Is Russia the native land of vodka, bears or the KGB?
It’s a heady mix of people, traditions and rich history.
Tentative Itinerary
Optional: WED July 14 and THU July 15, Kiev, Ukraine,

FRI July 16, Depart USA
SAT July 17 Moscow
Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to Hotel. After check-in, the rest of day is free to relax. (O)

SUN July 18 Moscow
In the morning- tour of the city will take you to the most famous historical and architectural places: Red Square with it's famous landmarks of St. Basil's Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral, the Place of Skulls, the elegant arcades of the GUM department store and the National Historical Museum. Visit of Church of the Trinity in Nikitinki, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Novodevichiy Convent, Luzhniki and the White House. The Sparrow Hills, 6 km south-west of the Kremlin, topped by the Moscow University skyscraper, for the best panoramic view of the city.
In the afternoon - tour of Kremlin, Armory and the Diamond Fund. The main landmarks are three Cathedrals of the Assumption, Annunciation and Archangel , dated back to the 15-16th centuries. Other landmarks are Ivan the Great Bell Tower , Tsar Bell, Tsar Cannon, Hall of Facets and Terem Place . Armory is famous for its stunning collection of treasures accumulated over the centuries by the Russian State and Church. The collection is famous for its royal regalia, Faberge Easter eggs of precious metals and jewels, the 800-diamond throne of Tsar Alexey, the jewel-studded and sable-trimmed gold Cap of Monomakh worn for coronations for two centuries, the coronation dresses of the 18th century empresses, the sleigh in which Elizabeth rode from St. Petersburg to Moscow for her coronation pulled by 23 horses at a time. Between the Armory and the Annunciation Cathedral is the Great Kremlin Palace - the official residence of Russian president. (B,O)

MON July 19 Moscow  
In the morning - Moscow Metro tour followed by the visit to the State Tretyakov Gallery, one of the most celebrated and extensive collections of Russian art and artifacts in the world located in one of the oldest districts of Moscow - Zamoskvorechye. The Gallery's collection consists entirely of Russian art and artists who have made great contribution to the history of Russian art or been closely connected with it. The collection contains more than 130 000 works of painting, sculpture and graphics, created throughout the centuries by successive generations of Russian artists. (B,O)

Tue July 20 Moscow - Sergeiv Posad - Novgorod
All day tour to Sergiev Posad. Sergiev Posad is located about 70 km from the capital. The town was built around the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius, and is one of Russia's most important religious and historic landmarks, a place of pilgrimage of the Russian Orthodox Church and one of the most interesting museums where one may find the icons of Andrei Rublev and other famous masters of the 15th-18th centuries. The architectural ensemble of the monastery is a unique combination of different architectural styles forming the most impressive and harmonious composition. Visit of the Old Russia Applied Art Museum and the Art Museum. Return to Moscow for overnight train to Novogorod .
Overnight sleeper train to Novgorod.  (B)

WED July 21 Novgorod - St. Petersburg
Morning sightseeing tour of Novgorod includes the Kremlin, St. Sofia Cathedral and Yaroslav Court.
Afternoon drive to St. Petersburg, often called the "Venice of the North". Hotel Check-in. (O)

THU July 22 St. Petersburg
After breakfast  take a sightseeing tour of St. Petersburg . You will see the elegant buildings on the Nevsky Prospect along the Neva River, charming canals and narrow streets remind you of the best European traditions. The tour will take you to Nevsky Prospect, Kazan Cathedral, Admiralty, Fontanka, Canal Griboyedova, the Palace Square , Winter Palace , Summer Gardens and other remarkable buildings. The tour includes St. Isaac's Cathedral and Peter and Paul Fortress.
In the afternoon, visit - the Hermitage Art Museum - one of the nation's main glories. The State Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings situated along the embankment of the River Neva, right in the heart of St Petersburg. (B,O)

