Taste the mystery, beauty and intrigue of Russia, the land that lay hidden behind the Iron Curtain for decades. This tour explores the grandeur of Moscow, the beauty of Russian's ancient capitals and the grace of St. Petersburg. Four star hotels, many meals included and plenty of inclusions set this tour apart from the rest.

Discover the great cities of Russia and enjoy special touches such as an exclusive viewing at the Hermitage and Peterhof before they open to the public, overnight train trip, gala dinners and boat trips.

Countries visited

• Russia

Places visited

• Moscow
• St Petersburg

Transportation

Deluxe transportation, overnight train trip from Moscow to St.Petersburg (comfortable 2-berth compartments), coach transport, boat trip in the canals and hydrofoil to Peterhof.

Included In Price

Accommodation in 4 star hotels (Tverskaya Marriott hotel in Moscow, Pushkarskaya Sloboda in Suzdal, Ambassador hotel in St. Petersburg), full day sightseeing each day, all breakfasts and lunches, 4 dinners and 1 Gala Dinner in St.Petersburg, expert local guide and private viewings at premier sightseeing spots.

Meals Included

This tour includes 21 meals; 9 breakfasts 8 lunches 4 dinners

Not Included In Price

* Beverages & extras
* Visa to Russia
* All services not mentioned in the program
* Arrival & departure transfers
* Tips and Gratuities

Important Information

To avoid disappointment, we recommend that you book any theatre performances that you wish to attend in St.Petersburg or Moscow in advance. Please let us know if you wish us to organise this. You can also check these websites for details: www.marinsky.ru, www.bolshoi.ru and www. ticketsofrussia.ru

Please note that on occasion, Lenin's Mausoleum and Red Square may be closed to the public during regular opening house without prior warning. Likewise, during summer, many cities can have their hot water turned off for maintenance.

Day 1: Arrive into Moscow.

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Arrive to Moscow - you will be picked up at the airport by private transfer and take back to the hotel. Dinner is served at the Grazi restaurant of the hotel at 20:00. After dinner, we head out for a short but spectacular walk. In the night the city is especially beautiful, enjoy breath-taking panoramas of Kremlin and Red Square. Return to hotel around midnight or earlier if jet-lagged.

Accommodation

Tverskaya Marriott hotel in Moscow - 4 star hotel

Meals Included

1 x Dinners

Day 2: Complete walking tour of the Kremlin and Red Square.

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After breakfast your guide will take you inside the Kremlin, the historical nucleus of the city, the former residence of the Czars, now the seat of the Russian President. We begin the day with a complete walking tour of the Kremlin and its grounds. The Moscow Kremlin is an outstanding monument of Russian history, enclosing an area of 70 acres next to Red Square. The walls are about half a mile long and up to 62 feet high and 21 feet thick, with 20 towers and gates.

Inside the Kremlin we’ll tour the grounds, visit one of the cathedrals and the Armory Museum – the Treasury of the Czars. The Armory’s huge collection consists of many precious gifts once presented to Russian Czars by foreign monarchs and ambassadors as well as their thrones, clothes, crowns and armor. You will also see the huge Belfry of Ivan the Terrible, Big Kremlin Palace, Faceted chamber, the Czar Bell and Czar Cannon.

Have a short walk through the historical Alexander’s Garden, passing by the tomb of the Unknown Soldier with eternal flame – an important monument for all Russians who lost 20 million lives during the World War II.

Lunch is served in the popular “Godunov” restaurant serving Russian cuisine of the 18th century. Start your acquaintance with Russian cuisine - try traditional borsch and taste vodka.

After lunch we start exploring the Red Square. We enter the square through the Iverskaya Gate near the small church of our Lady of Kazan, both ruined shortly after the Revolution and reconstructed in 2000. You can also see the beautiful red-brick building of the History Museum, oldest department store GUM with a very long façade, the place of execution, ending with the famous St. Basil’s cathedral, perhaps the most eye-catching structure in Moscow.

