Pearls of the Baltic $3375 plus optional extension to Moscow

Itinerary

Day 1: STOCKHOLM

Arrive Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Transfer to hotel in connection with your flight
arrival. Your tour escort will meet you at your hotel during the evening. Dinner and
accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Sign, first class hotel centrally located.

Day 2: STOCKHOLM

The day starts with a 4 hours guided tour of the city. Famous sights include the Royal
Palace, Parliament Buildings, Cathedral, Royal Theatre, etc. You will also visit the
enchanting Old Town (Gamla Stan) with its narrow cobbled streets and numerous
antique shops. Highlight of the tour is a visit to City Hall with its famous Blue and
Golden Halls, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year. Afternoon free in
Stockholm, with possibility to visit the famous Wasa Museum or take one of the
popular canal tours. Accommodation at the Clarion Hotel Sign.

Day 3: STOCKHOLM – HELSINKI

Morning free in Stockholm. Afternoon transfer from hotel to pier, for embarkation on a
luxurious cruise ferry of the Silja Line. 17.00 hrs: Departure of cruise from Stockholm,
sailing slowly down the picturesque Stockholm archipelago past numerous small
islands. Dinner on board. Choice of entertainment, bars, shops and casino.
Accommodation is in 2-berth outside cabins (seaside) with shower/WC. We
recommend you to bring an overnight bag for this cruise, to avoid having to carry
suitcases to and from your cabin.

Day 4: HELSINKI

Enjoy your buffet breakfast as you sail into Helsinki. After disembarkation 3 hours
guided tour of Helsinki. Famous sights include the Senate Square, Uspenski
Cathedral, Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, Sibelius Park & Monument,
Underground Temple, and much more. During the afternoon you can explore the
busy market place or the many souvenir shops close to the harbour. Finnish crystal
and leather goods are an excellent buy. Dinner and accommodation at the
Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, another first class hotel centrally located.

Day 5: HELSINKI – ST. PETERSBURG

Early breakfast followed by transfer by coach from hotel to railway station. 07.42 hrs:
Departure from Helsinki on Finnish train ’Sibelius’ for St. Petersburg. Lunch box on
train. 14.26 hrs: Arrival in St. Petersburg. Coach transfer from railway station to hotel
combined with visit to Peter & Paul Fortress, burial place of the Russian Tsars, and
St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Welcome dinner incl. shot of vodka and 1 glass wine, and
accommodation at Ambassador Hotel, a four star hotel located in the city centre,
near the famous Mariinsky Theatre.

Day 6: ST. PETERSBURG

Buffet breakfast at hotel. 09.30 hrs: 3 hours panoramic tour of the city by coach with
local English-speaking guide. St. Petersburg is a city of outstanding architectural
beauty, famous for its magnificent palaces, cathedrals, fountains and bridges. 12.30
hrs: Lunch at the Hermitage Restaurant. 14.00: Tour of the world-famous
Hermitage Art Museum and the State Rooms of the Winter Palace. Return to hotel.
Dinner and accommodation at Ambassador Hotel.

Day 7: ST. PETERSBURG

Buffet breakfast at hotel. 09.30 hrs: Excursion to town of Pushkin including tour of
Catherine’s Palace with its famous Amber Room. 12.00 hrs: Lunch at Admiralty
Restaurant. After lunch, 1 hour’s guided boatcruise along the Neva River. This
evening you will be taken to see a colourful Russian folklore show at the Nikolaevsky
Palace, with snacks during the intermission. Dinner at the Backstage Restaurant of
the Mariinsky Theatre. Accommodation at Ambassador Hotel.

Day 8: ST. PETERSBURG DEPARTURE ( or continue to Moscow)

This tour of the three most beautiful cities of the Baltic ends after breakfast, with
transfers to St. Petersburg Airport in connection with your flight home.

OR continue to Moscow

Day 8: ST. P ETERSBURG – MOSCOW

Buffet breakfast at hotel. 09.00 hrs: Departure by hydrofoil for Peterhof, the magnificent
summer residence of all the Russian Tsars. Tour of the Lower Park including Grand
Palace (inside visit). Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch coach transfer with guided
assistance to St. Petersburg Airport, including luggage handling at airport. Economy class
flight from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Arrival in Moscow followed by coach transfer with
English-speaking guide to your hotel in the Russian capital. Moscow was founded in the
12th century, built as a wooden fortress on the banks of the Moscow River to keep out
barbarian invaders from the east. Today it is a modern city with wide boulevards and green
parks, yet proudly preserving its historic monuments and impressive buildings from
previous eras. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel.

