one Israeli and one Palestinian. They offer various perspectives on the history and current realities of the land. Get in touch with us by filling out this form or emailing Adysen Moylan our CMEP Trips Coordinator at [email protected] .

Israel / Palestine

Encounter the Holy Land and the “Living Stones”

• Experience multi-narrative perspectives on the complex Holy Land
• Travel that combines pilgrimage and advocacy-oriented learning
• Visit the sites where Jesus walked, taught, and lived

Visit key Christian sites and faith leaders

• See key sites in from Joseph, Mary, and Jesus’ Flight into Egypt
• Visit Mount Sinai, where Moses recieved the Ten Commandments
• Visit the 6th century St. Catherine’s monestary
• Experience the rich, long Christian tradition in Egypt which lives on today
• Engage with local Copts and other Christian minority groups who keep the faith alive in Egypt

Travel to Turkey, Jordan or Greece

• Walk the footsteps of Paul in Turkey
• Visit the Hagai Sophia and the centuries of Muslim and Christian history represented within its walls
• See the 6th century Basilica of St. John in Ephesus and visit the Christian community which is still active in the region

CMEP Offers:

• Itinerary building and consultation for group tours – let our experts help you plan a tour that includes visits to historical and holy sites, as well as meetings with the people who live and work for peace in the land. All trips offer pre-trip orientation and a post-trip debrief.

• Invite a CMEP staff member to travel with you – based on availability, a CMEP staff member may be available to join and serve as a leader to help your group connect what they are seeing on the ground with tangible action steps to continue working for peace at home.
• CMEP-planned open tours – great for individuals or small groups (less than five) who want to travel. Individuals can purchase a spot on these trips without needing to plan an entire group tour. These opportunities, when available, will be shared below on this page! 
• Opportunities for experts to meet with you and your church community for orientation and debrief meetings via video conference or in-person in order to be educated about theological considerations, the spiritual significance of the land, the current geopolitics of the region, and other areas of interest so that you and your community may be best prepared for your journey.

Who Should Travel with CMEP?

Anyone is welcome to travel on CMEP’s open tours. If you’d like to  plan a custom group tour ,  here are some guidelines on the type of groups that best fit a CMEP-designed tour:

Groups that include 15-45 people

Trips that last between 8-20 days

The desire to meet people who live in the land, Middle Eastern Christians, peace activists, and others; and to explore beyond the standard itinerary for a trip to the Holy Land

Plan to travel to the region within the next 10-24 months

Already Planning a Trip?

You can still meet with our staff based in Israel, Palestine, and Egypt. Get in touch with us by filling out this form or emailing [email protected] and we will work to arrange a meeting, or even have them speak to your group! CMEP you can meet with us on the ground to hear about what we do and learn about next steps in engagement through advocating, elevating, and educating your home community.

About MEJDI Tours:

Dedicated to providing customized itineraries for travel groups as diverse as our destinations,  MEJDI Tours  is a full-service tour company-differentiating itself from the crowd through exclusive access, authentic experiences, extraordinary customer service, and much more – founded on the belief that tourism should be a vehicle for a more positive and interconnected world. MEJDI-which translates to “honor” and “respect” in Arabic – was established to achieve one goal: change the face of tourism through a socially responsible business model that honors both clients and communities.

CMEP’s Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, serves as MEJDI’s Chief Advisor for Christian engagement. We are grateful for the constructive partnership between MEJDI and CMEP.

After going on a trip with CMEP and Peace Not Walls, Anthony and Mary reflect on what they learned on the “Counter Stories” podcast.

Rev. Charlie Lewis says his life has been deeply impacted by his visit to the Nassar Farm in the West Bank. This is just one of the many spots we visit on CMEP trips to Israel/Palestine.

After their trip to the Middle East, Overlake Church in Washington reflected on their time in this short video.

“As someone from a non-Christian background, it was really meaningful to me to learn about Christ by actually going where he lived and moved around – and then to see how that history shaped the people and the lands. I felt very privileged to have this be my first in depth look at His story.”

— Former CMEP Trip Member

Best part of the trip: “Connecting with a couple young boys in Hebron by playing soccer in the street with them for about an hour.”

One trip participant described his time in Hebron as his favorite part of the trip, as he was able to play soccer in the streets of Hebron with young boys for an hour. Our trips allow you to not only experience the places, but truly encounter the people of the land.

Resources for Trips:

Want more info? Get in touch with us by filling out this form or emailing Ana Moylan our CMEP Trips Coordinator at [email protected] .