Continue the panoramic city tour by bus. You will see bustling streets and squares of the business area, many ancient churches and cathedrals, visit the best viewpoints of the city, see the Russian White House. Passing the University, continue to the Sparrow Hills, the highest place in Moscow. Enjoy the beautiful view of the city. The city tour ends with guided visit to the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent. After the tour you may want to return to the hotel by coach or have free time in the famous Old Arbat pedestrian area which is full of restaurants and cafes. Dinner is on your own.

Accommodation

Tverskaya Marriott hotel

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 3: Moscow in depth - Metro stations, galleries, off the beaten track.

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Attend the morning service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior which has the most dramatic history reflecting the history of the whole country. Built in the course of 40 years and completed in 1883 the Cathedral commemorated the victory over Napoleon in 1812. Closed in 1917 after the Revolution it was blown up by the order of Stalin in 1931. A giant open-air swimming pool was built on its place in the 60-ies. A decision to rebuild the cathedral was taken in 1990. Restored to its full splendor in 2000, the Christ Cathedral has again become a dominating landmark of the Russian capital.

Visit the State Tretyakov Gallery - the national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the greatest museums in the world. The Gallery's collection consists entirely of Russian art and artists who have made а contribution to the history of Russian art. The collection contains more than 130 000 works of painting, sculpture and graphics, created throughout the centuries by successive generations of Russian artists.

Lunch is served at restaurant “Sudar”. Resembling a mansion of a nobleman, the restaurant specializes on gourmet Russian cuisine of the XIX century. Enjoy traditional Russian specialties, warm Russian hospitality and, of course, vodka!

After lunch visit another unique place – the world’s largest panorama of the Borodino Battle, the largest battle during the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon. It was created at the request of Russian Tsar by French artists F. Roubaud in 1912 at 100-anniversary of the victory over Napoleon. Enjoy the largest painting of the world.

Have a short walk to the nearest metro station and start a brief tour of the famous Moscow underground. The Moscow metro is not the oldest one in the world. However, the architectural style and fascinating marble decor of many stations deserved the name of the "Underground Palace". The first line built in the 30-ies abounds with naïve revolutionary symbols and sculptures. The decoration of after-war lines built in the 50-ies is much more exuberant because it had to demonstrate the advantages of a new socialist society. Return to the hotel by metro. Dinner is on your own.

Dinner is on your own. Enjoy getting out on the streets finding where the locals eat.

Accommodation

Tverskaya Marriott hotel

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 4: Explore the Golden Ring and overnight in Suzdal.

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This morning we need to check-out before breakfast. After breakfast we depart Moscow to explore little ancient towns of the Golden Ring, the cradle of Russian culture. Our first stop is Sergiev Posad, located 75 km north of Moscow.

This small town is considered to be a center of Russian Orthodoxy called LAVRA where Sergius, the patron saint of all Russia, founded his monastery in 1345. Here we tour the great monastery complex, including St. Trinity Sergius Lavra, a large monastery with over a hundred monks which has an outstanding collection of Russian church art and icons.

Lunch is served in the rustic Russian Yard restaurant near the monastery.

In two hours we arrive to Suzdal, one of the best-preserved centers of 12th and 13th century Old Russian architecture, located 216 km east and north of Moscow, along the banks of the Kamenka river. The first view of Suzdal encompasses towering silhouettes of gleaming domes and pinkish walls atop Poklonnaya Hill. Our accommodation will be in the comfortable rooms of a new hotel facing the river and wooden log-houses of the museum. This evening enjoy a traditional dinner at hotel. 3 hours

Accommodation

Pushkarskaya Sloboda

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 5: Visit the Kremlin of Suzdal and then comfortable overnight train to St. Petersburg.

