RUSSIA

Moscow and St. Petersburg

"Moscow... is Russia-and it is Russia's heart.

St. Petersburg is Russian, but it is not Russia"

"Letters from Russia" - 1839

Day 1 Depart Hong Kong

Day 2 Arrive Moscow

Hotel Balschug Kempinski

Met on arrival and transfer to the Hotel.

Hotel: Baltschug Kempinski

This five-star hotel, located in a superb position on the banks of the Moskva River, has spectacular views on to the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral. Managed by the Kempinski group, it offers all the facilities of a luxury hotel, together with a pool and a fitness center.

Day 3

The Kremlin

Visit to Red Square, Lenin's Tomb and the famous St. Basil's Cathedral. Also include the Kremlin, which is the oldest historical and architectural feature of Moscow. The grounds within the 60 ft. high walls, cover an area of 70 acres and contain a variety of buildings, including a three cathedrals of which the oldest, the Cathedral of the Assumption, was built in 1475. There is also the Armoury Museum, which, built in 1651, is the oldest museum in Russia.

Day 4

Take the Metro, with its beautiful Art Deco stations, out to Ismailovsky market, a huge melee of stalls selling anything from Russian dolls and Central Asian carpets to binoculars. Return and visit the Pushkin Museum. Constructed in 1898 by Roman Klein to hold a collection of fine art, today it boasts one of the world's largest collections of ancient, classical, Oriental and Western European art with over half a million works.

Day 5

Either visit the recently, very well renovated, Tretyakov Museum with its superb collection of Russian art, or alternatively, drive out to Kushkovo, the Versailles of Moscow, with its lakes and palaces.

Transfer to the airport

Depart Moscow by air

Arrive St. Petersburg

Met on arrival and transfer to the Hotel.

Hotel Grand Europe, outside and inside

Hotel: Grand Hotel Europe

This beautifully restored five-star luxury hotel enjoys a prime location on the Nevsky Prospekt, its classic architecture combined with modern amenities and superb location provide the perfect setting to explore this beautiful city.

Day 6

A general city tour, which will include the Peter and Paul fortress, St. Petersburg's oldest building and the burial place for many of the Tzars, the Smolney Cathedral, and the vast St. Isaac's Cathedral which rivals St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. In the afternoon, visit the Russian Museum with its wonderful collection of Russian art.

Day 7

The Hermitage Museum

Start the day in the staterooms of the Winter Palace, moving on to the Hermitage collection. Originally commissioned as small building to adjoin the Winter Palace in the 1760's thank by Catherine the Great to house her third collection, the Hermitage today occupies four buildings and the extensive art collection numbers over 2 million exhibits. The afternoon is free for shopping, wandering around, or continuing in the Hermitage.

Day 8

Start the day at Catherine's magnificent rococo palace at Tsarskoye Selo (formerly known as Pushkin). Designed by Rastrelli and modified by the Scottish architect, James Cameron, this huge azure blue palace with its formal gardens is unforgettable. Lunch will be at a traditional Russian restaurant.

Other options include:-

Canal boat ride,

The palaces of Peterhof, Lomonosov or Yusupov.

A backstage to of the Kirov Theatre.

And night at the Kirov .

The White nights Festival of Music in June

The Imperial Ball on New Years Eve

Transfer to the airport

Depart St. Petersburg

Arrive Moscow

Depart Moscow

Arrive Hong Kong

This is a suggested itinerary, which can be varied in any way to meet individual requirements.