Sightseeing Highlights

St. Petersburg Sightseeing tour including the Nevsky Prospekt, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Statue of St. Peter the Great. Plus a highlight visit  to the Hermitage Museum.
Novgorod Orientation including the 'Kremlin' Fort.
Tver See the Volga River.
Moscow Sightseeing including St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square and a visit to the Kremlin.
Minsk Orientation tour including the Hero's Hill Monument.
Vilnius Sightseeing tour includes the Gediminas Square and Tower. Visit the courtyards of the Jesuit University and more.
Siauliai Visit the 'Hill of Crosses'.
Riga Sightseeing tour including a visit to St. John's Church and Dom Cathedral. See the State Art Museum.
Tallinn Sightseeing explores the old Hanseatic Quarter and Luhike Jalq Gate. Visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Helsinki Sightseeing including Finlandia Hall, the Senate and  Market Squares and the Russian church.
Scenic drives through the Karelian Forests and traditional Russian  villages between Novgorod and Moscow, across the plains of White Russia.

 Dining Highlights

A welcome drink with your Tour Director in Helsinki

2 full Scandinavian breakfasts in Helsinki (SB), 3 Buffet breakfasts (BB) and 9 breakfasts elsewhere (B)

2 lunches in Russia (L)

8 three-course dinners (D)

24 meals in total (see day-by-day itinerary)

First Class Travel Highlights

The services of one of Trafalgar's top professional multi-lingual  Tour Directors.

A qualified local city guide in Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Moscow,  Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.

Chauffeur driven on Trafalgar's luxury air-conditioned motorcoaches  with reclining seats and washroom.

Ferry across the Gulf of Finland.

Helsinki Airport Transfers will be provided on Days 1 and 15.

A stylish travel bag and wallet containing tour documents and  helpful information.

First Class Hotels

You'll stay in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities at these  superb hotels:

Helsinki: Scandic Grand Marina
St. Petersburg (3): Pulkovskaya
Novgorod:  Beresta Palace
Moscow (3): Sovetsky
Minsk: Planeta
Vilnus: Reval  Lietuva
Riga (2): Maritim Park
Tallinn: Reval Olympia
Helsinki:  Scandic Grand Marina

All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and  local taxes included.

 DAY 1 Arrive Helsinki

On arrival at Helsinki Airport you are met and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon after check-in there's time to relax and unwind. This evening, we will enjoy a welcome drink with  our Tour Director and fellow travelling companions.

DAY 2 Helsinki - St. Petersburg (3)

This morning it's  an early departure for our journey into Russia, passing the timber centre of Kotka.  Then the forests of Karelia lead to the former city of Tsars, St. Petersburg.  This evening we will enjoy complimentary champagne with dinner, after maybe  visit a theatre for a Russian folklore show. (SB D)

DAYS 3 & 4 St. Petersburg sightseeing & at leisure

The Tsar's Winter Palace, Nevsky Prospekt, Peter and Paul fortress, St. Isaac's  Cathedral, the Russian museum and the statue of Peter the Great are all highlighted  on our morning sightseeing. During our time in St. Petersburg we will  also enjoy an included visit to the Hermitage Museum to visit one of the world's largest and most valuable Art collections. (B, B)

DAY 5 St. Petersburg - Novgorod

This morning our drive takes us across the vast Russian plains to ancient Novgorod.  On our arrival an orientation tour shows us the 'Kremlin' fort and grounds, Millennium Monument and the St. Sophia Cathedral. Dinner is at our hotel tonight. (B  D)

DAY 6 Novgorod - Tver - Moscow (3)

After breakfast, we will delight in a full day's scenic drive through picturesque villages to Tver.  On our arrival we'll enjoy an included lunch. Then our journey takes us on to Klin, once home of Tchaikovsky, before arriving in Moscow for the  first of our three-night stay. Tonight maybe enjoy a tour of the Moscow metro. (B L D)

DAYS 7 & 8 Moscow sightseeing & at leisure

On our first morning our sightseeing tour features such highlights as St. Basil's domed Cathedral, Red Square and a visit to the Kremlin. Then during  your time at leisure in Moscow perhaps take an optional excursion to visit the Tsar's Treasury Chamber or maybe visit St. Sergius Monastery and handicraft market. On  our first evening after dinner, there may be a chance for a thrilling night out  at the famous Moscow State Circus! (B, B)

DAY 9 Moscow - Smolensk - Minsk

Today we follow  in the steps of Napoleon's retreating army in 1812, passing Borodino and making a stop at Smolensk for an included lunch. Then we're off to  the border between Russia and the Independent State of Belarus en route to Minsk. Here an orientation shows us the Hero's Hill Memorial as well  as other highlights of this city. Tonight, we enjoy a dinner of traditional cuisine  at our hotel. (B L D)

DAY 10 Minsk - Vilnius

This morning via Osm'any we head toward the border with Lithuania, then on to the capital, Vilnius.  On arrival a guided sightseeing tour shows us the ruins of the medieval castle, the centre at Gediminas Square and Tower, the church of St. Peter  and Paul, the church of St. Anna and a walk through the old town. After we visit  the courtyards of the Jesuit University and see the 'Gates of Dawn',  we view the site of the Synagogue destroyed by Hitler in the last war. (B D)

DAY 11 Vilnius - Siauliai - Riga (2)

After breakfast  we depart from Vilnius with our first stop being a visit to Siauliai and the 'Hill of Crosses' - symbol of resistance against Soviet occupation.  Later, we arrive at the Latvian border and onto ancient Riga, Latvia's capital - made famous by the stories of Baron von Munchausen. Dinner is at our hotel tonight. (BB D)

DAY 12 Riga sightseeing & at leisure

We tour this city in the shadow of the 14th century castle of the Livonian knights, with a local  guide. Today we visit St. John's Church and the Dom Cathedral dating back to the 13th century, before we stroll past the Tris Braili to  admire the medieval architecture here and see the State Art Museum. Later, there's free time for further exploration of the city before dinner at our hotel. (BB D)

DAY 13 Riga - Tallinn

Today's drive takes us along the Gulf of Riga and into Estonia. Then we travel via Parnu, a  popular vacation resort of sandy beaches, as we head to the Estonian capital - Tallinn for the night. (BB D)

DAY 14 Tallinn sightseeing - Helsinki

Our morning sightseeing  tour in this pretty town explores the beautifully preserved streets of  the old Hanseatic Quarter with its ancient battlements and the 15th century Luhike  Jalq Gate. We also visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the old Town Hall, before we board our ship for the sea-crossing to Helsinki in Finland. On  our arrival this evening sightseeing reveals Finlandia Hall, the Senate and Market Squares, broad boulevards and domed Russian church. (B)

DAY 15 Depart Helsinki

After breakfast this morning, bid farewell as we transfer you to the airport for your return flight home. (SB)

Why Choose Trafalgar

Choose a holiday: 4 easy steps is all it takes for you to get the best holiday you’ve ever had.

• Choose where you want to go...
• Choose how long you want to stay...
• Choose when you want to go...
• Then. Dream. Pack and leave......the rest to us