Baltic And Russian Explorer

( 5 Star )

Visit: VILNIUS–RIGA - TALLINN–HELSINKI - ST. PETERSBURG–MOSCOW -

Overview
Itinerary
Inclusion / Exclusion
Dates Pricing

Season - May–October 2020

Arrival in Vilnius, optional transfer to Hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. The morning sightseeing tour includes a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, with the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve. In the evening enjoy an optional folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas.

Heading for Riga, the first stop is the Hill of Crosses, one of the most holy sites of Catholic Lithuania. After crossing into Latvia we soon reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. Following a guided tour of the palace we travel through the rolling hills of Southern Latvia to reach Riga late afternoon, check-in at Hotel Wellton Riverside**** or similar.

Founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a real kaleidoscope of architectural styles. The walking tour of the Old Town includes Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, the Large and Small Guilds and the Freedom Monument. The afternoon is reserved for an optional visit to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. The evening offers an optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

After we got acquainted with Riga we have the possibility of discovering medieval Latvia. The optional tour for this morning takes us to the stunning scenery of the Gauja National Park and the town of Sigulda. We listen to the medieval Latvian legend of the Rose of Turaida and see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we return to Riga. The afternoon offers an optional visit to the Riga Motor Museum which has an impressive collection of vintage car including a very unique collection of old Soviet limousines from the Kremlin Garage. In the evening enjoy an optional Latvian dinner at the stylish Restaurant Forest.

The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu. We do a short tour of the resort before we continue through the North Estonian land of forests and arrive in Tallinn early afternoon, check-in at the Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia**** or similar.

Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, medieval Old Town Hall and Great Guild Hall. In the afternoon an optional excursion is offered to Kadriorg Park and visit to KUMU, the awardwinning new Estonian Art museum, with its collections of classic and contemporary fine art. The evening offers an optional medieval dinner at Restaurant Maikrahv.

This day offers first an optional day excursion to Lahemaa National Park, where we visit Palmse Manor, a memorial to the von Pahlen family, and Sagadi Manor. The tour ends with a visit to the charming 16th century Vihula Manor and the Vodka Museum. After lunch break, we head back to Tallinn to take the ferry to Helsinki and enjoy a refreshing tour through the Finnish archipelago before arriving in Helsinki. Upon arrival we are transferred to our hotel and check-in at Hotel Glo Art**** or similar.

Helsinki is truly located at the crossroads of Western and Eastern culture and this is reflected everywhere in the green and lively Finnish capital. The sightseeing tour takes us around the harbours and the Senate Square with the Lutheran Cathedral, up central Mannerheim Street and by the Parliament Building, the Finlandia Hall, and the Sibelius Monument and for a visit at the famous Church-in-the-Rock. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Suomenlinna Fortress, a cultural treasure which construction was started in the 18th century as a sea fortress. Located on an island, fortress is a unique attraction for visitors. The evening offers optional Finnish dinner at Restaurant Salve

Today we continue eastbound to St. Petersburg. Shortly after crossing the border into Russia we arrive in Vyborg, where we take time for a short sightseeing tour and a photostop at Vyborg Castle. In the late afternoon we arrive in St. Petersburg and check-in at Hotel Sokos Vasilievsky**** or similar

St. Petersburg is an amazing city. Its imperial palaces and museums enjoy worldwide fame, while the Neva River and the many canals have deservedly given the city the title of Venice of the North. During the morning sightseeing tour we get acquainted with all the splendours of the city: the Peter-Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Savior, the Nevsky Convent and much more. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Zarskoye Selo with the impressive Catherine’s Palace and the Amber Room, which vanished during World War II and was restored for St. Petersburg’s tri-centennial celebrations. In the evening enjoy an optional visit to the Nikolaevsky Palace with an exciting Russian folklore show and Russian „champagne” and snacks.

