Three Capitals: Kiev - Moscow - St. Petersburg (CB-18)

Arrival in Kiev. Our driver will meet you in the arrival sector with a Go Russia sign board. Transfer to the hotel.

Kiev is one of the most beautiful cities of Europe, stretching along picturesque banks of the river Dnepr. Rich history of the city is embodied in its ancient architectural monuments. You will see such beautiful places as St. Archangel Michael’s Golden Domes Monastery built in 12th century, Golden Gates - the main triumphal entrance of ancient Kiev; St. Vladimir Cathedral built in the 19th century. The cathedral is a unique monument of architecture and arts due to its murals executed by the famous Russian artists of the 19th century. Stroll along the main street of Kiev - Kreshatik Street. In the afternoon you will also visit St. Sophia Cathedral - a majestic 13-domed cathedral built in 1037, masterpiece of world architecture and arts. Saint Sophia Cathedral is one of the chef-d’oeuvres of the world culture and it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In the morning we will have a guided tour of Kievo-Pecherska Lavra (monastery) - a sacred place of the Orthodoxy, with architectural ensemble of 11-19th centuries. At the present time Kievo-Pecherska Lavra is an active monastery and National Historical Architectural Preserve. We will visit its cathedrals, museums, exhibitions as well as the caves with the saint relics. Later our guide will bring us to the famous street in Kiev - Andriyivsky Uzviz (Andriyivsky Descent). The most ancient and steep street in Kiev, Andriyivsky Uzviz, is Kievers’ favorite place for outdoor fairs, festivals, and concerts. Art galleries, shops, and studios make Andriyivsky Uzviz the best place to shop for Ukrainian crafts and artworks.

In the afternoon our driver will meet you at the lobby of the hotel and transfer to the airport to take a flight to Moscow where our local driver will meet you and bring to your hotel.

In the morning we will start our Russian discovery. Where else could we begin than in Red Square? You'll be able to see first-hand the brightly coloured domes of the sixteenth century St Basil's Cathedral and get up close and personal with Lenin's embalmed body in his Mausoleum, located at the foot of the Kremlin wall. No visit to Moscow would be complete without the chance to shop at the nearby GUM department store. Other highlights today include learning about the tragic history of the main Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (view from outside), the New Maiden's Convent (view from outside) with its fascinating cemetery and a stop near Moscow State University for a panoramic view over the capital.

Today we stay in Moscow to delve deeper into its fascinating history, beginning with a guided tour of the Kremlin's grounds and cathedrals. The Kremlin was once the home of the Tsars and is now the residence of the Russian president. You'll visit the Armoury Museum, crammed full of weaponry, armour and even some of Faberge's famous eggs. Afterwards, we'll head underground to explore some of Moscow's beautiful metro stations. Decorated with marble, mosaic, stained glass and bronze sculptures, you'll agree they're more like museums than part of a transit system.

Included in today's programme is a visit just to the former Royal estate of Kolomenskoe. It dates from the fifteenth century and was the place where Peter the Great spent his childhood and Russian princes spent their summers. It's your first chance to see some of the old tent-roofed wooden churches for which Russia is well-known. You'll also see the Church of the Ascension, built in 1532 by the Moscow Grand Prince Vasily III in order to thank God for the birth of his son and heir to the throne, who later became Ivan the Terrible.

Later, you'll be met by our driver with a Go Russia sign board at the lobby of the hotel to transfer you to the train station.

Our driver and a guide will be at the railway station ready to meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the platform. After breakfast at a local cafe, you'll take a guided city tour of St Petersburg. This, the most European of all Russian cities, is nicknamed the Venice of the North. You'll explore the city's must-see sights, including the Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Church of Christ's Resurrection (also known as the Saviour of the Blood). You will also lay eyes on the famous cruiser Aurora, the legendary ship whose cannon, on Lenin's orders, signalled the beginning of the Great Social Revolution. Later, you’ll check in to your hotel.

Today is devoted to the world renowned Hermitage, former residence of the Russian Tsars and generally held to be one of best museums in the world. This stunning palace, an architectural masterpiece in itself, contains a collection of over three million works of art dating from the Stone Age to the present day. That collection includes masterpieces by Leonardo Da Vinci, Titian, Raphael and the French impressionists; its sculptures, icons, coins and even the Tsar’s jewellery make the Hermitage an unforgettable place to visit. After our guided tour, you’ll have the chance to stay on and explore the museum further on your own.

We start today's included excursions with a half-day tour to one of St Petersburg's magnificent summer palaces, Petrodvorets. Petrodvorets, sometimes called Peterhof, is a world-famous palace, fountain and park complex dating from the eighteenth century, which takes its name from its founder, Peter the Great. The estate is an outstanding landmark of Russian artistic culture of the 18-19th centuries.

Today marks the end of your tour and our driver will be waiting in the hotel lobby to transfer you to the airport for your flight home.