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Day
1, arrive Moscow, Saturday
Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred
to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to
relax. Welcome dinner this evening. (D)
Day
2, in Moscow, Sunday
Moscow, one of the largest cities in the world,
is the symbolic heart and soul of the country.
Sightseeing begins at the Red Square, dominated
by St. Basil’s Cathedral and by the massive
red walls of the kremlin. Visit the Armory Museum,
proceed to see the Moscow University and the popular
Arbat shopping district. Continue with a drive
along the wide boulevards and then stroll through
GUM, Russia’s largest department store.
Rest of the day is at leisure. You may take part
in an optional tour by night of Moscow and its
subway. (B)
Day
3, to Tver and Novgorod, Monday
After an early breakfast, depart for Tver, an
ancient trading port nestled on the banks of the
Volga River. The city offers fascinating treasures,
including Putevoy Dvorets, built for Catherine
II as a resting place on her journeys from Moscow
to St. Petersburg. Enjoy a short sightseeing tour
of this remarkable city. End the day in historic
Novgorod, founded almost
twelve centuries ago. (B, D)
Day
4, to St. Petersburg, Tuesday
A morning sightseeing tour of Novgorod starts
at the Kremlin with a visit to St. Sophia Cathedral.
Then, cross the river via a pedestrian bridge
to visit the Yaroslav Court. In the afternoon,
travel north to St. Petersburg, the former capital
of the Romanov Czars. Upon arrival enjoy a first
sightseeing tour of the city starting with the
visit of Peter and Paul Fortress, quarter of the
City museum and its cathedral, which houses the
crypt of the Russian emperors. Next, visit St.
Isaac’s Cathedral. (B, D)
Day
5, in St. Petersburg, Wednesday
There are not many cities in the world that can
match the grace of St. Petersburg. When Peter
the Great founded the city in 1703, he hired Europe’s
best architects, craftsmen and artists to build
and decorate it. Spread over 100 islands linked
by over 600 bridges, it is often referred to as
“Venice of the North”. This morning
sightseeing tour will feature highlight: the world-famous
Hermitage, which houses many treasures from the
Czarist era. The rest of the day is free at leisure.
(B)
Day
6, to Tallinn, Thursday
Journey to Estonia, where your first stop is Narva.
Continue to Tallinn, capital of Estonia and situated
on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland.
(B, D)
Day
7, to Riga, Friday
On a walking tour of the Upper and Lower Old Town,
a UNESCO World Heritage site, visit orthodox Alexander
Nevsky Cathedral. Next, visit Toompea Castle and
see the 14th century gothic Town Hall. This afternoon,
on to Riga, the capital of Latvia. (B, D)
Day
8, in Riga, Saturday
During your sightseeing tour, see Riga Castle,
the magnificent Dome Cathedral, St. Jacobs Cathedral,
St. Peter’s Church, the Parliament building,
Liberty Monument and the district of Art Nouveau
houses. Your afternoon is free. (B)
Day
9, to Vilnius, Sunday
Morning departure for Vilnius, capital of Lithuania.
The rest of the day is at leisure. (B, D)
Day
10, in Vilnius, Monday
The city of Vilnius is located on the confluence
of the Neris and Velnele Rivers. In Old Vilnius,
visit Peter and Paul Church and St. Anna’s
Church. View Vilnius University, dating back to
1570, Gediminas’ Tower in the Upper Town
and Vilnius Castle. The afternoon is free or you
may take an optional excursion to Trakai. (B)
Day
11, to Warsaw, Tuesday
Cross the border into Poland and reach Warsaw
at day’s end. (B, L, D)
Day
12, in Warsaw, Wednesday
This 700 year old capital of Poland is a symbol
of nationhood and the will to survive against
great odds. A sightseeing tour here includes a
drive along the famous Royal Route from magnificent
Castle Square to Lazienki Park and Palace, summer
residence of the last king of Poland. Pass by
the Palace of Science and Culture (known as a
“wedding cake”), the Saxon Gardens,
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Monument to the
Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Barbican.
Continue with the walking tour of the Old Town,
Old Market Square and St. John’s Cathedral.
The rest of the day is free for relaxing, shopping,
a stroll through the city or an optional late
afternoon Chopin concert. (B)
Day
13, depart Warsaw, Thursday
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your
departure flight. (B)
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