Arrival to Moscow. You will be met, greeted, and escorted to your hotel.

This evening you can relax and have a welcome drink with the Russian team.

Today we offer you some insights into the rich history of Moscow as you step into Red Square and admire the colorful domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral.

View famous landmarks including the Savior Tower, the Kremlin Walls, GUM Department Store, the State Historical Museum and Vladimir Lenin ’s Mausoleum.

Then drive around the Kremlin and view the Christ the Savior Cathedral, a church with a controversial history.

After lunch enter the Kremlin walls to feel the country both past and present.  The Kremlin is an old fortress and the most important historical and political center of Russia.  You will see the Kremlin’s compositional center and see the three main cathedrals – the Assumption, the Annunciation, and the Archangel’s Michael Cathedral.

Visit the Armory Chamber – the treasury of Russian tsars that houses a collection of unique jewelry, court regalia, armor, coronation dresses, golden carriages, and some of the fabulous and priceless Easter Eggs by Karl Faberge.

In the evening, enjoy a dinner a la Russe, and soak up the unique atmosphere of downtown Moscow.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with wine

After breakfast, take a Metro ride with your guide and explore the grandeur of its most impressive stations.  Then step on Lubyanka Square to see a memorial to the victims of political repression “Solovetsky Stone” and learn what it was like to live under the KGB’s watchful eye.

Walk along the embankment under Krymsky Bridge from Gorky Park to the Park of Arts Muzeon. It is one of the largest Russian outdoor museums where the statues of disgraced leaders share their place with diverse creations by contemporary sculptors.

Optionally, experience the real tank ride outside of Moscow! Ride a real Soviet T-34 tank – a legendary war machine, which carried the Soviet Union to victory in WWII. Shoot Ak-47 in an authentic environment of the military base! Get ready for a real Russian military experience!

Meals: Breakfast

Meet your guide in the lobby and depart to Kubinka (a 60 to 90 minute drive from Moscow).  Spend the day in the Park of Patriots and visit the Tank Museum.  It houses over 268 samples of Soviet and Russian tanks, aircrafts, armored vehicles, and special military equipment.  Get acquainted with various equipment of World War II including Soviet vehicles, equipment of Nazi Germany, Japan, and the Allies – the United States of America and Great Britain.  Most of the vehicles regularly take part in historical events and reconstructions.  You will have a chance to explore inside the tanks and test yourself with the tank simulator.

Hungry from your morning activity?  Try army porridge with stewed beef, partisan borsch with bread from a Russian stove, and enjoy a delicious tea from Samovar.

After lunch continue the tour and explore the best collection of weapons and equipment from 14 countries including a T-35 tank, a missile tank, a SAU-100U, the Pz-VIII Maus tank, and the Karl mortar.  Your day ends by returning to your hotel and enjoying any free time on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel and depart to Kursky railway station.  From there you will board the train to Vladimir and enjoy the atmosphere of an ancient castle (Kremlin) in Suzdal.  Try tasty local specialties like kulebyaka, pirozhki, rasstegai, and vatrushka. 

Play the game “guess the dish,” and try to pronounce its name while Indulging in a shot of Nalivka (a local alcohol drink) to help you guess. Tour Suzdal’s Kremlin which was built in the 10^th century.

Later, travel to the charming ancient town of Vladimir, to see unique examples of Russian architecture and fresco paintings of the 12^th century.

In the evening board the train from Suzdal back to Moscow.  Upon arrival, you will be escorted to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

If you are interested in old tunnels and unusual buildings and want to learn the Soviet secrets, visit the real Bunker.  In it, you will explore the recently declassified facility of the Cold War period located in the very center of Moscow.  This bunker was constructed in the 1950s due to the threat of Nuclear war. Go under the ground via a metal staircase (200 steps) to examine the tunnels connected to the Moscow Metro system.  

Visit Poklonnaya Hill (Bow Hill) – commemorating the events of World War II from a Russian perspective.  Admire the breathtaking monument commemorating those who perished in the war and visit the Victory Museum.  This is a military display of the Museum and acts as a chronicle of the war through official documents, letters, newspaper articles, photographs and paintings.  In the Hall of Memory there are showcases containing books with the names of those who died.  Finish your tour by visiting the open-air exhibition that hosts the great collection of WWII military equipment.

Meals: Breakfast

After check out you will be transferred to Leningradsky railway station to board the rapid train Sapsan to St. Petersburg. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, you will check in to your hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast enjoy the tour of the northern capital of Russia, lovely St. Petersburg. Your first sight is viewing the impressive St. Isaac’s Cathedral and Palace Square.  Take in the spectacular panorama of the General Staff building, Alexander Column, and the Hermitage.

Next, the City tour will feature a splendid view from the Spit of Vasilievsky Island.  Continuing your tour you will see the oldest part of the city, Peter and Paul Fortress.  This is where the town of Peter started in 1703.  You will continue past the Field of Mars and the Summer Gardens to the most famous church in the city, the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood.

After lunch, learn about the Great October Revolution of 1917 and stop at the famous Aurora Cruiser.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning you will have an unforgettable tour of Peterhof Park, the “capital of fountains” with its most famous Grand Cascade.  It is beautiful in the summertime when the impressive 64 different fountains and numerous bronze statues, bas-reliefs, and other decorations dot the landscape. 

A highlight of your stay is a guided visit to the famous Hermitage Museum with its masterpieces by hundreds of artists including Renoir, Da Vinci, and Matisse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today learn the history of the Russian Navy on a fascinating tour of Kronshtadt, located on the Gulf of Finland close to St. Petersburg.  Walk along the banks of Kotlin Island and visit the splendid Naval Cathedral, one of the historic forts.

After lunch return to St. Petersburg and visit the Central Naval Museum.  View the collections of artifacts, models and paintings reflecting the history of the Russian Navy from Peter the Great to current day.  View the botik (boat) in which Peter the Great (known as the grandfather of the Russian Navy) learned to sail, and Russia’s oldest surviving submarine, designed in 1881.  Learn about the Disaster at Tsushima Bay, a sea battle with Japan in which the Cruiser Aurora survived.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning depart to the Pushkin town or Tsarskoye Selo, just outside St. Petersburg.  It is famed for its majestic Catherine’s palace where 

Empress Catherine the Great lived and died.  Its main attractions are the mirrored Grand Ballroom and the opulent Amber Room.  You will continue to the beautiful Catherine Park surrounding the palace to view its outdoor splendor. After lunch, you will return to St. Petersburg and enjoy a canal cruise.  As you view the city from the water, you will see a different and magnificent view of St. Petersburg. 

In the evening, enjoy vodka tasting with dinner! Get to know how to do shots the Russian way (by saying a special toast!) and pair vodka with tasty local dishes. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with vodka tasting

Departure transfer for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast