Gardens and pavilions of the Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia

Trip Details at-a-Glance

Cost From: $4995   see pricing
Length: 10 days
Arrive: Moscow, Russia
Depart: St.Petersburg, Russia
Lodging: 9 nights hotels
Meals: All breakfasts plus one lunch included
Activity: Cultural Adventures
Trip Level: Easy to Moderate
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Highlights

  • Visit Moscow’s Red Square and the Kremlin, with its treasures including Faberge’s bejeweled eggs
  • Discover Old Russia in history-filled medieval towns along the Volga River
  • Explore romantic St. Petersburg, capital of the Czars, with its palaces and Hermitage Museum

Choosing the Right Trip

We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References

We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.

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Resources

Explore Moscow, Russia’s Mother City, where Red Square, the Kremlin, and the Armory Museum offer a magnificent introduction to the grand sweep of Russian history, then head into the “Golden Ring” of medieval towns with onion-domed churches rising along the Volga River, including the Holy City of Suzdal, founded in 1024. For a grand finale, an overnight train ride brings you to stunning St. Petersburg, Peter the Great’s creation, one of the most charming cities in Europe. You’ll explore St. Petersburg’s leafy parks, romantic palaces, including Catherine the Great’s magnificent 18th century home, and the peerless Hermitage, one of the world’s greatest art collections. Your Private Journey includes your own English-speaking guide and private car with driver as well as a choice of either First Class or Deluxe accommodations.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Moscow

Your explorations of Moscow include St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin, with its artistic treasures including Faberge’s bejeweled eggs, and the Tretyakov, the world’s largest collection of Russian art. At night, a performance at the opera or ballet is a delightful option.

Days 4-5
Sergiev Posad / Suzdal

Journey out to the renowned “Golden Ring” cities in the scenic Volga River region. En route to ancient Suzdal, visit Sergiev Posad, a town that grew around the Trinity St. Sergiev Monastery, founded in the 1340, and the 12th century city of Pereslavl Zalessky. Suzdal is a gorgeous country town of wood-and-stone houses. Savor the heritage of this 10th century gem, with its posad (old trading quarter) and delicate wooden churches. The next day, visit the city of Vladimir to see the graceful 12th century Cathedral of St. Demetrius, with its masterfully carved exterior and take the overnight train to St. Petersburg.

Days 6-10
St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, for 200 years the capital of the czars, is unique in its beauty, with miles of canals linked by graceful bridges and exquisite 18th century architecture. Explore the Hermitage, Museum, visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, one of the first structures ever built in St. Petersburg, tour Catherine’s Palace and the gardens at Peterhof. Depart on Day 10, or join our Baltic States Extension.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

What the Trip is Like

This trip is Level 1+, Easy to Moderate. This is a relaxed cultural adventure, with walks on the cobbled streets of medieval towns that should be “easy-to-moderate” for the average active traveler. For your own enjoyment, we recommend that you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 PM.

Explanation of Trip Levels

 

When to go

May to September

For our Private Journey trips, you choose your own group and your preferred dates—there are no set departure dates. Private Journeys are available to groups as few as two people or as large as you like. Contact us for availability, questions, or to book your adventure!

Trip Cost

Prices are for 2013

First Class Option

$4995 per person, double occupancy (min 2 people)
Single supplement: $790
Seasonal Surcharge (May 14-June 30): $200 per person double occupancy or $300 single occupancy

Deluxe Option

$5395 per person, double occupancy (min 2 people)
Single Supplement: $850
Seasonal Surcharge (May 14-June 30): $350 per person double occupancy or $700 single occupancy

In 2013, the International Economic Forum and the G20 Summit will be held in St. Petersburg. We will make St. Petersburg hotel substitutions as necessary between the periods of June 16-30 and September 1-30. Land Costs for those time periods are subject to change.

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Trip Cost Includes:

  • Local English-speaking guides throughout
  • Accommodations as noted, based on double occupancy
  • All breakfasts plus one lunch included
  • Land transportation and airport transfers as noted
  • All applicable taxes and entrance fees

Trip Cost Does Not Include:

International airfare, meals not specified (BLD) in this itinerary, airport departure taxes, internal airfare, optional tipping or gratuities to staff, additional hotel nights made necessary by airline schedule changes or other factors, pre-trip expenses such as medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, or passports and visas; and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, and so on).

Trip Payment Schedule

At time of reservation: $500
120 days prior to departure: 20%
60 days prior to departure: Balance

Cancellation and Transfer Fee Schedule*

Minimum fee: $250
46-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost
45 days or less: 100% of trip cost

*Please note that this differs from our regular catalog departures.