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Motor-Coach-Tours |
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Impressions of Scandinavia & Russia
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Stockholm – Helsinki – St. Petersburg – Puskin – Petrodvorets – Moscow |
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A marvelous journey starting with Stockholm, founded 800 years ago on an island with picturesque waterways and today one of Europe's most prosperous cities. Then take an vernight mini-cruise to the capital Helsinki on the Gulf of Finland, known as the „White City of the North” because of its magnificent light-colored buildings. Travel by motor-coach to St. Petersburg, former capital of Russia and see its great palaces of aristocracy, splendid art and architecture of French and Italian style. On excursions experience Puskin and its Palace of Catherine the Great and the Imperial Residence of Czar Peter the Great in Petrodvorets. Enjoy an overnight sleeper train transfer to Moscow and explore the fascinating Red Square and its outstanding Kremlin, the famous Armory Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery and take a memorable boat cruise on the Moskva River!
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A warm welcome awaits you upon arrival Stockholm Airport by your Tour Director. - Transfer to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. - Tonight join your Tour Director for a welcome reception and brief orientation at the hotel. (1 overnight at Hotel Scandic Ariadne). | | | | | | DAY 02 Stockholm – Overnight-cruise to Finland
Your morning tour of Stockholm, named as the Cultural Capital of Europe and spread to 12 other adjacent islands with its beautiful waterways, magnificent monuments and green parks will start with a visit at the National Museum to admire Swedish artwork of the past 3 centuries. You will see the Royal Opera House and the crowned City Hall right at the waterway with an office that awards the annual Nobel Prize. The tour leads back to the city center by way of the Parliament Building to the ancient church Riddarholm to see tombs of over 200 Swedish monarchs and nobility. Then you arrive at the city's Cathedral of the early 14th century and Royal Palace, the King's and Queen's official residence to visit some of the State Rooms, like the Festival Hall, the King's Throne Room, the Royal Chapel with historic treasures and a most impressive staircase. See also the splendid castle park and gardens with a beautiful Chinese Pavilion. Following a lunch break the rest of the afternoon is yours before we transfer to the harbor for dinner on our overnight mini-cruise to Finland.
Meals: B&D. (1 overnight on ship).
| | | | | | DAY 03 Helsinki/Finland
A morning arrival at the harbor of Helsinki is followed by a transfer to your hotel. - Upon check-in your motorcoach takes you on a sightseeing tour of this gracious city situated on a peninsula. You will visit the National Museum, illustrating Finland's history, culture and a display of handicrafts from all over the country, including a throne of the Russian Czar Alexander. - Then your sightseeing leads to the unique church Temppeliaukion, blasted from a solid rock and topped with a copper dome. - Nearby, you visit the Senate Square which is dominated by a statue of Czar Alexander II and the impressive Lutheran Cathedral, originally designed by the famous German architect Ludwig Engel. Right here at this square see some other remarkable buildings in neo-classical style like the University, the State Council Building and Library, one of Engel's masterpieces. - Across the market place see the Presidential Palace and spend your lunch time in this area. - After this break we continue with our sightseeing and drive to Seurasaari, a small island linked with the mainland to visit its Open-Air-Museum. Time to stroll around and see dwellings of old Finnish farmhouses, manors and a number of different wooden houses from the 18th and 19th century. - From here return to your hotel.
Meals: B. (1 overnight at Hotel Scandic). | | | | | | DAY 04 Helsinki – St. Petersburg/Russia (by motor-coach)
You leave Helsinki this morning by motor-coach, passing charming villages, numerous lakes and its woodland and timber trade area of Kotka with a stop. - At Vaalima we cross the border for Russia via Vyborg and through the forests of Karelia to St. Petersburg, founded by Czar Peter the Great and once capital of the Russian Empire. - Transfer to your hotel in time for dinner.
Meals: B & D. (3 overnights at Hotel Pribaltiskaya). | | | | | | DAY 05 St. Petersburg
You start this morning with a beautiful sightseeing of the huge domed St. Isaac's Cathedral, built during the 19th century with a magnificent decoration. You see the elegant Puskin Theater with columns topped by a quadriga and the Palace Square surrounded by imposing buildings, the statue of Czar Alexander I and his Winter Palace of the 18th century. Visit the Hermitage Museum, which displays one of the world's finest collection of art, antiquities, masterpieces by Da Vinci, Raphael, Picasso andmany others. - Then you drive over Anichkov Bridge flanked by splendid statues to Nevsky Avenue, one of St. Petersburg's main boulevards, lined by stores, cafes and restaurants. At Costinyj Dvor we stop for a lunch break, a large arcaded shopping center. - Early afternoon we cross the Neva River to Peter and Paul Fortress, built as a bastion against attacks from the Baltic region. See its remarkable Gate, a triumphal arch with a beautiful coat of arms and pass through the Guard Room to its Cathedral Square. - Time on your own to explore this historic place before we visit the famous Russian battleship Aurora and its inside museum, an armored former cruiser who started with a single shot the October Revolution by Lenin and Trotzkij in 1917. - Following this visit you will return to your hotel.
