Volga Dream 2018 (St. Petersburg - Moscow) PLATINUM

DAY 1 ST. PETERSBURG
Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, transfer to your deluxe located in the historic city centre. You may spend the rest of the day at leisure relaxing after the flight or explore St. Petersburg on your own.
Stay at:
Belmond Grand Hotel Europe

DAY 2 ST. PETERSBURG
This morning tour St. Petersburg, which Peter the Great transformed from marshland into the vibrant city of islands, canals, bridges and pastel-coloured palaces, followed by entry to Peter & Paul Fortress, the family shrine of the Romanovs. Following lunch enter the Faberge Museum, which contains the world's largest collection of works by Carl Faberge, including 9 eggs commissioned by the Russian royal family. (B, L)

DAY 3 ST. PETERSBURG
This morning you drive to Pushkin, the Czar’s Village, for a specially arranged, early entrance visit to Catherine’s Palace. See the exquisitely restored Amber Room and stroll the formal gardens. Then it is onto to the meticulously restored Peterhof Palace, St. Petersburg’s most famous and spectacular imperial estate, often cited as the "Versailles of Russia". Visit the Bathhouse and stroll in the vast Lower Park with its 176 fountains, 4 cascades, majestic palaces, and numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes.
Lunch is followed by a tour of Yusupov’s Palace, this home is renowned as the most luxurious mansion amongst the city’s nobility from the 18th century, this palace is an extravagant example of the Yusupov family’s vast wealth. You will have an extensive tour of the palace and the family’s world renowned art collection. In the basement of this Palace, listen to the story about the enigmatic monk, Grigory Rasputin who was assassinated here by Prince Felix Yusupov. (B, L)

DAY 4 ST. PETERSBURG
This morning enjoy an early entry to the famed Hermitage Museum, whose four hundred rooms contain spectacular examples of nearly all schools of Western art, including one of the greatest collections of French Impressionist works.
The next highlight will be enjoying a different view of this imperial city with a cruise along the city’s many canals.Before lunch you will be able to enjoy a Russian Choral performance and the day ends with a visit to an authentic Russian home. This offers a unique opportunity to visit a real Russian Professor and his family, taste traditional home cooked Russian food, prepared by the hostess and, of course, ask anything about Russian life that you've been wondering about! The meeting will either be in a country house (dacha) or a family apartment in one of the famed, Stalin residential buildings of the early 20th century. Finally, you will be transferred to the luxurious MS Volga Dream to begin your cruise along the Russian Waterways. Enjoy a Captain's welcome reception and dinner as you begin your cruise. (B, L, D)

DAY 5 SVIRSTROY
The highlight of your day in Svirstroy is being invited into a local resident‘s home. Warm and welcoming Svirstroy villagers will offer tea with jam and pirozhki‖ (local pies). They will enthusiastically tell you all about Russian tradition, lifestyle and the attractions of Svirstroy village while proudly showing off their homes and kitchen gardens. After the tea, you will depart on a tour of the nearby town to see the monument of the WWII and visit a local primary school. (B, L, D)

DAY 6 KIZHI
This afternoon explore the tiny, picturesque island of Kizhi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on Lake Onega. The open-air Museum of Architecture includes the Church of the Transfiguration, a unique onion-domed masterpiece built without a single metal nail and resembling something out of a Russian fairy tale. (B, L, D)

DAY 7 GORITZY
Early this morning you cross Lake Beloye, or the White Lake, formerly known as the “czar’s fishing grounds”. Arrive in the peaceful village of Goritzy to tour the Ferapontov Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its magnificent frescoes by Dionysius, one of Russia‘s most renowned icon painters. He painted the temple ceiling about 10 years before Michelangelo even started on the Sistine Chapel! Return to the ship for a late lunch. (B, L, D)

DAY 8 YAROSLAVL
This morning visit the oldest city on the Volga River, Yaroslavl, a World Heritage site. In the Spassky Monastery see the Transfiguration of the Saviour, adorned with murals depicting St. John's apocalyptic visions, and the richly frescoed Church of St. Elijah the Prophet. Participate in a costumed reception at the Governor's House before reboarding the Volga Dream in time for lunch. (B, L, D)

DAY 9 UGLICH
Arrive this afternoon in Uglich, which dates back to the 10th century. A walking tour includes the Church of St. Dmitri-on-the-Blood, a 17th-century treasure built on the site where Ivan the Terrible’s 10-year old son met his death. Lastly you will attend a concert of choral music at St. John‘s Church. (B, L, D)

DAY 10 MOSCOW
Disembark this morning and begin the day with the combined City & Moscow Architecture tour which includes Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral and a photo stop at Novodevchy Convent and if time permits, a stop at the magnificent Christ the Savior Cathedral. This city boasts unique diversity and variety in terms of building styles, classic, modern, empire and eclecticism amazingly sit alongside more monumental designs, such as Stalin‘s towering skyscrapers from the mid 20th century. The architecture of the capital, though seemingly contradictory and contrasting, makes for a dazzling combination in a quite unique city.
After a relaxed lunch, we continue with the New Tretyakov Gallery to see its collection of early 20th century works by world famous Russian avant-garde masters and Social Realism Art work. The tour is led by the specially invited museum Curator. (B, L)
Stay at:
St. Regis Moscow Hotel Nikolskaya or Ararat Park Hyatt

DAY 11 MOSCOW
Begin the day with a backstage tour of the historic and recently restored Bolshoi Theatre* (available in May, June and September only). Then explore the famous Moscow Metro, renowned for its architectural splendour and ornately decorated stations. That‘s followed after lunch by a visit to the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts to see its remarkable collection of French Impressionism, which includes works by Corot, Goya, Delacroix, as well as van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne, Matisse, and Chagall. (B, L)

* A tour to Bolshoi Theatre will be replaced by a tour to State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia in July and August (early September) due to the Bolshoi Theatre being closed for their annual summer vacation.

DAY 12 MOSCOW
This morning you will walk to the Kremlin for a visit to the Armoury Museum, with its collection of Czarist thrones, ceremonial crowns, coaches and gifts of state. Then stroll across the famous Red Square and visit the GUM Department Store. After lunch, visit the renowned State Tretyakov Gallery to view it’s collection of Russian art, ranging from 12th-century icons to 20th-century paintings. The remainder of the day will be at your leisure to further explore Moscow at your own pace. (B, L)

DAY 13 MOSCOW
Your MS Volga Dream cruise tour concludes after breakfast with a departure transfer for your onward journey. (B)