Stay in fabulous hotels near Moscow and St Petersburg’s most famous attractions and discover the scenic Russian countryside from your elegant cabin aboard the MS Volga Dream.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Moscow
Arrive in Moscow and transfer to your hotel, located by the Bolshoi Theatre in the historic city centre. Spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure.
Your hotel: Marriott Royal Aurora
Day 2 - Moscow
Enjoy an orientation tour of the city followed by a ride on the famous Moscow Metro. Eat lunch in a local restaurant before visiting the Old Tretyakov gallery, home to an extraordinary collection of Russian art ranging from 12th-century icons to 20th-century paintings.
Day 3 - Moscow
Admire the tsarist treasures of the Kremlin’s Armoury Museum before visiting the stunning 15th-century Assumption and Archangel Cathedrals. Transfer to the MS Volga Dream this afternoon and enjoy a welcome dinner as you commence your river cruise.
Day 4 - Uglich
Make an afternoon stop in Uglich, a town dating back to the 10th century. Enjoy a walking tour of the town including the 17th-century Chapel of Dimitry, built on the site where Ivan the Terrible’s son was killed. You will also admire the beautiful iconostasis in the Church of the Transfiguration and attend an unforgettable choral concert.
Day 5 - Yaroslavl
Stop in World Heritage–listed Yaroslavl, the oldest city on the Volga River. Visit the Spassky Monastery to see the Transfiguration of the Saviour Cathedral, adorned with murals of St John's apocalyptic visions. Continue to the richly frescoed Church of St Elijah the Prophet before strolling through the lively farm market and reboarding the Volga Dream in time for lunch.
Day 6 - Goritsy
Cross Lake Beloye this morning and arrive in the peaceful village of Goritsy, where you will admire the magnificent frescoes of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery.
Day 7 - Kizhi
This afternoon you will explore World Heritage–listed Kizhi, a picturesque island in Lake Onega. A highlight is the fairytale Church of the Transfiguration, an onion-domed wooden masterpiece built without using a single nail.
Day 8 - Svir River – Mandrogi
Navigate along the Svir River past graceful willows, pines and alder trees to Lake Ladoga, Europe's largest freshwater lake. Step ashore at Mandrogi to get a glimpse of life in the Russian villages of days gone by.
Day 9 - St Petersburg
Your cruise ends this morning in St Petersburg, a vibrant city of islands, canals, bridges and pastel-coloured palaces. Experience an orientation tour of the city and visit the Peter and Paul Fortress – St Petersburg’s original citadel and a family shrine of the Romanovs. After lunch you will enter the remarkable Hermitage Museum, whose 400 rooms contain over 3 million works of art including one of the world’s best collections of French Impressionist paintings. Continue to your hotel, which enjoys a superb location opposite St Isaac’s Cathedral.
Day 10 - St Petersburg
Discover the breathtaking imperial estate of Peterhof. Visit the Bath Cottage and take a stroll through the vast Lower Park, where 176 fountains surround majestic palaces and gilded statues.
Day 11 - St Petersburg
Drive to the Tsar’s Village for a tour of Catherine’s Palace, where you will see the exquisitely restored Amber Room and take a stroll through the formal gardens. Continue to a traditional Russian log-house restaurant to enjoy lunch and some vodka.
Day 12 - St Petersburg
The tour concludes after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.
PACKAGE INCLUDES
- Arrival and departure transfers
- 2 nights hotel accommodation in Moscow
- 3 nights hotel accommodation in St Petersburg
- 6 nights in cruise ship cabin (category to be advised)
- Most meals
- House wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on board MS Volga Dream
- Daily sightseeing program in groups of maximum 25 Volga Dream guests (Gold Program)
- Russian workshop, including lectures, classes, films, concerts and performances
- 24hr coffee station with complimentary tea, coffee and snacks
- Welcome fruit basket on board MS Volga Dream
- Bottled water, replenished daily
- All port charges, fuel surcharges and local taxes
PACKAGE EXCLUDES
- All airfares
- Meals and drinks not specified
- Optional sightseeing & excursions
- Visa (if required)
- Other items of a personal nature
