The Baltics and Russia
$0.00
per item
Highlights:
This suggested program is a comprehensive exploration of the Baltic Region and Russia. Starting in Lithuania you visit Latvia and Estonia before taking a high speed ferry across the Gulf of Finland and its Capital, Helsinki. From there you take a 1st Class train to St. Petersburg, “window to the west” and ends with a visit to Red Square, the Kremlin and the other sights of Moscow.
Throughout your journey you will enjoy excellent hotels, personalized service and various cuisines. You will also experience
first class seats on the Sibelius Express from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, a tour of the art treasures in the Hermitage Museum with the opportunity to watch a performance of the Kirov Ballet and finally a privately guided tour of the Kremlin and a performance of the world famous Moscow Circus.
This suggested program is a comprehensive exploration of the Baltic Region and Russia. Starting in Lithuania you visit Latvia and Estonia before taking a high speed ferry across the Gulf of Finland and its Capital, Helsinki. From there you take a 1st Class train to St. Petersburg, “window to the west” and ends with a visit to Red Square, the Kremlin and the other sights of Moscow.
Throughout your journey you will enjoy excellent hotels, personalized service and various cuisines. You will also experience
first class seats on the Sibelius Express from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, a tour of the art treasures in the Hermitage Museum with the opportunity to watch a performance of the Kirov Ballet and finally a privately guided tour of the Kremlin and a performance of the world famous Moscow Circus.
SKU:
Explore: Baltics and russia
Customizable Itinerary - 14 Days (from $7,844 / Person)
Day 1: Depart USA
This evening you would board an aircraft bound for Europe and the City of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania
Day 2: Arrival in Lithuania
You will arrive in Vilnius and be met by one of our drivers who will take you to your hotel considered one of the city’s best new boutique hotels. In the evening enjoy a tasting menu of Lithuanian dishes either in the restaurant or, from May to September, on the terrace Dinner
Day 3: Highlights of Vilnius
This morning you meet your guide for a tour of the city highlights many of which are close to the area surrounding your hotel. You will enjoy the view of old town from the ramparts of Gedminas Tower and the chance to walk the area around Vilnius University. Cross the “border” into the Republic of Uzupis, an enclave exclusively for writers and poets, including its own constitution. Stop for lunch and then visit the Bernardine Gardens and the Jewish Ghetto and Museum. Prior to the holocaust, Vilnius was referred to as the Jerusalem of the North because of its large Jewish population. You return to the hotel where the evening is left open. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Vilnius to Riga
Today you will be driven to Riga, the capital of Latvia and the largest city among the capitals of the Baltic States. Upon arrival you check into your hotel and explore the local area. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5: Architecture, Zeppelins and Opera
In the morning you have breakfast then meet your guide for a tour of the city with an initial focus on the variety of architectural styles on display in the city ranging from Neo-Gothic to Ultra-Modern. Your next stop is the central market which is one of the largest in Eastern Europe. It is housed in a glass domed building that held up to five Zeppelin airships used during World War I. You have lunch in the market and then tour Bergs Bazaar, an architectural gem filled with cobbled streets, quaint shops, lively squares, inviting cafes and interesting galleries. Nearby is Vermanes Park and the Latvian National Opera that offers ballet, opera and other performances. Your hotel can get you tickets if there is a performance while you are there. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: A Drive along the Baltic to Tallinn
Today you will head north following the coast as you make your way to Estonia and the coastal Capital of Tallinn. This 600 year old member of the Hanseatic League was spared from any material damage through WWII and is today an amazing example of a medieval city. You arrive at your hotel where you have time to relax. The building was the city telephone exchange back in the 1920’s It houses the best restaurant in the city, Restaurant Tchaikovsky. In preparation for your upcoming visit to Russia you will be served a tasting menu of classic Russian cuisine Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Old Town Tallinn and the Ferry to Helsinki
In the morning you will meet your guide for a walking tour of the key sights of Tallinn. After your tour you will be taken to the port where you will have 1st Class seats on the high speed ferry to Helsinki which takes around two hours. If you like you can have a nice lunch on board. Upon arrival you will be met by one of our drivers who will take you to your hotel Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8: The Many Styles of Helsinki
Helsinki is a city that embraces the modern while nurturing the old. It is also a charming city of Parks and waterways which you get a chance to explore with your knowledgeable guide. You will discuss the day’s agenda with your guide but likely to be included are the Sibelius monument, Finlandia Hall, Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral and the Temppeliaukio Church carved in to solid rock fifty years ago. After lunch you have the chance to explore on your own Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9: The Sibelius Express to St. Petersburg
Today you will be taken to Helsinki station where 1st Class seats will be reserved on the Sibelius Express that will take you from Helsinki to St. Petersburg. You will have breakfast and lunch on board before arriving in St. Petersburg in the afternoon. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide who will take you on an orientation tour of the city across charming canals and narrow streets contrasted with massive squares like the Admiralty. After an overview of the city you are taken to your hotel where you can relax before dinner Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: The Hermitage and the Kirov
