Day 1 – Depart USA
Depart for your overnight flight to Moscow.      

Day 2 - Arrive Moscow
Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax. You may take part in an optional tour of the Moscow subway.

Day 3 – Moscow
Moscow, one to the largest cities in the world, is the symbolic heart and soul of the country. Sightseeing tour begins at the Red Square, dominated by St. Basil's Cathedral and the massive red walls of the Kremlin. Inside the Kremlin, admire the medieval towers, cathedrals and palaces. Visit the Armory Museum and see the Moscow University and the popular Arbat shopping district. Continue with a drive along the wide boulevards, then stroll through GUM, Russia's largest department store. The rest of the day is at leisure

Day 4 - Moscow – Novgorod
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 1150 years ago.

Day 5 - Novgorod - St. Petersburg
A morning sightseeing tour of Novgorod starts at the Kremlin with a visit to St. Sophia Cathedral in the Citadel. Then, cross the river via a pedestrian bridge to visit Yaroslav Court. In the afternoon, travel north to St. Petersburg, the former capital of the Romanov Czars. On the way, stop at Pushkin to visit the Summer Palace of Catherine the Great.

Day 6 - St. Petersburg
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 that are linked by over 600 bridges, it is often referred to as “Venice of the North”. In the morning, visit Peter and Paul Fortress, which  houses the crypt of the Russian emperors. Next, visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral. After some free time, afternoon sightseeing will feature a highlight: the famous Hermitage, which houses many treasures from the Czarist era.

Day 7 - St. Petersburg
Free day for shopping or individual activities. An optional tour to visit Petrodvorets, Peter the Great's Summer Palace, will be available. Tonight, enjoy an evening folklore performance.

Day 8 - St. Petersburg – USA
After breakfast we will transfer you to the airport to board your homebound flight.

Pre Tour to Moscow, Vladimir
for an additional 3 nights
Including: First class hotel accommodations in double occupancy, sightseeing, 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners

Day 1 - Arrival in Moscow
You will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax, or perhaps take an optional tour of Moscow subway.

Day 2 - Moscow - Vladimir  - Suzdal
The Golden Ring consists of the famous ancient cities and towns of central Russia to the east of Moscow. Cities are arranged in a circular pattern around Moscow forming a ring within the territory when the main events of Russian history occurred and where the Russian nation was established and consolidated. After breakfast depart for Vladimir, one of the oldest Russian towns, founded by the Prince Vladimir Monomach in 12th Century. City tour will include Golden Gate (1164), Cathedral of the Assumption (1158-1161), Dmitirevsky Cathedral (1197) Church of the Intercession on the Nerl (1165) and Bogolubsky Monastery in nearby town of Bogolubovo. Arrive Suzdal in late afternoon.

Day 3 - Suzdal
Suzdal, first mentioned in chronicles in 1024 is considered to be one of  the oldest and best-preserved Russian towns. City Tour of this unique museum-town of wooden architecture will include Kremlin with the sublime Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady (13th – 16th Century), Cross Chamber, Spaso-Ephimievsky Monastery (16th –17th Century), Wooden Architecture Museum and Pokrovsky Monastery . Rest of the day at  leisure.

Day 4 - Suzdal – Moscow
After breakfast depart from Moscow where you will join your tour and rest of the group arriving from USA today.

Note: Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication of the tour, rather than a contract of places to be visited. Occasionally local holidays, national days, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of visits or the missing of certain visits.

*Itinerary items subject to change.