Day One, Friday
Your plane lands in Moscow, the capital of Russia, which history dates back to the 12th century.

One of the largest cities in Europe, a home for 10 million people, Moscow managed to preserve great number of historical monuments as well as its old urban structure. Russians say that the history of Moscow is the history of the whole Russian country. Meet your local expert-guide who will show you as much of Moscow as possible.

Transfer to your hotel by comfortable coach.
Check-in at the 5-star Aurora Royal Marriott hotel, the finest in Moscow, located right in the heart of Moscow, behind the Bolshoy Theatre and close to the Red Square. After rest meet your group members this evening during welcome dinner in one of the elegant restaurants of the hotel.

When the evening rush hour is over it is time to start your first exploration of Moscow with coach and guide.
In the night Moscow is especially beautiful, enjoy breath-taking panoramas of Kremlin and Red Square.
Return to hotel around midnight.

Day Two, Saturday

After breakfast your guide will take you inside the Kremlin, the historical nucleus of the city, the former residence of the Czars, now the seat of the Russian President. You will see Kremlin Cathedrals, the huge Belfry of Ivan the Terrible, the Czar Bell and Czar Cannon.
By special arrangement visit the Diamond Fund of Russia – a largest display of historic diamonds and Czars regalia.

Have lunch at restaurant GODUNOV serving Russian cuisine according to XVII century recipes. Enjoy Borsch – a traditional beetroot soup with meat and Smetana – sour cream which is added to nearly every dish in Russia!

Try and distinguish three different types of home-brewed colored vodkas.

Have a walk across the main place of Moscow – the famous Red Square, flanked by the redbrick Kremlin walls and huge building of GUM department store on the opposite side. Enjoy the view of Kremlin towers, History Museum and Cathedral of St. Basil with colorful onion-shape domes.

Return to the Kremlin after hours when it is closed for general public for private visit to the Armory Chamber. Enjoy the Armory’s huge collection consisting of many precious gifts once presented to Russian Czars by foreign monarchs and ambassadors as well as their thrones, ceremonial carriages, clothes, crowns and armor.

The tour ends up with a very special
performance of the Kremlin Choir.

Depart Kremlin to visit another unique place – the world’s largest panorama of the Borodino Battle, the largest battle during the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon. It was created at the request of Russian Czar by French artists F. Roubaud in 1912 at 100-anniversary of the victory over Napoleon. Enjoy the largest painting of the world over a glass of champagne.

Continue by foot for dinner at restaurant “Sudar”.
Resembling a mansion of a nobleman, the restaurant specializes on gourmet Russian cuisine of the XIX century. Enjoy traditional Russian specialties, warm Russian hospitality and, of course, vodka!

Return to hotel. Overnight.

Day Three, Sunday

Start a panoramic tour of the capital. You will see many ancient churches and cathedrals, Russian White House and huge cathedral of Christ the Savior. Passing the University, continue to the Sparrow Hills, the highest place in Moscow. End the tour with a visit to the ancient Novodevichy Covent.

Lunch is served in the elegant Vanil restaurant located next to the Cathedral.
It is a fine example of haute cuisine place with refined service where well-to-do Muscovites go.

Depart for the airport for the flight to St. Petersburg – a close neighbor of Moscow. The distance is 700 km and the flight takes approximately one hour and is operated by local airline PULKOVO.

Arrival to St. Petersburg by plane. Meet and greet by the guide.
Transfer to the hotel combined with a brief panoramic tour of the main embankments of the powerful Neva river. Express check-in at the Astoria - the historic deluxe hotel built in 1912 in the heart of the city. It has been completely refurbished in 2001 and preserved the charm of the old hotel with traditions in combination with latest modern conveniences. Now the hotel is a member of the prestigious hotel group - The Leading Hotels of the World.

End the day with welcome dinner at the Winter Garden of Astoria.
Enjoy a lavish buffet of traditional Russian cold appetizers, try Pelmeni and Beef Stroganoff and, of course, Russian vodka!
A very special entertainment awaits you in the end of the dinner.
Overnight

Day Four, Monday
After breakfast start a panoramic city tour. There is one museum in the city that is never closed – the city itself. Discover St. Petersburg – a city of infinite charm with its majestic palaces, churches and cathedrals, river embankments, beautiful parks and innumerous bridges – a city of imperial proportions and romantic vistas which has been a source of inspiration for the generations of artists.

Visit Peter and Paul Fortress. It is the historical nucleus of the city as well as one of the most interesting and beautiful architectural landmarks. St. Peter & Paul Cathedral with its long gilded spire is the burial place of all Russian emperors from Peter the Great to the last of the Romanovs – Nicholas II. Designed to protect newly acquired lands in the mouth of the Neva River, the fortress lost its military significance before it was completed. It was turned into the most dismal political prison of Russia for almost 200 years.