A privately guided tour of the Hermitage Art Museum is on order for the morning. One of the world’s greatest art collections is housed in six separate buildings along the Neva River and anchored by the Winter Palace, built in 1762 and residence of the czars until the revolution. Many periods of art are covered but some of the most impressive paintings are by Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Raphael and Picasso, but Rembrandt is of particular note. After your illuminating tour you have lunch and return to the hotel for some free time. At time of booking we can build in tickets for the Mariinsky Ballet. It was originally the Imperial Russian Ballet but after the revolution the name was changed to the Kirov which is the name they still use when touring in the west. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 11: Tsarskoye Selo and the Catherine Palace
Today you will take a trip into the countryside to the town of Pushkin which is about twenty miles outside the city. Your destination is the Catherine Palace which many people assume was named after Catherine the Great since she was responsible for much of its expansion. In reality it was started by Empress Elizabeth who named it for her mother Catherine. The original name of the area was Tsarskoye Selo which mean’s “the Tsar’s village”, but was changed after the revolution to Pushkin in honor of the famous poet who had, at one time, studied there. The main highlight of the palace is the Amber Room with walls covered in Amber. It was stripped by the Germans and only recently has been completely restored. After your tour you return to the city. On the way back, your guide will point out a marker which represents the closest point that the German army came to Leningrad ( as it was then called) during the siege in 1943 Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12: The St. Petersburg to Moscow Express
In the morning you will be transferred to the station where you have 1st Class seats of the Russian Sapsan train which reaches speeds of 155 MPH. As you watch the Russian scenery unfold through the windows you enjoy a hot meal at your seat and arrive in Moscow at Midday. You are met by one of our guides along with a driver who will give you an orientation tour of the city part of which will be on foot as you admire the Moscow Metro with marble, brass and statuary unrivalled by any other system. Finish up your initial tour with a visit to GUM, often called a department store but in reality more like a mall with different stores on three stories. You are then taken to your elegant boutique hotel to freshen up and then it is off to the famous Moscow Circus to discover your inner child. After the circus you return to the hotel for supper. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Red Square and the Kremlin
After breakfast you meet your guide and head to Red square. Standing in the square, your guide will highlight the history of the Kremlin which stands before you. Your guide will cover the times of the tsars, the revolution and the time under Communist rule up to the present day. You will then go inside the walls to explore some of the more than 60 acres that make up the complex which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. While inside the walls, you will visit the armory to see the treasures of the Tsars, the Cathedral of the Archangel and Assumption Cathedral and other sights. After your visit and lunch, the resto of the afternoon is at leisure (perhaps shopping at GUM?). In the evening enjoy a farewell dinner at the Savoy Restaurant which has offered fine dining since 1913 especially to star performers at the nearby Bolshoi Theatre. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Return to USA
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for a flight back to the USA Breakfast
This evening you would board an aircraft bound for Europe and the City of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania
Day 2: Arrival in Lithuania
You will arrive in Vilnius and be met by one of our drivers who will take you to your hotel considered one of the city’s best new boutique hotels. In the evening enjoy a tasting menu of Lithuanian dishes either in the restaurant or, from May to September, on the terrace Dinner
Day 3: Highlights of Vilnius
This morning you meet your guide for a tour of the city highlights many of which are close to the area surrounding your hotel. You will enjoy the view of old town from the ramparts of Gedminas Tower and the chance to walk the area around Vilnius University. Cross the “border” into the Republic of Uzupis, an enclave exclusively for writers and poets, including its own constitution. Stop for lunch and then visit the Bernardine Gardens and the Jewish Ghetto and Museum. Prior to the holocaust, Vilnius was referred to as the Jerusalem of the North because of its large Jewish population. You return to the hotel where the evening is left open. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Vilnius to Riga
Today you will be driven to Riga, the capital of Latvia and the largest city among the capitals of the Baltic States. Upon arrival you check into your hotel and explore the local area. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5: Architecture, Zeppelins and Opera
In the morning you have breakfast then meet your guide for a tour of the city with an initial focus on the variety of architectural styles on display in the city ranging from Neo-Gothic to Ultra-Modern. Your next stop is the central market which is one of the largest in Eastern Europe. It is housed in a glass domed building that held up to five Zeppelin airships used during World War I. You have lunch in the market and then tour Bergs Bazaar, an architectural gem filled with cobbled streets, quaint shops, lively squares, inviting cafes and interesting galleries. Nearby is Vermanes Park and the Latvian National Opera that offers ballet, opera and other performances. Your hotel can get you tickets if there is a performance while you are there. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: A Drive along the Baltic to Tallinn
