Luxury Tailor Made Journeys depart on the dates that work for you and feature expert local guides throughout your journey. The itinerary below can be customized to your interests.
Arrive Moscow, Russia
Upon arrival in Moscow, you are met and privately transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the balance of your day at leisure.
Moscow | Red Square
Enjoy a full day’s sightseeing tour of Moscow. Walk through fabled Red Square to St. Basil’s Cathedral, a colorful, multi-domed complex. Continue to the Novodevichy Convent and Memorial Cemetery, where Chekhov, Khrushchev, Yeltsin and Rostropovich are buried. After lunch, visit the Observation Platform on Sparrow Hills, before exploring the opulent, art-adorned Moscow subway, with its chandeliers, statues, and intricate marble and mosaic details.
Moscow | Tretyakov Gallery
This morning, visit the Tretyakov Gallery, which contains the best collection of Russian art in the world. This afternoon, you may either visit the well-preserved wooden home of author Leo Tolstoy, where he wrote The Power of Darkness, Resurrection and The Death of Ivan Ilyich, or explore the interactive Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center, said to be the largest Jewish museum in the world. Return to your hotel, where you are free to spend the evening as you choose.
Moscow | The Kremlin
Visit two of the Kremlin’s cathedrals as well as the State Armory, home to a collection of priceless artifacts dating back to the 14th century. It also houses the Diamond Fund, a separate collection of Russia’s most valuable gems, including the diamond-encrusted coronation crown of Catherine the Great and the 190-carat Orlov Diamond. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.
Moscow | Victory Park & High-Speed Train
Visit the Museum of the Great Patriotic War, which commemorates Russia’s participation in World War II, utilizing hundreds of exhibits and breathtaking dioramas, and then walk through Victory Park, a memorial ground filled with monuments to the fallen. Next, transfer to the rail station to board a high-speed train to St. Petersburg. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel, and then relax or explore downtown St. Petersburg independently.
St. Petersburg | Peter & Paul Fortress
Embark on a full day of sightseeing, visiting Peter and Paul Fortress; gold-domed St. Isaac’s Cathedral; and Yusupov Palace, where assassins poisoned and shot the priest and counselor to the Romanov family, Grigory Rasputin, in 1916. The original construction was built by French architect Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe in the 1770s and it was once the primary residence of the House of Yusupov, a wealthy family of Russian nobles known for their philanthropy and art collections.
St. Petersburg | Tsarist Splendors
This morning, visit the Hermitage Museum, designed in the mid-18th century by Bartolomeo Rastrelli as the Winter Palace of Catherine the Great. Formerly the home of the tsars, its five buildings house one of the finest art collections in the world. Continue to the private Fabergé Museum to see its glittering collection of ornate Fabergé eggs and objets d’art.
Pushkin | Catherine Palace
Drive to the countryside village of Pushkin to discover sparkling Catherine Palace, built in the mid-18th century for Tsarina Elizabeth, who named the palace in honor of her mother. The building, originally a modest construction, was reconstructed by four different architects; then, Bartolomeo Rastrelli — chief architect of the Imperial Court — was instructed to redesign the structure on a scale to rival Versailles. After lunch at leisure, explore the Impressionist Collection housed in the General Staff Building of the world-renowned Hermitage Museum.
Petrodvorets | Legacy of Peter the Great
Travel to Petrodvorets, the opulent, sprawling summer palace of Peter the Great, taking note of its picturesque sculptures and fountains. Return to St. Petersburg by hydrofoil (weather permitting).
Depart St. Petersburg
Transfer by private vehicle to the airport and board your homebound flight.
Enhance Your Journey
Elevate your experience with a host of options available for an additional cost.
High Tea at Russian Artist's Home
Enjoy a delicious afternoon tea (subject to availability) at the home of a well-known artist, Yuri Petrochenkov. Accompanied by his wife, Yuri regales you with many entertaining stories about this intriguing country and shows you his wonderful collection of portraits, icons, antique furniture and other unique pieces of Russian art. He and his family offer insight to daily Russian life from the inside, through decades of intriguing political and historical shifts.
Behind the Scenes at the Bolshoi Theater
In the afternoon, you are treated to exclusive access to the magnificent, world-famous Bolshoi Theater. Go with a theater guide into areas usually unseen by the public, hear stories about premières and their stars and learn the interesting protocol regarding the Tsar’s Box. Additionally, visit the theater’s museum and a rehearsal hall, where you might be able to see dancers warming up and musicians practicing.
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