Margarita Gordienko
Originally from St. Petersburg, I grew up during unstable times in the changing country. Thus, my parents understood, that there was no sense to collect the money, but started travelling and collecting experiences. As a passionate traveller myself (at the moment, I have more than 60 countries visited over the world), I started working as a tour guide during the student times, showing the beauty of the most magical and unforgettable city in the world to the visitors of St. Petersburg. This part-time job grew into my biggest passion in life. I believe, travelling is about emotions, unforgettable experiences and the best pictures, that you make not with cameras, but with your own eyes.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"We are specialising in places and activities all over Russia, starting from the classical tours till turning any realities any ideas. Travelling from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok? No problem! Staying in a Russian family for a week? We will find you the greatest one! "
How did you get involved in travel?
"As every student, I was looking for a part-time job, mainly for the summer time, and by chance decided to pass the entry exam for the tour-guide courses. I thought, it could be a great opportunity to practice English, communicating with native-speakers, and to share my knowledge about the city at the same time. As a creative person, I got bored with the classical programs quite quickly, and decided to work out the tours on my own, finding the hidden jams and unusual routes and places of the city. I started receiving a positive feedback not only from my tourists, but also from my colleagues, and then I started thinking. That's it, the combination of creative and accurate work. I started receiving more and more of the unusual requests, and decided to start my own business, broadening the area from St. Petersburg till the Far East of Russia. It took years to get all the necessary experience, but now I can definitely say: you will never leave Russia untouched :)"
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"The most unforgettable experience for me was at the times, when I was a student and took part in a big social project, which gathered 5000 people all around the world, living in tents outside London, getting acquainted, cooking together for a huge group of people, communicating, sharing experiences and stories about life of our countries. It inspired me for even more travelling and thus learning other cultures."
Featured trips & expertise
Hidden Gems of Moscow, Veliky Novgorod, and St. Petersburg - 14 Days
If you're traveling to Russia for the first time but don't want to follow a typical tourist itinerary, consider this two-week tour. We've combined stops at iconic Russian museums, palaces, and gardens with visits to local markets, urban spaces, historic sites, and food and beverage tastings to give you a taste of Russian culture and history. You'll visit trendy neighborhoods, famous fortresses, a Cold War museum in a secure bunker, and a beautifully-decorated Metro station.
Discover Russia's Cities - 15 Days
This tour of Russia's cities starts and ends in Moscow, where you'll enjoy guided tours through its Red Square, Kremlin, quirky markets, and many museums, plus visit ancient cities and villages in the country's Golden Ring, such as Vladimir and Suzdal. Then discover the cities of Veliky Novgorod with its onion-domed cathedrals and St Petersburg with its UNESCO sites of Peterhof and Peter and Paul Fortress. Head west to the Tatar city of Kazan and explore its unique culture, traditions, and religious monuments, including Orthodox churches, Catholic cathedrals, and grand mosques.
Explore Moscow and St Petersburg - 10 Days
Discover Russia's two capital cities on this trip to Moscow and St Petersburg, starting with tours of the Red Square, the Kremlin, and some of Moscow's most interesting monasteries, palaces, parks, and museums. Explore the medieval neighborhoods, as well as enjoy a boat cruise along the river. Take the train to St Petersburg, where you'll tour Peterhof in the Pushkin District, the world's largest painting collection at the Hermitage Museum, and the city's birthplace at the Peter and Paul Fortress, all while learning about the city's important cultural and historical significance.
St. Petersburg Highlights - 6 Days
St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, is known as the Venice of the North and Russia's Cultural Capital. St. Petersburg's rivers, canals, museums, palaces, and art galleries link Russia's past, present, and future, just as Peter the Great intended when he founded the city. During your six days in St. Petersburg and its environs, you'll explore glittering imperial palaces, the world-famous Hermitage Museum, and the iconic churches and historic fortress that played key roles in St. Petersburg's history.
Recent trip reviews for Margarita
Navigating the Chaos
Russia
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Oct 9 - Oct 18, 2021
This was my first time personally using KimKim and I have to say that this trip would have been near impossible without the help of Margarita. Due to Covid we had tons of flight changes (adding and removing days in our plans) and needed to wait until the last minute to confirm things. She was incredibly helpful and patient through all of the changes back and forth.
In the end my flight was delayed due to weather and she needed to see what could be re-arranged on other days. No matter when... read more
Hi Beth,
thank you very much for your kind and detailed review. Due to the pandemic, it was a unique experience to re-order the plans in the last minute, however, hopefully, it didn't spoil an overall trip impression. It was pleasure for me too meet you and Brad in person, I enjoyed those couple of days in St. Petersburg as well!
Hope to welcome you in Russia again in more pleasant (non-pandemic) circumstances!
With kindest regards,
Margarita
One person can make a difference.
Russia
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Oct 1 - Oct 7, 2021
Margarita Gordienko was without a doubt the best thing that happened to us on our trip to Russia from the 1st to the 8th of October, 2021. There was never a time when she was not available to us, however whimsical our demands were. She went beyond the call of duty to please each and every one of us, which was eight spoilt ladies. Right from a request to giving us a bigger van to filling out eight covid test forms which was not in her line of work, she aimed to please.
She never ever... read more
Dear Angleen,
I am so touched with your trip review! Thank you very much!
In such complicated pandemic period I would like the guests of our country still experience the Russian hospitality and to get as much as possible from your short stay.
I hope, the memories of your trip will warm your souls. And I am always here to organise another trip to the hidden jams of our big country.
With kindest regards,
Margarita