Northern Pearls and Moscow

Stockholm - Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Moscow

Day 1: STOCKHOLM
Arrive Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Transfer to hotel in connection with your flight arrival. Your tour escort will meet you at your hotel during the evening. Dinner and accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Sign, first class hotel centrally
located. Your tour escort will meet you at 19.50 hrs in the hotel lobby.

Day 2: STOCKHOLM
The day starts with a 4 hours guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the RoyalPalace, Parliament Buildings, Cathedral,Royal Theatre, etc. You will also visit the enchanting Old Town (Gamla Stan) with its narrow cobbled streets and numerous antique shops. Highlight of the tour is a visit to City Hall with its famous Blue and Golden Halls, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year. Afternoon free in Stockholm, with possibility to visit the famous Wasa museum or take one of the popular canal tours. Accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Sign.

Day 3: STOCKHOLM - HELSINKI
Morning free in Stockholm. Afternoon transfer from hotel to pier, for embarkation on a luxurious cruise ferry of the Silja Line. 17.00 hrs: Departure from Stockholm, sailing slowly through the picturesque Stockholm archipelago past numerous small islands. Dinner on board. Choice of entertainment, bars, shops and casino. Accommodation is in 2-berth outside cabins (seaside) with shower/WC. We recommend you to bring an overnight bag for this cruise, to avoid having to carry suitcases to and from your cabin.

Day 4: HELSINKI
Enjoy your buffet breakfast as you sail into Helsinki. After disembarkation 3 hours guided tour of Helsinki. Famous sights include the Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, Sibelius Park & Monument, underground Temple, and much more.During the afternoon you can explore the busy market place or the many souvenir shops close to the harbour. Finnish crystal and leather goods are an excellent buy. Dinner and accommodation at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, another first class hotel centrally located.

Day 5: HELSINKI - ST. PETERSBURG
Breakfast followed by transfer by coach from hotel to railway station. 10.00 hrs: Departure from Helsinki on train “Allegro” for St. Petersburg. Lunch box on train. 14.36 hrs: Arrival in St. Petersburg. Coach transfer from railway station to hotel combined with 1 hour’s guided boat cruise along the Neva River and visit at St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Welcome dinner incl. shot of vodka and 1 glass wine, and accommodation at Ambassador Hotel, a four star hotel located
in the city centre, near the famous Mariinsky Theatre.

Day 6: ST. PETERSBURG
Buffet breakfast at hotel. The day begins with 3 hours panoramic tour of the city by coach with local English-speaking guide. St. Petersburg is a city of outstanding architectural beauty, famous for its magnificent palaces, cathedrals, fountains and bridges. 12.30 hrs: Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, tour of the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum and the State Rooms of the Winter Palace. Return to hotel. Dinner and accommodation at Ambassador Hotel.

Day 7: ST. PETERSBURG
Buffet breakfast at hotel and transfer to town of Pushkin followed by a visit to Catherine’s Palace including the famous Amber room. Lunch at Admiralty Restaurant. Return to St.Petersburg and spend a few hours free for leisure. This evening you will be taken to see a colourful Russian folklore show at the Nikolaevsky Palace, with snacks during the intermission. Dinner at the Backstage Restaurant of the Mariinsky Theatre. Accommodation at Ambassador Hotel.

Day 8: ST. PETERSBURG DEPARTURE or ST. PETERSBURG - MOSCOW
Clients on the 7 nights tour of the three of the most beautiful cities of the Baltic ends after breakfast, with transfers to St. Petersburg Airport in connection with your flight home. Buffet breakfast at hotel. Guests continuing to Moscow will have transfer to the Neva River for cruise by hydrofoil to Peterhof, the magnificent summer residence of all the Russian Tsars. Tour of the Lower Park including Grand Palace (inside visit). Coach transfer to St. Petersburg railway station for departure at 13:00 with “Sapsan” train. Lunch on board. 17:45: Arrival in Moscow followed by coach transfer to your hotel in the Russian capital. Moscow was founded in the 12th century, built as a wooden fortress on the banks of the Moscow River to keep out barbarian invaders from the east. Today it is a modern city with wide boulevards and green parks, yet proudly preserving its historic monuments and impressive buildings from previous eras. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel, centrally located hotel.

Day 9: MOSCOW
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning tour of the Kremlin and Armoury Museum, with local English-speaking guide. This tour lasting approx. 3 hours has to be done on foot as no coaches are allowed inside the area. The Kremlin, which was the home, not only of the Tsars, but also of Lenin and Stalin, is surrounded by 7 metres thick walls and covers an area of 29 acres. You will pass by the Lenin Mausoleum and the grave of the unknown soldier, where brides still leave their wedding bouquets, to visit one of the impressive Russian Orthodox Cathedrals. This will be followed by a guided tour of the Armoury Museum, containing the largest collection in the world of crown jewels and coronation robes, including the wedding dress of Catherine the Great and the famous 189 carat Olov diamond. You will also see the golden horse-drawn carriages of all the Tsars and many other treasures. 13.00 hrs: Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch walk through the Red Square to rejoin your coach for a panoramic city tour, including a visit to Saviour Cathedral.On this tour you will see the amazing golden, blue and green towers of the Orthodox churches, the Bolshoy Theatre, Gorkij Park (Moscow’s largest entertainments park), the State University of Moscow, and numerous other famous sights. Return by coach to hotel. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel.

Day 10: MOSCOW
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning tour of the WWII Memorial on Poklonnaya Hill followed by a visit to Novodevichy Convent, a 16th century cluster of sparkling domes, one of the city most beautiful groups of buildings and full of history and treasures. The adjacent Novodevichy Cementery is Moscow most prestigious resting place after Kremlin (entrance).  Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch guided tour of the famous Moscow Metro, ending with a walk along the fascinating pedestrian street Arbat, known as the ’Montmartre of Moscow’. Rest of afternoon free for shopping in the GUM department store or exploring Moscow on your own. We can recommend a visit to the Pushkin Museum, famous for its collection of
monuments from Ancient Egypt, or the popular Tretiakov Art Gallery. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel.

Day 11: MOSCOW DEPARTURE
Buffet breakfast at hotel followed by transfer to Moscow Airport for your flight home.