Today you will head north following the coast as you make your way to Estonia and the coastal Capital of Tallinn. This 600 year old member of the Hanseatic League was spared from any material damage through WWII and is today an amazing example of a medieval city. You arrive at your hotel where you have time to relax. The building was the city telephone exchange back in the 1920’s It houses the best restaurant in the city, Restaurant Tchaikovsky. In preparation for your upcoming visit to Russia you will be served a tasting menu of classic Russian cuisine Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Old Town Tallinn and the Ferry to Helsinki
In the morning you will meet your guide for a walking tour of the key sights of Tallinn. After your tour you will be taken to the port where you will have 1st Class seats on the high speed ferry to Helsinki which takes around two hours. If you like you can have a nice lunch on board. Upon arrival you will be met by one of our drivers who will take you to your hotel Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8: The Many Styles of Helsinki
Helsinki is a city that embraces the modern while nurturing the old. It is also a charming city of Parks and waterways which you get a chance to explore with your knowledgeable guide. You will discuss the day’s agenda with your guide but likely to be included are the Sibelius monument, Finlandia Hall, Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral and the Temppeliaukio Church carved in to solid rock fifty years ago. After lunch you have the chance to explore on your own Breakfast and Lunch
Day 9: The Sibelius Express to St. Petersburg
Today you will be taken to Helsinki station where 1st Class seats will be reserved on the Sibelius Express that will take you from Helsinki to St. Petersburg. You will have breakfast and lunch on board before arriving in St. Petersburg in the afternoon. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide who will take you on an orientation tour of the city across charming canals and narrow streets contrasted with massive squares like the Admiralty. After an overview of the city you are taken to your hotel where you can relax before dinner Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: The Hermitage and the Kirov
A privately guided tour of the Hermitage Art Museum is on order for the morning. One of the world’s greatest art collections is housed in six separate buildings along the Neva River and anchored by the Winter Palace, built in 1762 and residence of the czars until the revolution. Many periods of art are covered but some of the most impressive paintings are by Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Raphael and Picasso, but Rembrandt is of particular note. After your illuminating tour you have lunch and return to the hotel for some free time. At time of booking we can build in tickets for the Mariinsky Ballet. It was originally the Imperial Russian Ballet but after the revolution the name was changed to the Kirov which is the name they still use when touring in the west. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 11: Tsarskoye Selo and the Catherine Palace
Today you will take a trip into the countryside to the town of Pushkin which is about twenty miles outside the city. Your destination is the Catherine Palace which many people assume was named after Catherine the Great since she was responsible for much of its expansion. In reality it was started by Empress Elizabeth who named it for her mother Catherine. The original name of the area was Tsarskoye Selo which mean’s “the Tsar’s village”, but was changed after the revolution to Pushkin in honor of the famous poet who had, at one time, studied there. The main highlight of the palace is the Amber Room with walls covered in Amber. It was stripped by the Germans and only recently has been completely restored. After your tour you return to the city. On the way back, your guide will point out a marker which represents the closest point that the German army came to Leningrad ( as it was then called) during the siege in 1943 Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12: The St. Petersburg to Moscow Express
In the morning you will be transferred to the station where you have 1st Class seats of the Russian Sapsan train which reaches speeds of 155 MPH. As you watch the Russian scenery unfold through the windows you enjoy a hot meal at your seat and arrive in Moscow at Midday. You are met by one of our guides along with a driver who will give you an orientation tour of the city part of which will be on foot as you admire the Moscow Metro with marble, brass and statuary unrivalled by any other system. Finish up your initial tour with a visit to GUM, often called a department store but in reality more like a mall with different stores on three stories. You are then taken to your elegant boutique hotel to freshen up and then it is off to the famous Moscow Circus to discover your inner child. After the circus you return to the hotel for supper. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Red Square and the Kremlin
After breakfast you meet your guide and head to Red square. Standing in the square, your guide will highlight the history of the Kremlin which stands before you. Your guide will cover the times of the tsars, the revolution and the time under Communist rule up to the present day. You will then go inside the walls to explore some of the more than 60 acres that make up the complex which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. While inside the walls, you will visit the armory to see the treasures of the Tsars, the Cathedral of the Archangel and Assumption Cathedral and other sights. After your visit and lunch, the resto of the afternoon is at leisure (perhaps shopping at GUM?). In the evening enjoy a farewell dinner at the Savoy Restaurant which has offered fine dining since 1913 especially to star performers at the nearby Bolshoi Theatre. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Return to USA
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for a flight back to the USA Breakfast
