Moscow
(4nts) - St. Petersburg (4nts)
Day
1 - London/Moscow
Arrive in Moscow on your British Airways flight from
London-Heathrow and transfer to the Ararat Park Hyatt for the next
three nights.
Day 2 - Moscow
Let us guide you around this legendary city. The
Kremlin recounts the core of Russian history - here Ivan the Terrible
orchestrated his terrors in the 15th Century, and from here Napoleon
fled in 1812. Originally built to house the weapons of the Tsars, the
Armoury now contains an opulent collection of treasures; ranging from
ten intricately bejewelled eggs by the famous Fabergé, to the
sleigh used by Empress Elizabeth to ride from Moscow to St. Petersburg
for her coronation. The amazing Diamond Fund contains jewellery
gathered by Tsars and Empresses. Take a moment in the central square,
and soak up the extravagance of the 15th Century Annunciation
Cathedral alongside the dominating Kremlin Walls.
St. Basil’s Cathedral, rising with its fairytale
spires is well worth a visit. Why not let us take you out of hours
when all the tourists have gone to truly appreciate this architectural
masterpiece.
Day 3 - Moscow
Why not visit the Tretyakov Gallery, housing the
most important collection of Russian art in the world or wander among
the eclectic stalls and shop at Izmaylovsky market offering Matryoshka
dolls, lacquered boxes, art, antiques and souvenirs. For
a Cold War journey allow us to take you into a bunker and visit the
KGB museum. Alternatively for an out of this world journey follow us
to the cosmonaut training centre and enjoy a space lunch, a zero
gravity flight and perhaps meet a cosmonaut. The
famed Bolshoi ballet has its home in Moscow. Enjoy a backstage tour of
the theatre or your own ballet academy class visit to see the budding
prima ballerinas in training.
Day 4 - Moscow/St. Petersburg
Transfer this evening to the train station for the
overnight first class train to St. Petersburg.
Day 5 - St. Petersburg
Arrive in the morning and transfer to the Grand
Hotel Europe for the next four nights.
With
so much to see in this stunning city take your pick of our suggestions
below. St.
Isaac’s Cathedral’s Golden Dome dominates a piece of the St.
Petersburg skyline, generating dramatic city views from the colonnade.
The stunning neoclassical exterior conceals rich contents, with
coloured marble floors, intricate mosaics and bronze reliefs. The
Hermitage Museum is of the world’s greatest art galleries. Its vast
collection of Western art, Oriental arms and Russian prehistoric
artefacts will amaze. Its monumental Winter Palace, in its green,
white and gold Baroque style, reflects the strength and authority of
former imperial Russia. Peter & Paul Fortress is the oldest
building in St. Petersburg and it boasts the Tsars’ Tombs as well as
a history of famous political prisoners inside its magnificent baroque
interior.
Day 6 - St. Petersburg
Enjoy a backstage tour of the Mariinsky Theatre
known to some as the Kirov - St. Petersburg’s most prestigious
theatre.
Let
us take you on a private insight of Russia with a cooking lesson in
Podvorye Russian cuisine restaurant followed by a Matroyoshka painting
class. Take home delicious Russian recipes and your own Russian dolls.
Day 7 - St. Petersburg
We suggest you travel into the countryside to
Pushkin to visit the sparkling Catherine Palace. Catherine I
commissioned her Pushkin Summer Palace in 1717, requiring Russia’s
first railway to transport the royal family. The flamboyant rococo
style and dramatically lavish interior were added over the years by
consequent Empresses whilst the surrounding parks and woodlands
conceal galleries, ruins and extraordinary structures, reportedly
built purely for Catherine’s pleasure.
Day 8 - St. Petersburg
Visit Petrodvorets, the great summer palace of Peter
the Great. The Grand Cascade, a sequence of 37 gilded bronze
sculptures, 64 fountains and 142 water jet, descends from beneath the
Grand Palace to the Baltic Sea and is one of the largest fountain
ensembles in the world.
Take
a Troyka ride to the Yusupov Palace where in 1916, Rasputin was
allegedly murdered by Prince Felix Yusupov and friends.
Day 9 - St. Petersburg/London
Transfer for your British Airways flight to
London-Heathrow.
