LAND OF CZARS MOSCOW – ST. PETERSBURG FOR 40 PAX
Day One, Tuesday, May 4th
Your plane lands in Moscow, the capital of Russia, which history dates back to the 12th century. One of the largest cities in Europe, a home for 10 million people, Moscow managed to preserve great number of historical monuments as well as its old urban structure. Russians say that the history of Moscow is the history of the whole Russian country. Meet your local expert-guide who will show you as much of Moscow as possible.
Transfer to your hotel by comfortable coach. The guide will give you general information about the capital en route. Check-in at the 5-star Grand Marriott hotel, one of the finest in Moscow, located on the main street of the capital - Tverskaya Street. This hotel was a residence of American president during his visit to Russia in May 2002.
After rest meet your group members this evening during welcome dinner in one of the elegant restaurants of the hotel.
When the evening rush hour is over it is time to start your first exploration of Moscow with coach and guide. In the night Moscow is especially beautiful, enjoy breath-taking panoramas of Kremlin and Red Square.
Return to hotel around midnight.
Day Two, Wednesday, May 5th
After breakfast your guide will take you inside the Kremlin, the historical nucleus of the city, the former residence of the Czars, now the seat of the Russian President. You will see Kremlin Cathedrals, the huge Belfry of Ivan the Terrible, the Czar Bell and Czar Cannon. Visit to the largest depository of jewelry in the Armory, the treasury of the Czars, will crown up your tour! The Armory's huge collection consists of many precious gifts once presented to Russian Czars by foreign monarchs and ambassadors as well as their thrones, clothes, crowns and armor.
Have lunch in the popular "Shynok" restaurant serving Russian and Ukrainian cuisine in the interesting settings of a real Ukrainian village with live goat and horse, hens and turkey in the yard.
After lunch start the extensive tour featuring all highlights of Moscow. The heart of the city is the Kremlin, which stands on the hill above the Moskva River. It is flanked by the Red Square, which is crowned by the unique and gorgeous St. Basil's Cathedral. During the city tour you will see many ancient churches and cathedrals, Russian White House and huge cathedral of Christ the Savior. Passing the University, continue to the Sparrow Hills, the highest place in Moscow. Enjoy the beautiful view of the city.
The tour ends next to Kremlin at the Manezhe Square - the largest and the most beautiful shopping complex of the capital with hundreds of shops on three levels under the square. Free time to explore on your own before dinner. Russian dinner with traditional beverages is served in the same place - at the Godunov restaurant. The restaurant is famous for its delicious Russian cuisine and warm welcome.
Return to hotel and overnight.
Day Three, Thursday, May 6th
Buffet breakfast. Check-out and depart for Sheremetevo airport for your flight to St. Petersburg at 11:15. Arrive to St. Petersburg approximately in one hour at 12:20. Upon arrival have a short drive to the town of Pushkin to see the Catherine's Palace and park - once the official summer residence of Russian Czars.
We enter the beautiful Catherine's park and visit Catherine's Palace, considered to be a real pearl of Russian baroque architecture of the 18th century. It was built for Russian Empress Catherine in 1752. The palace, a combination of white and gold, looks magnificent; a huge ballroom called the Grand Hall, ornately decorated drawing rooms, studies and dining rooms. The most famous room here is the Amber Room, which was looted by the Nazis during World War II. Now the restoration of the Amber Room is coming to an end. Surrounding the palaces is a park covering more than 570 hectares with bridges, terraces, fountains and small galleries.
Lunch is served in the genuine Russian restaurant Podvorie. Enjoy delicious Russian appetizers and famous "borsch" (beet-root soup) accompanied by Cossack's folklore singing and, of course, free flowing Russian vodka! The restaurant is a typical Russian huge wooden log-house reminding of a fortress. It is located in the picturesque countryside in the small town of Pavlovsk, close to the town of Pushkin.
Express check-in at the Corinthia Nevsky Palace Hotel, one the finest hotels of the city. It was carefully constructed within the walls of two historical buildings, one of which is facing the main city avenue - Nevsky Prospect. The hotel offers the latest modern conveniences one could expect from a 5-star hotel.
Enjoy 1
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2 hour - dinner-cruise on board the luxury restaurant-ship "New Island". This was the place where presidents of Russia and USA had dinner on May 25th 2002. The ship will sail along the Palace Embankment and, while dining, you will have a possibility to admire the panorama of illuminated bridges and well-lit facades of numerous palaces including buildings of the Hermitage. Enjoy three-course menu with black caviar and wine. Return to hotel and overnight.
