Itinerary
Day 1: Thursday, September 02, 2010
Overnight Flight.
Group departure from Toronto. Escorted by your Broad Horizons tour leader, our incredible journey begins as we board our overnight flight en route to Moscow, Russia.
Day 2: Friday, September 03, 2010
Arrive Moscow, Russia - Ship Embarkation
This morning we arrive in Moscow, the grand capital of Russia and its most dynamic city. Upon arrival we'll be transferred to the ship, our floating hotel for the next ten days. This evening, we'll celebrate our first night onboard with a delicious dinner together. (Dinner included)
Day 3: Saturday, September 04, 2010
Moscow, Russia
Our adventure begins with a panoramic sightseeing tour of Moscow where we'll be awed by world-famous sights such as Red Square, the spectacular, iconic, onion-domed St. Basil's Cathedral and impressive Tverskaya Street, Moscow's grand boulevard, lined with shops and restaurants. Following our city tour, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Feel free to explore on your own, with your travel companions or with your Broad Horizons tour escort. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 4: Sunday, September 05, 2010
Historic Moscow
With our local guide we'll board the popular Moscow Metro to visit the 15th century Kremlin. Known as the "Underground Palace", each Metro station was designed by a Russian architect, sculptor or artist. At the incredible Kremlin, (a self-contained city with palaces, armouries, a cathedral, and a medieval fortress) we'll view the priceless collection of Imperial treasures in the Armoury Museum, including the crown jewels. Setting sail from Moscow with its ancient gold-domed monasteries, we cruise past the pastoral landscapes of Russia. Throughout the cruise we'll experience nightly on-board entertainment such as a romance concert, a classical music concert, and even Russian dancing lessons! Tonight, we enjoy a welcome cocktail reception, followed by the Captain's welcome dinner. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 5: Monday, September 06, 2010
Uglich
Today we sail along "Mother Volga", the waterway said to flow in the heart of every Russian. Along the way we'll discover Uglich one of the most captivating cities of the Golden Ring. Soak in spectacular views of the magnificent architectural monuments from the sundeck. Our walking tour of Uglich features the 18th century Transfiguration Cathedral, where a local choir brings the church's acoustics to life during a brief demonstration. We continue on to the historic blue-domed Church of Prince Dimitry on the Blood. Afterward we'll visit a local handicraft market to view regional crafts and learn about the Chaika watches. Leaving port we continue along the mighty Volga River through unspoiled forests and rural villages. While sailing, enjoy a unique sampling of local cuisine such as blini and caviar. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 6: Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Goritsy
Cruising along, we follow the path of Peter the Great, who sailed the Volga River some 300 years ago from Moscow to St. Petersburg. During our cruise we'll follow his legendary path and celebrate the rich history, beautiful landscapes, and architectural splendours of Russia. The beauty of passing riverbank towns and villages provides us with breathtaking scenery as we sail south to Goritsy, a peaceful farming community. Throughout our cruise you'll enjoy the opportunity to join one of the many daily on-board presentations. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 7: Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Lake Onega - Kizhi Island
Get your cameras ready ladies! Capture some of Russia's most beautiful scenery as our ship approaches picturesque Lake Onega, the second largest lake in Europe and one of the world's purest. This morning we arrive at Kizhi Island, where we visit the renowned Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its remarkable Church of the Transfiguration, it was constructed entirely out of wood without using a single nail. Its 22 shimmering domes in three tiers are the ultimate in Russian fairytale architecture. As our cruise continues we'll enjoy an authentic Piroshki tea party and learn about local tea traditions. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 8: Thursday, September 09, 2010
Svir River - Green Stop on Mandroghi or Svirstroy
Today we cruise along the majestic Svir River which connects Lake Onega with Lake Ladoga. After docking, we'll stroll through a quaint riverside settlement where we learn about the traditions and lifestyles of Russia's past. This evening, we gather for a festive Captain's dinner onboard. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 9: Friday, September 10, 2010
Welcome to St. Petersburg!
Our river cruise continues along the Neva River to St. Petersburg, Peter the Great's magnificent creation and one of the loveliest of European cities. Founded by and named for Emperor Peter the Great in 1703, St. Petersburg was the capital of the Russian Empire for more than 200 years. During our panoramic tour of this fabled city of canals, we'll see Palace Square, the historic heart of St. Petersburg, and Nevsky Prospect, the city's main boulevard. Imagine our photographs of monumental St. Isaac's Cathedral, Admiralty Tower and other great buildings that stand as monuments to the extravagant splendours of Imperial Russia and lifestyles of the czars. This afternoon, we enjoy a guided tour through the world-famous Hermitage Museum, the crown jewel of St. Petersburg. No museum rivals the Hermitage in size, grandeur and holdings, including masterpieces by Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Rubens and Picasso. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 10: Saturday, September 11, 2010
St. Petersburg
The highlight today is our visit to Catherine's Palace and Park, a magnificent imperial palace and masterpiece of Russian baroque architecture, in nearby Tsarskoye Selo. (formerly known as Pushkin) It is an incomparable collection of buildings, pavilions, gardens, and bridges built during the reign of Peter the Great. After our visit, we enjoy lunch at a nearby folk restaurant featuring delicious local cuisine. The remainder of our afternoon is at leisure. Soak in the best of St. Petersburg on your own, with your travel companions or with your Broad Horizons tour escort. Tonight we celebrate our last night in St. Petersburg with a superb evening meal and the company of our Broad Horizons travel buddies. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 11: Sunday, September 12, 2010
St. Petersburg - Disembark Ship - Tour Concludes
After breakfast, we are transferred to the airport for our flight home. We bid farewell to this majestic country and the timeless rivers of Russia, taking with us the knowledge that the road best travelled is a river. (Today breakfast will be included)
***Itinerary is subject to change***
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