Russian Waterways

St. Petersburg, Mandrogui, Kizhi, Goritsy, Yaroslavl, Uglich, Moscow

Day 1 St. Petersburg
Transfer from the airport.

Day 2 St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is one of the most fascinating cities in Europe. The city bus tour will introduce you to the best it has to offer: elegant buildings on the Nevsky Prospect, Palace Embankment along the Neva River, Palace Square with Winter Palace and Alexander Column, Bronze Horseman - the famous monument to Peter the Great, Schmidt Bridge, Strelka with Stock Exchange and Rostral Columns, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress, Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Canal Griboyedova, Fontanka, Kazan Cathedral, Church on Spilled Blood and other finest architectural, historical and cultural landmarks. On your tour you will visit Peter and Paul Fortress. It was built in 1704 to defend the city from naval attacks, however it never served its purpose. Instead its history is rather gruesome: thousands of laborers died while buiding the fortress, many political prisoners, incluidng Peter's own son Alexi were kept and tortured in its cells, the tombs of the Romanov family are in its Cathedral. Optional tours and performances in the afternoona and evening.

Day 3 St. Petersburg
Today you will visit the Hermitage Art Museum - one of the nation's main glories.The State Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings situated along the embankment of the Neva River, right in the heart of St Petersburg. The leading role in this unique architectural ensemble is played by the Winter Palace, the residence of the Russian tsars that was built according to the design of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1754-62. This ensemble, formed in the 18th and 19th centuries, is extended by the eastern wing of the General Staff building, the Menshikov Palace and the recently constructed Repository. Put together throughout two and a half centuries, the Hermitage collections of works of art (over 3,000,000 items) present the development of the world culture and art from the Stone Age to the 20th century. Tonight the ship will leave St. Petersburg and embark on an exciting journey through the Golden Ring to Moscow.

Day 4 Mandrogui
A relaxing day spent cruising Russia's waterways with a stop in the village of Mandrogui - a very popular tourist spot. Explore this small Russian community with its pretty wood carving souvenirs, Museum of Samovars and Museum of Vodka. The museum exhibition is dedicated to the history of the drink and its production. There is a tasting bar where the visitors can sample Russian vodka. Today enjoy Russian picnic in a picturesque setting of Mandrogui. Continue along the Svir River, then cross the largest in Europe Lake Ladoga and prepare yourself for one of the most amazing European sights - the city of St. Petersburg.

Day 5 Kizhi
The small island of Kizhi is located at the northern end of the Onega Lake, the second largest lake in Europe. It is 7 km long and 1,5 wide. It is most famous for the Open Air Museum of Wooden Architecture (a UNESCO World Heritage site), especially Kizhi Pogost which consists of Church of Transfiguration, the Church of the Intercession and the tower that stands between them. The highlight is the Church of Transfiguration built by carpenter Nestor in 1714 without a single nail. The Church of Lazar of Murom is located nearby. It is the oldest monument of wooden architecture in Russia – the Church was built in the middle of the 14th century and brought to Kizhi from the Murom Monastery, situated at the southern shore of Onega Lake.Other exibits are several peasant houses, wooden wind mill, large and small granaries, and farm buildings representing Russian wooden architecture. You will spend the entire day exploring the wonderful monuments and the island.

Please note that Open Air Museum is closed in May. On all May sailings this day will be spent aboard.

Day 6 Goritsy
Goritsy is a small village on the banks of the Sheksna River where it falls into the White Lake. It is the home to the Resurrection Convent, standing at the shoreline. From Goritsy a bus will drive you to the town of Kirillov, 8 kilometers away, to tour one of the major Orthodox centers of Old Russia, the Monastery of St. Cyril on the White Laket. Founded in the 14th century, the monastery preserved its original architecture. You will be fascinated by its majestic churches within the fortress walls. Part of the monastery functions as a museum where you will find some of the oldest icons in Russia.

Day 7 Yaroslavl
Arrive this morning in Yaroslavl, another Golden Ring city. The city was founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise. Sightseeing tour will include Ilya the Prophet church, the former Governor's House (Art Gallery), visit to Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and shopping at the local market.

Day 8 Uglich
Uglich is one of the oldest Russian towns, one of the Golden Ring cities dating back to the 10th century. During the tour you’ll visit the magnificent five domed Transfiguration Cathedral and Church of Czarevich Dmitry on the Blood – build to commemorate the most famous event in the town's history – a mysterious death of the 7-year old Czarevich Dmitry, the last scion of Dimitriy Rurik dynasty. Return to the ship, departure, dinner on board entertainment.

Day 9 Moscow
City tour by bus will take you to the most famous areas in Moscow within the boundaries of the Garden Ring and the Boulevard Ring. You will drive by Kremlin, Red Square and Kitay Gorod area, Tverskaya, Arbat and Zamoskvorechje areas. The overview will include famous landmarks like Red Square and Kremlin, Novodevichy Convent, Luzhniki, the White House, area along Moskva River and other notable places of interest.

Day 10 Moscow
Today you will get aquainted with the Red Square and Kremlin area. This is where you will see the famous St. Basil's Cathedral, Mausoleum, Historical Museum and GUM store. Inside Kremlin the main landmarks are three Cathedrals of the Assumption, Annunciation and Archangel, dated back to the 15-16th centuries, Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Tsar Bell, Tsar Cannon, Hall of Facets and Terem Place.

Your next tour is to the Tretyakov Gallery located in one of the oldest parts of Moscow Zamoskvorechje, not far from the Red Square. The Tretyakov Gallery is a national treasury which houses the largest and most distinguished collection of Russian art in the world.The gallery was named after Russian enterpreneur Pavel Tretyakov, who donated his house, where the Gallery is still located, surrounding buildings and almost 2000 works of Russian art from his own private collection to the city of Moscow at the end of the 19th century.The collection grew overtime and now features over 100,000 Russian works from medieval icons, including the ones by famous Andrey Rublev, to early 20th century.

Day 11 Moscow
Transfer to the airport