8 days / 7 nights from £ 1,295 pp

The Experience Russia Tour is a well-organized group tour, visiting the highlights of Russia’s present and former capitals. as well as one of its most ancient cities. 

Moscow is the thriving heart of business with fabulous architecture reflecting Stalin’s influences, alongside historical churches. It offers designer shops, leafy parks, great restaurants and a wealth of art and culture.

Veliky Novgorod - formed in the middle of the 10th century, is one of the most ancient cities of Russia located in its North-West. Novgorod was one of Russia's major centres of literacy and book production. As far back as the 11th century, by the will of the great Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Novgorod saw the first school to educate three hundred children at a time.

St Petersburg is a calm contrast to Moscow. Peter’s ‘Window on the West’ displays classic Italian architecture and canals which are reminiscent of some of Europe’s finest cities. A wealth of cultural treasure awaits you in this fascinating city.

2012 Guaranteed Departure Dates:

LOW SEASON - from £ 1,295 pp

HIGH SEASON - from £ 1,335 pp

Supplemnets:
- Single room - £ 260 pp
- Half-board - £ 175 pp

Package includes:

• Direct flights from London Heathrow on British Airways
• 3 nights accommodation in Moscow
• 4 nights accommodation in St. Petersburg
• Breakfasts at the hotels
• Transfer on arrival in Moscow
• Departure transfer in St. Petersburg
• Services of English speaking guides
• Entrance fees:
  Moscow - Tretyakov Gallery, Kremlin & Armoury museum
  St. Petersburg - Hermitage Museum, Peter and Paul Fortress, Catherine’s Palace
  Velikiy Novgorod - St. Sophia Cathedral, Yuriev Monastery, Museum of Wooden Architecture
  
• 2nd class train tickets: Moscow - St. Petersburg
  
• Return transfers: St. Petersburg - Velikiy Novgorod
  
• Visa support documents
  
• 24-hour emergency contact

Experience Russia Tour itinerary:

DAY 1 (SATURDAY): ARRIVAL IN MOSCOW
On arrival in Moscow, you will be met and transferred to Renaissance Moscow Hotel Monarch Centre 4-5* to check in for 3 nights.

DAY 2 (SUNDAY): MOSCOW
After breakfast at the hotel, your English speaking tour guide will meet you at Reception at 09:45 for a full day panoramic orientation tour of the city, viewing the famous landmarks and places to which you may return at your leisure. The tour sights include Red Square, the Kremlin, Sparrow Hills, Bolshoi Theatre, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Victory Park, Novodevichy Convent, the White House, and the famous Moscow streets  (entrances are not included, only photo stops). Time for some lunch in the city and in the afternoon you’ll visit the Tretyakov Art Gallery.

DAY 3 (MONDAY): MOSCOW
After breakfast, you will continue to explore the sights of Moscow. You will explore the grounds of the magnificent Kremlin and visit one of the cathedrals. Within the Kremlin you will see the fascinating Armoury Museum, your guide will include a visit to this spectacular collection of costumes, silver and arms amongst a vast treasure trove of exhibits. Return to the hotel at 14:00 for an afternoon of free time.

DAY 4 (TUESDAY): MOSCOW – ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast at the hotel, your guide will take you on a walking tour along the Arbat – where you will have the opportunity to soak up the Moscow culture and browse and shop at leisure. You will also be taken to visit some of the spectacular underground stations in Moscow.

In the afternoon – transfer to the railway station for your journey to St. Petersburg at 16:30. On arrival in St. Petersburg at 20:45 you will be met by our representative and transferred to Sokos Hotel Olympic Garden 4* for 4 nights stay.

DAY 5 (WEDNESDAY): ST. PETERSBURG
Breakfasts at the hotel followed by a panoramic orientation tour of the city at 10:00. You will visit all the major sights of this beautiful city. You will see the world-renowned Hermitage Museum, housed in the Winter Palace, Peter and Paul Fortress and pass along Nevskij Prospect. St Isaac's Cathedral is also on our route as well as the Church of the Spilled Blood.

