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Luxury Two Capitals 2011
This program is similar to the first, simply in reverse. Your journey will start in St. Petersburg and take you through Onega Lake, Kizhi Island, Goritsy, Yaroslavl, Uglich and finally Moscow.
Itinerary| Day 1 | Arrival to St. Petersburg  Your driver will pick you up at the airport. At the exit he will be waiting for you with your name on a sign, and from there he will take you to the hotel. This day is for you to relax and restore after the long flight. Transfer to hotel Angleterre. |
| Day 2 | The Hermitage  Today you will find yourself standing in the middle of Palace Square, directly in front of the gorgeous Winter Palace. The former residence of the Russian tsars, it is now home to the world renowned Hermitage Museum. It is said that if you were to spend 3 minutes by each exhibit, it would take 3 years to see everything. With your experienced guide, however, you will see the best rooms and halls in merely a couple of hours.
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| Day 3 | Peterhof  Today you will venture to the outskirts of St. Petersburg to visit Peterhof Palace, the summer residence of Russia’s royalty. While walking through its lavish parks and elegant rooms, be careful not to forget that you haven’t been transported to Versailles. You will begin by exploring the city via bus, giving you a solid orientation to the places you will be visiting. Such places include St. Basil's Island and the Building of Exchange, as well as the Rostum Columns, the Church of Spilled Blood, and the Hermitage. You will also get to explore the Peter and Paul Fortress, built by Peter the Great as a coastal defense for the city. It now serves as a tomb for the last Russian imperial family.
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| Day 4 | Manrogi  Mandrogi is a small village that has no architectural wonders, castles, or impressive churches. This land seems to be immune to the flow of time, frozen in a relaxing period of carelessness and calm. We will stop in the village for a traditional Russian picnic and a meal called "shashlik."
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| Day 5 | Kizhi Island  Kizhi Island on Lake Onega is home to the massive Transfiguration Church. With 22 domes that extend over this small yet picturesque island, there are two interesting facts that surround it. Despite all of its architectural wonders, not a single nail was used to build it. Also, its original location was on the mainland, closer to the people. The Bolsheviks, for all their hatred of religion, wanted to destroy the church, but did not dare to do so. They decided to transport the church to a deserted island where no one would be able to see it. Today it can only be reached by river cruise.
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| Day 6 | Goritsy  The town of Goritsy is home to the historic Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, built in 1397. During the Time of Trouble, Polish invaders stormed the monastery in an attempt to purge Russia of its remaining nobles. Unsuccessful, they were forced out by the renewed Russian forces. On your walking tour around the small town you will go inside of local Monastery of St. Cyril on the White Lake and exceptional museum of icons. |
| Day 7 | Yaroslavl  By today standards Yaroslavl is small, but its place in Russia's history cannot be underestimated. Before it was annihilated by the Mongols it was Russia's economic, political, and cultural center. The Mongols were so obsessed with defeating Yaroslavl that they did not notice the gradual rise of Moscow. Absorb the remaining richness of this city and let its lingering power enthuse you.
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| Day 8 | Uglich  Located on the banks of the Volga River, Uglich presented itself as a perfect fortress of defense for the ancient Moscovy Kingdom. In 1591 the 10-year old prince Dmitry of the ancient Ruyrik dynasty was murdered here by Boris Godunov before Godunov claimed the throne of Russia and was murdered himself. These events plunged Russia into three decades of political turmoil known as the Time of Trouble, leaving the lands devastated and open for a new dynasty: the Romanovs. We will visit the small but historically significant church of St. Dmitry-on-Blood, which stands on the location of the young prince’s murder.
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| Day 9 | Moscow  Russia’s largest city, political capital, and economic center, Moscow is a bustling hub of world affairs as well as cultural treasures. Its role was briefly challenged when Tsar Peter the Great moved Russia's capital to his new city, St Petersburg, on the shores of the Baltic Sea, but Moscow has held its ground as one of the most important cities in the country. Today will be dedicated to exploring such important cultural and historical centers as the Red Square, Leningradskaya and Tverskaya streets, the exterior of the KGB building, and the elaborate Cathedral of Christ the Savior. We will also take a shopping trip to the famous GUM department store. An optional trip for today is to the Tretyakov Gallery, a national treasury of fine Russian art.
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| Day 10 | Moscow  Today is devoted entirely to the majesty of the Kremlin in Moscow. This ancient citadel of the Russian tsars was originally an outpost to fend off the barbaric Mongol hordes. It remains a center of political power, holding a number of presidential ceremonies in its elegant palaces. Its rooms tell the stories of the Russian dynasties and rulers of the past 400 years, a well-preserved UNESCO treasure that will give you chills as you traverse the same halls that once held Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon, Lenin, and Stalin.
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| Day 11 | Departure from Moscow  Your voyage has come to an end. It is time to say farewell to this glorious section of the world and your new friends as you leave, taking with you unforgettable memories. Ask your travel specialist about available cruise extensions. Your driver will be waiting for you near the ship with the sign with you name to drive you to the airport. .jpg){kind=small} Download PDF Itinerary |
