Russia: History and Arts of an Empire – Tour Itinerary
Go Learn
Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is.
— Maxim Gorky
August 28–September 8, 2017
Daily Itinerary
Monday, August 28: Arrive in Moscow
Our journey begins in the shadow of Red Square. We'll gather in our hotel lobby around 6:00pm for an orientation walk, ending at a hand-picked restaurant where will break bread and prepare for tomorrow's adventures.
Hotel: Hotel Sadovnicheskaya
Meals: D
Tuesday, August 29: The Heart of Old Moscow
Dobroe utro! We will begin our acquaintance with Moscow with a tour of Christ the Savior Cathedral, learning about its history from the 19th Century until its reconstruction in 2000. We'll enjoy panoramic views of the city from the church's observation platform, allowing you to take in the whole of Moscow. We’ll visit the Pushkin Fine Arts museum where you can view European art treasures by Renoir and Picasso, as well as ancient artifacts from across Europe and Egypt. In the afternoon, we’ll have lunch during a relaxing boat ride on the Moskva River. From the river, you’ll gain a unique perspective of Moscow’s most significant and diverse architecture. In the late afternoon, take a walking tour of Red Square and the historical center of the city. Tour St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow’s "Stone Flower", the WWII Memorial, and the Bolshoi Theater. This evening, feel free to wander on your own and deepen your acquaintance with Moscow!
Hotel: Hotel Sadovnicheskaya
Meals: B,L
Wednesday, August 30: Dukes, Tsars, and Sovereigns—The Kremlin
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll meet our local guide who will reveal the mysteries of the Russian state and soul. We'll view the Kremlin's striking cathedrals—Assumption Cathedral and Archangel Cathedral, where tsars were crowned and tsars were buried. We'll visit the Armory Museum, famous for the tsar's regalia, and spend the morning immersed in unique architecture, and ancient frescoes and icons. This afternoon, enjoy some free time to have lunch at GUM—Moscow's famous department store on Red Square, ride the Moscow metro, explore the Izmailova Market, simply take an afternoon stroll.
Hotel: Hotel Sadovnicheskaya
Meals: B,L,D
Thursday, August 31: Moscow Promenade—Moscow Driving Tour
Today we will enjoy the comfort of the bus as we visit many must-see sights. We will start with a visit to Lenin's Mausoleum which is on the way to Zamoskvorechye, a neighborhood of Moscow that dates to the 14th Century. Next, we visit the Tretyakov Gallery, the foremost repository of Russian fine art in the world. Gene promises to enlighten and inform with a lecture on Russian art and iconography. In the afternoon, we will take a driving tour around the city, making several stops at some of Moscow's most picturesque locations: Novodevichiy Convent and cemetery, Victory Park, and Moscow State University. We'll end the day on Arbat Street, a colorful promenade with numerous shops, cafes, artist stalls and street performers.
Hotel: Hotel Sadovnicheskaya
Meals: B,L,D
Friday, September 1: Journey to Russia's Ancient Villages—Sergiev Posad to Suzdal
Today we board the bus early and make the voyage out of the city and through the countryside. We'll visit the town of Sergiev Posad, which grew in the 15th Century around one of Russia's greatest monasteries, St. Sergius Lavra. We'll tour St. Sergius Lavra and the associated cathedrals, and then pause for lunch together. In the afternoon, we'll drive to Pereslavl-Zalessky, where Peter the Great built his first "fun flotilla," which was the origin of the Great Russian Fleet. In the evening, we'll drive to Suzdal, which will be our home for the next two nights.
Hotel: Art Hotel Nikolaevskiy Posad
Meals: B,L,D
Saturday, September 2: The Russian Soul—Suzdal and Cathedral of the Nativity
We will wake up in Suzdal, one of Russia's oldest towns nestled amongst fertile wheat fields and ancient cathedrals. Today we will tour the city, taking it its kremlin, which dates from the 10th century, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cathedral of the Nativity, and visit the open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture and Peasant Life. In Suzdal we'll get a feel for the countryside and the lives of everyday Russians—this is our chance to relax, breathe in the country air, and enjoy a pleasant distinction after our Moscow adventure.