© 2024 Churches for Middle East Peace

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Explore Nepal

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Lumbini Peace Travel & Tours is driven under the direction of extremely experienced and competent individuals and guides. Our team is skillfully set up with every single requisite important to successfully accomplish your campaigns in the prestigious tour destinations of this Himalayan nation.

Lumbini Peace Travel & Tours is a travel and tour organization which was established in 2010 with the objective of giving its customers memorable trips to the Himalayan Country Nepal. We are set up by a gathering of devoted, passionate and experienced travelling pioneers and tour guides and offer some of the extensive varieties of Tour packages throughout Nepal.

We are glad to help our clients by offering several tour packages coordinating with their own desires and needs, and areas that will get stamped to their hearts and memories.

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Lumbini Pilgrimage Tour

Duration: 9 Days Grade: Easy Seasons: All Year, Summer, Autumn, Spring, Winter Route: Kathmandu - Dhulikhel - Namo Buddha - Lumbini - Pokhara - Kathmandu Group Size: Min 02 Pax  Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour Nepal provides ample opportunity to visit different Valley,...

Jungle Safari Tour

Duration: 3 Days Grade: Easy Seasons: All Year, Summer, Autumn, Spring, Winter Route: Kathmandu - Chitwan Group Size: Min 02 Pax  Chitwan Safari Tour is one of the best tour in Nepal. This 2 Nights 3 Days Chitwan Safari Tour itinerary can be add on every trip...

Kathmandu and Pokhara Tour

Duration: 7 Days Grade: Easy Maximum Elevation: 2,175m Seasons: All Year, Summer, Autumn, Spring, Winter Route: Kathmandu - Nargarkot - Pokhara - kathmandu Group Size: Min 02 Pax  Kathmandu and Pokhara Tour is a Perfect tour itinerary who wants to spend their...

TREKKING IN NEPAL

Langtang Valley Trek

Trekking in Nepal

Duration: 12 Days Grade: Moderate Maximum Elevation: 5,000 m Seasons: All Year, Summer, Autumn, Spring Route: Kathmandu - Langtang Region - Kathmandu  The Langtang is one of the world’s beautiful valleys, situated in the middle part of Nepal. Where, we can visit...

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Duration: 15 Days Grade: Moderate Maximum Elevation: 4,130 m Seasons: All Year, Summer, Autumn, Spring Route: Kathmandu - Annapurna Region - Kathmandu  Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the most poular intensely short scenic trek in Annapurna Conservation area. This...

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ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES IN NEPAL

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Adventure Activities

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Paragliding

Paragliding in Nepal can be a truly amazing and fulfilling adventure-seeking. A trip will take you over some of the best scenery in the Himalayas, as you share airspace with Himalayan griffin vultures, eagles, and kites and float over villages, monasteries, temples,...

White Water Rafting

Nepal is a kingdom of Himalayas and thanks to the Majestic Himalayas, Nepal hosts some of the best, most scenic and most varied white water rivers on Earth. Rafting in Nepal offers the most thrilling and adventurous white water rafting adventure experience. White...

Peace Travel Colombia

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Experiences, read out our client’s experiences.

Ruberta the candy lady and sitting with her in her own backyard. Also outstanding was Sophia our Palanque guide. And our excellent guide Catherine was so incredibly wonderful that we will request her for any future tours. And the dancers. Wow.

Cesar was great from the time of booking until the time of departure. His recommendations and suggestions were more then helpful especially coming from a different country. I put my trust in him and i wasn't let down. The tour was great, his knowledge of his country and his English was superb.

Krystal Purnell

Drivers were on time for both reservations! Did not have to worry about getting to the airport late since it was a private transfer. Communication was perfect to ensure the perfect pick up place and time! Thank you!

This tour was amazing. The heritage learned was worth it. The food OMG! delicious. The village really showed out!! Thank you to Peace Travel Tours for the wonderful experience. It’s a must do when your in Cartagena.

We loved this tour! I was a little hesitant to book it at first because it only had 6 reviews, but I’m so glad we did. We loved seeing the mangroves and the village, and the included lunch was delicious and a lot of food. Our guide Katherine was wonderful and I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Cartagena.

Jheanelle w

I enjoyed this experience I never done anything like this before. They also massage you in the mud and that was great. I would recommend this exfoliating mud bathe.

