Day 1 – UK to St Peterburg

Scheduled flight to St Petersburg – transfer with our guide in our private executive coach to the 3* Dostoevsky Hotel.

Day 2 – St Petersburg

Full day guided tour taking in such sights as the Church of St Nicholas, St Isaac’s Cathedral, the Smolny Institute and the Strelka from where we are afforded excellent views of the River Neva – the Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood is the iconic Russian style church built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in March 1881, with its beautiful multi-coloured domes.

Day 3 – Pavlovsk, Catherine & Alexander Palaces

Head for the countryside to visit the 18th century Pavlovsk Palace, the imperial residence of Catherine the Great’s son – continue on to Pushkin, home of the Imperial family and former summer residence of the aristocracy, where we visit the sumptuous Catherine Palace built in Baroque style and boasting a 300 metre façade – visit Alexander Palace, residence of Nicholas II and his family.

Day 4 – The Hermitage

Guided tour of some of the many highlights at the magnificent Hermitage, one of the world’s greatest art galleries located in the Winter Palace founded by Catherine the Great – rest of the day is free to explore The Hermitage at your leisure.

Day 5 – Russian Museum & Peter and Paul Fortress

Guided tour of the Russian Museum housing a fine display of artefacts and some of Russia’s greatest works of art that are little known outside the country – visit Peter and Paul Fortress, the oldest building in St Petersburg, and the Baroque interior of the St Peter and St Paul Cathedral with its landmark golden needle spire which is the final resting place for many Russian Tsars including Peter the Great.

Day 6 – Peterhof

Time to wander the lavishly adorned interiors and grand avenue of terraces and pools leading to Peter the Great’s sumptuous coastal Grand Palace at Peterhof – after an included lunch we transfer to the airport for our flight back home.

OR Depart for Moscow add on

OPTIONAL MOSCOW ADD ON from £269

Day 6 – St Petersburg to Moscow

After the morning in St Petersburg, we board our late afternoon train and our first class sleeper cabins for the overnight journey to Moscow (meals are extra on the train.)

Day 7 – Moscow

On arrival in Moscow transfer to 3* Hotel Cosmos for breakfast – sightseeing tour of the city taking in Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, the Olympic Stadium and much more – optional tour of one of the city’s beautiful Metro stations with sculptures, mosaics and chandeliers.

Day 8 – Moscow to UK

Free time to explore Moscow at your leisure or an optional guided tour of the Kremlin – transfer to Moscow Airport for our flight back home.

Five nights on bed and breakfast basis at the good quality 3* Dostoevsky Hotel, located near Nevsky Prospect, St Petersburg’s most famous thoroughfare. The hotel has a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite. For the Moscow add on, we have reserved first class two berth compartments on the overnight express train from St Petersburg to Moscow and one night on bed and breakfast basis in the 3* Hotel Cosmos in central Moscow. The hotel has a restaurant and all rooms are en suite.

Moscow add on from £129

Single room supplement

- St Petersburg £129

- St Petersburg & Moscow £169

- Overnight train £129

Insurance

Visa fee

Optional guided tours in Moscow

Like this tour but want to change it to suit your group’s budget or preferences? You could:

• stay at a 4* hotel in St Petersburg (and in Moscow for the optional add-on)
• on half board basis throughout
• with fewer or different excursions
• for more (or fewer) days
• bring your own specialist lecturer
• include all entrance fees and gratuities

Remember there will be cost consequences (either up or down) depending on your preferences but once we have we have sent you our initial offer, we can amend it as required by you until you have a tour with an itinerary and at a price which matches the interests and profile of your members.