European Tours

11 Day Russian Adventure

St. Petersburg, Moscow, Vladimir, Suzdal

Travel with us on this unforgettable adventure!
via SAS Airlines, Fin Air

DAY 01 – DEPARTURE NORTH AMERICA
Departure day is always an exciting event on any travel program. It is the beginning of an adventure, the beginning of new experiences.

DAY 02 – ST. PETERSBURG
Following immigration procedures, you will be met by a specially selected english speaking guide. After customs your baggage will be taken by porters to your first class hotel. Remainder of day at leisure. Enjoy our welcome dinner.

DAY 03 – ST. PETERSBURG
St. Petersburg is one of the loveliest, most attractive cities of the world. The stately architecture of its buildings harmonizes with the precise layout of its streets and spacious squares, gardens, rivers, canals, beautiful embankments, bridges and monuments. A relatively new city, it was founded in 1703 by Czar Peter the Great who engaged the finest scholars, architects, sculptors, and was the home of the czars under the name of St. Petersburg until 1917. Enjoy a morning orientation tour followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon tour of St. Isaac's Cathedral with its magnificent carved main altar. After the tour time for shopping or simply strolling down St. Petersburg's main boulevard – Nevsky Prospekt. Evening performance at one of St. Petersburg's many well known theatres.

DAY 04 – ST. PETERSBURG
The morning is devoted to a visit to the Hermitage, housing an incomparable collection of art treasures. It was Catherine the Great who began collecting art on a large scale. Originally the Hermitage served as the winter palace of the czars and was not open to the public until 1852. Aside of the huge collection of western masters, it contains objects of premedieval culture, art objects of russian culture and oriental art. The museum also benefited from the private collections of Stroganovs and Yusupov families and others who commissioned such artists as Bonnard, Cezanne, Picasso and Matisse; the Hermitage possesses one of the richest Impressionist collection of paintings. We take a lunch break and return to the Hermitage. This evening dinner at your hotel.

DAY 05 – ST. PETERSBURG
This morning we travel to Petrodvorets, the former summer residence of the czars built by Peter the Great who wanted to create a Versailles of his own. A system of multiple fountains and waterfalls with an abundance of gold sculptures below the grand palace is really spectacular. Visit the grand palace, from the terrace see the spectacular 129 fountains, most famous of which is Thesamson Fountain. Return to St. Petersburg for lunch. Afternoon tour of the Peter and Paul Fortress, once used as a prison for revolutionaries, now the final resting place of the Romanov Czars. After a gala dinner party, depart for the rail station for your overnight train to Moscow with first class sleeper accommodations provided. Sorry no singles available on the train. A trip to Russia would not be complete without experiencing the "Red Arrow Express Train" – truly an experience.

DAY 06 – MOSCOW / VLADIMIR / SUZDAL
Arrive in Moscow early morning in time for breakfast. We then drive along Gorky Highway, the road which crosses centuries old forests to reach Vladimir. One of the delights of travelling on this road are the well maintained one family wooden homes with ornate and colorfully decorated wood carvings. Vladimir which is one of the oldest Russian cities, was founded in the 12th century on the River Klyazma, and its famous for stone built churches built in the 12th and 13th centuries. Upon entry you see the ceremonial golden gate built in 1164, then St. Demetrius Cathedral, and the Assumption Cathedral. From Vladimir a short drive takes us to Suzdal, which leaps into view unexpectedly from the top of a hill, where you will see its Kremlin with a white stone cathedral and a bell tower. Dinner and overnight accommodations in Suzdal.

DAY 07 – SUZDAL
The entire city of Suzdal is a museum. Its many monuments, towers, and domes enable you to follow the several stages of Russian architecture from the 12th to 19th century. Tour the Torg, market place of artisans and traders. Among the 50 relics the oldest is the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin, built more than 760 years ago. You will be spellbound by the beauty of the Spaso-Yefimevsky Monastery and the three domed Pprokrovsky Cathedral with the graves of the exiled Czarinas. Dinner is at the Refectory where you enjoy a pottery cooked meal from an ancient recipe.

DAY 08 – MOSCOW
After breakfast, board your motorcoach and return to Moscow, arriving in time for lunch. Afternoon tour of the capital, driving along the wide boulevards of this bustling city with its onion dome buildings standing side by side with morning edifices and viewing the Kremlin, Red Square, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Olympic Stadium, and much more. Enjoy an evening performance at one of Moscow's many theatres. Dinner included tonight.

DAY 09 – MOSCOW
The morning is devoted to an interior visit of the Kremlin, now the seat of power, where its foundation in the early twelfth century signified the birth of Moscow. The center of the Kremlin's architectural layout is the Cathedral Square, with the Cathedrals of the Annunciation, the Assumption, the Archangel and the Patriarchs. Enjoy a special visit to the Armory Museum where you will see the crowns, thrones, jewels, and armor of the Russian Czars. The modern building of the Palace of Congresses complements the architectural entity of the Kremlin and it is where you may spend an evening seeing opera, ballet or other events in the 6,000 seat auditorium. After a leisurely lunch, visit Kuskovo Palace Museum, built in the early 18th century as a summer residence for Prince Pyotr Sheremetyev, who owned more than 150,000 serfs. Designed by serf-architects and built in wood on the banks of a lake, it now contains an outstanding collection of russian porcelain. Its formal gardens have often been called the "Moscow Versailles." Tonight enjoy a cultural evening.

DAY 10 – MOSCOW
In the morning visit the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, one of the largest art galleries in Russia. The museum has acquired a wonderful collection of Egyptian antiquities, and it's particularly well known for its collection of French impressionists and post-impressionist paintings. After lunch enjoy a walking tour of Arbat street. Opportunity to look at the works of local artists and craftsmen. Shoppers should take advantage to pick up some unique and very russian souvenirs. Return to our hotel via the Metro. Gala farewell dinner tonight.

DAY 11 – MOSCOW / NORTH AMERICA
Transfer to Sheremetyevo 2 Airport for our flight homeward. As you approach arrival in the early afternoon, richly rewarded by a unique insight into russian art, culture and history, we hope you will long savor and relive your experience of this fascinating world, past and present.

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