Sample Itinerary for School & College Tours to Moscow & St Petersburg
8 days by AIR to Moscow & St Petersburg
Day 1
Fly from London to Moscow. Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for your evening meal and accommodation. Moscow is the Capital of Russia and the seat of power, situated on the banks of the Moskva River. Originally a fishing port the city developed into a major trading centre where the richness of art and culture is utterly unique. Overnight Moscow.
Days 2
Morning guided city sight-seeing tour by coach. Your tour will include: Novodevichy Convent, Luzhniki sports stadium, Sparrow Hills for a panoramic view of the city, Moscow State University, 'The Wedding Cakes' (architecture from Stalin's era), The White House (seat of Government), Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Lenin's Library, Lubyanka (KGB headquarters), Red Square – St Basil's Cathedral (commissioned by Ivan the Terrible), the Historical Museum, GUM, Lenin's Mausoleum, the Bolshoi Theatre. Afternoon guided tour of the Moscow Metro - see the beautifully designed stations, particularly those on the 'Garden Ring'. Evening visit to the Moscow State Circus (optional). Overnight Moscow.
Day 3
Morning guided tour of the Kremlin. The former residence of the Russian Tsars is a 'city within a city' surrounded by immense walls. See the Palaces, Cathedrals (entrance to one is included), Tsar's Bell and Tsar's Canon. Afternoon at leisure to explore Moscow. Return to your hotel for an early evening meal before departing for the overnight train journey to St Petersburg in 4-berth couchettes.
Day 4
Arrive in St Petersburg and transfer to your hotel for breakfast (please note that you will not be able to check-in to your rooms at this early time). In 1712, after just 9 years of building Peter the Great realised his dream to have yearround access to Europe via the Baltic. The marshland was transformed into the Capital and there it remained until 1918. Depart by coach for a guided sight-seeing tour of St Petersburg. Highlights include: Kazan Cathedral; St Isaac's Cathedral; the Admiralty; the Marinsky Palace; the Bronze Horseman (statue of Peter the Great); the Aurora (the cruiser that marked the beginnings of the revolution); Fields of Mars; Summer Garden; St Michael's Palace; Church of the Spilled Blood. Afternoon visit to Peter & Paul Fortress located on Hare island, opposite the Hermitage. The Cathedral, the oldest building in St Petersburg, houses the remains of the Romanov Tsars. Return to your hotel for your evening meal. Overnight St. Petersburg.
Day 5
Morning guided tour of The Hermitage, Catherine the Great's magnificent collection of 2.7 million works of art. The collection includes items by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Roden, Rembrandt and Rubens. Afternoon at leisure to explore St Petersburg. Evening meal in the hotel followed by a folklore evening. Overnight St. Petersburg.
Day 6
Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Day 7
Visit the oldest Ottoman village, famous for its Ottoman Wooden Houses. Also visit Iznik, an openair museum and tourist town, world renowned for enamel tile making. Continue on to Istanbul. Take the ferry across the Gulf of Izmit. Overnight in Istanbul.
Tour Variations
This tour may be taken in reverse order depending on availability and flights. It is also possible to visit each city individually.
Extra Day
Make the most of your stay by adding an extra day. Price available upon request.
