Holiday Sale: Moscow & St. Petersburg Private Journey

Arrive in Moscow, where you are met by your Guardian Angel and transferred to your luxurious accommodations. Settle in and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Set out with an expert local guide to discover a treasure trove of Russian history at the Kremlin. Begin with a visit to the State Armory, home to a vast collection of precious stones, jewelry and other priceless artifacts dating as far back as the 14th century. Peruse an impressive selection of fine carriages, ornate royal clothing and Fabergé eggs. Your visit also includes a stop at either the cathedral of coronations or the royal burial church. After lunch at leisure continue your journey with an exploration of Red Square and its famous landmarks — Lenin's Tomb and St Basil's cathedral, a colorful multi-domed complex whose architects were supposedly blinded by Ivan the Terrible so that they could never recreate such splendor again. You may also wish to take a ride on the famous Moscow metro, renowned for the ornate splendor of its stations.

Continue your exploration of Moscow with a visit to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Completely destroyed in the days of Stalin, the structure was restored to its original glory in 1990. Visit the Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery, the final resting place of Nikita Khrushchev, Raisa Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin. Take in views from the observation platform at Sparrow Hills, before time for lunch at your leisure. This afternoon, view the world's finest collection of Russian icons and pre-Revolutionary Russian art, as you join a private guide on a visit to the eye-catching Tretyakov Gallery, with its more than 100,000 outstanding works of art. Originally the private collection of a wealthy Russian merchant, Pavel Tretyakov, this vast trove was his gift to the Russian nation and is one of Moscow's greatest treasures.

Enjoy time at leisure this morning, and then transfer via luxury private vehicle to Moscow railway station for a relaxing train trip to St. Petersburg, enjoying a light meal on board. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your elegant hotel.

Set out on a full-day, guided exploration of the wonders of St. Petersburg, beginning with a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress, a vast island citadel built in 1703 to provide protection from the Swedes. Stop at the Fortress Cathedral, the final resting place of several tsars, including Peter the Great. Visit St. Isaac's Cathedral to learn more about its massive granite columns, vast mosaics and the gilded dome that dominates the city’s skyline. After time for lunch at leisure, get a close look at some of Russia’s most treasured masterpieces with a privately led tour of the Fabergé Museum. In addition to housing priceless collections of Fabergé eggs and objets d'art, the museum strives to repatriate Russian masterpieces previously sold off by the Bolsheviks.

Today, experience the world-renowned Hermitage, a massive museum campus spanning six buildings and housing over three million works of art. The main building is the lavish former home of the tsars, the Winter Palace. This rococo masterpiece commissioned by Catherine the Great came to house the greatest collection of art in Europe before it was bombed in World War II and subsequently restored in 1945. This afternoon, take advantage of time at leisure to explore the city, or perhaps extend your time in the Hermitage complex and visit the nearby General Staff Building, housing the Impressionist collection, at an additional cost.

Head south of the city for a private, guided exploration of Tsarskoe Selo (Tsar's Village), a former royal country estate much enjoyed by Catherine the Great and her daughter, Empress Elizabeth. Enter the magnificent baroque Catherine Palace to view its dazzling Amber Room, a chamber of opaque panels framed by gold leaf and mirrors. View other architectural highlights of the grounds, such as the exquisitely detailed Hermitage Pavilion and the neoclassical Alexander Palace, the favored residence of Tsar Nicholas II. Return to the city for lunch at your leisure.

Transfer to the airport and board your international flight home.