Day Four, Friday, May 7th
Buffet breakfast. Start a panoramic city tour. There is one museum in the city that is never closed - the city itself. Discover St. Petersburg - a city of infinite charm with its majestic palaces, churches and cathedrals, river embankments, beautiful parks and innumerous bridges - a city of imperial proportions and romantic vistas which has been a source of inspiration for the generations of artists.
Visit the Peter & Paul Fortress. It is the historical nucleus of the city as well as one of the most interesting and beautiful architectural landmarks. St. Peter & Paul Cathedral with its long gilded spire is the burial place of all Russian emperors from Peter the Great to the last of the Romanovs - Nicholas II. Designed to protect newly acquired lands in the mouth of the Neva River, the fortress lost its military significance before it was completed. It was turned into the most dismal political prison of Russia for almost 200 years. Every day a cannon fires a signal shot sharp at noon. This day this privilege to fire a shot is given to the GM of your company.
Lunch will be served in a spacious "Restoran" - a work of a famed designer. The unusual settings of the restaurant are reminiscent of traditional Russian countryside. You will be offered to taste and distinguish 5 different brands of home-brewed vodka! Balaika trio entertains during the dinner.
After lunch complete the sightseeing with a visit St. Isaac's cathedral - the fourth highest cupola cathedral in the world with a breath-taking interior design. The cathedral can accommodate 13000 worshippers in a time. The monolithic columns of the portico cut from red granite are seventeen meters high and weigh 114 tons each. The mosaic inside has twelve thousand shades and colors, the walls are five meters thick and the main cupola is coated with one hundred kilos of gold. Return to hotel for rest and change for the theatre.
One more unique event awaits you in the evening - Russian ballet performance in the unique Hermitage Theatre - the private theatre of the Czars in the past. The theatre, built by the order of the empress Catherine the Great on the embankment of the Neva River, is connected to the buildings of the Hermitage. It has an amphitheatre shape according to the fashion of the 18th century, walls and columns are clad in marble. The most dramatic ballet story - the famous "Giselle" by Adam is performed by the soloists of the world-known Mariinsky Theatre.
Dinner is served in "The Backstage" restaurant - a restaurant of Mariinsky Theatre very popular with artistic circles, a place where many bohemians and world-known celebrities meet. The combination of thin crystal glasses with elegant props of Mariinsky theatre in beige tones is a specific feature of the designer Andrey Dmitriev. The walls wear thanksgiving handwritings of such people as art director of Mariinsky theatre - conductor Valery Gergiev, tenor Placido Domingo, painter Mikhail Shemiakin.
Return transfer to hotel and overnight.
Buffet breakfast. We start the day with exploring the main treasure of St. Petersburg - the world-known Hermitage museum. The residence of the Russian Emperors in the past, nowadays the Hermitage comprises 5 palaces and is one of the largest museums in the world. We enter the museum one hour prior to official opening hour by special arrangement so that guests admire the State Rooms of the Winter Palace in full privacy and then proceed to the priceless masterpieces exhibited in other Hermitage buildings. Be ready for lots of walking in the miles of corridors!
Buffet lunch is served in one of the restaurants of the hotel and is followed by free time for independent exploration. Your coach and guide are at your disposal for guided shopping in the best souvenir shops of the city.
In the evening we visit one more unique place - the Yusupov Palace which belonged to the powerful family of the Yusupovs - the relatives of the Czars and the richest family in Russia. The private tour of the palace starts from the suite of gala rooms of the palace located on the 1st floor. You see the White Column Hall, Precioza Room, Antique and Mauritanian halls of the palace and, of course, the magnificent Home Theatre of the palace. A private concert of opera singers is given specially for the guests in the theatre. Excerpts of the world-known operas are performed by singers of St. Petersburg Opera.
After the concert the tour continues to the private chambers of the family on the ground floor and finishes in the Rotunda of the Mirror Hall where an elegant cocktail is served. By small groups guests visit the room in the maze of the palace where notorious Rasputin was shot by the young count Yusupov. Listen to the dramatic story and see wax figures of Rasputin, count Felix Yusupov and other conspirators. Upon returning to the Rotunda guests are invited for the Imperial dinner in the Mirror Hall.
Day Six, Sunday, May 9th, Victory Day
Buffet breakfast. Morning is at leisure. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
See you again…
