Escorted Tours 2020 & 2021 - 2nd Edition - Mercury Holidays
116 EUROPE AND THE MED MEAL PLAN: 6 breakfasts & 4 dinners ACCOMMODATION Moscow 3 nights 4 ★ Vega Izmailovo Hotel & Convention Centre St Petersburg 3 nights 4 ★ Original Sokos Hotel Olympia Garden DAY 1: UK TO MOSCOW D Depart London on your scheduled flight to Moscow via Frankfurt, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. DAY 2: MOSCOW B After breakfast, embark on a guided tour of the highlights of Russia’s colourful capital. Start with a tour of the Red Square, enclosed on all four sides by impressive Tsarist architecture, such as the immense walls of the Kremlin, the granite pyramid of Vladimir Lenin’s mausoleum, the brightly coloured onion domes of St Basil’s Cathedral and the palace of the State Historical Museum. Your tour guide will take you into the heart of the Kremlin, a former fortress which today serves as the official residence of the president and houses a fine collection of historic monuments, including four cathedrals, five palaces and the largest bell in the world. DAY 3: MOSCOW B/D Today starts with an enchanting tour of Moscow’s metro system, also known as the ‘Palaces of the People’. Built in the 1930s as a tribute to the Soviet state, you’ll find stations that have more in common with museums and art galleries than train stations. Chandeliers hang from exquisitely painted ceilings while beautiful mosaics adorn station walls. Your trip would not be complete without a visit to the world- famous Tretyakov Gallery, home to an outstanding collection, encompassing more than 170,000 works by Russian artists. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. DAY 4: MOSCOW TO ST PETERSBURG B/D After a morning at leisure to relax or take in the last of Moscow’s sights, depart for Leningradsky rail station where you’ll board the high-speed Sapsan train to St Petersburg. Enjoy Russia’s spectacular scenery before you arrive at Moskovsky railway station and are transferred to your hotel. DAY 5: ST PETERSBURG B Take a tour of St Petersburg and experience its imperial grandeur, opulent palaces and remarkable cathedrals. Visit the Hermitage, which houses an outstanding collection of treasure and art, encompassing everything from Picassos to ancient Scythian gold. Afterwards, travel across the Neva River to Peter and Paul Fortress, St Petersburg’s first structure, located on Zayachy Island. Today it lives on as a fascinating history museum and is home to a cathedral and the tombs of Romanov monarchs. The panorama roof walk gives excellent views across the river to the Winter Palace and the city beyond. Your evening is at leisure to explore this beautiful city. DAY 6: ST PETERSBURG & PUSHKIN B/D This morning you’ll leave St Petersburg for the leafy town of Pushkin, home to the prized Catherine Palace, built for Catherine the Great in the 18th century. Modelled on the palaces of Versailles and Vienna, it screams opulence with its vast manicured gardens and intricate gold leaf décor. After returning from Pushkin, the rest of your day is at leisure. Admire the imperial architecture along Nevsky Prospekt or wander around Peter the Great’s Summer Garden. This evening, take a trip to the Vodka Museum where you can sample three vodkas and three snacks, before a farewell dinner at your hotel. DAY 7: ST PETERSBURG TO THE UK B After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight to London via Frankfurt, or continue on to your chosen extension. B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner FOR YOU TO KNOW: A visa and travel insurance are required when travelling to Russia and must be obtained before travel. Tips: It is customary to tip your guides. This is at your discretion, but we recommend approximately £35pp for the duration of your tour. Optional excursions are at an additional cost. 7 days from £999pp St Basil’s Cathedral The Kremlin THE GRAND CAPITALS OF RUSSIA TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ Moscow’s ornate metro stations ✔ Behind the red walls of the Kremlin ✔ Ride the high-speed Sapsan train through beautiful Russian landscapes ✔ Marvel at the magnificent St Basil’s Cathedral in the famous Red Square ✔ Artistic treasures at the Hermitage ✔ Tour Catherine the Great’s opulent 18th century palace ✔ Vodka Museum and vodka tasting Discover Moscow’s rich history through its Tsarist architecture and Soviet monuments and get a glimpse inside the fabled Kremlin. As a contrast, explore the imperial opulence of picturesque St Petersburg, seemingly frozen in time on the banks of the Neva River. Coach Rail • 3 < 3 •• < Russia St Petersburg Moscow Catherine Palace 1 Number of nights HIGH-SPEED SAPSAN TRAIN FROM MOSCOW TO ST.PETERSBURG PACE: Birmingham £999 Edinburgh £999 Manchester £999 DEPARTURES & FROM PRICES 2022 DEPARTURES AT 2021 PRICES CONTACT US FOR DATES REGIONAL FLIGHTS AVAILABLE FROM: • Prices based on flights from London Heathrow to Russia with Lufthansa (via Frankfurt) • A single supplement starts from just £229 ST. PETERSBURG 2 nights 4 ★ B&B from £129 Visit our website to learn more about our extensions. EXTEND YOUR TOUR 06 Nov 20 £1,049 20 Nov 20 £999 26 Mar 21 £1,169 16 Apr 21 £1,369 14 May 21 £1,569 18 Jun 21 £1,669 02 Jul 21 £1,719 30 Jul 21 £1,669 13 Aug 21 £1,769 17 Sep 21 £1,569 01 Oct 21 £1,379 15 Oct 21 £1,249 19 Nov 21 £999 To book or for further information visit your local travel agent or call us FREE on 0800 408 0556
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