Based in St. Petersburg, Russia, Insider Tour is run by a group of professional tour guides.

Formerly known as Optima (TravelinRussia.Com), our company was established in 2003 to provide cruise ship passengers and independent travelers with something that was very unique at the time—the ability to take full control of their visit to Russia. Prior to that, we had spent more than 15 years working for large tour and cruise ship operators in the area. During that time we became convinced that the only true way to see and understand Russia was in the comfort of a dedicated tour team, with professionals who have your best interest at heart. We wanted to make a radical departure from the approach of the travel mega stores, which won’t even think twice if a tour encounters an issue.

From the beginning we were fortunate to have created a very talented tour guide team consisting of the guides we had personally met and worked with throughout our careers. These are people with a genuine pride and passion for their work, who to this day are fascinated by Russian history and who are happy to share their knowledge and excitement with you.