FRI July 23  St. Petersburg
After breakfast, tour to the Peterhoff, located on the southern shore of the Finnish Gulf.  Peterhof is the kingdom of fountains. There are 144 fountains, all operating without the use of pumps by a combination of naturally generated water pressure and magic. Each fountain is unique and once you step in the area of the kingdom of fountains you will be surprised by this splendid beauty created by a man.
Enjoy a splendid and authentic Russian folk show "Feel Yourself Russian!" at the Nikolaevsky Palace which is a pearl of the architecture of St-Petersburg. Every day there is a folklore show on its stage, performed by professional Folk Ensembles known all around the world. Amazing dances of Cossacks, Russian folk orchestra, lyrical round dances and heartfelt songs - all this will acquaint you with a cultural traditions and art of Russia. The ticket includes one drink of your choice - vodka, champagne, wine and traditional Russian snacks�mineral water, fruits, juices. (B, O)

SAT July 24 St. Petersburg
After breakfast - all day tour to Pushkin & Pavlosk. The town is located 25-30 km from St. Petersburg . Pushkin's palaces and parks were created under Empresses Elizabeth and Catherine the Great between 1744 and 1796. The main landmark is the Catherine Palace designed by Rastrelli and named after Elizabeth 's mother, Peter the Great's second wife. Pushkin's original name is Tsarskoye Selo (Tsar's Village). It was renamed in 1937 after Russia 's famous poet who used to study here.
Pavlovsk 's parks, lakes and rivers, valleys and avenues, classical statues and temples are the most exquisite. The Great Palace is the centerpiece of Pavlovsk, designed by Charles Cameron between 1781 and 1786 on Catherine the Great's orders for her son Pavel, the future Paul I. (B, O)

SUN July 25 St. Petersburg
Breakfast. Transfer to airport. End of the tour.
B=Breakfast;  D=Dinner;  L=Lunch;  O=Overnight
Includes:

• 3 nights each in Moscow (hotel "Borodino")
• 5 nights in St. Petersburg (hotel "Moscow")
• Escorted Sightseeing Tours with an English speaking guide - per itinerary
• Transportation by Private Coach-Minivan, Train -1st Class sleeper.
• All Entrance and Admission fees
• Airport / Train Station / Port  / Hotel Transfers
• All Taxes and Service charges

Highlights:

• Moscow City Tour
• Red Square, Kremlin and Armory Tour
• Metro Tour
• Tretyakov Gallery & Arbat Street
• Sergeiv Posad
• City Tour of Novgorod (including Kremlin, St. Sophia Cathedral, Yaroslav Court)
• City Tour of St. Petersburg (including St. Isaac Cathedral and Peter and Paul Fortress)
• Private Hermitage Tour
• Tour to Pushkin and Pavlovsk (including St. Catherine Palace and Amber Room)
• Tour to Peterhoff

Rates:
Per person (double occupancy): $2385.00 per person, $ 799.00 single supplement (hotel room only) $ 200.00 train single supplement
Optional Extension to Kiev, Ukraine: Tentative Itinerary
$385, if minimum 15 participants, international flight extra
July 14 Depart for Kiev
July 15 Kiev
Arrival in Kiev. Transfer to Hotel. After check-in, the rest of day is free to relax. (O)
July 16 Kiev
After breakfast enjoy a 5-hour city tour of Kiev - the largest city and the capital of the Ukraine with a population of almost 3 million people. It is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe dating back to the 5th century. On your tour you will see the famous UNESCO World Heritage sites St. Sophia Cathedral and Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Mariynskiy Palace, St. Michael, St. Andrew's, St. Vladimir Cathedrals, the reconstructed Golden Gate and other notable monuments such as statue of Bogdan Khmelnitsky astride his horse, the monument of Vladimir the Great, the Baptizer of Rus, the monument to Kyi, Schek Khoryv and Lybid - the legendary founders of the city located at the Dnieper embankment. Modern landmarks are the Mother Motherland Statue standing at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War on the right bank of the Dniepr River, The Glory Square, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame at the WWII memorial. The tour includes visit to Kiev Pechersk Lavra.  (B,O)
July 17 Kiev - Moscow