|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Day 1 |
|
Depart St. Peterburg on an overnight train to Moscow
|
| |
|
For those of you participating in the Moscow Extension, board an overnight train with first class accommodations for your journey to Moscow for the Moscow Extension: the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil's & More.
|
|
| |
|
| Day 2 |
|
Early morning arrival in Moscow * Orientation tour * Afternoon at leisure
|
| |
|
Arrive in the early morning in Moscow. Later, check-in at your hotel (your rooms will not be available until mid-day) and enjoy some time at leisure before your guided orientation tour of Moscow. After lunch in a restaurant enjoy some free time to visit Red Square, exploring this historic square, dominated by colorful 16th c. St. Basil's Cathedral, recognized by its colorful striped & twisted, scalloped & patterned domes that resemble a mass of vivid turbaned heads and the Kremlin or walled fortress. Stroll through the nearby GUM department store. B/L/D Budapest Hotel (3-star)
|
|
| |
|
| Day 3 |
|
Guided tour of Moscow * Novodevichy Convent * Red Square * St. Basil's * Bolshoi Theater (if available)
|
| |
Continue your guided tour of exciting Moscow by bus & on foot. Drive along the Sofia Embankment, Victory Park, the Bolshoi and Maly Theaters, Manezh Square, & Christ the Savior Cathedral. End your day in the Sparrow Hills with a magnificent panoramic view of Moscow, stopping to admire places of special interest. Visit one of Moscow's most beautiful architectural treasures, the 16th c. Novodevichy Convent. Many famous Russians are buried in its cemetery & many deposed royal wives ended their days here amidst golden domes, gloriously painted icons, a lovely bell tower, beautiful chapels & splendid white Smolensk Cathedral.
After lunch, enter the nearby Kremlin once ruled by Ivan the Terrible, Stalin, Lenin & Khrushchev. Wonder at the magnificent cathedrals located within the Kremlin walls, with their layers of golden "onion domes," filled with gorgeous 15th c. murals, 17th c. frescoes, elaborate wood carvings, the opulent tombs of Russian Orthodox patriarchs & colorful icons, many of which were painted in Pskov or Novgorod. Admire the fabulous State & Church treasures in the Armory, including thrones of gold & diamonds; crowns of gold, fur & jewels; coronation robes of czars & czarinas; royal coaches; & fabulous Faberge creations in precious metals & jewels. In the evening, enjoy a performance at the Bolshoi Theatre, if available (TBA). Dinner in the theater’s café with a stipend. B/L/D Budapest Hotel (3-star) |
|
| |
|
| Day 4 |
|
Tretiakov Gallery * Moscow's Metro Stations * Farewell Dinner
|
| |
|
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Spend a morning at the famed Tretiakov Gallery, with the world's best collection of Russian icons & other spectacular collections of pre-revolutionary Russian art, including many renowned masterpieces. Take a delightful afternoon tour of some of Moscow's fabulous underground Metro stations - each uniquely decorated with everything from crystal chandeliers to colorful mosaics of historic events, marble-covered walls & bronze sculptures. Conclude your afternoon with a truly unforgettable performance by the famed Moscow Circus! Enjoy a memorable farewell dinner accompanied by folkloric entertainers, sampling some of the best of the traditional Russian cuisine you will enjoy throughout your time in vibrant Mother Russia. B/L/D Budapest Hotel (3-star)
|
|
| |
|
| Day 5 |
|
Depart Moscow * Return Home
|
| |
|
After breakfast, depart from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on your return flight home. B
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
