YOUR JOURNEY WATERWAYS OF THE TSARS | St. Petersburg to Moscow
13 days, 10 guided tours from £2,595pp
Day 1 St. Petersburg. From St. Petersburg airport we take you to your ship where you can enjoy time to relax, or explore the city before dinner.
Day 2 St. Petersburg. In the city that was founded by Tsar Peter the Great, enjoy a guided tour of the legendary Hermitage Museum with its vast collection of art, antiquities, jewellery and sculptures. Your afternoon is free to spend at your leisure before enjoying an early dinner, followed by an evening performance of traditional Russian ballet.
Day 3 St. Petersburg. Your Pushkin excursion features Catherine Palace; the elegant rococo 18th-century summer residence of the Russian Tsars named for Catherine I (widow of Peter the Great). Tour its various halls, including the fabled Amber Room. This was constructed from more than six tons of carved amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors and was dubbed the eighth wonder of the world. In the afternoon, join a panoramic tour taking in all the splendour of St. Petersburg. With 42 islands, 66 canals and hundreds of bridges, it is considered Russia’s most beautiful city and is often dubbed ‘The Venice of the North’. Enjoy dinner on board and an optional evening of performance of Russian folk music.
Day 4 St. Petersburg. On your last day in this magnificent city, enjoy free time to see the sights that interest you. Visit one of the many palaces, churches or museums or choose from a selection of
optional tours, including a visit to Peterhof Palace, a canal cruise, or a home-hosted visit to a kommunalka.
Day 5 Mandrogy and Svir River. Spend a relaxing day cruising Russia’s intricate waterways. Sail the Neva River and cross Lake Ladoga, Europe’s largest lake. Cruise the Svir River to Mandrogy where you have time to explore this museum village. Visit the Vodka Museum or shop for handmade Russian crafts. For an immersive experience join an optional visit to a Russian bath house, the banya. Continue along the Svir’s 139-mile ‘Blue Route’ towards Lake Onega.
Day 6 Kizhi. Cruise through the early morning along the tranquil waters of Lake Onega, Europe’s second largest lake. Arrive during breakfast at the island village of Kizhi. Enjoy a walking tour through the Open Air Museum of Architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This collection of ancient Russian wooden houses, windmills and churches features the famous three-tiered Transfiguration Church – a fairytale-like, wooden structure built in 1714 without a single nail.
Day 7 Volga-Baltic Waterway and Kuzino. Cruise the Volga-Baltic Waterway; spanning 229 miles and seven locks, it links the Volga River with the Baltic Sea. Arrive in Kuzino, a typical Russian village. Take a guided walk through the historic Kirillo- Belozersky Monastery, and visit its museum of icons. Afterwards, visit a local school for a fascinating insight into education in Russia.
Day 8 Yaroslavl. Arrive in Yaroslavl, one of the Golden Ring cities; a group of historically significant cities northeast of Moscow, and enjoy a guided tour. The city’s riverside promenade is one of the finest along the Volga, bordered by a picturesque greenbelt known as Lime Tree Avenue. Take a stroll through the covered food market. In your free time, visit the Church of St. Elijah the Prophet, one of the city’s most beautiful churches, featuring icons and detailed frescoes of the prophet Elijah – some of the best examples of traditional Russian art. Shop for handcrafted gifts before returning aboard for dinner.
Day 9 Uglich. After breakfast, take a walking tour through provincial Uglich, another Golden Ring city, and a
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