Two Capitals

Your driver will pick you up at the airport. He will be standing with your name sign at the exit gate. He will take you to the ship for the embarkation. Dinner will be served on the ship and after it, you can relax and rest in your cabin, the ship's lounge or bar. We recommend going to bed early to overcome your jet lag as we have an eventful program planned for tomorrow.

St. Petersburg is Russia's cultural and historical treasure, one of the world's most beautiful cities, and one of its top ten tourist destinations according to "The Forbes Traveler." It is known as the Venice of North thanks to its numerous canals and hundreds of bridges. It is sometimes called Russia's Versailles thanks to dozens of opulent palaces and royal estates. It can be rightly called a living museum - so many of its buildings are part of Russia's history.

• This day we will visit Hermitage, one of the world's biggest art galleries
• Bus city tour to St. Basil Island, The Building of Exchange, Peters and Paul Fortress, Rostrum Columns, Nevskiy prospect, Isaac Cathedral, Cathedral of Savior
• Optional: Russian Ballet

First half of the day you will have to explore St. Petersburg on your own. You can also take an optional tour to Catherine Palace, one of the worlds most interesting palaces. It is located 15 miles away from St. Petersburg, and was a summer residence of Tzars.

This evening the cruise of Two Capitals will start. You will have a presentation of crew program and a "get to know" show.

• Optional tour to Pushkin (Catherine Palace)

Mandrogi is a small village that has no architectural wonders, gigantic castles or impressive churches. These lands and people seem to be immune to the flow of time. We will stop in the village for a traditional Russian picnic with the meal called "shashlik."

Kizhi Island is located on the Lake Onega. The island is home to the amazing Transfiguration Church. The church and its 22 domes are build without a single nail. Interestingly, the church was not always on this island. It was closer to the people. The Bolsheviks, for all their hatred of the 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. That's why today it can only be reached by river cruise.

Please note: May 04 - May 14 cruise will not be stopping in Kizhi.

The town of Goritsy is home to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery (1397). During the Time of Trouble, Polish invaders were trying to put their puppet on the Russian throne and stormed the monastery in attempt to purge the remaining Russian nobles. They never succeeded and while they were occupied, the Russians raise their forces and to repel the invaders. 

Uglich is a small town on the Volga River. The best-defended fortress of Moscovy Kingdom, it was frequently attacked by the Lithuanians, the Tatars, and even the grand prince of Tver city-state that rivaled the Moscovy. In 1951 a 10-year old prince Dimitry, the last heir to the throne of the ancient Ruyrik dynasty, was murdered here in Uglich by Boris Godunov. Godunov proclaimed himself as the tsar of Russia, but was soon murdered himself. These events plunged Russia into three decades of political turmoil known as "Time of Trouble" that left the lands devastated and opened up a way for the new dynasty - the Romanovs. We will visit a small, but historically significant church of St. Dmitry-on-Blood, which is standing on the spot where Dimitry had been murdered.

By today standards Yaroslavl is small, but its place in Russia's history and culture cannot be underestimated. Before it was annihilated by the Mongols it was Russia's largest city and its economic, political and cultural center, at least before the city was completely annihilated by the Mongols, twice. The Mongols were so obsessed with defeating Yaroslavl that they did not notice the gradual rise of Moscow.

Moscow is Russia's largest city, its political and economic capital. The town of Moscow was the center of Moscovy - a small principality that unified the Russian lands against the Mongols in the late 14th century and has ruled Russia ever since. As the Mongols burnt major cities across Russia, refugees fled to smaller principalities like Moscow, Tver and Nizhny Novgorod. Through bribes, diplomacy and coercion, Moscow overcame its two rivals to become "Russia's first city." Moscow's 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.

• This day is dedicated to exploring Red Square, Leningradskaya and Tverskaya streets, Novodevichiy Convent (exterior), KGB (exterior),GUM and Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
• Optional excursion Moscow by night

This day is very special, as we will go inside the Kremlin - the ancient castle built to withstand the Mongol hordes. Throughout history, the Kremlin has been the center of political power in Russia and it remains a symbolic political center even today, as the official site of the inauguration ceremony of the Russian president (they don't actually live or work here).

The Kremlin is a living museum of Russia's history. Its inside wasn't built overnight, rather various rulers added new pieces over time (and some, like Napoleon, plundered from it). This cultural and historical treasure has been so well preserved that it seems that you are traveling in time. You will see the most interesting places in the Kremlin as you follow our professional guide in the steps of some of the world's greatest leaders and its most terrible dictators.

• Excursion of Kremlin and one cathedral
• Optional excursion: Tretiakov Gallery or Novodevichiy Convent (inside)
• Optional excursion: National folk show "Kostroma"

Your voyage is coming to an end. It is time to say goodbye to this beautiful country, the crew and your fellow passengers. It is time to pack up and to go home bringing unforgettable memories with you. The airport transfer service is arranged for you.