This 7-day tour features a visit to iconic Moscow, the legendary capital of Russia with its rich and turbulent history. Founded in 1147 by Yuri Dolgoruky, Prince of Suzdal is one of the oldest cities in Russia. The Kremlin and Red Square are two of the top attractions. One of the city’s oldest museums in the Armoury with its wealth of treasures including the historic Cap of Monomakh. Moving on we come to ornate St. Petersburg once known as Leningrad. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, the city sits on the banks of the Neva River and the Gulf of Finland. Being a city of canals and palaces, St. Petersburg houses the famous Hermitage Museum housing one of the greatest collections of art in the world.
Your land cost includes:
Airport transfer from Moscow airport to the hotel
Centrally located first-class hotels based on double occupancy
Breakfast daily
Welcome dinner in Moscow (glass of wine, beer or soft drink)
1 lunch and 2 dinners (coffee or tea included)
Touring by modern air-conditioned motorcoach
Professional English-speaking tour director throughout
Licensed Local Guides
High-speed train from Moscow to St. Petersburg
Baggage handling at hotels
Whisper technology enhanced touring
Admission included where indicated in bold letters
Hotel taxes and service taxes
Departure transfer from the hotel to St. Petersburg airport
Your land tour does not include:
Airfare to Moscow and back from St. Petersburg
Departure taxes, fuel surcharges and airport improvement fees
Porterage at airports
Meals and beverages not mentioned
Early check in/late checkout
Optional tours
Tourist tax St. Petersburg 100 Roubles per tourist, per day
Insurance though not included is strongly recommended
Russian Visa Charge
Gratuities of a purely personal nature such as laundry and valet service
Tipping to guide, driver and hotel staff
E & O.E.
Tour highlights:
Moscow´s history, architecture and artistry
Sergiev Posad and the Trinity St. Sergius Lavra
St. Petersburg, city of palaces and museums
THIS VACATION CAN BE COMBINED WITH:
Our Escorted tour “Helsinki with Baltic countries.
HOTELS
Moscow – Hotel Marriott Courtyard or similar
St. Petersburg – Hotel Radisson Sonya or similar
| Start | End | US $ Land price per person in DBL/TWN |
| 17-May-22 | 23-May-22 | $2,057 |
| 14-Jun-22 | 20-Jun-22 | $2,057 |
| 12-Jul-22 | 18-Jul-22 | $2,057 |
| 2-Aug-22 | 8-Aug-22 | $2,057 |
| 6-Sep-22 | 12-Sep-22 | $2,057 |
| 20-Sep-22 | 26-Sep-22 | $2,057 |
| SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT | $826 |
For information and reservations contact, Janice Snider.
Day 1 Tuesday Arrive Moscow
Upon arrival in Moscow, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is to relax or perhaps begin your independent discovery of the fabled capital of Russia. Tonight a briefing by your tour director on this fascinating tour that awaits you followed by a Welcome Dinner. (D)
Day 2 Wednesday in Moscow
Moscow, one of the largest cities in the world is the symbolic heart and soul of the country. Your sightseeing tour begins at Red Square dominated by colorful St. Basil’s Cathedral and the massive red walls of the Kremlin. Visit the Armory Museum with its impressive collection of Tsarist, Russian and foreign jewelry, armor and other artifacts. Walk along the wide boulevards and stroll through GUM, Russia’s largest department store following the drive-by Moscow University. Further, on the north bank of the River Moskva pass the Baroque Novodevichy Convent also known as the New Maidens’ Monastery. In the 16th and 17th centuries, women of the royal family took the veil and lived here. The tour ends at the popular pedestrian street known as Arbat where you will find many souvenir shops, restaurants, museums and artists painting people passing by. There will be time to shop or enjoy lunch on your own. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day 3 Thursday in Moscow excursion to Sergiev Posad
Today we travel 75 km north of Moscow to the small town of Sergiev Posad formerly known as Zagorsk – founded in the 14th century and renowned as a center of ancient Russian art and architecture. For centuries it served as a place of pilgrimage and the religious capital of Russia. Within the old walled city admire the fairy-tale golden and blue domes of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, one of the most beautiful of all monasteries. After lunch at a popular restaurant return to Moscow with the rest of the day at leisure. This evening take an Optional tour of Moscow by night & Subway to see the metro stations which Stalin called “Palaces for the People.” The Metro is the best way to get around Moscow. There are over 241 metro stations with no two alike with some escalators being very steep. Elaborately designed, some stations will make you feel that you are in a palace or museum.(B/L)
Day 4 Friday Moscow to St. Petersburg
Time at leisure in Moscow before being transferred to the railway station for a four-hour high-speed Sapsan train ride to St. Petersburg. Upon arrival at the St. Petersburg train station, transfer to your hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Join an optional Russian Folklore evening. A Russian folklore evening can encompass both folk song and dance. (B/D)
Day 5 Saturday in St. Petersburg
There are not many cities in the world that can match the grace of St. Petersburg. When Peter the Great founded the city in 1703, he hired Europe’s best architects, craftsmen and artists to build and decorate it. Spread over 100 islands and linked by over 600 bridges, it is often referred to as the “Venice of the North.” Today the main sites to be visited on the tour are Palace Square, the site of historical events and the site of the Winter Palace housing the world-famous Hermitage made up of several buildings on the Neva River. The Hermitage houses more than 3 million works of art consisting of paintings, sculptures and archaeological pieces etc. Of special interest (NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR) is the Gold Room and the Diamond Room which can only be visited with a pre-booked guided tour. Continuing on we come to Senate Square with the monument to Russian Emperor Peter the Great, the founder of the city. On St. Isaac’s Square, we find St. Isaac’s Cathedral dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great built by French-born architect Auguste Montferrand. Taking over 40 years to build, 12,000 people can fit inside. The exterior is embellished while the central dome is coverage in 100 kg of gold leaf. The opulent interior is decorated with marble and lapis lazuli. Next is Smolny Cathedral, designed by Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli consists of a cathedral and a complex of buildings. Pass by the Cruiser Aurora, where one of the first incidents of the October Revolution took place, the Field of Mars with its proud military traditions and Nevsky Prospekt one of the best-known streets in St. Petersburg. Visit the Peter and Paul Fortress built-in 1703 to protect the city from enemy attacks. Also, see the Peter and Paul Cathedral which towers in the center of the fortress which served as the burial place for Russian Emperors from Peter I. Your evening is free or join an optional Evening Canal Cruise. Sit back and relax as you glide along the canal passing bridges, palaces and churches and other landmarks as you navigate the waterways. (B)
Day 6 Sunday in St. Petersburg
This morning we head to the world-famous Hermitage housing more than four million works of art. It ranks among one of the largest and oldest museums of the world founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great. Admire the world-famous masterpieces by such legendary artists as Rembrandt, Velasquez, Van Dyck and the French Impressionists. The Hermitage occupies five buildings, the largest is the Winter Palace, the former residence of Russian Emperors. Spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the city on your own or perhaps you may choose to take an optional tour to Petrodvorets also known as Peterhof, the Summer Palace of Peter the Great. Referred to as the Russian Versailles is situated on the Gulf of Finland. Here you will find the sumptuous estate of Peter the Great with its amazing cascading system of fountains. Tonight join your fellow travellers at a farewell dinner. (B/D)
Day 7 Monday Depart St. Petersburg
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight. (B)
B = breakfast L= lunch Dinner = dinner