The morning is reserved for an optional visit to Peterhof, an uncontested masterpiece of the time of Peter the Great, with the impressive Grand Palace, Grand Cascade and Water Avenue and its wonderful parks. In the afternoon, an optional visit to the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum is offered. In the evening enjoy an optional Russian dinner at Restaurant Pryanosti & Radosti.

The early morning is reserved for an optional St. Petersburg channel cruise. Around noon we go to the Moscow Railway Station and board the Sapsan high-speed train bound for Moscow. The train ride takes us through endless Russian landscapes along the River Volga. In the late afternoon we arrive to Moscow and check in at Hotel Azimut Smolenskaya**** or similar.

Moscow, The Mother of Russia, is a genuine Russian city with the Kremlin and its onion domed cathedrals. The dramatic changes over the last decade have made the city to one of the most dynamic metropolis in the world. The morning sightseeing tour includes the highlights of the vast city: the Red Square with St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Theatre Square with Bolshoi Theatre and Sparrow Hills with Moscow University and we visit the Kremlin grounds and one of the cathedrals. In the afternoon is offered an optional visit to the Moscow Metro including the historical stations on the Ring-Line and a guided stroll along the famous pedestrian Arbat Street. The evening offers an optional Moscow-by-night tour including an unforgettable river cruise with the White Flotilla.

The day offers an optional full day excursion to the quaint town of Sergiev Posad, where we visit the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual heart of the Russian Orthodox Church. The whole Lavra has been beautifully restored for the 700-years celebrations of the birth of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

Optional transfer to the airport.

Inclusion

• 15 overnights at centrally located 4 star hotels • 15 x buffet breakfast • Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice • Personalised welcome package • Entrances to Peter and Paul Church in Vilnius, Rundale Palace, medieval Great Guild Hall in Tallinn, Church-in-the-Rock in Helsinki, Peter-Paul-Fortress in St. Petersburg and Moscow Kremlin • Service of English and German speaking tour escort on all tours • Service of Italian only and Spanish only speaking tour escort on Baltic segment of the tour and Italian and Spanish speaking tour escort on Finnish segment of the tour on selected tours and Italian speaking local guide on Finnish segment of the tour on selected tours • Service of Spanish and Portuguese speaking tour escort on selected tours • Service of Italian and Spanish speaking tour escort on selected tours • Service of 1st class motor coaches or 1st class minivans throughout the itinerary • Ferry Tallinn–Helsinki OW • Sapsan high-speed train St. Petersburg– Moscow OW (2nd class) • Portage at hotels and railway stations

Exclusion

International airfares Optional activities Other meals, drinks, tips and other personal expenses or services not specified on the program Personal equipment Travel insurance Gratuities Voluntary tips for guides or drivers Travel and medical insurance Any items not mentioned as included

Note

Optional: Supplement cost available on request • Transfer airport to Hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva: • 3-hour excursion to Trakai and visit to Trakai Castle: • Folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas: • 4-hour excursion to Gauja National Park: • 3-hour excursion to the Riga Motor Museum: • Organ concert at the Dome Cathedral: • 4-hour excursion to Jurmala: • Latvian dinner at Restaurant Forest: • 3-hour excursion to Kadriorg Park and visit to KUMU: • Medieval dinner at Restaurant Maikrahv: • 6-hour excursion to Lahemaa National Park: • 3-hour excursion with water bus to the Suomenlinna Fortress: • Finnish dinner at Restaurant Salve: • 4-hour excursion to Zarskoye Selo and visit to Catherine’s Palace: • Visit to folklore show at the Nikolaevsky Palace: • 4-hour excursion to Peterhof and visit to the Grand Palace: • 3-hour visit to the Hermitage Art Museum: • Russian dinner at Restaurant Pryanosti & Radosti: • Guided channel cruise: • 3-hour Moscow metro and Arbat tour: • 3-hour Moscow-by-night tour and river cruise: • 8-hour excursion to Sergiev Posad: • Transfer Hotel Azimut Smolenskaya to airport: • Half board at hotels