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In the morning, we’ll visit the Kremlin of Suzdal and St. Epithimius Monastery. After the Kievan states crumbled in the 12th century, Suzdal, together with Rostov Veliky, became the religious center of medieval Rus. The boyars and princes donated vast sums to build churches and monasteries, so that by the 14th century Suzdal had more than 50 churches and monasteries, and a famous school of icon painting. The Kremlin was well protected on three sides by the river; along the eastern wall ran a long moat, now the main street. See 11th century earthen walls topped with wooden walls and towers. Enjoy the tour of the wooden architecture museum under open air.

Lunch is served in the Traktir restaurant.

After lunch on our way to Moscow we drive via Vladimir, to see a couple of most famous cathedrals of the 12th century. The drive to Moscow takes from 3 to 4 hours depending on traffic. We arrive to Moscow in the evening in time for dinner at the hotel.

Depart for the railway station to board overnight train to St. Petersburg. The distance is 700 km and the journey takes 8 hours. We travel in comfortable 2-berth compartments. 4 hours travel back to Moscow and then an 8 hour journey on train.

Accommodation

Overnight on train.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 6: Arrive into St.Petersburg and be charmed.

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Arrive early to St. Petersburg which was the capital of Russian Empire for almost 200 years. Few cities can offer so many stunning attractions and intriguing moods as St. Petersburg – City of the Czars.

Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, St. Petersburg combines its fascinating Russian heritage with a distinctly European outlook. Considered the cultural heart of modern day Russia, St. Petersburg is rapidly regaining its reputation as one of the Great Cities of Europe.

From the railway station the group is taken for breakfast to hotel Ambassador. After breakfast start a panoramic city tour. There is one museum in the city that is never closed – the city itself. Discover St. Petersburg – a city of infinite charm with its majestic palaces, churches and cathedrals, river embankments, beautiful parks and innumerous bridges – a city of imperial proportions and romantic vistas which has been a source of inspiration for the generations of artists.

Visit Peter and Paul Fortress. It is the historical nucleus of the city as well as one of the most interesting and beautiful architectural landmarks. St. Peter & Paul Cathedral with its long gilded spire is the burial place of all Russian emperors from Peter the Great to the last of the Romanovs – Nicholas II. Designed to protect newly acquired lands in the mouth of the Neva River, the fortress lost its military significance before it was completed. It was turned into the most dismal political prison of Russia for almost 200 years.

Lunch is served in the Adamant restaurant, located on the embankment of Moika river, in a beautiful banquet room resembling a palace interior. The kitchen is Russian with emphasis on St. Petersburg gourmet cuisine.

After lunch check-in to the hotel Ambassador. This is a brand new trendy 4-star deluxe hotel, opened in October 2005. Located in the city center on Rimsky-Korsakov street 5, it is close to the main highlights of the city. Enjoy free afternoon. Dinner is on your own.

Accommodation

Ambassador hotel

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 7: Private viewing of the Hermitage - one hour before the crowds.

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Depart the hotel for a comprehensive guided visit to the famous Hermitage. The world-known Hermitage museum was the residence of the Russian Emperors in the past, nowadays it comprises 5 palaces and is one of the largest museums in the world.

By special arrangement the group enters the museum one hour before the official opening hour and admires the State Rooms of the Winter Palace in private. Continue to the Small Hermitage, then proceed to the priceless masterpieces exhibited in other Hermitage buildings.

Lunch is served in the Demidov restaurant.

Visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Fourth highest cupola cathedral in the world St. Isaac’s has a breathtaking interior design. The cathedral can accommodate 13000 worshippers in a time. The monolithic columns of the portico cut from red granite are seventeen meters high and weigh 114 tons each. The mosaic inside has twelve thousand shades and colors, the walls are five meters thick and the main cupola is coated with one hundred kilos of gold.

