The Footsteps of the Tzars HIGHLIGHTS: Private introduction to St Petersburg with visits to Hermitage, Peter Paul Fortress, Peterhof, Catherine's & Paul's palaces and the siege of Leningrad museum Day 1 Arrive in St Petersburg. Your private driver and guide will meet you on arrival and provide a short city orientation tour on the way to your choice of hotel, stopping to view the outside of the Church of the Saviour on Spilt Blood which mirrors closely that of St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. Day 2 Private tour of Peter Paul Fortress and Winter Palace & Hermitage After breakfast your private guide and driver will transfer you to the Peter Paul Fortress, the final resting place for most of the Romanov emperors from Peter 1 to Nicolas II, who was executed with his family in 1918 and whose remnants were very recently reburied here. The Hermitage museum contains one of the largest art collections in the world. Commissioned by Catherine the Great the Hermitage houses over three million items; the highlights of the collection are the Italian masterpieces, French Impressionists and Russian Royal family jewelery including the Faberge collections. Optional Extra Attend world famous ballet performed by the Kirov at the Marinsky Theatre . Day 3 Private tour to Pushkin and Pavlovsk Pushkin is home to arguably the finest palace in St Petersburg , Catherine's palace. Your visit includes the celebrated amber room where 16-foot jigsaw-looking panels with over 100,000 perfectly fitted pieces of amber adorn the room. Lunch at traditional Russian restaurant “Podvorie” prior to a visit to Pavlovsk. Named after Paul I, Pavlovsk was the last of the imperial estates to be built. The Palace has an elegant simplicity and is built in classic style . Day 4 Private tour of Peterhof. After breakfast your private guide and driver will transfer you to Peterhof , the world-famous palace, fountain and park ensemble. It’s 176 fountains, majestic palaces, numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes and remarkable collections of sculpture make Peterhof a veritable gem. Often called "Capital of Fountains" your summertime visit will include the unforgetable site of the fountains in full glory. Return to St Petersburg by Hydrofoil to the Winter Palace pier. Optional Extra Attend the traditional evening folklore show and Cossack dancing at the Nikolaevsky Palace. Day 5 Private tour of Leningrad Defence Museum After breakfast pick up by your driver and guide for a visit to one of the most memorable exhibitions in the city. Housed in the Museum of Leningrad's Defence the resilience and ingenuity of the citizens of Leningrad is laid open. The extensive exhibits and accounts tell the lives of the defenders of Leningrad for the 1000 days the Nazi's laid seige. Time for a brief stop at the 1000 day memorial prior to drop off at airport for flight home or why not extend your trip and have a private introduction to Moscow too!
The Tsars Ball at Catherine's Imperial Palace HIGHLIGHTS: Re-Live the grandeur of the Tsars at the New Year Imperial Ball at St Petersburg's most beautiful Catherines Palace. DAY 1 - 29 Dec 2009: Private transfer from airport to hotel. Your private driver / guide will meet you & provide a short city orientation tour on the way to the Angleterre where on arrival you will enjoy a glass of champagne. DAY 2 - 30 Dec 2009: Hermitage Private Tour After breakfast your driver/guide will transfer you to the Hermitage. Commissioned by Catherine the Great it contains one of the largest art collections in the world: the highlights being the Italian masters paintings, French Impressionists and Russian Royal family jewelry including the Faberge collections. Optional Extra City tour at night. This is a beautiful city all year round but you have the addd bonus of the Christmas deccorations. DAY 3 - 31 Dec 2009: Attend Tsars Ball A la Carte Optional Extra: Visit Peter and Paul Fortress, Leningrad Defence museum After breakfast your private driver/ guide will transfer you to the Peter and Paul Fortress, the final resting place for most of the Romanov emperors from Peter 1 to Nicolas II, who was executed with his family in 1918. Private tour of Leningrad Defence Museum Housed in the Museum of Leningrad's Defence the resilience and ingenuity of the citizens of Leningrad is laid open. The extensive exhibits and accounts tell the lives of the defenders of Leningrad for the 1000 day Nazi's seige. THIS EVENING ATTEND THE TSARS BALL AT CATHERINE'S PALACE Re-live the grandeur of the Tsars as you welcome in the New Year in the extraordinarily evocative Catherine’s Imperial Palace, probaly St Petersburg's most beautiful palace. This evening recreates the authentic feel of life with the Tsars through a wonderful range of authentic music and entertainment all true to history. EVENING PROGRAMME 7 PM - Hotel Pick up & 30 min VIP transfer to Catherine’s Palace where you will be met by a military brass orchestra and torch-bearing Imperial Hussars!!! 