Hotel: Art Hotel Nikolaevskiy Posad
Meals: B,L,D
Sunday, September 3: The Golden Ring—Vladimir to St. Petersburg
We depart Suzdal early for a big day of sightseeing and transit! Our day begins with a bus ride to Vladimir, which is part of the Golden Ring of ancient Russian cities. With its provincial feel, Vladimir will provide a nice contrast to the big cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. We'll visit three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vladimir: the Golden Gate, which has ties to the Mongol Invasion in the 13th Century; Assumption Cathedral, which houses the remains of many rulers of Vladimir-Suzdal; and St. Demitrius Cathedral, famous for its white stone carvings decorating its walls. After lunch, we'll finish the afternoon with a bus ride to the Moscow airport, where we'll take a late-afternoon flight to our next stop—St. Petersburg!
Hotel: The Corinthia Hotel
Meals: B,L,D
Monday, September 4: Introduction to St. Petersburg
Today we will become acquainted with St. Petersburg's generous collections of art and artifacts, as well as the layout of the city itself. We'll begin by visiting the Hermitage Museum, which is one of the oldest museums in the world. It houses art from Egyptian antiquities to Titian, iron-age artifacts to Rembrandt. We'll pay special attention to the vast collection of Scythian Gold artifacts located here. After a group lunch, we will cruise the Neva River, and you will see why St. Petersburg is called the "Venice of the North". We'll return to the hotel early to rest and relax before attending either a ballet or opera at the wonderfully striped Mariynskey Theater in the evening.
Hotel: The Corinthia Hotel
Meals: B,L,D
Tuesday, September 5: Peterhof, the "Russian Versailles" Awaits!
Our day begins early with a bus ride to Peterhof, home of palaces and gardens laid out on the orders of Peter the Great. We will tour the grand palace, stroll through lush gardens, and admire the expansive views, artful water features, and tucked-away outbuildings. We'll return to St. Petersburg in the afternoon, and refuel with a traditional lunch. Once fortified, we'll head to the State Russian Museum, which holds the city's largest collection of Russian fine art. To work up an appetite before our group dinner, we will take a walking tour of the Nevsky Prospect, the main street in St. Petersburg, taking in its many shops, monuments, cathedrals, statues, and bridges.
Hotel: The Corinthia Hotel
Meals: B,L,D
Wednesday, September 6: St. Petersburg through History
We'll start our day in luxury at the Fabergé Museum. This museums holds the world's largest collection of works by Carl Fabergé, including nine of the famous Imperial Easter Eggs. Don't forget to look around the building as well, since the collection is housed in a beautifully restored palace. From the Faberge Museum, we will proceed to Peter and Paul Fortress. This is the original citadel of St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great in 1703, which played a major role in the Russian Revolution. We will end our afternoon at the Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery, which is dedicated to the victims of the Siege of Leningrad.
Hotel: The Corinthia Hotel
Meals: B,L
Thursday, September 7: Our Last Day
Our last day in Russia will be spent immersed in the rich history, architecture, and beauty of the Tsarskoye Selo, the royal family's country residence. We will tour Catherine Palace in all its Rococo splendor, learning about its origins, its fate during WWII, and its restoration in the last decade. After a peaceful tour through the French and English gardens, we will gather for a traditional lunch at Podvorye Restaurant, which is famous amongst travelers and locals alike. Our afternoon will be spent at Saint Isaac's Cathedral, which is the largest Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the city. We will spend our last evening together at a farewell dinner to celebrate a wonderful trip.
Hotel: The Corinthia Hotel
Meals: B,L,D
Friday, September 8: Goodbye Russia!
Our journey comes to an end after we breakfast together and reflect on our experiences. We will look forward to sharing stories and photos in a month during our reunion!
Meals: B
Double Occupancy: $5900.
Single Supplement: $1100.
Airfare and Russian visa (approx. $300) is not included.
Reserve your spot!
Photos courtesy John Menard, Pavel Kazachkov, Adam Jones, Leon Yaakov, Nigel Swales, Harvey Barrison