8 days / 7 nights from £1,125 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.

2008 Departure Dates (guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 2 passengers)

Departs	Returns	Departs	Returns
08 Mar	15 Mar	19 Jul	26 Jul
22 Mar	29 Mar	09 Aug - ON REQUEST	16 Aug
05 Apr	12 Apr	23 Aug	30 Aug
19 Apr	26 Apr	06 Sep - ON REQUEST	13 Sep
03 May	10 May	20 Sep	27 Sep
24 May	31 May	10 Oct	17 Oct
14 Jun	21 Jun	25 Oct	1 Nov
05 Jul	12 Jul

If these departure dates don't suit you please contact us about a tailor made tour to Russia or  try our Classical Russia Tour, which departs EVERY SATURDAY.

Package price is based on flight availability and two people sharing a twin or double room:

• Low Season (March, April, October) - £1,125 pp Single Supplement £260.
• High Season (May - September) - £1,215 pp Single Supplement £370. 

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).
• 2 nights accommodation in Moscow – Marriott Courtyard Hotel, standard twin room
• 1 night accommodation in Novgorod – Volkhov Hotel, standard twin room
• 3 nights accommodation in St. Petersburg – Rossiya Hotel or Moskva Hotel, standard twin room
• Breakfast daily starting on Sunday and ending on Saturday
• Traditional Russian Dinner in Novgorod (special dietary requests in advance please)
• Transfers on arrival in Moscow and departure in St.Petersburg:
• applies to international city airports and main rail stations only
• Entrances: Moscow: Tretyakov Gallery, Kremlin with Armoury museum. Novgorod: Kremlin, St Sophia Cathedral, Vitoslavlitsy open air museum, Yuriev monastery. St Petersburg: Hermitage Museum, Peter and Paul Fortress, Catherine’s Palace
• 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

Not included in price:

• Any meals, beverages, sightseeing entrance fees not specified in the inclusions
• Photo and video charges at museums and places of interest
• Extra personal costs incurred at the hotel
• Visa

DETAILED ITINERARY:

DAY 1 Moscow (Saturday) -On arrival in Moscow, you will be met and transferred to the centrally located 4* Marriott Courtyard 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) Check out and after breakfast, meet your guide in reception at 09.30 hrs to continue to explore the sights of Moscow. 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. Your guide will include a visit to this spectacular collection of costumes, silver and arms, amongst a vast treasure trove of exhibits. Lunch stop (at your own cost)
After lunch, reassemble and 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 or shop at leisure. You will also enjoy a tour of the spectacular underground stations in Moscow. Return to the hotel at approximately 1700 hrs.

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 4 Novgorod (Tuesday) Transfer with local guide to the hotel for breakfast. 09.00 depart the hotel for your city tour of Novgorod the Great, including visits to the Yaroslavl Court, the Kremlin and 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. Opportunity for lunch stop (at your own cost).
Continue 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 highlight of this visit is the Cathedral of St George. Return to the hotel at approximately 16.00 hrs

A traditional Russian dinner is included tonight (within walking distance of the hotel)

DAY 5 Depart Novgorod for St Petersburg by train (Wednesday)
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). Now 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).
Return to the hotel at approximately 16.30 hrs for check in. Evening at leisure
* Breakfast in hotel or packed breakfast provided.

DAY 6 St Petersburg (Thursday) 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.
Peter and Paul Cathedral was designed by Tressini and contains the remains of Russian rulers from 1725 to the last Tsar Nicholas ll and his family. Next a visit to the Hermitage museum, 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, Rembrandt, Rubens, French impressionists, - a feast indeed for lovers of art, antiques and architecture. 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.

Return to the hotel at 16.30hrs. Or stay in Hermitage/town to return independently.

Evening at leisure.

DAY 7 St Petersburg (Friday) - 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.

Evening at leisure.

DAY 8 St Petersburg (Saturday) After breakfast at your hotel, check out by 11.00 am and your departure transfer will be provided to the airport.

Further services / programme extensions can be provided upon request.

Notes:

• Hotel - check in after 14.00 hours only. Check out by 11.00 hours
• Singles – remember to add the train supplement if you require your own compartment. If you do not you may be sharing with a stranger of either sex!
• Singles – sorry, we do not operate a shared room scheme for single travellers
• Walking – day 3 in Moscow includes a walking tour (no transport) using escalators in the metro. Please consider mobility of passengers
• Lunch stops are made at inexpensive locations for speed and affordability
• Visa support – is supplied for duration of tour only. Extension of visa support costs £25 per person.
• Russian Visa - Don’t forget you MUST obtain a tourist visa BEFORE you arrive in Russia
• Visa - it is advisable to apply for your visa at least 1 month prior to travel.
• Programme may vary and is subject to confirmation on arrival. We reserve the right to substitute hotels of a similar standard