Continue to the Church of the Holy Saviour on the Spilt Blood. One of St. Petersburg highest buildings, the Church of the Resurrection of Christ is a superb example of Russian architecture and decorative art of the end of the 19th century. The church was built on the spot where Alexander II was fatally wounded by a terrorist in 1881. This event gave its second, more commonly used name - "the Church on the Spilled Blood”. The construction of the memorial church began in 1883 and lasted 24 years. The enormous amount of more than 1½ million of silver rubles was allocated for the construction. The church was completed in 1907. Beautiful onion-shaped domes of the cathedral are covered with precious enamel. The facades of the church are adorned with more than 400 square meters of mosaic. The church has a breath-taking interior design with great variety of semi-precious stones, gold and mosaics covering the area of almost 7,000 square meters.

Accommodation

Ambassador hotel

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 8: Catherine’s Palace and park in Pushkin.

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Drive to the town of Pushkin to see the Catherine’s Palace and park – once the official summer residence of Russian Czars.

We enter the beautiful Catherine’s park and visit Catherine’s Palace, considered to be a real pearl of Russian baroque architecture of the 18th century. It was built for Russian Empress Catherine in 1752. The palace, a combination of white, blue and gold, looks magnificent; a huge ballroom called the Grand Hall, ornately decorated drawing rooms, studies and dining rooms. The most famous room here is the Amber Room, which was looted by the Nazis during World War II. The restoration of the Amber Room was completed in 2003. Surrounding the palaces is a park covering more than 570 hectares with bridges, terraces, fountains and small galleries.

Lunch is served in the genuine Russian restaurant Podvorie. Enjoy delicious Russian appetizers and famous “borsch” (beet-root soup) accompanied by Cossack’s folklore singing and, of course, free flowing Russian vodka! The restaurant is a typical Russian huge wooden log-house reminding of a fortress. You will be offered to try playing on some traditional musical instruments…

Return to the city in the late afternoon. Enjoy a boat trip along the waterways of St. Petersburg often called a Venice of the North, enjoy cozy canals spanned by ornate bridges and the powerful Neva river with its majestic embankments and numerous palaces facing the river.

Dinner is on your own tonight.

Accommodation

Ambassador hotel

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 9: Private viewing of Peterhof and the Grand Summer Palace.

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Depart for the tour of Peterhof (also called Petrodvorets). We arrive earlier than official opening hour to enter the Grand Summer Palace in private. It is the most famous summer residence of Russian Emperors, located 25 km west on the Gulf of Finland.

It history begins in 1704 when Peter I built a wooden house on the Gulf. In 1723 the enlarged palace became official summer residence, later it was expanded by Empress Elizabeth and called Grand Summer Palace.

After the tour of the Palace we see the main attraction - the Grand Cascade decorated with more than 150 fountains, built in 1722. The intricate system of pipes stretches for nearly 22 km. The water flows downhill by force of gravity while the fountains operate according to the principle of communicating vessels. In both artistry and engineering the fountains of Peterhof are truly unique. After a pleasant stroll through beautiful park we return to the city by hydrofoil (30 mins).

Lunch is served at St. Petersburg restaurant.

Depart for private visit of the Yusupov Palace. The richest of non-imperial palaces of St. Petersburg, this palace was the home of the noble and powerful Yusupov family, relatives to the Russian Czars. The Yusupovs were great collectors of art, and their collection was known well beyond Russia. After the revolution most of the collection was moved to the Hermitage, though traces of the incredible wealth that once kept this palace pulsating with life still remain: the various sitting rooms, the intricate chandeliers and candelabras that adorn every room and corridor. The beautiful home theater of the palace looks like a cozy version of the famous Mariinsky theatre.

It was in this palace where the assassination of Rasputin, one of the most scandalous figures in Russian history, took place. One can feel the drama of the moment seeing wax figures of the conspirators waiting in a small room on the ground floor. In the cellar where it happened there are two more wax figures: Rasputin and young Felix Yusupov talking over the set table minutes before the assassination.

Tonight is a Gala dinner with wine served in the fashionable SADKO restaurant. Taste the best of Russian gastronomy and enjoy singing waiters.

Accommodation

Ambassador hotel

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 10: Depart St.Petersburg.

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Enjoy a private transfer to the airport.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts