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| Day 1 |
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DEPART FROM U. S.
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Depart from the U. S. on your overnight flights to Russia.
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| Day 2 |
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ARRIVE IN MOSCOW, RUSSIA * WELCOME COCKTAIL RECEPTION
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Arrive in Moscow (WHS), where your guide will meet you at the airport. Have some time to discover the city’s attractions before a Welcome Cocktail Reception and dinner on board the M.S. Tolstoy. D
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| Day 3 |
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MOSCOW * RED SQUARE * ST. BASIL'S CATHEDRAL * TRETYAKOV ART MUSEUM
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Disembark after breakfast for a sightseeing tour of Russia’s beautiful capital city, which was founded in 1147. Visit Moscow’s principal sights, including historic Red Square—bordered by the east wall of the Kremlin, the GUM Department store with its glass-roofed arcade, the Historical Museum, and the landmark St. Basil’s Cathedral with its colorful onion domes plus the Lenin Hills, Tverkaya, Lubyanka Square (KGB building) and Arbat Street. . See the Metro, Moscow’s fabulous underground, lavishly decorated with mosaics, glass and marble. In the afternoon, visit the Tretyakov Art Museum, which houses the world’s greatest collection of Russian art, from medieval icons to nationalist paintings of the 1870s. B, L, D M.S. Tolstoy
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| Day 4 |
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KREMLIN * ARMORY MUSEUM
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This morning, continue your sightseeing in Moscow with a tour of the Kremlin, the former royal residence of the Car and the main center of the Russian Orthodox faith with magnificent palaces and cathedrals. Tour the Armory Museum, Russia’s oldest museum, which houses the former royal collection, including the famed Fabergé Easter eggs, armory, royal carriages, and jewel-studded royal regalia. The afternoon is free to explore further on your own. B, L, D M.S. Tolstoy |
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| Day 5 |
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FULL DAY AT LEISURE
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Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this magnificent city. B/L/D |
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| Day 6 |
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CRUISE * UGLICH
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Having cruised through the Moscow Canal to the Volga, arrive at the town of Uglich, founded by merchants in 1148. Rich in history, admire some of Russia’s most beautiful churches and cathedrals. During your walking tour of Uglich see the red Church of Dmitry on the Blood, built in the 1690’s to commemorate the spot where the body of Tsar Ivan the Terrible’s son Dmitry, probably murdered on the orders of Boris Godunov, was found. Nearby is the Transfiguration Cathedral, and not far away is Russia’s first Vodka Museum. At night you’ll continue your cruise through Rybinsk Lake and along the Volga. B, L, D M.S. Tolstoy
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| Day 7 |
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YAROSLAVL
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After an overnight cruise on the Volga, visit Yaroslavl, one of Russia’s most beautiful and oldest cities, tracing its roots back to the Viking Russ. Founded in 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl Rivers, Yaroslavl prospered in the 13th century and enjoyed a revival, as a center for European trade, four centuries later. Explore the city’s history through its architecture, including visits to the ancient fortified 12th c. Monastery of the Transfiguration and the later cream-colored Church of Elijah the Prophet decorated with ornate murals and icons. B, L, D M.S. Tolstoy
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| Day 8 |
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GORITSY
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Relax and enjoy your journey through the White Lake and the Volga-Baltic Canal. Today’s stop is Goritsy, a peaceful farming town and a typical Russian village, where you will be able to meet residents and become acquainted with life in a small Russian town. Your visit will include the Monastery of St. Cyril on the White Lake, which is currently being restored, and the Museum of Icons. The cruise then continues past the forests of Karelia toward Kizhi, on beautiful Lake Onega. B, L, D M.S. Tolstoy |
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| Day 9 |
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KIZHI ISLAND
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Kizhi (WHS), one of the many islands that dot the north end of Lake Onega, has become a museum of amazing wooden architecture. Forever linked to Novgorod the Great; the style of architecture reflects its early introduction to Christianity. The harmoniously proportioned 1764 Church of Intercession, built without use of a single nail, stands as a monument to Karelia’s master craftsmen. Next door to this masterpiece is the Transfiguration Cathedral, with its 22 domes. On your walking tour you’ll see both, and the Museum of Wooden Architecture, where houses, churches and other structures have been gathered from around the region. B, L, D M.S. Tolstoy
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| Day 10 |
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SVIRSTROY
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Svirstroy, about 100 miles from St. Petersburg, has a population of only about 1,000. Enjoy some free time to stroll through this unspoiled Russian village and shop for souvenirs. B/L/D
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| Day 11 |
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ST. PETERSBURG * HERMITAGE MUSUEM
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Today arrive in St. Petersburg (WHS). Peter the Great had the city built at the beginning of the 18th c. as Russia’s “Window to the West.” The city’s network of islands, canals and hundreds of graceful bridges has also earned it the name “Venice of the North” for its romantic image. St. Petersburg is home to many museums, galleries, palaces, impressive square and streets. For your first day in St. Petersburg, enjoy a city tour including Nevsky Prospect, Palace Square, St. Isssac’s Cathedral and the battle cruiser Aurora. Later, tour the Hermitage Museum, the former Palace of the Czars, which houses the royal art collection of over 3 million works of art; one of the biggest and most impressive art museums in the world. B, L, D M.S. Tolstoy
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| Day 12 |
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ST. PETERSBURG * PETERHOF
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Today you will tour Peterhof, which may be St. Petersburg’s most spectacular Imperial Estate. Nestled on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, the palace was built by Peter the Great as a resting place en route to the Imperial naval base. Recognizing the beauty of the area, the Tsar then conceived of developing a vast estate with gardens intended to rival those of Versailles. The Monplaisir Palace and the fountains were built in his lifetime, leaving Catherine the Great to complete the Great Palace. In your free time absorb the atmosphere of St. Petersburg’s vibrant cultural life. Tonight, explore on your own, or come along for an optional folklore show of dance or music B, L, D M.S. Tolsto
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| Day 13 |
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ST. PETERSBURG * BALLET PERFORMANCE AT HERMITAGE MUSEUM
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This morning, stroll along one of the many picturesque canals or join an optional excursion to Pushkin (known in the time of the Tsars as Tsarskoe Selo), to visit the spectacular baroque Catherine Palace, some rooms of which have been magnificently restored, including the famous Amber Room. Enjoy the park with its pavilions, ponds and sculptures. This evening be our guest at an exclusive ballet performance at the Hermitage Theatre, the former theatre of the czars. B, L, D M.S. Tolstoy
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| Day 14 |
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DEPART ST. PETERSBURG * ARRIVE USA
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After breakfast, transfer to St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo 2 Airport for your return flights to the U. S. B
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