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By popular demand we presented a NEW tour in 2011which starts in Helsinki and end in Russia.

Itinerary

Arrive Helsinki Vantaa Airport. Transfer to hotel in connection with your flight arrival. During the afternoon you can explore the busy market place or the many souvenir shops close to the harbour. Finnish crystal and leather goods are an excellent buy. Your tour escort will meet you at your hotel during the evening. Dinner and accommodation at the Radisson Blue Royal Hotel, another first class hotel centrally located.

Early breakfast followed by transfer by coach from hotel to railway station. 10.00am departure from Helsinki on the "Allegro" train for St. Petersburg. Lunch box on train. 14.36 hrs: Arrival in St. Petersburg. Coach transfer from train station to hotel combined with 1 hour's guided boat cruise along the Neva River and a visit to St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Welcome dinner incl. shot of vodka and 1 glass wine, and accommodation at Ambassador Hotel, a four star hotel located in the city centre, near the famous Mariinsky Theatre.

Buffet breakfast at hotel. A 3 hours panoramic tour of the city by coach with local English-speaking guide. St. Petersburg is a city of outstanding architectural beauty, famous for its magnificent palaces, cathedrals, fountains and bridges. 12.30 hrs: Lunch at the Hermitage Restaurant. 14.00: Tour of the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum and the State Rooms of the Winter Palace. Return to hotel. Dinner and accommodation at Ambassador Hotel.

Buffet breakfast at hotel. 09.30 hrs: Excursion to town of Pushkin including tour of Catherine’s Palace with its famous Amber Room. 12.00 hrs: Lunch at Admiralty Restaurant. Return to St. Petersburg and spend a few hours free for leisure. This evening you will be taken to see a colorful Russian folklore show at the Nikolaevsky Palace, with snacks during the intermission. Dinner at the Backstage Restaurant of the Mariinsky Theatre. Accommodation at Ambassador Hotel.

Buffet breakfast at hotel and checkout from the hotel. Time for leisure. At 11:30 transfer to St. Petersburg railway station for departure at 13.00 with SAPSAN train to Moscow. Lunch on board. 17:45: Arrival in Moscow followed by coach transfer to

your hotel in the Russian capital. Moscow was founded in the 12th century, built as a wooden fortress on the banks of the Moscow River to keep out barbarian invaders from the east. Today it is a modern city with wide boulevards and green parks, yet proudly preserving its historic monuments and impressive buildings from previous eras. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel, centrally located hotel.

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning tour of the Kremlin and Armoury Museum, with local English-speaking guide. This tour lasting approx. 3 hours has to be done on foot as no coaches are allowed inside the area. The Kremlin, which was the home, not only of the Tsars, but also of Lenin and Stalin, is surrounded by 7 metres thick walls and covers an area of 29 acres. You will pass by the Lenin Mausoleum and the grave of the unknown soldier, where brides still leave their wedding bouquets, to visit one of the impressive Russian Orthodox Cathedrals. This will be followed by a guided tour of the Armoury Museum, containing the largest collection in the world of crown jewels and coronation robes, including the wedding dress of Catherine the Great and the famous189 carat Olov diamond. You will also see the golden horse-drawn carriages of all the Tsars and many other treasures. 13.00 hrs: Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch walk through the Red Square to rejoin your coach for a panoramic city tour, including a visit to Saviour Cathedral. On this tour you will see the amazing golden, blue and green towers of the Orthodox churches, the Bolshoy Theatre, Gorkij Park (Moscow’s largest entertainments park), the State University of Moscow, and numerous other famous sights. Return by coach to hotel. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel.

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning tour of the WWII Memorial on Poklonnaya Hill followed by a visit to Novodevichy Convent, a 16th century cluster of sparkling domes, one of the city most beautiful groups of buildings and full of history and treasures. The adjacent Novodevichy Cementery is Moscow most prestigious resting place after Kremlin (entrance),

Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch guided tour of the famous Moscow Metro, ending with a walk along the fascinating pedestrian street Arbat, known as the ’Montmartre of Moscow’. Rest of afternoon free for shopping in the GUM department store or exploring Moscow on your own. We can recommend a visit to the Pushkin Museum, famous for its collection of monuments from Ancient Egypt, or the popular Tretiakov Art Gallery. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel.

Buffet breakfast at hotel followed by transfer with assistance to Moscow Airport for your flight home

Notes