Moscow to St Petersburg

Arrive in the early evening and transfer to our centrally located hotel in
Moscow. The journey takes approximately 1 hour from Domodedovo or
Sheremetyevo Airport, during peak season this can be longer due to heavy
traffic. The closest subway station to our hotel is Arbatskaya on the blue
line (the only station where four lines meet).
After dinner, we recommend an evening walk to Red Square

This morning we enjoy a guided walk across Red Square, past Lenin’s
Mausoleum visiting the revolutionary leader’s tomb. After we gain our
bearings, there is free time to visit the magnificent St Basil’s Cathedral,
which was built by Ivan the Terrible and remains one of the world’s most
iconic landmarks. We then hop aboard the efficient Metro system, for a short
tour of some of the most beautiful stations.
Later, if time allows, there might be chance to see Moscow’s premier art
collection at the Tretyakov Gallery, where the priceless Russian Icon
collection is kept along with other highlights. Or you may choose to do some
shopping at the souvenir market.
Evening visits to the Bolshoy Theatre are very popular and are available to
book online (subject to availability). The circus is also a popular choice -
however, live animals are used in some acts so this may not be to
everyone’s taste. Please note that Exodus are unable to pre-book these
tickets as we are not official ticket agents and tickets can only be booked
in advance.

Today we head straight to the highlight for many who visit Moscow, the
Kremlin - a city within a city. It is still the seat of much political power
and contains many of Russia’s greatest treasures. We visit some of the
magnificent cathedrals of St. Michael the Archangel, the Annunciation and the
Assumption, and have a look at the Tsar Bell and the golden domes of Ivan the
Great Bell Tower from the outside. We visit the famous Armoury, a museum of
opulent treasures including fabulous gold coaches and the famous Fabergé
eggs. There is some more free time in the afternoon before we meet at the
hotel for the short transfer to the train station. There will be time to
visit the shops to buy some snacks and drinks for the journey, before
boarding our late night sleeper train to Novgorod.

No other Russian city can compete with Novgorod in the variety and age of its
historical monuments. We spend a relaxing morning on a gentle walking tour
through the riverside Kremlin dating back to the 10th century. We take in the
sites of St Sofia’s Cathedral Yaroslav's Court and the Millennium Monument,
created to celebrate 1000 years of Russia. The afternoon is free, a chance to
experience a less visited city with a truly Russian feel. Most choose to
head out into the countryside to enjoy the Yuriev Monastery and the Open-air
Museum of Wooden Architecture, to learn more about rural life in Russia
For many Novgorod is a real highlight and a welcome break from hectic Moscow
before moving on to St Petersburg.

In the morning we transfer to the small town of Pushkin to see the incredible
Catherine Palace and gardens. Every room in this huge palace is as opulent as
the last, lined with gold and marble. The highlight, however, is The Amber
Room, which was dismantled by the Nazis during the war and its contents lost
somewhere in East Prussia. It has recently been restored to its former glory
and is a sight to behold. After the tour there is free time to enjoy the
gardens, or return to the hotel for a traditional banya -  a Russian sauna.

After approximately an hour transfer we arrive in one of the finest and most
extravagant cities in Europe - St Petersburg. This is a relatively young
city, which only celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2003. It was the vision
of Peter the Great and was part of his desire to bring ‘old Russia' into
the modern European age. Much of its design and work was contributed to by
foreign designers and craftsmen - the result being some of the finest 18th
and 19th-century buildings to be found in Europe, but with a distinct Russian
influence. Our hotel is located 10 minutes' walk from Nevsky Prospekt, St
Petersburg’s most famous street, full of fine mansions, cathedrals and
shops, all with a story to tell. We enjoy an orientation tour including a
visit inside the Peter and Paul Fortress and the famous cathedral that
contains the tombs of the Romanovs. Perhaps make an optional visit inside St
Isaac’s Cathedral or the Church of the Spilt Blood. We will meet again in
the early evening, for a visit to the new Fabergé Museum housing 4,000
pieces of fine decorative art, the highlight of which is a group of nine
imperial Easter eggs created by Fabergé for the last two Tsars.

We make the most of our final full day in Russia, with a guided tour of the
Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace. One of the largest and oldest museums in
the world, it was founded in 1764. Here every room is a piece of art in its
own right, you will marvel at the Pavilion Hall, Peacock Room, and Hanging
Gardens and that’s before you’ve even seen any art! The afternoon at
leisure to see more of the sights of St Petersburg. Why not take in the
sights of the city by boat on a relaxing canal trip?
Please note that this day may operate in reverse due to entrance slots at the
Hermitage.

After breakfast, there is some free time before the group flight back to
London.
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