Day 01: Arrive Moscow (RUSSIA)

Welcome to Moscow – a capital to the world. We are warmly received and transferred to our hotel. Check in time is from 1500 hrs.  Balance of the day is free to begin our discovery of this fabled capital of Russia, or to just relax. Tonight, attend a welcome dinner where we meet our tour director and fellow travelers. The welcome dinner will include a glass of wine, beer or soft drink.

Overnight: Hotel Marriott Courtyard, Moscow (3 nights) (D)

Day 02: Moscow

Moscow, one of the largest cities in the world, is the symbolic heart and soul of Russia. Our sightseeing tour begins at Red Square*, dominated by colorful St. Basil's Cathedral and the massive red walls of the Kremlin. Visit the Armory Museum, with its impressive collection of Tsarist, Russian, and foreign jewelry, armor, and other artifacts. Continue with a walk along the wide boulevards and a stroll through GUM, Russia’s largest department store, followed by a drive by Moscow University. Continue on the north bank of the River Moskva, passing by baroque Novodevichy convent. We end our tour at the popular Arbat shopping district. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 03: Moscow/Sergiev Posad/Moscow (Drive)

Today, we travel 75 kilometers north of Moscow, to the small town of Sergiev Posad. Formerly known as Zagorsk, this lovely village was founded in the 14th century. It’s renowned as a center of ancient Russian art and architecture. For centuries, it served as a place of pilgrimage and the religious capital of Russia. Within the old walled city, admire the fairy-tale golden and blue domes of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra*, one of the most beautiful of all monasteries. After lunch at a popular restaurant, return to Moscow, with the rest of the day at leisure. (B, L)

Day 04: Moscow/St. Petersburg (Train)

Time at leisure in Moscow, before being transferred to the railway station for a four-hour, high speed Sapsan train ride to St. Petersburg*. Upon arrival at St. Petersburg train station, we are transferred to our hotel. Dinner is enjoyed at our hotel.

Overnight: Radisson Sonya, St. Petersburg (3 nights) (B, D)

Day 05: St. Petersburg

When Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg in 1703, he hired Europe’s best architects, craftsmen and artists to build and decorate it.  Spread over 100 islands linked by over 600 bridges, it is often referred to as the “Venice of the North”.  Today, the main sites to be visited on the tour are Palace Square with the Winter Palace, Senate Square with its monument of the Russian Emperor Peter the Great, founder of the city, St. Isaac’s Square with St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Smolny Cathedral, the Cruiser Aurora, the Field of Mars, and Nevsky Prospect. We also explore the Peter and Paul Fortress. Built in 1703, the fortress was the first construction in St. Petersburg, created to protect the city from enemy attacks. The Peter and Paul Cathedral, which towers in the center of the fortress, served as the burial place for Russian emperors. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the city’s many charms. (B)

Day 06: St. Petersburg

This morning, we’ll visit the world-famous Hermitage museum, housing more than four million works of art. It was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and ranks among one of the largest and oldest museums in the world. Admire world-famous masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Rafael, Titian, Rembrandt, El Greco, Velasquez, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, and French Impressionists. The largest building of the Hermitage is the Winter Palace, the former residence of Russian emperors. Spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the city on our own. Tonight, we join our fellow travelers for a dinner. (B, D)

Day 07: Depart St. Petersburg

After breakfast, we are transferred to the St. Petersburg airport for our departure flight. Or, continue our adventure and join our Helsinki, the Baltic States & Poland tour, with dates that match up with this journey. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

We accept payments in US$, CA$ as well as in other convertible currencies like EUR, AUD and GBP. Tour prices have been costed in US$. CA$ price shown below is an indicative amount reached at by using the conversion rate at the time of web posting and will be applicable if there is no change in the conversion rate. Should the currency conversion rate change, the US$ pricing will prevail. Bestway Tours & Safaris offers a conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please click here

Notes

Inclusions

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and average tour size of 25 participants.
Also please note that this is NOT part of our small group journeys.

Customised Itinerary

If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you.

Contact Info
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call 1-604-264-7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1-800-663-0844.

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