9 days / 8 nights

Location	Nights
Moscow	3
Overnight Train	1
St. Petersburg	4

• Discover Moscow and St. Petersburg
• Moscow’s Red Square
• Paint Matryoshka dolls
• Tour St. Petersburg’s Hermitage with the Curator
• Troika ride and private canal cruise in St. Petersburg
• Afternoon tea with a Russian Family
• A&K’s Guardian Angel and Concierge Rail Service

Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive Moscow

Welcome to Russia! Assistance through immigration/customs by an airport representative. Private transfer to your hotel choice of hotel.
Moscow (Choice of category)

Day 02 Moscow

Today’s sightseeing starts at magnificent Red Square with its famous landmarks, St. Basil’s domed cathedral and Lenin’s Tomb. Take a ride on the famous Moscow metro, renowned for the ornate splendour of its stations. This afternoon explore the Kremlin. Visit the Assumption, Archangel, and Annunciation Cathedrals, the Armoury Museum and the Diamond Fund which contains many gems including the 190-carat diamond given to Catherine the Great by her lover (B).
Moscow (Choice of category)

Day 03 Sergiev Posad

Today venture outside Moscow to Sergiev Posad, still commonly referred to by its Soviet name, Zagorsk. One of Russia’s most important religious and historical landmarks, visit the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius and its opulent treasury. For 500 years, this was the most important place of pilgrimage in Russia. Return to Moscow to visit the Tretyakov Gallery, housing the world’s best collection of Russian icons and an outstanding collection of pre-Revolutionary Russian art (B).
Moscow (Choice of category)

Day 04 Design Your Day Moscow

Today you choose how your would like to further explore Moscow. Perhaps select a private visit to Stalin’s Bunker or a tou of the Novodevichy convent complex. Founded in 1584 this magnificent building has 16 gilded domes and was the place that women of nobility, such as Peter the Great’s wife took vows to see their lives out. Or visit Izmaylovo, a handicraft centre famous for its open air market. Here visit the College of Applied Art to take a lesson in the traditional Russian painting of the Matryoshka doll. Learn the techniques of this fine art where upon completion, you may even take home your own hand-painted creation! This evening board the Grand Express overnight train to St. Petersburg (B).
Grand Express Train

Day 05 St. Petersburg

Early morning arrival into St. Petersburg where your hotel room is available for immediate check-in. This afternoon visit one of the most famous museums in the world, the Hermitage, where you are introduced to a small part of the collection on a private 1-hour tour with the curator. Originally commissioned by Catherine the Great as a winter palace, the museum now houses over two million exhibits. Highlights include the Ambassador’s Staircase, the Throne Room and the Ballroom. Also visit the Gold Vault to view the exquisite royal jewels (B).
Hotel Astoria

Day 06 St. Petersburg

Today’s sightseeing begins at the Peter and Paul Fortress, the oldest building in the city which sits alone on an island on the Neva Delta and acts as the burial site of most of the pre-revolutionary leaders of Russia. Visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral, with its gold covered dome. This afternoon cruise the canals of St. Petersburg on a private cruise for a different perspective of the city and finish your day in the private home of a Russian family for afternoon tea (B).
Hotel Astoria

Day 07 Petrodvorets

This morning travel to the summer palace of Peter the Great. The lavish décor of the buildings is rivalled only by its famous Grand Cascade of fountains. Time permitting, visit one of the smaller palaces such as Peter the Great’s original villa, Monplaisir. Cruise up the Neva River by hydrofoil (weather permitting May-Sep) back to St. Petersburg and visit the dramatically named Church of Spilled Blood (B).
Hotel Astoria

Day 08 Pushkin- Pavlovsk

Visit Pushkin’s beautiful Catherine’s Palace with its formal parks which stretch to Rastrelli’s blue and white Hermitage building. Weather and season permitting enjoy a troika/carriage ride through the grounds. Lunch at the rustic Podvorie Dacha and then onto Pavlovsk Palace, a royal residence until 1917 (B,L).
Hotel Astoria

Day 09 Depart St. Petersburg

This incredible private journey finishes today as you transfer to the airport (B).

Note: Supplement to depart other days of the week. Refer to your A&K travel specialist for details.

Insider Pass

On a visit to St. Petersburg's famous Hermitage museum meet with the curator who will delight in showing you a room of your interest. Spend an hour with the curator as he highlights key pieces of the collection. With more than 1,000 rooms to choose from, some of the most popular include the Gold Treasury, with its Scythian Gold room and world-famous collection from the 7th-4th century BC and the Pavillion Hall of the Small Hermitage, designed in the mid-19th century by Andrei Stakenschneider. Here you will find the amazing Peacock Clock from the collection of Catherine the Great, along with beautiful mosaic floors. Or enjoy a special afternoon, as you visit the private home of a local family. Join the family for tea and cakes as they share their life stories with you, a wonderful snapshot of ‘real’ Russia.

Departure Dates & Prices

From	To	Twin	Single	Three	Four	Price Note
29-03-2007	19-04-2008	AU $ 9,975.00	AU $ 17,530.00	AU $ 10,795.00	AU $ 8,145.00	Gold
05-10-2007	31-10-2007	AU $ 11,210.00	AU $ 19,250.00	AU $ 11,280.00	AU $ 9,295.00	Platinum
05-10-2007	25-10-2007	AU $ 9,975.00	AU $ 17,530.00	AU $ 10,795.00	AU $ 8,145.00	Gold
29-10-2007	14-12-2007	AU $ 9,335.00	AU $ 16,250.00	AU $ 9,955.00	AU $ 7,495.00	Gold
01-11-2007	14-12-2007	AU $ 10,890.00	AU $ 18,570.00	AU $ 10,845.00	AU $ 9,875.00	Platinum
11-01-2008	22-03-2008	AU $ 9,335.00	AU $ 16,250.00	AU $ 9,955.00	AU $ 7,495.00	Gold
18-01-2008	16-03-2008	AU $ 10,890.00	AU $ 18,570.00	AU $ 10,845.00	AU $ 8,975.00	Platinum
25-03-2008	26-03-2008	AU $ 10,890.00	AU $ 18,570.00	AU $ 10,845.00	AU $ 8,975.00	Platinum
27-03-2008	19-04-2008	AU $ 11,210.00	AU $ 19,250.00	AU $ 11,280.00	AU $ 9,295.00	Platinum
20-04-2008	28-05-2008	AU $ 12,100.00	AU $ 20,845.00	AU $ 12,415.00	AU $ 10,200.00	Platinum
20-04-2008	25-07-2008	AU $ 10,860.00	AU $ 19,115.00	AU $ 11,930.00	AU $ 9,035.00	Gold
25-06-2008	25-07-2008	AU $ 12,100.00	AU $ 20,845.00	AU $ 12,415.00	AU $ 10,200.00	Platinum
26-07-2008	16-09-2008	AU $ 11,210.00	AU $ 19,250.00	AU $ 11,280.00	AU $ 9,295.00	Platinum
26-07-2008	31-10-2008	AU $ 9,975.00	AU $ 17,530.00	AU $ 10,795.00	AU $ 8,145.00	Gold
25-09-2008	24-10-2008	AU $ 11,210.00	AU $ 19,250.00	AU $ 11,280.00	AU $ 9,295.00	Platinum
25-10-2008	13-12-2008	AU $ 10,890.00	AU $ 18,570.00	AU $ 10,845.00	AU $ 8,975.00	Platinum
01-11-2008	13-12-2008	AU $ 93,335.00	AU $ 16,250.00	AU $ 9,955.00	AU $ 7,495.00	Gold

Tour Departs: Daily