Russia In Luxury

Itinerary

• Russia

  Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than an eighth of the Earth’s land area. With 142 million people, it is the ninth largest by population. It extends across the whole of northern Asia and 40% of Europe, spanning 11 time zones. Founded and ruled by a Viking warrior class, the first state, Kievan Rus', arose in the 9th century and adopted Christianity from the Byzantine Empire. Kievan Rus' ultimately disintegrated and the lands were divided into many small feudal states. Moscow was the most powerful successor state, and it gradually reunified the Russian principalities. Under the Romanov dynasty and Peter the Great the Russian Empire became the third largest empire in history. The rule of the Tsars was ended in 1917 with the October Revolution that inagurated Communism and the Soviet Union. The Russian Federation was founded following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The nation can boast a long tradition of excellence in every aspect of the arts and sciences. Tourism is focused primarily in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

• Moscow

  The focal point of Moscow is Red Square, on one side of which is the Kremlin surrounded by a thick red fortress wall containing 20 towers altogether. There a several gorgeous buildings in the square including the Uspensky Cathedral, the 14th-century Grand Kremlin Palace, the golden-domed Belfry of Ivan the Great, and the renowned St Basil’s Cathedral, famous for its brightly colored domes. Lenin’s Mausoleum is also located in Red Square and is still open to the public on certain days. Outside Red Square, Tverskaya Street is one of the main shopping streets. Old Arbat Street is a pedestrian zone with crafts and artists’ stalls and street performers. The world-famous Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater at Teatralnaya Square dates from 1824. Novodevichy Convent near Sportivnaya metro station houses a museum of rare and ancient Russian art, and is one of the finest examples of 16th- and 17th-century architecture in the city. The Metro system itself is steeped in history, with many of stations featuring beautiful decoration. Other sites include the superb Tretyakov Gallery, the Annunciation and Our Lady of Kazan Cathedrals, Gorky Park, and the macbre KGB museum.

• St. Petersburg

  St Petersburg is known as a cultural center and for its elegant buildings, and is spread over 42 islands in the delta of the River Neva. In comparison to Moscow, which tended to be more Eastern in character, St Petersburg has always retained a European flavor and was intended as a ‘Window to the West’. It was built by Peter the Great in 1703 and remained the capital of Tsarist Russia for 200 years. Wide boulevards, tranquil canals, bridges and some of the best examples of tsarist architecture gave rise to the epithet the ‘Venice of the North’. The Palace Square and the Winter Palace (Hermitage Museum) are among the most popular attractions for enthusiasts of Russian history.

• • Moscow
  • Red Square
  • Hotel National, Moscow

  Day 1: Moscow

  Enjoy a private airport transfer in Moscow with a private vehicle, Driver and an Assistant.

  A welcome package with small wooden doll Matreshka, nice book on Russia, vouchers, a city map, train tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.

  We will provide you with a letter of Invitation for your Russian Visa. Once payment has been received, the letter along with other important documents will be sent to you.

  Take a panoramic tour and get acquainted with the main architectural and historical monuments of Moscow with your private guide and driver. The famous Red Square starts outside the Kremlin´s walls. View the panorama of the Kremlin from the Sophiiskaya Embankment, Lubyanka Square, Tverskaya Street, The White House of Russia and Victory Park, view of St. Basil Cathedrals, Lenin Mausoleum, Alexandrovsky Garden, Manezh Square and shopping. No entrance fees and visit to Kremlin  included.

  Accommodation: Hotel National (5*)

  Hotel National (5*) is uniquely located just off the Red Square in the very heart of the historical, cultural and business center of Moscow. Its spacious rooms and breathtaking views over the Kremlin has made the National famous worldwide, attracting presidents, royalties and celebrities among the guests. Dine at Moskovsky restaurant, which is considered the best hotel restaurant in Moscow. Its aristocratic Russian and European cuisine, enchanting historical ambience as well as breathtaking panoramic view over the Kremlin make dining truly unforgettable. As an official member of the “Leading Hotels of the World”, The National combines historical ambience, up-to-date convenience and top-notch service with genuine Russian hospitality.

• Day 2: Moscow

  Tour the Kremlin, the city´s former military fortification, a palace, an armoury, the sovereign treasury and the workplace of the Russian President. The Kremlin is the center of Russia´s political life and State power. The Armoury Palace features weaponry, imperial regalia and unique art. Visit the impressive Diamond Fund, where the exhibits include the great imperial crown of gold, silver, diamonds and pearls made for the coronation of Empress Catherine XI (Entrance fees are included). If accommodation is outside city, meeting with guide will be in front of Kremlin entrance.

  The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union´s achievements both for the Russians and foreign visitors. The stations are all uniquely designed with decorative elements including mosaics, statues, marble floors, walls and staircases to name a few. Each station has a unique decorative motive utilizing semi-precious stones and sculptures. The tour will proceed to bohemian Old Arbat street. Learn about the street´s interesting history and enjoy it's artisan culture and the street´s many craftsman and souvenir stalls.

