27 Day Jewels of Russia with Berlin & the Baltic States

Welcome to Moscow. If you had a hundred years, you couldn’t exhaust all the wonder on offer here. Meals included: Dinner

Start your day by seeing the city’s finest sights, before an insightful ride on Moscow’s Metro, which is guaranteed to surprise you. After lunch in a local restaurant, you’ll discover world-renowned sights such as Red Square and the stunningly beautiful St. Basil’s Cathedral. Though now more accessible to travellers from around the world, these incredible world icons still exude much of the enigma that has always defined them. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your day begins with a visit to the Kremlin, the intriguing seat of the former Soviet Union. In the State Armory, you’ll see priceless weaponry, jewels, and ceremonial robes. Tonight, witness a thrilling Russian folk show complete with traditional costumes and dances. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enrich Visit the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet a real cosmonaut and learn about the history of space exploration, with original exhibits and models relating to space technology, history and art. It’s a beautiful and out-of-this-world experience that will have you seeing stars. Enjoy a delicious lunch in a local restaurant.
Tonight, you’ll attend an internationally renowned Russian Circus, where you’ll get to rediscover your sense of wonder all over again. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Freechoice Visit the State Tretyakov Gallery or explore the fascinating Museum of the Great Patriotic War commonly known as the World War II museum, where you’ll have an opportunity to see a vast collection of Russian military memorabilia. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Part of the ‘Golden Ring’ of cities surrounding Moscow, Uglich is well worth a long, deliberate examination and your guided walking tour will show you the many highlights of this city. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Welcome to the fascinating and ancient city of Yaroslavl. In fact, dating back to 1010, it’s even older than mighty Moscow. Today you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Fine Art Museum, housed in the Governor’s mansion, featuring the impressive collection of Russian paintings. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Explore the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery, built in 1397 and home to a wonderful collection of Russian Orthodox icons. Toast the occasion with a little vodka, the beverage integral to Russian culture for over 600 years. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dock at Kizhi Island, an open air museum with a precious collection of wooden churches and chapels. View the Church of the Transfiguration with its 22 timbered onion domes, easily amongst the most magnificent examples of wooden architecture in Russia, if not the world. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enrich Explore this charming museum village and its distinctive buildings and perhaps try shashlik, a traditional meal similar to shish kebab. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start your day with a guided tour of this uniquely beautiful metropolis, followed by a lunch in a local restaurant. Then, visit the Hermitage, formerly the Winter Palace and home to the Tsars. Today it houses one of the world’s most magnificent art collections. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Freechoice Explore Catherine’s Block and the fountains in the Lower Garden at Peterhof on a guided tour, or be seduced by the sheer extravagance of Peterhof’s Grand Palace, which was modelled on the Palace of Versailles. Alternatively, wander the incomparable Upper and Lower Gardens at Peterhof, including the Palaces’ majestic Fountains. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Freechoice Visit magnificent St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city. Or discover the Yusupov Palace, where Rasputin was murdered. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning visit Catherine’s Palace, famous for its grandiose white and gold façade and elaborate gardens.
Afterwards enjoy a highlight lunch at the old-world wooden Podvorie restaurant.
This afternoon, enjoy some free time to explore or relax as you please. Enrich Tonight you’ll be treated to a glass of sparkling wine, followed by a private Russian ballet concert at the majestic Palace of Prince Vladimir. The Palace was the last imperial palace to be built in St. Petersburg and is an eclectic combination of architectural styles that will dazzle and amaze you. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you’ll enjoy a cruise through the city’s canals and get to glide under some of the city’s 400 bridges. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, your cruise comes to an end. Disembark your ship, and travel by the high-speed train to Helsinki for an overnight stay. Upon arrival enjoy a sightseeing tour. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Relax on board your hydrofoil ride across the Baltic Sea to Tallinn.  Arrive in Tallinn and settle in your hotel, your home for the next two nights. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today you’ll discover Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Tallinn’s famed Town Hall. Freechoice Visit the Kadriorg Palace and Park. The area is home to some of Tallinn’s most prestigious residences. Alternatively, be seduced by the incredible exhibits at the Seaplane Harbour Museum. Freechoice Dining This evening, dine at one of three superb local restaurants. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Leave Tallinn behind, and journey to Sigulda, set in the Gauja River Valley and known as the Switzerland of Latvia. Explore the stunning landscapes of this region and visit Turaida Castle. Arrive in Riga and settle in your hotel, your home for the next two nights. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, embark on a discovery of Riga’s old town. Then, tour the Ethnographical Open-Air Museum for insight into Latvia’s heritage, followed by a delicious dinner and a traditional folk show. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we leave Riga and travel to Vilnius. We’ll visit Rundale Palace and its magnificent gardens. Our next stop is at the extraordinary ‘Hill of Crosses’. This symbol of Christian resistance to the Soviets features millions of small Crosses, which were repeatedly bulldozed during the occupation. This evening we arrive in Vilnius for our two night stay. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Relish in an insightful walking tour around the Old Town with its many famous examples of baroque architecture. You’ll see all the famous landmarks, including the University, the Gates of Dawn, with its remarkable chapel, and the famous Vilnius Cathedral. This afternoon visit the beautiful Trakai Island Castle, located only a short drive outside of Vilnius. Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast we depart Vilnius. Our route will take us into the amazing Mazurian region, which encompasses 4,000 lakes in a pristine setting, where a great deal of the landscape remains virgin forest. We cross the border into Poland and continue on to the capital Warsaw. You can look forward to staying here for the next two nights. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Warsaw was largely destroyed in World War II, but the historic centre has been rebuilt and since attained World Heritage status. Today you’ll visit the Jewish Ghetto with a local guide for a striking reminder of the suffering endured in WWII. You’ll also see the monument to the Ghetto heroes, the Palace of Culture and the Chopin Memorial – all remarkable landmarks of this diverse and history-rich land. Freechoice You have two vastly different but equally interesting options. Tour the opulent Royal Castle, or visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum for an interesting insight into this part of Polish history. Enrich This evening enjoy an exclusive piano concert of Chopin’s immortal music in a Manor House, followed by dinner. This is an experience with something for all the senses, so indulge to the full in all the wonderful sights, sounds and tastes on offer. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning you will be taken to the main train station where you board a train for the journey across the heart of Poland and into the German capital, Berlin. Upon arrival transfer to your luxurious hotel, for your three night special stay. Meals included: Breakfast

Journey to Potsdam, where a local historian will share his insights on the town and its history. Later, visit the Cecilienhof Palace where the Potsdam Treaty was signed in 1945. Enrich You’ll gain special entry to explore the renovated parliamentary building that was set on fire in 1933. After the tour, enjoy coffee and cake under the famous glass dome. This afternoon, see the Brandenburg Gate, State Opera House and Alexander Platz. Then drive the famous ‘Unter den Linden’ and visit the former Checkpoint Charlie area. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Freechoice Visit the moving Berlin Wall memorial and the Hackesche Höfe, then ride Berlin’s subway and learn the historic details of the city’s cold war period. Alternately, enjoy a cruise of the Spree River, and take in the city’s fine architecture from the comfort of the waterway. Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast you’ll be transferred to Berlin Airport for your onward or homebound flight with memories of a truly unforgettable trip. Meals included: Breakfast