East west tours - travel to Russia, Ukraine, Baltic & other CIS countries

10 days/ 9 nights � Kiev, Moscow, St. Petersburg	Reservation Request

Day 1 Kiev
Transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 Kiev
After breakfast enjoy a 5-hour city tour of Kiev - the largest city and the capital of the Ukraine with a population of almost 3 million people. It is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe dating back to the 5th century. On your tour you will see the famous UNESCO World Heritage sites St. Sophia Cathedral and Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Mariynskiy Palace, St. Michael, St. Andrew’s, St. Vladimir Cathedrals, the reconstructed Golden Gate and other notable monuments such as statue of Bogdan Khmelnitsky astride his horse, the monument of Vladimir the Great, the Baptizer of Rus’, the monument to Kyi, Schek Khoryv and Lybid - the legendary founders of the city located at the Dnieper embankment. Modern landmarks are the Mother Motherland Statue standing at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War on the right bank of the Dniepr River, The Glory Square, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame at the WWII memorial. The tour includes visit to Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

Day 3 Kiev - Moscow
After breakfast enjoy a 3-hour excursion to the Museum of Wooden Architecture located to the southwest of Kiev, in the picturesque setting of Pirogovo village. This is an open air Museum of Ukrainian Folk Architecture, Rural Life and Folk Art, stretching on the vast territory of 150 hectares. In this village-museum the unique collection of folk architecture from all regions of Ukraine has been gathered. The visitors to the museum are welcome not only to admire rare exhibits but also visit folk crafts shops and a traditional restaurant serving Ukrainian cuisine. Return to the airport for a flight to Moscow. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.

Day 4 Moscow
In the morning -tour of the city will take you to the most famous historical and architectural places: Red Square with it's famous landmarks of St. Basil's Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral, the Place of Skulls, the elegant arcades of the GUM department store and the National Historical Museum. Visit of Church of the Trinity in Nikitinki, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Novodevichiy Convent, Luzhniki and the White House. The Sparrow Hills, 6 km south-west of the Kremlin, topped by the Moscow University skyscraper, for the best panoramic view of the city. In the afternoon -tour of Kremlin and the Armory. The main landmarks are three Cathedrals of the Assumption, Annunciation and Archangel , dated back to the 15-16th centuries. Other landmarks are Ivan the Great Bell Tower , Tsar Bell, Tsar Cannon, Hall of Facets and Terem Place . Armory is famous for its stunning collection of treasures accumulated over the centuries by the Russian State and Church. The collection is famous for its royal regalia, Faberge Easter eggs of precious metals and jewels, the 800-diamond throne of Tsar Alexey, the jewel-studded and sable-trimmed gold Cap of Monomakh worn for coronations for two centuries, the coronation dresses of the 18th century empresses, the sleigh in which Elizabeth rode from St. Petersburg to Moscow for her coronation pulled by 23 horses at a time. Between the Armory and the Annunciation Cathedral is the Great Kremlin Palace � the official residence of Russian president.

Day 5 Moscow
In the morning - Moscow Metro tour followed by the visit to the State Tretyakov Gallery, one of the most celebrated and extensive collections of Russian art and artifacts in the world located in one of the oldest districts of Moscow -Zamoskvorechye. The Gallery's collection consists entirely of Russian art and artists who have made a contribution to the history of Russian art or been closely connected with it. The collection contains more than 130 000 works of painting, sculpture and graphics, created throughout the centuries by successive generations of Russian artists. Transfer to the railroad station. Overnight train to St. Petersburg .

Day 6 St. Petersburg
Transfer to the hotel. In the morning you will be taken on a private sightseeing tour of St. Petersburg . You will see the elegant buildings on the Nevsky Prospect along the Neva River, charming canals and narrow streets remind you of the best European traditions. The tour will take you to Nevsky Prospect, Kazan Cathedral, Admiralty, Fontanka, Canal Griboyedova, the Palace Square , Winter Palace , Summer Gardens and other remarkable buildings.

Day 7 St. Petersburg
In the morning - a private tour of the Hermitage Art Museum - one of the nation's major collections. The Art Collection begun by Catherine the Great and is one of the richest in the world. Afternoon at leisure. Optional performance in the evening.

Day 8 St. Petersburg
In the morning -all day tour of Pushkin and Pavlovsk. Both towns are located 25-30 km from St. Petersburg . Pushkin's palaces and parks were created under Empresses Elizabeth and Catherine the Great between 1744 and 1796. The main landmark is the Catherine Palace designed by Rastrelli and named after Elizabeth 's mother, Peter the Great's second wife. Pushkin's original name is Tsarskoye Selo (Tsar's Village), renamed in 1937 after Russia 's famous poet who studied here. Pavlovsk 's parks, lakes and rivers, valleys and avenues, classical statues and temples are the most exquisite. The Great Palace is the centerpiece of Pavlovsk, designed by Charles Cameron between 1781 and 1786 on Catherine the Great's orders for her son Pavel, the future Paul I.

Day 9 St. Petersburg
In the morning � tour to the Petrodvorets (also known as Peterhoff), located on the southern shore of the Finnish Gulf 14 miles (29 km) away from St.Petersburg. Petrodvorets' history began in 1704 when Peter I built a wooden house on the Gulf while overseeing the construction of the nearby Kronstadt Fortress. In 1713 he began transforming the area into an imperial residence. The palace was inaugurated in 1723 and later expanded by Empress Elizabeth . The Grand Palace with its lavish interiors, gilded decorations, mirrors and paintings dominates the estate. The estate includes several other mini-museums of interest. The outwardly-modest Monplaisir Palace , which Peter I preferred to the Grand Palace , has a nice sea view and several interesting rooms, such as the State Hall where Peter would force his guests to drink huge quantities of wine until they passed out. The nearby Hermitage Pavilion, which also has nice views and artwork, is a two-storey dining room where guests sitting on the upper floor ate and drank in peace, occasionally lowering the table to the ground floor where servants did their thing (refilled wine glasses, replaced dirty plates, and spat in the beef stroganoff). Peterhof is the kingdom of fountains. There are 144 fountains, all operating without the use of pumps by a combination of naturally generated water pressure and magic. Each fountain is unique and once you step in the area of the kingdom of fountains you will be surprised by this splendid beauty created by a man.

Day 10 St. Petersburg
Transfer to the airport.

Includes:
2 nights in Kiev 2 nights in Moscow 4 nights in St. Petersburg Non-Stop Flight Kiev-Moscow Overnight train Moscow -St. Petersburg Daily Breakfast Private Sightseeing Tours with an English speaking guide Transportation by private car All entrance and admission fees Airport / Train station / Hotel transfers by private car Tax and Service Charges

Highlights:
Kiev observasion tour inclding all major sights, Kiev Pecherska Lavra Monastery, World War II Museum Excursion to the Museum of folk wooden architecture near Kiev Moscow City Tour Red Square, Kremlin and Armory Tour Metro Tour Tretyakov Gallery Arbat shopping City Tour of St. Petersburg (including St. Isaac Cathedral and Peter and Paul Fortress) Private Hermitage Tour Tour to Pushkin and Pavlovsk (including St. Catherine Palace and Amber Room) Tour to Petrodvorets

Rates:
Per person based on double occupancy from: $1899 - $2399 * [Tourist Category] $2099 - $2999 [Deluxe Category] $2899 - $3599 *** [Superior Deluxe Category]

Dates:
Daily all-year-round