  Accommodation: Hotel National (5*)
• • St. Petersburg
  • Novodevichy Convent
  • Grand Hotel Europe

  Day 3: Moscow - St. Petersburg

  Novodevichy Convent was founded at the beginning of 16th century. The complex consists of 15 buildings, surmounted by golden domes. For 400 years the Novodevichy Convent was part of important historical events, connected with the names of Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, Sofia and Peter I. For several years, it was even used as a place of imprisonment for disgraced women from noble families. Visit the interesting cemetery, a charming sight, rich in the spirit of the past, hidden behind a wall in the Twentieth century inner city. Visit the Tretyakov Gallery, the largest museum of Russian art in the world. The museum represents the history of Russian art from the ancient periods. Its superb collection consists of numerous icons, paintings, sculptures and graphics. Entrance fees to the Monastery and Gallery are included in the tour price.

  Enjoy a train station transfer with private vehicle/driver and guide.

  Watch the changing landscapes on your fast speed train ride from Moscow to St. Petersburg, departing in the afternoon.

  Enjoy a private train station transfer with vehicle, driver and English speaking guide.

  Accommodation: Grand Hotel Europe (5*)

  Positioned on Nevsky Prospekt, St Petersburg's most splendid avenue, Grand Hotel Europe (5*) is surrounded by some of the world's greatest cultural treasures, including the Russian Museum and Mussorgsky Theatre Grand Hotel Europe. Discerning travelers are charmed by the hotel's warm Russian hospitality, impressive architecture and exceptional service. The Hotel offers spacious, tastefully decorated accommodations with antique furniture and period touches, but also incorporates all the comforts a modern traveler needs. The hotel has a wide range of dining options, including its own chocolate factory. The Grand Hotel Europe offers its guests gracious elegance and luxurious comfort, such as in the era of the Tsars.

• Day 4: St. Petersburg

  Take a panoramic tour and get acquainted with the main architectural and historical monuments of St Petersburg, ride along its main streets and prospects, and enjoy its splendid parks and gardens. Drive along world famous "Nevsky Prospect" lined with marble palaces of Russian royalty and aristocracy, with most fashionable boutiques and art salons arranged in old settings of the 18th century, the Monastery of Alexander Nevsky, one of four Russia’s Lavras with its magnificent Trinity Cathedral and its cemetery where Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky and other world celebrities were buried. along the Neva’s embankments, view the Hermitage Museum, St. Peter and St. Paul's fortress, the first public museum of the country, the Chamber of Curiosities, St. Isaac Cathedral with «The Bronze Horseman» unveiled in Senate Square. Stop in the Field of Mars with the eternal flame lit in the centre of the monument to victims of revolutions and wars, at the Resurrection Cathedral on the Spilt Blood.Drive through the Square of Arts which is a perfect classical ensemble of the city, enjoy an overwhelming beauty of the third largest square in the world, the Palace Square with the Alexander Column, the Triumphal Arch of the general Staff building, and the Winter Palace complex. The tour starts and ends in your hotel. This is a panoramic tour with photostops and doesn't includes any entrance fees.

  Accommodation: Grand Hotel Europe (5*)
• • Fountains in Peterhof
  • Mariinsky theatre

  Day 5: St. Petersburg

  Enjoy the excursion to one of the most beautiful summer residences of the Royal family, Peterhof. The world-famous palace, fountain and park is an outstanding landmark of Russian artistic culture of the 18th-19th centuries. Learn from your private guide about the fate of the palace and the parks during the World War II, see the pictures representing the palace and in process of restoration works. Walk through the various fountains of different sizes and shapes in the lower Park, and admire the beautiful gardens. Continue with Yusupov Palace, one of the most mysterious places in St. Petersburg. Yusupov Palace once belonging to princes Yusupovs noble family is one of the most beautiful palaces in St. Petersburg. Princes Yusupovs had always been in the center of high life. The palace retains its genuine interiors of the 19th century. The cellar of the palace became the setting of the murder of one of the most scandalous figures in Russian history -Grigory Rasputin. The legendary favourite of the wife of Emperor Nicolas II, Rasputin convinced the royal family that he possessed supernatural powers and that only he could cure the heir to the throne Alexis, who suffered from haemophilia. Rasputin had strong influence on the decisions of the tsar and tsarina. Nowadays the cellar houses an exhibition about the life of Grigory Rasputin.

  Choose between one of the various evening entertainment options St. Petersburg has to offer: performances at the Marinsky theater, folklore show in Nikolaevskey palace, a show at the famous Circus, or a river cruise, combined with a folklore show. Please speak to your Sales Advisor if you are interested in adding a show to your itinerary during your time in St. Petersburg.