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JOAN PEACE TRAVEL TESTIMONIALS

In addition to seeing the usual sites, Joan Peace customized the trip so we could deeply taste the history and heart of both ancient and modern Israel. We were treated to amazing Israeli speakers, including Israeli military and government officials. We all appreciated our delightful Messianic tour guide, Yoni, who complemented his vast knowledge of Israel and the Bible with his personable, fun style and special gift of storytelling. Joan Peace’s travel guide, “Israel for the Christian Traveler” helped us retain what we learned with its concise overview of all the sites, along with maps, helpful biblical insights, and general information about Israel. While we stayed at elegant hotels and enjoyed incredible cuisine throughout our trip, the cost was amazingly affordable and far less than we had expected a trip like this would cost. Walk About Zion did an incredible job of combining the best accommodations with the unique itinerary and speakers for the best possible price. And the entire focus of the trip was for the glory of Jesus! This truly was a trip of a lifetime and we can hardly wait to go again!

Pastor Ted Hamilton

I would highly recommend Joan Peace Travel to anybody who is considering a tour of the Holy Land.  I am fully aware that the cost of a trip like this is almost always a concern for people.  I don’t think you will beat the cost of our tour with Walk About Zion Travel - especially considering the high quality of the hotels, the wonderful food, and the numerous sites we visited and activities we enjoyed. We were able to see virtually all the key historical sites, which were enhanced by referencing “Israel for the Christian Traveler” throughout the trip. The travel guide provided great scriptural and historical context for each site. When you travel with Joan Peace, you will go beyond the standard Israel tour fare.  We had several special Israeli speakers, we visited the home of some wonderful Messianic believers, and we participated in a wide variety of activities, including, among many others - kayaking the Jordan River, a jeep excursion on the Golan Heights and the Temple Mount archaeological sifting project (our people found some great stuff!). We felt safe and we were safe in Israel.  We loved our tour guide, a Messianic believer, who made the trip not only informative, but fun.  It was not my first time in Israel, but it was my best time.  I returned home with a new appreciation for both Israel’s ancient, biblical history and the profound complexity of Israel’s contemporary situation

Kathy Wright

Because I love to travel and have visited many countries over the years, I know what a good tour is, and I can highly recommend this very affordable trip with Joan Peace Travel.  If you are looking for a well planned trip to Israel that will cover all the major sites, plus many more wonderful things you hadn’t even thought of - such as a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, dinner at a Messianic home, communion at the Garden Tomb, meeting with a Holocaust survivor, and a camel ride, this is the trip for you! Israel is such a beautiful country, much more beautiful than I could have imagined.  Every moment I was there, I felt safe.  Israel has the best security in the world; you are surrounded by young military people who take every possible precaution to protect the tourists. When you visit Israel, your world will never be the same again because you can relate every site and teaching with something in the Bible.  Every day you will think of this trip.  Thank you Joan Peace Travel for wonderful memories!

PEACE RIVER FRONTIER

The lure of the peace river country,   ready to get your personalized travel tour itinerary   start now, in his book with the above name, david leonard describes the first settlers of the region thus: " ...these first settlers may have experienced the last true frontier environment in north america". the peace river region of canada , which comprises the drainage basin of the peace river, covers 100,000 to 150,000 sq miles, or roughly the size of the entire country of germany. however the population is approximately 180,000 souls, compared to germany's approx. 82 million., the river itself is part of the the mackenzie/slave/peace/findlay river system which is the longest river system in canada and second only to the mississippi in north america., the region is also the world's most northerly major grain growing area. home to expansive agriculture, abounding wildlife , and authentic wide open spaces, 'the peace' is also home to the descendants of the steadfast, persevering and optimistic first settlers of the region. we prepare custom travel tours to this amazing region..

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

Moscow Metro Tour

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Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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Trains Moscow to Elektrostal: Times, Prices and Tickets

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Moscow to Elektrostal by train

The journey from Moscow to Elektrostal by train is 32.44 mi and takes 2 hr 7 min. There are 71 connections per day, with the first departure at 12:15 AM and the last at 11:46 PM. It is possible to travel from Moscow to Elektrostal by train for as little as or as much as . The best price for this journey is .

Get from Moscow to Elektrostal with Virail

Virail's search tool will provide you with the options you need when you want to go from Moscow to Elektrostal. All you need to do is enter the dates of your planned journey, and let us take care of everything else. Our engine does the hard work, searching through thousands of routes offered by our trusted travel partners to show you options for traveling by train, bus, plane, or carpool. You can filter the results to suit your needs. There are a number of filtering options, including price, one-way or round trip, departure or arrival time, duration of journey, or number of connections. Soon you'll find the best choice for your journey. When you're ready, Virail will transfer you to the provider's website to complete the booking. No matter where you're going, get there with Virail.

How can I find the cheapest train tickets to get from Moscow to Elektrostal?

Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. You can find train tickets for prices as low as , but it may require some flexibility with your travel plans. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets. Unfortunately, no price was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find price results. Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets.

How long does it take to get from Moscow to Elektrostal by train?

The journey between Moscow and Elektrostal by train is approximately 32.44 mi. It will take you more or less 2 hr 7 min to complete this journey. This average figure does not take into account any delays that might arise on your route in exceptional circumstances. If you are planning to make a connection or operating on a tight schedule, give yourself plenty of time. The distance between Moscow and Elektrostal is around 32.44 mi. Depending on the exact route and provider you travel with, your journey time can vary. On average, this journey will take approximately 2 hr 7 min. However, the fastest routes between Moscow and Elektrostal take 1 hr 3 min. If a fast journey is a priority for you when traveling, look out for express services that may get you there faster. Some flexibility may be necessary when booking. Often, these services only leave at particular times of day - or even on certain days of the week. You may also find a faster journey by taking an indirect route and connecting in another station along the way.

How many journeys from Moscow to Elektrostal are there every day?

On average, there are 71 daily departures from Moscow to Elektrostal. However, there may be more or less on different days. Providers' timetables can change on certain days of the week or public holidays, and many also vary at particular times of year. Some providers change their schedules during the summer season, for example. At very busy times, there may be up to departures each day. The providers that travel along this route include , and each operates according to their own specific schedules. As a traveler, you may prefer a direct journey, or you may not mind making changes and connections. If you have heavy suitcases, a direct journey could be best; otherwise, you might be able to save money and enjoy more flexibility by making a change along the way. Every day, there are an average of 18 departures from Moscow which travel directly to Elektrostal. There are 53 journeys with one change or more. Unfortunately, no connection was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find connections.

Book in advance and save

If you're looking for the best deal for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal, booking train tickets in advance is a great way to save money, but keep in mind that advance tickets are usually not available until 3 months before your travel date.

Stay flexible with your travel time and explore off-peak journeys

Planning your trips around off-peak travel times not only means that you'll be able to avoid the crowds, but can also end up saving you money. Being flexible with your schedule and considering alternative routes or times will significantly impact the amount of money you spend on getting from Moscow to Elektrostal.

Always check special offers

Checking on the latest deals can help save a lot of money, making it worth taking the time to browse and compare prices. So make sure you get the best deal on your ticket and take advantage of special fares for children, youth and seniors as well as discounts for groups.

Unlock the potential of slower trains or connecting trains

If you're planning a trip with some flexible time, why not opt for the scenic route? Taking slower trains or connecting trains that make more stops may save you money on your ticket – definitely worth considering if it fits in your schedule.

Best time to book cheap train tickets from Moscow to Elektrostal

The cheapest Moscow - Elektrostal train tickets can be found for as low as $35.01 if you’re lucky, or $54.00 on average. The most expensive ticket can cost as much as $77.49.

Find the best day to travel to Elektrostal by train

When travelling to Elektrostal by train, if you want to avoid crowds you can check how frequently our customers are travelling in the next 30-days using the graph below. On average, the peak hours to travel are between 6:30am and 9am in the morning, or between 4pm and 7pm in the evening. Please keep this in mind when travelling to your point of departure as you may need some extra time to arrive, particularly in big cities!

Moscow to Elektrostal CO2 Emissions by Train

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• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• History of Russian Scarfs and Shawls Museum
• Balashikha Arena
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Bykovo Manor
• Pekhorka Park
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Drama Theatre BOOM
• Likino Dulevo Museum of Local Lore
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
• Pavlovsky Posad Museum of Art and History
• Saturn Stadium
• Fairy Tale Children's Model Puppet Theater
• Fifth House Gallery
• Church of Vladimir
• Malakhovka Museum of History and Culture
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall

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The journey from Moscow to Elektrostal by train is 32.44 mi and takes 2 hr 7 min. There are 71 connections per day, with the first departure at 12:15 AM and the last at 11:46 PM. It is possible to travel from Moscow to Elektrostal by train for as little as or as much as . The best price for this journey is . Journey Duration.

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Cities near Elektrostal. Places of interest. Pavlovskiy Posad Noginsk. Travel guide resource for your visit to Elektrostal. Discover the best of Elektrostal so you can plan your trip right.

Why Europe's most famous tourist attractions are turning people away

They say money can't buy you happiness, but at Europe's busiest tourist hot spots, it can get you peace and quiet.

For example: Greece's culture ministry has revealed plans to offer crowd-free and private tours of Athens's Acropolis for €5,000 ($8,200).