Day 9: MOSCOW

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning tour of the Kremlin and Armoury Museum, with local
English-speaking guide. This tour lasting approx. 3 hours has to be done on foot as no
coaches are allowed inside the area. The Kremlin, which was the home, not only of the
Tsars, but also of Lenin and Stalin, is surrounded by 7 metres thick walls and covers an
area of 29 acres. You will pass by the Lenin Mausoleum and the grave of the unknown
soldier, where brides still leave their wedding bouquets, to visit one of the impressive
Russian Orthodox Cathedrals. This will be followed by a guided tour of the Armoury
Museum, containing the largest collection in the world of crown jewels and coronation
robes, including the wedding dress of Catherine the Great and the famous189 carat Olov
diamond. You will also see the golden horse-drawn carriages of all the Tsars and many
other treasures. 13.00 hrs: Lunch in Godunov Restaurant. After lunch walk through the
Red Square to rejoin your coach for a panoramic city tour, including a visit to Saviour
Cathedral. On this tour you will see the amazing golden, blue and green towers of the
Orthodox churches, the Bolshoy Theatre, Gorkij Park (Moscow’s largest entertainments
park), the State University of Moscow, and numerous other famous sights. Return by
coach to hotel. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel.

Day 10: MOSCOW

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning: Guided tour of the WW2 Memorial on Poklonnaya Hill,
followed by a visit to Borodino Panorama – the largest panoramic painting of the Borodino
Battle with Napoleon in 1812. Russian lunch at Sudar Restaurant. After lunch guided
tour of the famous Moscow Metro, ending with a walk along the fascinating pedestrian
street Arbat, known as the ’Montmartre of Moscow’. Rest of afternoon free for shopping in
the GUM department store or exploring Moscow on your own. We can recommend a visit
to the Pushkin Museum, famous for its collection of monuments from Ancient Egypt, or the
popular Tretiakov Art Gallery. Dinner and accommodation at Hilton Leningradskaya
Hotel

Day 11: MOSCOW DEPARTURE

Buffet breakfast at hotel followed by transfer with assistance to Moscow Airport for your
flight home.

Price includes:

 7 nights Stockholm – St Petersburg or 10 nights Stockholm – Moscow

• accommodation including daily 3-course or buffet dinner (except on
second evening in Stockholm) and buffet breakfast, in centrally located first
class hotels, all rooms with private facilities.
• 5 lunches on days 6/7/8/9 &10, plus lunch box on train on day 5.
• 4 hours guided tour of Stockholm, 3 hours Helsinki, all entrances included.
• Overnight cruise Stockholm – Helsinki, incl. accommodation in 2-berth
outside cabins with shower/WC, dinner and buffet breakfast on board.
• Complete programme in St. Petersburg, including 3 hours city tour, visit to
Peter & Paul Fortress, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Hermitage Museum/Winter
Palace, excursion to Peterhof, all entrances included, hydrofoil St.
Petersburg – Peterhof, 1 hour’s guided canal tour, plus folklore show at
Nikolaevsky Palace incl. snacks during intermission and dinner at Backstage
Restaurant.
• Train Helsinki – St. Petersburg , incl. coach transfers between hotels and
railway stations, lunch box on train and luggage handling.
• Flight economy class St. Petersburg – Moscow incl. luggage handling at
airports, and guided transfers.
• Complete programme in Moscow, including panoramic city tour, 3 hours visit
to the Kremlin and Armoury Museum, guided Metro Tour, visit to WW2
Memorial and Borodino Panorama, incl. all entrance monies and coach
transfers between restaurants and hotel.
• Luggage assistance at all hotels.
• English speaking tour escort throughout.
• Transportation by modern deluxe coach with reclining seats etc.
• Transfers airport/hotel on first and last days. Transfers to/from a different
airport than the one mentioned in the tour programme may incur a
supplement. Please refer to Airport Transfers under General Information &
Conditions.