  Accommodation: Grand Hotel Europe (5*)
• • Hermitage Museum

  Day 6: St. Petersburg

  Enjoy a guided tour of the Hermitage and admire the gems of the collection. During the tour you will see the State Rooms of the Winter Palace, a part of the collection of paintings of Old Masters and other exciting exhibits and works of art. Value the splendour of the Gala stair-way, Peter's Memorial Hall, the Armorial Hall, the Gallery of 1812 with its numerous portraits, the Pavilion Hall and its various amusements and other gala rooms. You will enjoy the works of applied arts, precious items and paintings. The collection of Western European art, numbering over 600,000 items, is considered to be one of the finest in the world. It presents all the stages of the development of art from the Middle Ages to the present. Enjoy masterpieces by outstanding Western European artists, as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Giorgione, Titian, Michelangelo, Francisco de Goya, Renoir, Picasso and others. You will have an opportunity to see such world-famous masterpieces as works by Degas, Renoir, Pissarro, Van Gogh, Gauguin and others. Admire the richest collection of ancient and early medieval items, works of art from Ancient Greece and Rome, fabulous treasures of oriental culture and wonderful European art. Entrance fee to Hermitage Museum is included in the tour price.

  Accommodation: Grand Hotel Europe (5*)
• • Pavlovsk Park and Palace

  Day 7: St. Petersburg

  Take a full day tour to Pushkin, originally named Tsarskoe Selo (Tsar's Village), famous for the marvelous Catherine Palace and park. The town, also known as Pushkin, in honour of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, was the main summer residence of the royal family. The collection of the palace includes a large number of precious works of art, such as furniture, porcelain, statues, canvases, including personal belongings of Russian emperors and members of their families. Visit one of the most remarkable interiors of Catherine Palace, the Amber Room. Your private guide will tell the story of the Catherine Palace's construction, and will get to know about the tragic moments in the palace's history, connected with the Nazi occupation during the World War II. Continue to Pavlovsk, site of the only fully-restored former imperial palace following the Nazi’s ravage. The palace-and-park ensemble was presented by the Russian empress Catherine the Great to her son Paul on the occasion of the birth of his first son, Alexander. The palace's Greek Hall is adorned with green Corinthian columns making the ballroom the most elegant interior of the Palace in Pavlovsk. The park of Pavlovsk is the largest park in Russia with ponds, valleys, waterfalls and various statues laid out at the end of the 18th century. Entrance fees are included in the tour price.

  Accommodation: Grand Hotel Europe (5*)

• Day 8: St. Petersburg

  Meet your driver for a private airport transfer in St Petersburg.

  Accommodation: Depart

  Depart from St. Petersburg international airport - end of itinerary.

Accommodation

• • Hotel National, Moscow
  • Bedroom

  Hotel National (5*)

  Hotel National (5*) is uniquely located just off the Red Square in the very heart of the historical, cultural and business center of Moscow. Its spacious rooms and breathtaking views over the Kremlin has made the National famous worldwide, attracting presidents, royalties and celebrities among the guests. Dine at Moskovsky restaurant, which is considered the best hotel restaurant in Moscow. Its aristocratic Russian and European cuisine, enchanting historical ambience as well as breathtaking panoramic view over the Kremlin make dining truly unforgettable. As an official member of the “Leading Hotels of the World”, The National combines historical ambience, up-to-date convenience and top-notch service with genuine Russian hospitality.

  • More information
• • Grand Hotel Europe

  Grand Hotel Europe (5*)

  Positioned on Nevsky Prospekt, St Petersburg's most splendid avenue, Grand Hotel Europe (5*) is surrounded by some of the world's greatest cultural treasures, including the Russian Museum and Mussorgsky Theatre Grand Hotel Europe. Discerning travelers are charmed by the hotel's warm Russian hospitality, impressive architecture and exceptional service. The Hotel offers spacious, tastefully decorated accommodations with antique furniture and period touches, but also incorporates all the comforts a modern traveler needs. The hotel has a wide range of dining options, including its own chocolate factory. The Grand Hotel Europe offers its guests gracious elegance and luxurious comfort, such as in the era of the Tsars.

  • More information

The Fine Print

• Trip Operator

  Horizon & Co. (founded in 1963), is a privately-owned leading boutique travel company. Horizon designs and stages authentic and deeply personal travel experiences that are carefully choreographed to induce a life-long memory. In addition to offering published trips on seven continents, Horizon builds private custom trips for discerning individuals and small groups.

• Contact Information

  Horizon & Co.
  Tel: 1-800-387-2977
  Email: admin@horizon-co.com
  Web: www.horizon-co.com

• What's Included:

  • Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

• What's not Included:

  • Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance

• Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
  • Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.horizon-co.com/terms-and-conditions
  • Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.

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