Imperial Russia

Arrive in Moscow, the capital of Russia, where you are met and transferred to your hotel, situated steps from Red Square. Gather this evening for a welcome dinner.

Explore two of the Kremlin’s cathedrals and enjoy early entry to the State Armory, home to priceless artifacts dating to the 14th century. Ride Like a Local on the Moscow Metro, admiring the elegant architecture of its stations. Your afternoon is at leisure.

Visit the Sparrow Hills and other key sites around the city. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and then revisit the pivotal era of Perestroika with an in-person talk from Mikhail Gorbachev’s personal translator. Continue to the Tretyakov Gallery to view its fine artworks.

Board a high-speed train to St. Petersburg, and check in to your hotel. Then, sit down to a Russian afternoon tea. Later, relax on a boat cruise on the city’s canals, viewing local life on shore, cocktail in hand, for a refreshing Scenic Sundowner experience. Finish at Peter and Paul Fortress, where you attend a choir concert of Russian spiritual music. Tonight, dine at a restaurant just outside the fortress walls.

Begin the day with special entry to Konstantin Palace, enjoying exclusive access unavailable to the general public to this art-filled former residence of grand dukes. Afterward, travel to Petrodvorets, summer palace of Peter the Great, to view its grounds, sculptures and fountains. Return to St. Petersburg by hydrofoil. This evening, view St. Isaac’s Cathedral, and then take part in a private culinary master class and dinner for an engaging and memorable Chef ’s Table experience.

Beat the crowds with special early entry to the world-famous Hermitage Museum to marvel at its spectacular art collections. Break for lunch in a nearby restaurant, and then return to view the renowned Impressionist collection. Later, attend a performance in one of St. Petersburg’s historic theaters.

Journey to Pushkin to discover the magnificent 18th-century Catherine Palace, designed to rival Versailles. Enter the rarely visited Cold Bath and Agate Rooms to see the palace’s only surviving original interiors. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Bask in a Russian Banya, a traditional steam bath experience that detoxifies and invigorates. Visit the Home of a Well-Known Local Artist, viewing his works and having afternoon tea with him and his wife. Discover the Central Navy Museum to learn the history of the Russian navy, dating to the reign of Peter the Great. Enjoy an evening at leisure, free to explore on your own.

Today, enter the ornate Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood to behold its delicate mosaics, and visit the Fabergé Museum to see its glittering Fabergé eggs and other objets d’art. Explore the city your way during an afternoon at leisure. Then, enjoy a private visit and concert with Champagne at the Isaak Brodsky House Museum, an experience available exclusively to A&K guests. Savor a tasting of Russian caviars as a fitting prelude to your farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your departing flight.