In the afternoon, your guide will take you to visit the Hermitage - the magnificent collection of art in the winter palace of Catherine the Great. This is one of the largest museums in the world. Founded in 1764, its collection includes over 2.7 million items, including masterpieces of Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Roden, Rembrandt, Rubens, French impressionists, - a feast indeed for art lovers.

You will also visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, which guards the city of St Petersburg and is located on the island facing the Hermitage and River Neva. It was built as a fortification during the Russian-Swedish war, but it was never used as a fortress and its bastions were turned into political prison cells. There, a son of Peter the Great, Prince Alexei, a famous pretender to the throne, Princess Tarakanova, the writer Radischev, Decembrists, narodniks and revolutionaries were held prisoners. The Peter and Paul Cathedral, designed by Tresini, contains the remains of Russian rulers since 1725.

DAY 6 (THURSDAY): VELIKIY NOVGOROD
After breakfasts at the hotel at 08.30 transfer to Velikiy Novgorod where you’ll meet your guide at 12.00 for a city tour of Novgorod The Great, including visits to the St Sophia Cathedral, the town’s centre piece. This cathedral from the 11th century is considered to be one of the oldest surviving Orthodox churches in Russia.

Lunch in Velikiy Novgorod.

Tour continues with a visit to the Open Air Museum Vitoslavlitsy. This amazing collection in parkland includes original traditional intricate wooden churches and peasant houses brought to the site for posterity. To conclude your tour of Novgorod, is a visit to the 12th century Yuriev Monastery – a working orthodox monastery and architectural museum, set in peaceful marshlands, with wonderful open views to the town.  A convenient stop for lunch will be made during the tour.

DAY 7 (FRIDAY): ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be taken by your guide to visit one of St Petersburg’s most prized palaces. In the village of Pushkin (formally Tsarskoye Selo) 29km south of St. Petersburg, is Catherine’s Summer Palace. The construction of the palace for the Empress Catherine started in 1717. A park in the French style was laid out around it and, in the middle of 18th century, Tsarskoye Selo became the official royal residence. This palace is famous for the ‘Amber Room’, now completely restored to its former glory. Not far from Catherine's Palace there is the Lyceum where the great poet Alexander Pushkin studied.

DAY 8 (SATURDAY): DEPARTURE FROM ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast at your hotel, check out by 12:00 and your departure transfer will be provided to the airport about 3 hours and 30 minutes before your flight.

Hotel descriptions:
MOSCOW: Renaissance Moscow Hotel Monarch Centre is a 4 to 5 star hotel located on Leningradsky Prospect, 4 km from Moscow city center, close to Dinamo metro station. The hotel was built in 2009 and features 366 luxurious rooms and suites on 15 floors, 3 restaurants, fitness centre with indoor swimming pool, sauna and Turkish hamam and 12 meeting rooms. All guest rooms are equipped with air conditioning, marble bathrooms (shower / bath and WC), hairdryers, irons and ironing boards, in-room safes, mini-bars, coffee makers / tea service, telephones, Internet access (payable) and sat TVs. Free Wi-Fi Internet access is available at the hotel lobby. Hotel’s restaurant Mozaic serves international cuisine, while restaurant Premier offers Mediterranean, Italian, French fusion cuisine. At the Allegro Lobby Bar & Lounge you can enjoy the freshest sushi, meals and salads and sip a new exotic or your favourite cocktail.

ST. PETERSBURG: Sokos Hotel Olympic Garden is a 4 star hotel located in a quite park along Moskovsky prospekt - the historical prospect of the city and one of the main arterial roads, close to city centre (2 km) and airport (10 km). Metro station Tehnologichesky Institut is located close by. Sokos Hotel Olympic Garden introduces the concept of Scandinavian hospitality and quality in St. Petersburg. The hotel has 348 modern and fresh rooms, all equipped with private shower or bath /WC, flat screen TV, safety deposit box, iron and ironing board. The hotel has a cosy lobby bar and a restaurant Fransmanni serving Provencal-style food in a homely atmosphere of fireplaced hall.