THE CZAR ROUTE - 9 DAYS
Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Moscow

ITINERARY 2022

DAY 1 (SUNDAY): ARRIVAL HELSINKI
Arrival in Helsinki, optional transfer to Hotel Radisson Blu Seaside or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

DAY 2 (MONDAY): HELSINKI
Helsinki is located at the crossroads of Western and Eastern culture and this is reflected everywhere in the green and lively Finnish capital. The sightseeing tour takes us around the harbors and the Senate Square with the Lutheran Cathedral, up central Mannerheim Street and by the Parliament Building, the Finlandia Hall, and the Sibelius Monument and for a visit at the famous Church-in-the-Rock. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Suomenlinna Fortress, a cultural treasure which construction was started in the 18th century as a sea fortress. Located on an island, fortress is a unique attraction for visitors. The evening offers optional Finnish dinner at Restaurant Salve.

DAY 3 (TUESDAY): HELSINKI – ST. PETERSBURG
Today we continue eastbound to St. Petersburg. Shortly after crossing the border into Russia we drive through Vyborg, and continue to St. Petersburg. In the late afternoon we arrive in St. Petersburg and check-in at Hotel Sokos Vasilievsky or similar.

DAY 4 (WEDNESDAY): ST. PETERSBURG
St. Petersburg is an amazing city. Its imperial palaces and museums enjoy worldwide fame, while the Neva River and the many canals have deservedly given the city the title of Venice of the North. During the morning sightseeing tour, we get acquainted with all the splendours of the city: the Peter-Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Savior, the Nevsky Convent and much more. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Zarskoye Selo with the impressive Catherine’s Palace and the Amber Room, which vanished during World War II and was restored for St. Petersburg’s tri-centennial celebrations. In the evening enjoy an optional visit to the Nikolaevsky Palace with an exciting Russian folklore show and Russian „champagne” and snacks.

DAY 5 (THURSDAY): ST. PETERSBURG
The morning is reserved for an optional visit to Peterhof, an uncontested masterpiece of the time of Peter the Great, with the impressive Grand Palace, Grand Cascade and Water Avenue and its wonderful parks. In the afternoon, an optional visit to the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum is offered. In the evening enjoy an optional Russian dinner at Restaurant Pryanosti & Radosti.

DAY 6 (FRIDAY): ST. PETERSBURG – MOSCOW
The early morning is reserved for an optional St. Petersburg channel cruise. Around noon we go to the Moscow Railway Station and board the Sapsan high-speed train bound for Moscow. The train ride takes us through endless Russian landscapes along the River Volga. In the late afternoon we arrive to Moscow and check in at Hotel Azimut Smolenskaya or similar.

DAY 7 (SATURDAY): MOSCOW
Moscow, The Mother of Russia, is a genuine Russian city with the Kremlin and its onion domed cathedrals. The dramatic changes over the last decade have made the city to one of the most dynamic metropolises in the world. The morning sightseeing tour includes the highlights of the vast city: The Red Square with St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Theater Square with Bolshoi Theater and Sparrow Hills with Moscow University and we visit the Kremlin grounds and one of the cathedrals. In the afternoon is offered an optional visit to the Moscow Metro including the historical stations on the Ring-Line and a guided stroll along the famous pedestrian Arbat Street. The evening offers an optional Moscow-by-night tour including an unforgettable river cruise with the White Flotilla.

DAY 8 (SUNDAY): MOSCOW
The day offers an optional full day excursion to the quaint town of Sergiev Posad, where we visit the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual heart of the Russian Orthodox Church. The whole Lavra has been beautifully restored for the 700-years celebrations of the birth of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

DAY 9 (MONDAY): MOSCOW DEPARTURE
Optional transfer to the airport.

Single room supplement is extra & available upon request. Please contact us for Single travel alone and Single room supplement.

INCLUSIONS
• 8 overnights at centrally located 4 star hotels
• 8 x buffet breakfast
• Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
• Personalized welcome package
• Entrances to Church-in-the-Rock in Helsinki, Peter-Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg and Moscow Kremlin
• Service of English and German speaking tour escort on all tours
• Service of Italian and Spanish speaking tour escorts on all tours
• Service of Portuguese speaking tour escorts on tours
• Service of 1st class motor coaches or 1st class minivans throughout the itinerary
• Sapsan high-speed train St. PetersburgMoscow OW (2nd class)
• Portage at hotels and railway stations

Optional:
• Transfer airport to Hotel Radisson Blu Seaside: $ 111.00 for private car (1-3 persons), $ 139.00 for private minivan (4-7 persons)
• 3-hour excursion with water bus to the Suomenlinna Fortress: $ 84.00 pp
• Finnish dinner at Restaurant Salve: $ 84.00 pp
• 4-hour excursion to Peterhof and visit to the Grand Palace: $ 105.00 pp
• Visit to folklore show at the Nikolaevsky Palace: $ 91.00 pp
• 4-hour excursion to Zarskoye Selo and visit to Catherine’s Palace: $ 111.00 pp
• 3-hour visit to the Hermitage Art Museum: $ 70.00 pp
• Russian dinner at Restaurant Pryanosti & Radosti: $ 70.00 pp
• Guided channel cruise: $ 91.00 pp
• 3-hour Moscow metro and Arbat tour: $ 35.00 pp
• 3-hour Moscow-by-night tour and river cruise: $ 77.00 pp
• 8-hour excursion to Sergiev Posad: $ 111.00 pp
• Transfer Hotel Azimut Smolenskaya to airport: $ 111.00 for private car (1-3 persons), $ 139.00 for private minivan (4-7 persons)
• Half board at hotels (8 x 3 course dinner with coffee/tea): $ 399.00 pp

EXCLUSIONS
·         Any Visa fee
·         Any airfare
·         Any airport tax.
·         Any expenses of personal nature like tips, porterages at the stations, laundry, beverages, telephone calls etc.
·         Any expenses caused by factors beyond our control like flight cancellation, road blocks, vehicle malfunction etc.
·         Any medical or evacuation insurance
·         Additional costs due to flight cancellation, road blocks etc.