Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Moscow, meet and transfer. Accommodation at the hotel. (D)

Day 2

Sightseeing tour of Moscow with stop at Vorobievskie Hills. Experience the grandeur of Red Square and the Russian White House. See Moscow University , the former KGB headquarters building and central Moscow Excursion to the Kremlin. This former Moscow citadel - the name means Fortress - houses exquisite palaces, presidential buildings, lovely churches and scores of major historical monuments. Kremlin tour with three cathedrals (the Armory Chamber on request - The State Armory is the oldest museum in Russia . As its name implies, it contains many ancient weapons and armor, but you will also find a treasure trove of gorgeous crown jewels, gold-encrusted icons, bejeweled royal scepters and exquisitely carved thrones). Walking trip of the city-center: the Red Square, St. Basil's cathedral, GUM, Moscow Metro. (B, D)

Day 3

Walking city tour, Moscow Metro (subway). Moscow Underground (or Metro as it is called in Russian) makes that of the great western capitals look tawdry in comparison. It is already 66 years old. The first line opened on 15 May 1935. The Metro was turned into an underground kingdom of socialism. The stations became luxurious palaces of the new social order, and they are breathtaking in the originality of their architecture, sculptures and mosaics. With over 150 stations throughout the city, the Moscow Metro is an unparalleled example of architecture and design. Refreshingly free of graffiti, some of these beautifully constructed stations, are frescoed, marble faced and even have some works of art. Although constructed by a tyrant for people living in terror, this subterranean proletarian paradise offers an ironically humane vision of public social space, both beautiful and functional. The Moscow underground, with its over 200 kilometers of track, serves 10 million people each day and is perhaps the most extravagant architectural phenomenon of the Stalinist era. The metro is cheap, easy to use and by far the quickest way to manoeuvre around the city. The layout is comprehensive and simple which means there is no excuse not to see any of Russia's amazing sights. Many stations worth checking out — a few in particular are as worthy of a visit as any sight in the city. Mayakovskaya Station, completed in 1938, features a central hall supported by lovely stainless steel and red marble columns, which soar up to a ceiling festooned with socialist realist mosaics. Other notable stations include Ploshchad Revolyutsii, where the passageway arches are supported by vivid sculptures of Red Army soldiers, and Kropotkinskaya Station, with its elegantly-columned platform and upper galleries. Arbat Street is one of the oldest streets in Moscow. The word arbat (d) is of oriental derivation and means suburb.During the second half of the 18th century when most of the neighboring streets were becoming a fashionable aristocratic area, Arbat Street was the only local shopping center. Many of its shops have been preserved from those times. Many great writers, artist and painters lived on Arbat Street and houses have been carefully preserved. For example: Alexander Pushkin, Alexander Blok (the famous Russian poet), the famous composer Skryabin and others. Also there are situated the Vakhtangov Drama Theatre, Shchukin Drama School and the Opera Studio of the Moscow Conservatoire etc. Returning to Arbat Street you can see on the left the Prague Restaurant famed for its Czech national cuisine. Ahead lies Arbat Square once more where this itinerary comes to an end.) In the evening you will have an opportunity to go to the famous Bolshoy Theatre (optional). (B, D)

Day 4

Morning coach trip to Sergiev Posad visiting the famous monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church. Located 44 miles northeast of Moscow, you will visit the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergiy, Russia's foremost chief monastery. After a visit to Trinity Church, oldest building in the monastery (1422 : 1423), you will visit the museum of icons. There is a possibility to attend a service at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Lunch in a Russian restaurant in Sergiev Posad. Return to Moscow. Leisure time. (B, L, D)

Day 5

Excursion to the Star City (the town of astronauts. The Star City is the most attractive Russian space destination. It is located in a picturesque Moscow region, 25 km from Moscow to the east. There you will have a great opportunity to visit the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and the Space Museum of Russia, which are famous all over the world. During the excursion you will see the exact copy of Russian Mir Space Station, which was drown in the Pacific Ocean and the unique operating hydro laboratory (a huge pool with models of the Space Station and the Soyuz spacecraft), which is used for training by cosmonauts. Then you will see the unrivalled Space Centrifuge. (B, D)

Day 6

During the multi century history of Moscow our churches and monasteries have gathered priceless relics which had been brought by pilgrims from different places of the Christian world. Sacred relics, shrines from Jerusalem and Holy Land have provided ground for the spiritual enforcement of faith in Moscow. At 15.30 transfer to the train station. Take speed-train to St. Petersburg (train departs at 16.30 and arrives at 22.00). Arrival transfer in St. Petersburg. Accommodation at the hotel. (B, L)