Meals: B. | | | | | | DAY 06 St. Petersburg – Puskin – Petrodvorets
After breakfast you participate in a fascinating excursion first to nearby town of Puskin to visit the blue Palace of Catherine the Great, completed around 1758 with a splendid facade. See its priceless interior with gilded walls, magnificent State Rooms in Rococo style and the outside with its lake, gardens and pavilions surrounding this great palace. - Time to stroll around before we continue our excursion to Petrodvorets to visit the Versailleslike Imperial Residence, once summer seat of Czar Peter the Great, in a beautiful setting right at the Gulf of Finland. See its enchanting rooms which include among others the Throne and Chinese Room. Of much interest is also the castle park with its picturesque waterfall and grand fountains decorated with beautiful sculptures. - Following a leisure break return to St. Petersburg in time for dinner.
Meals: B&D. | | | | | | DAY 07 St. Petersburg –Moscow (by overnight train)
Enjoy this free day still in St. Petersburg at your leisure, perhaps to admire more of Czar Peter's art and architecture - or just wander on popular Nevsky Avenue, lined with stores, vendors selling all kind of Russian goods, cafes and restaurants. - Towards evening transfer to the railroad station to board an overnight sleeper train to Moscow.
Meals: B&D. (1 overnight on train). | | | | | | DAY 08 Moscow/Russia
Your morning arrival Moscow is followed by a transfer to your hotel. - Upon check-in the rest of the morning is yours to do as you please. - Around noon your sightseeing of Moscow starts with the Red Square, formerly used for impressive military parades and see here its Lenin Mausoleum. You visit the most unique Cathedral of St. Basil, a central church surrounded by eight smaller churches with colorful onion-shaped domes. - Then you visit the Kremlin, originally built as a fortress and residence of the early royal families, today seat of the Russian Government. You will enter this huge place at the Trinity Tower and see first the Church of Twelve Apostles with its beautiful onion domes. At the main square admire the „King of Bells”, 23 feet high and with over 200 tons probably the heaviest in the world. - Visit the Cathedral of Assumption, built during the 15th century, a masterpiece of Italian style topped by five golden domes and where czars were crowned. - You also visit the Armory Museum with a great collection of weapons, icons, jewels,magnificent gold and silver products, including great single pieces of Fabergé. - After this spectacular sightseeing return to your hotel.
Meals: B&D. (2 overnights at Hotel Cosmos). | | | | | | DAY 09 Moscow
After a good breakfast this morning we continue with our city sightseeing and drive first to the Tretyakov Gallery to see one of Russia's best painting collection, art of sculptures and icons, including a Byzantine masterpiece of the 12th century. - You will be visiting Moscow's subway metro systemwith a splendid decoration of statues, crystal chandeliers, stucco and beautiful stained-glass windows. - From here our motor-coach takes us to Arbat Street for a walk on this lively boulevard, along with artists, musicians and market stalls selling a variety of Russian souvenirs. - Spend your lunch time here and later board for a boat excursion on the Moskva River to enjoy fascinating views of the city. - Finally, before you return to the hotel visit Russia's largest Shopping Center Gum with colorful arcades and an imposing glass roof. - Tonight you end this day with a candle-light farewell dinner.
Meals: B&D. | | | | | | DAY 10 Moscow – Last day of tour
During the morning transfer to Moscow's airport for your return flight. - Say good-bye to this cosmopolitan city, to your Tour Director and take your pleasant memories along „From Russia with Love”!
Meals: B. | | | |
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All includings* |
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- Transfers between airports Stockholm/Moscow and hotels and transfers between port of call Stockholm/Helsinki and train station St. Petersburg/Moscow.
- A welcome cocktail upon arrival Stockholm.
- 7 accommodations at selected three to four-star hotels as named or similar, including hotel tax, service charges and baggage handling.
- 1 overnight on mini-cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki in two-bedded-cabins with private facilities.
- 1 overnight on train from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
- 9 buffet-style breakfasts.
- 4 three-courses dinners.
- Touring by a private and late-model motor-coach with all facilities.
- All sightseeings, excursions and entrance fees as per itinerary: City sightseeing of Stockholm, including National Museum, Riddarholm Church and Royal Palace.
- City sightseeing of Helsinki, including National Museum and Open-Air-Museum of Seurasaari.
- Overnight mini-cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki.
- Sightseeing of St. Petersburg, including Hermitage Museum, Peter and Paul Fortress,
battle ship Aurora and its Museum.
- Excursion to Petrodvorets, including Imperial Palace.
- Overnight train from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
- City sightseeing of Moscow, including Red Square Cathedral of St. Basil, The Kremlin, Armory Museum and Tretyakov Gallery.
- Boat excursion on Moskva River.
- An experienced and multi-lingual Tour Director each day throughout land, on mini-cruise and overnight train.
- Excursion to Puskin, including Palace. |
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