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 2008 Taste of Russia
Highlights
Red SquareKremlin & St. Basil's CathedralMoscow's State Armory MuseumGUM Department StoreNovgorod's St. Sophia CathedralPeter & Paul FortressSt. Petersburg's Hermitage Collections
What's Included
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| Call (800) 237-0301 for more information or to book today! Mention code 7186845 | | CIE Tours | | Offer valid through 9/30/2008 | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | Depart US | Depart US : Travel on an overnight flight to Moscow. Sit back and relax with meal and entertainment services as you travel to start your vacation. U.S. citizens require visas to enter Russia. CIE Tours will send you visa information but the cost of obtaining the visa or using a visa service is not included in the tour price. | | Day 2 | Moscow | Moscow Arrival : On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax. You may like to head out to do a little exploring on your own as there is plenty to see and do. In the evening meet your tour escort and fellow travelers and enjoy a welcome dinner. (D) | | Day 3 | Moscow | Tour Moscow : Moscow is Russia's symbolic heart and soul. Begin your sightseeing tour at Red Square, dominated by St. Basil's Cathedral and by the massive red walls of the Kremlin. The Kremlin has dominated Russian life for more than 800 years. The buildings that you see today date from the 15th century to the 20th. Visit the State Armory to see treasures collected by Russian princes and tsars. See Moscow University, Russia's oldest, which was founded in 1755. Drive through the popular and lively Arbat shopping district and Moscow's wide boulevards to stroll through GUM, Russia's largest department store, built overlooking Red Square in 1889 in Russian-Revival style. The elegant galleries have not changed since the building was founded and it is a popular place for Muscovites to shop, stroll and socialize. The balance of the day is at leisure. You may take an optional evening tour of Moscow metro. Construction of the subway system began in 1931 under Stalin and some of the best artists worked on the decorations, which portray the Revolution and the Soviet way of life. (BB) | | Day 4 | Moscow | Tour Moscow : Moscow is Russia's symbolic heart and soul. Begin your sightseeing tour at Red Square, dominated by St. Basil's Cathedral and by the massive red walls of the Kremlin. Visit the State Armory to see treasures collected by Russian princes and tsars. See Moscow University, Russia's oldest which was founded in 1755. Drive through the Arbat shopping district to GUM, Russia's largest department store, built in 1889 in Russian-Revival style. The balance of the day is at leisure. You may take an optional evening tour of Moscow's decorated subways. (BB) | | Day 5 | St. Petersburg | Novgorod & St. Petersburg : A morning sightseeing tour of Novgorod starts at the Kremlin, which was built in brick at the end of the 15th century to resist raids by the Turkic-Mongol armies that overran the region. Visit the imposing St. Sophia Cathedral, which dates back to the middle of the 11th century. 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 tsars. St. Petersburg is built on the River Neva and its many branches. Peter the Great used Amsterdam as his model to create a network of graceful canals from the many streams. Today it is spread over 100 islands linked by over 600 bridges and often referred to as "Venice of the North." Enjoy an introductory sightseeing tour starting with a visit to Peter and Paul Fortress, with its grim history and magnificent cathedral created for the tombs of the Romanov tsars. Next visit St. Isaac's Cathedral, one of the world's largest cathedrals. It was opened in 1858 and converted to a museum during the Soviet era. (BB, D) | | Day 6 | St. Petersburg | Hermitage Museum : When Peter the Great founded the city in 1703, he hired Europe's best architects, craftsmen and artists to create a city to reflect the opulence of Russia's rulers. There are not many cities in the world that can match the grace of St. Petersburg. This morning's sightseeing tour will feature the highlights of the world-famous Hermitage Museum, which holds nearly three million exhibits of all types. The Winter Palace was built between 1754 and 1762 and was the official residence of the tsars until the Russian Revolution in 1917. See the Winter Palace State Rooms, built by various tsars who spared no expense in decorating grand salons to be used to show off their great power and wealth at state ceremonies. The rest of the day is at leisure. You may like to explore some of the other parts of the Hermitage or other museums. (BB) | | Day 7 | St. Petersburg | Leisure Time in St. Petersburg : Today you have a day completely at leisure for independent activities. With over 90 museums in the city there is no shortage of cultural attractions. Be sure to take a stroll along Nevsky Prospekt, the main thoroughfare of the city, or explore some of the many waterways, either on a boat trip or on foot. There are very many elegant buildings along the major canals that give the feel of what the city must have been like at the time of the tsars. Or you may choose to shop for souvenirs. An optional tour to visit Petrodvorets, Peter the Great's Summer Palace, will be available. In the evening you may take part in an optional tour featuring a folklore performance. (BB) | | Day 8 | Depart St. Petersburg | Depart St. Petersburg : After breakfast, transfer to St. Petersburg Airport for your onward or homebound flight. (BB) |
| | | Marriott Hotel Moscow - Moscow - 2 night(s) | | Beresta Hotel - Novgorod - 1 night(s) | | Park Inn Pulkovskaya - St Petersburg - 3 night(s) | |
| | Coach Tour and River Cruise prices are based on two people sharing rooms; for single prices, click on preferred travel date below to view next screen.Taxes, security fees and fuel surcharges are not included. This list indicates brochure rates and dates. If your date of choice is marked "On Request" or appears in the brochure but not on this page please contact your travel agent for information.Air price is based on departures from New York. Additional add-on airfares from other cities will be available after clicking on Book Now! The air inclusive prices below are for general information only and not a reflection of current seat availability.Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline's checked baggage policies.We highly recommend that you review our general conditions page for full details on terms, conditions, and penalties. |
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