Stop at the shooting range of the Russian Army Base. After thorough examination of passports and visas by the KGB officers the group will be allowed to enter. The group will be split in two and each of the guests will be given a unique opportunity to shoot Makarov pistol and famous Kalashnikov machine-gun. The most accurate shooters will be given a very special prize – Kalashnikov vodka.

Lunch is served in the spacious “Restoran” – a work of a famed designer. The unusual settings of the restaurant are reminiscent of traditional Russian countryside. The bravest of you will be offered to taste and distinguish 5 different brands of home-brewed vodka!

Enjoy dinner in one of the first private restaurants of the city after the new society was formed. It is an impeccable sample of haute cuisine restaurant with warm atmosphere and live music.

Return to hotel. Overnight.

Day Five, Tuesday
Depart the hotel for a brief but memorable guided visit to the famous Hermitage. The world-known Hermitage museum was the residence of the Russian Emperors in the past, nowadays it comprises 5 palaces and is one of the largest museums in the world. By special arrangement the group enters the museum one hour before the official opening hour and admires the State Rooms of the Winter Palace in private. Continue to the Small Hermitage, then proceed to the priceless masterpieces exhibited in other Hermitage buildings.

Lunch is served in the Adamant restaurant, located on the embankment of Moika river, in a beautiful banquet room resembling a palace interior. The kitchen is Russian with emphasis on St. Petersburg gourmet cuisine
Visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Fourth highest cupola cathedral in the world St. Isaac’s has a breathtaking interior design. The cathedral can accommodate 13000 worshippers in a time. The monolithic columns of the portico cut from red granite are seventeen meters high and weigh 114 tons each. The mosaic inside has twelve thousand shades and colors, the walls are five meters thick and the main cupola is coated with one hundred kilos of gold. Return to hotel for rest.

Tonight the group is taken to one of the top-notch night clubs of the city “OSTROV” which means - an island. Located on the embankment of Vasiliyevsky Island in a historical building the club has a famous dancing ballet show, a large dance area, spacious chill-out. Enjoy a gourmet dinner and mix with locals during discotheque. Return to hotel after midnight.

Day Six, Wednesday

Drive to the town of Pushkin to see the Catherine’s Palace and park – once the official summer residence of Russian Czars.
We enter the beautiful Catherine’s park and visit Catherine’s Palace, considered to be a real pearl of Russian baroque architecture of the 18th century. It was built for Russian Empress Catherine in 1752. The palace, a combination of white and gold, looks magnificent; a huge ballroom called the Grand Hall, ornately decorated drawing rooms, studies and dining rooms. The most famous room here is the Amber Room, which was looted by the Nazis during World War II. Now the restoration of the Amber Room is coming to an end. Surrounding the palaces is a park covering more than 570 hectares with bridges, terraces, fountains and small galleries.

Take Troyka carriages in the park on neighboring Pavlovsk and ride for genuine Russian lunch at restaurant Podvorie.
Enjoy delicious Russian appetizers and famous “borsch” (beet-root soup) accompanied by Cossack’s folklore singing and, of course, free flowing Russian vodka! The restaurant is a typical Russian huge wooden log-house reminding of a fortress. It is located in the picturesque countryside in the small town of Pavlovsk, close to the town of Pushkin.

This afternoon is at leisure. Bus and guide stays at your disposal for guided shopping in the best shops of the city.

In the evening depart for a private visit of another unique place - the Yusupov Palace that belonged to the powerful family of the Yusupovs – the relatives of the Czars and the richest family in Russia. The private tour of the palace starts from the suite of gala rooms of the palace located on the 1st floor. You see the White Column Hall, Precioza Room, Antique and Mauritanian halls of the palace and, of course, the magnificent Home Theatre of the palace. A private ballet performance is given specially for the guests in the theatre. Excerpts of the world-known ballets are performed by soloists of Mariinsky Theatre.

After the ballet performance the tour continues to the private chambers of the family on the ground floor and finishes in the Rotunda of the Mirror Hall where an elegant cocktail is served. By small groups guests visit the room in the maze of the palace where notorious Rasputin was shot by the young count Yusupov. Listen to the dramatic story and see wax figures of Rasputin, count Felix Yusupov and other conspirators.

Upon returning to the Rotunda guests are invited for the gala farewell dinner in the Mirror Hall. The most exquisite dinner reminiscent of those under the Yusupov’s time starts… Chamber string quartet entertains during the dinner.
Return to hotel. Overnight.

Day Seven, Thursday
Free time to buy the last souvenirs.
Lunch at the hotel Ball Room. Receive a CD with pictures of this memorable trip.
Departure transfer to the airport in time for your flight home.
Good-bye and see you again.