A ticket to the ancient site usually costs about $33, and it's not the continent's only attraction offering a separate experience for those with deep pockets.

Queues at the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel in Rome can stretch around the block, but if you want a private moment with Michelangelo's ceiling masterpiece, prepare to cough up $730. 

Even the British Museum, which is free, offers out-of-hours visits for $54. 

These types of tours are popular "because of the privacy, the exclusivity and cachet", according to Laura Jeffrey, director of luxury travel agent Passepartout Travel. 

"It's being able to tell your friends, 'We saw it with no-one else around'," she says.

"I'm surprised that it's taken this long to announce and to come forward with this idea [at the Acropolis]. I think it's a great idea if that money is being used wisely."

The luxury travel market is booming and is estimated to be worth $2.1 trillion, according to a 2023 market analysis report by Grand View Research. 

The industry is expected to grow by 7.9 per cent each year from 2024 to 2030 as rich travellers spend big across the globe. 

Professor of Marketing and Tourism at the University of Nottingham, Marina Novelli, says it's not clear what "the primary purpose" is behind the Greek government's decision to introduce private tours.  

"There is a very big difference between implementing luxury for just commercial gain and more cash flow in the government's kitty versus introducing something that is going to be utilised to support the community and identify ways to conserve the various attractions that get visited," she says.

A Greek government spokesperson has previously told media the injection of cash would be "reinvested".

Overcrowding is also an issue at the historical site, which saw Greece last year implement a cap of 20,000 visitors a day.

It has timed entry too, meaning a certain number of people are allowed in every hour. 

"The main problem in a lot of these destinations is that the carrying capacity has been identified probably 20 or 30 years ago but commercial interests have meant that they have been ignored," Professor Novelli said. 

"Visitors to the Acropolis need to be reduced in order for the Acropolis to be in the long term maintained."

'Elitist' move 'creates a divide'

Overtourism is an issue hurting many residents in Europe's most popular destinations, and elsewhere around the world, who are keen to balance a much-needed industry with preserving the attractions, environment, and fabric of the local community.

Tens of thousands of protesters marched across the Canary Islands, off the coast of Morocco, last month calling for a temporary limit on the number of tourists.

Residents on the Greek island of Paros have staged multiple rallies concerned their coastline is being swamped by unsustainable beach clubs . 

Meanwhile in Venice, Italian locals protested last week over a new fee visitors have to pay to access the city. 

While authorities say the $8 payment is aimed at thinning out crowds along the canals during peak holiday season, residents argued their city was being turned into a theme park.

Greek news outlets are reporting the private tours of Acropolis will operate from 7am-9am and 8pm-10pm which would mean opening hours for the general public could be pushed back by an hour to 9am.  

Critics have labelled the move "elitist" and say it could worsen the crowd crush at the site. 

"I think it creates a divide between regular travellers and people that can afford such things," Jeremy Sampson, The Travel Foundation CEO said. 

"Especially when you are talking about important historical sites and natural spaces, these are meant to be shared across society so it doesn't make sense to me that you would turn that into an elite experience."

Europe is the most visited region in the world and the United Nations expects international tourism to return to pre-pandemic levels this year. 

While it has undoubtedly boosted economies and jobs across the world, tourism experts say there needs to be a rethink on how we measure success around international travel. 

"Overtourism is not necessarily the root issue; it is a symptom rather than a cause and beneath the surface is what I would call bad planning or an imbalance in tourism," Mr Sampson said. 

"Business-as-usual, actually is not really viable much longer if at all."

Professor Novelli says the problem isn't new.

"People suffer short-term memory loss, pre-COVID we were talking about the fact that those numbers were unsustainable."

Charging wealthy visitors for a premium experience isn't new either, but it is growing. And whether the extra cash ends up preserving the experiences for future generations remains to be seen.

"The knee-jerk reaction is to say that it's a bad thing, and actually I think it really can be a force for good if the money that is spent is being spent properly and if there is some sort of attempt to balance that out for those who can't afford it," Ms Jeffrey said. 

"In some ways, I wonder whether €5,000 is enough, but I also think that you have to be very careful about establishing a precedent, which is that it's only by having €5,000, €10,000 or €20,000 to spare, you can actually get into these places." 

Professor Novelli also said there was a risk of expensive tours becoming more popular, and squeezing out other visitors. 

"The problem is often if those tools become popular ... they might increase the number [of tours] and the issue of elitism might come into the picture even farther because the need to prioritise those costly tours will obviously inadvertently impact on those which are free or less expensive."

Greece's culture ministry was contacted for comment.

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