8 PM - The Ball starts with a drink in the Stasov Room, followed by a grand promenade through the sumptuos Palace chambers including the stunning Amber Room. During the promenade you will come across ballet dancers performing duets to the sounds of a harpsichord and enchanting flute music. 9 PM - A five course dinner will be served in the majestic Imperial Throne Room, starting with the finest of Russian delicacies – black caviar. While you ebjoy the equisite dinner prepared by French Master Chefs, soloists of the city’s ballet troupes and opera houses as well as a Classical Balalaika and Symphony orchestra, will provide the entertainment. 12PM - Midnight is signaled by a concert of bells and the New Year itself will be welcomed in by fireworks. Then you have until dawn to enjoy the privilege of having on of the world's great palaces as your host as you dance in the shimmering candleight golden interiors; A true fairytale. You can dance to the strains of a string orchestra playing the waltzes of Johann Strauss, be enthralled by Russian Folk Music and Cossack Dancers or dance to a Jazz band. After 1PM Shuttles leave every 1/2 for St. Petersburg to take you to your hotel. 6AM FINISH Note: Whilst there is no strict dress code we would recommend you at least come in black tie as guests are invited to come as formal as they feel comfortable in. However ladies must not wear spike heels as the parquetry floors are priceless. DAY 4 - 01 Jan 2010: Day at leisure. Private transfer to airport Day at leisure to recover from the Ball ! Private transfer to the airport for 5pm flight .
Both Sides of Russia HIGHLIGHTS: Add the highlights of St Petersburg with Moscow's Kremlin, Diamond fund, Moscow by night, the amazing Moscow Metro and a cold war underground bunker! Travel by 1st class sleeper train between cities Day 1 Arrival and Night Tour On arrival in Moscow a private driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After dinner (not included, our recommendation is Café Pushkin) experience a night tour of the floodlight city, including Red Square, the Sofiiskaya Embankment with St. Sophia Cathedral, St Basils, and the panorama of the Kremlin walls. Drive up to the Lenin Hills — the highest place in Moscow for a stunning view back across the city and the Olympic village host to the 1980 games. Day 2 Private Guide to Moscow Metro and KGB bunker It may seem a strange recommendation but the Moscow metro is a must see for a private tour with guide. Its oldest stations date back to 1937–1941 and are decorated with marble, mosaics, stained glass panels and bronze sculptures that resemble and capture the cultural history of the time. Quite extraordinary. Afternoon visit to Secure Command Post, constructed during the Cold War period with the purpose of being a communication centre for state leaders in case of a nuclear attack. Optional extra A private guide will take you on a tour of Gulag museum. The Museum's extensive exhibits includes a graphic account of life in a Gulag portrayed through photos, maps, Stalin decrees, propaganda literature and short biographies of some of the people who were arrested, imprisoned and murdered for their beliefs Day 3 The Kremlin and its Treasures After breakfast your private guide will take you around the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex including the armoury, 2 cathedrals and the diamond fund. In the territory of the Kremlin there are 5 Russian Orthodox Cathedrals, The Armory Chamber housing the treasures of the Moscow Tsars and emperors including the famous Faberge Easter eggs. The Diamond Fund houses the diamonds, jewelry and precious stones, including Catherine the Great's throne and the huge Orlov and Shah diamonds, the world's largest cut sapphire (258.8 carats), and the largest gold nugget ever found (36 kg). Private transfer to train station for overnight train to St Petersburg.