Day 7

Morning sightseeing tour of St. Petersburg. 3-hour coaching tour of a city, rightfully described as «Northern Venice» or «Pearl of the Baltic»; Drive along the «Great Perspective» world famous today as Nevsky Prospect lined with marble palaces of Russian royalty and aristocracy, with most fashionable boutiques and art salons arranged in old settings of the 18th century, trading rows and arcades, with impressive classical and Renaissance cathedrals and churches as its backdrop, enjoy this 4.5 km long thorough-fare cut through woods and marshes from the Admiralty with the city's symbol (2 ship) on top of its gilded spire to the Monastery of Alexander Nevsky, one of four Russia"s Lavras with its magnificent Trinity Cathedral and its cemetery where Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky and other world celebrities were buried;
Stop over at an excellent picture opportunity with a stunning panorama along the Neva's embankments, by the city's Rostral Columns you will have a view of the 5 buildings of the State Hermitage Museum and the fortress of St.Peter and Paul - the cradle of Russia's new capital, the first public museum of the country - the Chamber of Curiosities, founded by Peter the Great and the 4th world's largest domed structures - St.Isaac Cathedral with «The Bronze Horseman» unveiled in Senate Square. Drive by Summer Garden with the oldest royal stone palace and breathtaking collection of Italian statues and sculpture set in a natural environment of linden trees and ponds with ducks and swans, all surrounded by cast iron fence whose beauty is frequently described as every kilo of cast iron being worth a kilo of gold;

Stop in the Field of Mars with the eternal flame lit in the center of the monument to victims of revolutions and wars, take pictures of the Resurrection Cathedral on the Spilt Blood at its background, one of the most unusual monuments of Russian Orthodox architecture built on the spot where Alexander II was assassinated; Drive through the Square of Arts which is a perfect classical ensemble of the city; Stop to enjoy an overwhelming beauty of the third largest square in the world - the Palace Square with the Alexander Column at its center being the world's biggest free-standing architectural monument, nearly 50 meters high to the top of the cross and over 600 tons in weight, the Alexander Column has become surprisingly harmonious element of the Palace Square together with the Triumphal Arch of the general Staff building on its one side and the Winter Palace complex on another. Have a 30 min walking tour on the grounds of St.Peter and Paul Fortress with the Cathedral of St.Peter and Paul being a visual monument to Russia's military glory and a sepulchre of the Romanovs including the recently reburied holy remains of Nicolas II and his family. Free time (B, D)

Day 8

A tour to Peterhoff, a former summer residence of the Russian tsars' in the 18-19-th centuries. Explore Peterhoff designed to the request of Peter the Great to rival Versailles. 300-acre parks on the shore of the Finish Gulf, spectacular fountains, the Grand Palace, crowning the hill above the fountains and about 20 smaller Palaces and pavilions represent «Russian Versailles» now. Enjoy picturesque Lower Gardens with three unique cascades, dozens of powerful water jets and miniature palaces - Monplaisir, Marly and Hermitage. Take a deep breath looking at the centre of the composition, the Grand Palace and Grand Cascade, including staircases, waterfalls, an avenue of 64 fountains and 37 gilded statues. Take a picture of the symbol of Peterhoff, «Samson killing a lion» fountain, an allegory of the crucial victory of Russians over the Swedish army at Poltava in 1709. Have a guided tour of the Grand Palace, one of the most spectacular Russian palaces, representing architectural styles of the 18-19-th centuries: modest Peter's Baroque, shining Elisabeth's Baroque, elegant Catherine's Classicism and exotic oriental style. After the trip to Peterhof we proceed Tsarskoye Selo (Tsars' village), located 17 miles south of St.Petersburg. It was the main summer residence of the Imperial family from the 18-th century to the fall of monarchy in 1917. Enjoy Catherine's Palace, a Baroque building, considered one of the world's architectural masterpieces. Take pictures of gilded cupolas of the royal church and the 1000 feet long blue facade of the palace, adorned with molding and statues. Have a guided tour of several lavish rooms, including the Grand Hall, decorated with gilded wood carving and mirrors, the Picture Gallery with 130 painting by West European artists, dining rooms with wonderful porcelain dinner services and the Study of Alexander 1st. Admire the magnificent Amber Room faced with natural amber of different colors. Relax, walking in the park. Enjoy romantic alleys, picturesque ponds and pavilions designed in the Antique style. Take a picture of the school building for noble children (the Lyceum), attached to the palace. Russia's favorite poet, Alexander Pushkin, studied here for 6 years. That is why the present day name of this place is the town of Pushkin. (B, D)

Day 9

Visit to the Hermitage. Enjoy the many wonders of the elegant Winter Palace,which now houses the Hermitage Museum , one of the largest art and cultural museums in the world. This vast collection (about 65,000 items) includes some of history's most important art. After the tour take a boat ride on the Neva river and the canals of St. Petersburg. Evening in leisure. (B, D)

Day 10

Departure to airport and flight to your next destination

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Accommodation at 4-star hotels

Exclusions -

Russian visa