9 days / 8 nights from £1,375 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.
Package price is based on flight availability and two people sharing a twin or double room:
- Low Season (1 Oct. 2009 - 30 Apr. 2010, 1Oct. 2010 - 31 Dec. 2010) - £1,375 pp Single Supplement £230.
- High Season (1 May 2010 - 30 Sep. 2010) - £1,485 pp Single Supplement £330.
Note: Single supplement ensures you have a single room for hotel accommodation and you share a first class compartment on the overnight train journey. You can upgrade to a first class two - berth compartment for single use for an additional £170.
Package includes:
- Direct flights from London to Moscow and returning from St. Petersburg to London on British Airways (flights from other departure airports can also be arranged, but price may change).
- 3 nights accommodation in Moscow – 3 to 4* Hotel Cosmos, standard twin room
- 1 night accommodation in Novgorod – 3* Volkhov Hotel, standard twin room
- 3 nights accommodation in St. Petersburg – 3* Hotel Moskva, standard twin room
- Half Board starting with dinner on arrival night and breakfast on departure day
- Transfers on arrival and departure in Moscow, Velkiy Novgorod and St.Petersburg
- Entrances based on itinerary below
- First class over-night train Moscow-Novgorod (sharing 2 berth compartment)
- Day train Novgorod to St Petersburg
- Services of an English speaking guide
- Visa support documents
- 24-hour emergency contact
DETAILED ITINERARY:
DAY 1 Moscow (Saturday) -On arrival in Moscow, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Cosmos. Dinner at "Kalinka" restaurant in the hotel. Evening at leisure.
DAY 2 Moscow (Sunday) - After breakfast at the hotel, your English speaking tour guide will meet you at the hotel reception at 10.00 am for the full day panoramic orientation tour of the city. On this tour you will view the most famous landmarks of the city. The tour sights include Red Square, St Basils Cathedral, the Kremlin, Sparrow Hills, Bolshoi Theatre, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Victory Park, Novodevichy Convent, the White House, and the famous Moscow streets. Included in this tour today is a visit to The Tretyakov Gallery.
A convenient stop for lunch will be made (at your own cost). Return to the hotel at approximately 17.30 hrs: Evening at leisure
DAY 3 Moscow (Monday) Today you will explore the grounds of the magnificent Kremlin and visit one of the cathedrals. Within the territory is the fascinating Kremlin Armoury Museum. Dinner at the hotel restaurant.
DAY 4 Moscow Walking tour along the Arbat and Metro tour.
Assemble in reception at approximately 20.30 hrs for transfer with your guide from the hotel to the Leningradsky Rail Station for your overnight train journey to Novgorod travelling in first class 2 berth compartments. Trains depart around 22.00 hrs and arrive next day at around 06.00 according to schedule.
DAY 5 Novgorod (Wednesday) Transfer with local guide to the hotel for breakfast. 10.00 depart the hotel for your city tour of Novgorod the Great, including visits to the St Sophia Cathedral, Yuriev Monestary and the Museum of Wooden Architecture. Opportunity for lunch stop (at your own cost). Dinner
DAY 6 Depart Novgorod for St Petersburg by train (Thursday) Check out* and 07.00 hrs transfer to the railway station for your journey to Saint Petersburg where you will be met by your local English speaking guide (11.30 hrs). At 13:00 we commence your panoramic orientation tour, which will include 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 also pass along the famous Nevskij Prospect where a lunch stop is included (at your own cost). St Isaac's cathedral is also on our route, as well as the Church of the Spilled Blood. (No entrances included this day). Dinner at the hotel. Evening at leisure
DAY 7 St Petersburg (Friday) After breakfast, meet your guide in reception at 10.30 hrs for today’s tour. This starts with a visit to the outstanding fort, which guards the city of St Petersburg, and is located on an island, facing the Hermitage and dominating River Neva, - Peter and Paul Fortress. It was built during the Russian-Swedish war, but was never used as a fortress, so its bastions were turned into political prison cells. There, Prince Alexei, son of Peter the Great, Princess Tarakanova, a mysterious pretender to the throne, writer Dostoevsky, Decembrists and revolutionaries were held prisoners. Opportunity for short lunch break (at your own cost) in the Hermitage. Approx 2 hours guided tour plus 1 hour free time in the museum.
Dinner at the htoel. Evening at leisure.
DAY 8 St Petersburg (Saturday) - After breakfast, meet your guide in reception at 09.30 hrs, for an out of town visit to another 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 summer residence of the Tsars. This palace is famous for the ‘Amber Room’, now completely restored to its former glory. Not far from Catherine's Palace is the Lyceum where the great poet Alexander Pushkin studied (visit not included). Return to your hotel at approximately 14.30 hrs and remainder of day at leisure. Dinner at the hotel. Evening at leisure.
DAY 9 St Petersburg (Sunday) After breakfast at your hotel, check out by 11.00 am and your departure transfer will be provided to the airport.