Little Tour of Russia

Meet your driver at the airport upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. Rest before your Russian tour starts or explore on your own. Meet your tour director in the evening for a short briefing and welcome dinner. Overnight in Moscow (D)

City Tour of Moscow tour begins at the Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, Kremlin walls and a visit to the Armory Museum which has an impressive collection of jewelry, armor, and other artifacts. Continue your tour with a walk through GUM, Russia’s largest department store, then along the north bank of Moskva River passing famous Novodevichy convent and ending the drive at the popular Arbat area. Enjoying shopping and lunch on your own. The evening is at leisure. Overnight in Moscow (B)

Today we will drive to Sergiev Posad, a small town 75 km north of Moscow. Founded in the 14th Century, Sergiev Posad is known as the religious capital of Russia, the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the center of ancient Russian architecture and art. You will walk inside the old walled city and admire golden and blue domes St. Sergius Lavra of Holy Trinity. It is a fascinating monastery in Russia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
After the excursion, we will have lunch at a traditional Russian cuisine restaurant, and return to Moscow for rest and leisure time.  In the evening take an optional Moscow by Night & Moscow Metro Tour and explore underground “Palaces for the People" as Stalin used to call them. Overnight in Moscow (B, L)

Free morning in Moscow, in the afternoon we transfer to the railway station for our four hours high speed Sapsan train ride to St. Petersburg. Upon arrival at the St. Petersburg train station, transfer to your hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in St. Petersburg (B, D)

Few cities around the world can rival the gracefulness of St. Petersburg. Peter the Great invited Europe’s best architects and craftsmen to build and decorate it. The city is often referred to as The Venice of the North because it is spread over 100 islands linked by 600 bridges. During the tour we will visit famous sites of St. Petersburg including the Senate Square with the monument to Peter the Great, Winter Palace and the Palace Square, St. Isaac’s Square with St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Cruise Aurora, Field of Mars and Nevsky Prospect. We will also visit Peter and Paul Fortress; built in 1703 on a small island. Your evening is free, or you can join an optional evening canal cruise. Overnight in St. Petersburg (B)

This morning you will visit the world famous State Hermitage Museum. It was founded by Catherine the Great in 1764 and is now among the oldest and largest museums in the world with more than four million works of art. On display are famous masterpieces by Rafael, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, El Greco, Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck and Goya. Winter Palace is the biggest of the five buildings occupied by the Hermitage and is the former residence of Russian Royal families.
The afternoon is at leisure. You can explore the city on your own or join our optional tour to Pushkin to visit Catherine Palace with famous Amber Room or Peterhof Summer Palace. Tonight join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner. Optional Russian Folklore evening. Overnight in St. Petersburg (B, D)

In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home or to continue your trip.