Availability Period: August 9-17, 2008.
St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is often referred to as the Venice of the North or the Paris of the East, but its beauty is really a brand all its own. From the White Nights festival during the mysterious summer twilight to top theater and ballet productions and concerts on magical winter evenings, the city offers a vibrant cultural life that is second to none.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 - Saturday - 9th August: Leaving London Heathrow at 09.55 we travel on the direct British Airways flight to St Petersburg. Flight time is just over 3 hours and lunch is served on-board. Indirect flights are available from other UK airports. Road transfer to our 4-star hotel in the center of the old city. After time to settle in we meet for a short orientation tour of the city followed by a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Includes: (L), (D).
Day 2 - Sunday - 10th August: Today we enjoy a full day touring stunning St Petersburg, taking in landmarks sights such as Palace Square, Nevski Prospect, St Isaac's Cathedral and the Aurora battleship. Visits are made to the Winter Palace and Hermitage with one of the world's finest collections of art, as well as the Peter and Paul Fortress where all but one of Russia's Tsars lie at rest. Lunch is taken aboard a privately chartered boat whilst we enjoy cruising the canals of the city sometimes known as the 'Venice of the North'. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 3 - Monday - 11th August: Today we join our steam-hauled private charter train for the short run to Pushkin. This was Russia’s first railway line, opened in 1836, with originally one track for the Tsar, and another for everyone else! On arrival lunch is taken in the Podvorye restaurant before touring Catherine’s sumptuous Summer Palace, including the world-renowned ‘Amber Room’, now fully restored. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 4 - Tuesday - 12th August: This morning we travel by hydrofoil directly from the heart of the city along the Gulf of Finland to Peter the Great's retreat at Peterhof, where the stunning water gardens were inspired by Versailles. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant before we visit the large railway museum which houses Russia’s largest collection of vintage locomotives and railway artifacts. In the evening why not visit the theater, opera or circus (cost not included). Includes: (B), (L).
Day 5 - Wednesday - 13th August: In the morning we visit the fascinating ‘Children's Railway’, one of many such 750mm lines of the old Soviet Union. The St Petersburg line opened in 1948 but despite many changes, still fulfills its original role of training youngsters to become railwaymen on the ‘big railway’. We will ride on the line behind their vintage diesel locomotive and coaches.
St Petersburg also has one of the world's most extensive tram systems and lunch today is taken aboard a charter vintage tram car as we travel around the city. The afternoon is free for your own leisure or exploration of the city and our guides will be on hand to assist with planning your time if required. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 6 - Thursday - 14th August: This morning we board our privately chartered rail car and head north-west along the scenic route hugging the Gulf of Finland, where we stop to enjoy a traditional Russian shashlyk (barbecue) lunch. Wine, champagne, caviar and, of course vodka, are served to accompany your lunch before arrival in the city of Vyborg.
A tour of this city, once part of Finland, is included. Return to St Petersburg is by express train. For those continuing on to Moscow we have free time allowed for you to take dinner at your leisure in the restaurant of your choice (cost not included). Late evening you board the “Lev Tolstoy” overnight sleeping car Express train to Moscow, with accommodation in twin-berth sleeper compartments. Includes: (B), (L).
St Petersburg Option:
Day 7 - Friday - 15th August: A free day for your own exploration or leisure. In the evening we meet up for a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 8 - Saturday - 16th August: In the afternoon we transfer to the airport for our British Airways flight back to London Heathrow arriving at 17.40. Indirect flights are available to other UK airports.
Moscow Option:
Day 7 - Friday - 15th August: We have a morning arrival in the Russian capital, now barely recognizable as the former center of the communist world. The imposing architecture here is the perfect contrast to St Petersburg and an orientation tour introduces you to the city’s principal sights before checking into our hotel after lunch. In the evening why not visit the Bolshoi Ballet (cost not included). Includes: (B), (L).
Day 8 - Saturday - 16th August: Today we travel on the Moscow Metro, like no other mass transit system in the world. Where else are stations are extravagantly decorated with marble, stained glass, mosaics, statues and chandeliers? However, on a purely practical level the Moscow metro carries more passengers than the London and New York systems combined, plus its stations double up as nuclear bomb shelters.
The morning is set aside for a visit to the Kremlin, including the Armour with the best collection of Russian ceremonial regalia, including the world-renowned Trans-Siberian Fabergé egg. The tour ends at Red Square with its trademark St Basil's Cathedral. From here a wide choice of restaurants and cafes are available for lunch (cost not included) and the afternoon is free for your own exploration. We meet up in the evening to round off the day with a farewell dinner. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 9 - Sunday - 17th August: Free morning. After lunch we provide you with an airport transfer for your return flight from Moscow to the UK, with dinner served on board. Includes: (B), (D).
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Full 8 day holiday from London in a shared room: £1,499
Full 8 day holiday from St.Petersburg in a shared room: £1,199
Single room supplement: £300
Moscow add-on in shared room: £280
Moscow add-on in single room: £390
Price Includes:
- All trains and excursions as listed in the itinerary
- 4-star hotel accommodation
- Meals as listed in the itinerary(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- Services of our tour guides in Russia (holiday is fully escorted)
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Russia
Cultural Journey
Railway Trips
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