RUSSIAN GLORIES, BALTIC TREASURES  2008

15 days / 14 nights,

Vilnius - Latvia - Riga - Tallinn - Cruise to Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Moscow

Departures: May 28 /  June 06, 13, 18, 25 /  July 18, 30 /  Aug 06, 20 /  September 05, 17 

New for 2008! Experience the sweep of history on this new Russia travel adventure, from the Kremlin and Red Square to Old World cities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, taking in unique attractions such as The State Hermitage Museum, Stalin's World War II bunker, and the Ballet.

From Peter the Great’s Palace to Joseph Stalin’s bunker, this deluxe escorted Russia adventure presents the intriguing stories behind some of history’s great halls of power. Get an insider’s view of the Kremlin, Red Square, and Peter and Paul Fortress; visit the Hermitage Museum, see Russian icons and treasures of the Czars, and attend the Russian Ballet. Also explore Helsinki, Finland and the well-preserved Old World cities of Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Tallinn, Estonia, with castles, medieval lanes, and incredible architecture. Coach, train and high-speed ferry take you on a Baltics and Russia travel experience that includes numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Day 1 ARRIVAL VILNIUS (D)
Tour begins at 6 p.m. at Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel, Vilnius, Lithuania. Your transfer is included from Vilnius Airport to the Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel in the heart of Vilnius' Old Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meet your tour director and travel companions at tonight's welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel, Vilnius, Lithuania

Day 2 VILNIUS - TRAKAI (B, L)
Take a walking tour of Old Town Vilnius. See Cathedral Square and the Renaissance-style Gates of Dawn, built in the 16th century as part of the town’s fortifications. Enjoy lunch in Trakai, a picturesque town with a castle dating to the Middle Age; return to Vilnius to explore as you please.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel, Vilnius, Lithuania

Day 3 TRAVEL TO LATVIA  (B, L, D)
Depart Vilnius and travel the Yellow Roads through the pristine countryside of Lithuania; cross into Latvia and stop in seaside Jurmala on your way to the capital, Riga, an important trading center for Central and Eastern Europe from the 13th to the 15th centuries. Your hotel is located in the heart of the old city.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Grand Palace Hotel, Riga, Latvia

Day 4 RIGA (B)

After a drive through Riga's New Town, a walking tour along the cobbled streets of Old Town Riga reveals buildings dating back 800 years as your Baltics and Russia travel experience continues. Check out the Art Nouveau architecture in the city, considered the best in Europe, and see Riga Castle, the Swedish Gate and medieval dwellings; its combination of period architecture has earned the Old Town UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. For those who wish, join us to explore some of the somber reminders of the tragic years of the Holocaust.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Palace Hotel, Riga, Latvia

Day 5 JOURNEY TO TALLINN (B, L, D)
Your Baltics and Russia travel adventure takes you into Estonia, stopping in Parnu for an authentic taste of local life at an Estonian beachfront barbecue en route to today's destination, the capital city of Tallinn; its well-preserved medieval center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Domina Monastery before settling in at your renowned hotel for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Swissôtel Tallinn, Estonia

Day 6 CRUISE TALLINN - HELSINKI (B)
Explore the walled city of Tallinn, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an outstanding and well-preserved example of a medieval Northern European trading city. Take a guided walking tour along its narrow cobblestone streets and charming squares. See the 13th-century Toompea Castle, which houses the Estonian Parliament. This afternoon, board the high-speed SuperSeaCat ferry and cross the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Kämp, Helsinki, Finland

Day 7 HELSINKI HIGHLIGHTS (B, D)
Explore Finland's capital city of Helsinki, a mix of parks, waterways, and architectural styles. See the Neo-Classical Senate Square, and the green cupolas and white columns of Helsinki Cathedral. Enjoy the colorful Market Square, and extraordinary Temppeliaukio (The Rock) Church, built into solid rock in the 1960s. Explore on your own in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Kämp, Helsinki, Finland
 

Day 8 TO ST. PETERSBURG BY RAIL (B, L, D)
From Helsinki, your Russia travel experience begins with an early morning train ride to opulent St. Petersburg; the historic center of Russia's cultural capital and Peter the Great's "Window to the West" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your home for the next four nights is the Hotel Astoria, situated close to St. Isaac's Cathedral.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg, Russia

Day 9 ST. PETERSBURG (B, D)
Take a guided tour of key landmarks in St. Petersburg. Visit the imposing Peter and Paul Fortress, built in 1703; inside the fortress, Peter and Paul Cathedral with a tall golden spire contains the tombs of the Russian czars, including the city's founder Peter the Great. Spend the rest of the day exploring more of St. Petersburg on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg, Russia
 

Day 10 A GREAT PALACE & BALLET (B, L)
Holidays permitting, visit the Grand Choral Synagogue and then journey to the opulent Palace of Peter the Great, located in Petrodvorets on the Gulf of Finland; enjoy the Summer Garden and fountain displays. Return to St. Petersburg by hydrofoil to pursue your own interests in the afternoon. In the evening, experience a long-standing Russian tradition when you attend a performance of the ballet. Note: schedule times and performances vary.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg, Russia

Day 11 ST. PETERSBURG - HERMITAGE (B)

Today, we has arranged an early morning visit to The State Hermitage Museum, boasting one of the largest collections of art and artifacts in the world. Displays include prehistoric cultures, classical antiquities, and Western European art; you'll view celebrated ancient gold treasures on a special visit to the Gold Room. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in glorious St. Petersburg.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg, Russia

Day 12 FLIGHT TO MOSCOW  (B, L, D)
Fly to Russia's capital, Moscow, for a three-night stay in this ancient city. Upon arrival, enjoy an exclusive visit to Joseph Stalin’s hidden World War II bunker, which was closed to the public for decades. Your Tauck group has been granted access by special permission; check out the central command room, and Stalin’s personal effects in his private office, then contemplate your experience over lunch.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, Russia

Day 13 INSIDER TOUR OF KREMLIN (B)

Meet a Kremlin insider to learn about Moscow’s past, and how the city has adjusted to the 21st century. Get a guided tour inside the 64-acre Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with Red Square. Visit Cathedral Square, and the Armory Chambers to see the treasures of the Czars, a true highlight of your Russia travel experience.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, Russia

Day 14 RUSSIAN ART & ICONS (B, D)

Tour the Moscow Metro today; with stations built of wood, bronze, copper and marble and decorated with sculptures, reliefs and mosaics, it's as much underground art gallery as transportation system. Visit the State Tretyakov Gallery/National Museum of Russian Fine Art, featuring 11th- to 20th-century paintings and sculptures by Russian artists. Cap your Russia travel adventure with a festive farewell dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, Russia

Day 15 MOSCOW DEPARTURE (B)
Tour ends: Moscow, Russia. Your memorable Baltics and Russia travel experience concludes today; a transfer is included from the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow to Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo Airport.
Meals: Breakfast

 

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 Departure Dates 2008

 Guaranteed departures

 May 28

 June 06, 13, 18, 25

 July 18, 30

 Aug 06, 20 

 September 05, 17 

 Prices in US Dollar