Two Capitals of Russia - 2016

Itinerary

DAY 01

Group report at the Bandaranaika International Airport for departure to Moscow.
Group met by the Company Representative at the Departure Lounge.
Arrival at Moscow airport.

Transfer to the Hotel.

Check in, dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 02

Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast assemble at hotel lobby and meet with the English speaking guide.
Proceed to visit Kremlin Territory & Cathedral, Cathedral Square, a breathtaking architectural ensemble of the 15th  17th centuries, where the life of Russian grand princes and tsar started and ended, the Annunciation Cathedral where they were baptized/Christianize,  the Assumption Cathedral where they were crowned and the Archangel Michael Cathedral where they were buried.
View the Tsar bell and Tsar Cannon, stunning examples of casting of the 16th  18th centuries. View The Grand Kremlin Palace, from the imperial residence to the Russian Presidents gala reception quarters. View of Political and governmental buildings of the Kremlin, the Senate, the Palace of Congresses, the Arsenal. Kremlin walls and towers, a unique fortress of middle Ages Russia & a view the Bell Tower.
Lunch at a local Restaurant.

After lunch Transfer and view the Moscow RED Square, Red Square, enjoy a unique architectural ensemble of the 4th largest square in the world, view of Lenins tomb and necropolis & Aleksandrovsky Garden. The World famous Moscow Metro Tour was opened on May 15, 1935 is the main public transport of the Capital connecting the central part of the city with industrial and residential areas. At present Moscow Metro carries 56% of the whole number of passengers.
 
Transfer to Circus Venue & view the Russian Circus performance.

After the performance transfer to dinner at a local restaurant.

After dinner transfer and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 03

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast assemble at hotel lobby and meet with the English speaking guide.

Proceed for a City tour including stops to St. Sophias Embankment, photo stop with a splendid panoramic view of the Kremlin. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Russias spiritual revival. View the Moscow State University Campus a panorama platform on Vorobiovy (Sparrow) Hills. View The White House of the Russian Federation, a landmark of post-reformed Russia. Moscows boulevards, a historical and cultural centre of Moscow with its museums, theatres and memorial places. Theatre square, the world famous Bolshoi.

Lunch at local restaurant

After lunch commence on the walking tour at Arbat Street, the famous souvenir shopping street. Then transfer to shopping mall - Gagarinsky Shopping Complex. After much shopping transfer to your Boat Cruise on Moscow River.

After the lovely cruise transfer for dinner at a local restaurant.

After dinner transfer and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 04

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast checkout from hotel and transfer to the Railway Station. A packed lunch will be provided. And departure of Sapsan Train to St. Petersburg with the arrival at St. Petersburg Railway Station.

After arrival transfer for lunch to a local restaurant.

On the route before dinner do enjoy the city orientation.

Dinner at a local Restaurant.

After dinner transfer to the hotel, check in & overnight stay.

DAY 05

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast assemble at hotel lobby and meet with the English speaking guide.

Proceed to Visit Hermitage Museum, on tour of the worlds largest museum complexes, consisting of 5 buildings. The Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the Old or Grand Hermitage, the Hermitage Theatre and the New Hermitage; Enjoy a unique opportunity to appreciate a very special charm and grandeur of royal living apartments and the treasures of world arts, be it the worlds largest malachite vase or 25 Rembrandts in one hall; Seek a professional help of a guide when you face 3 million exhibits in 400 halls and 20 km (14.5 miles) walk ahead if you decide to visit them all; Remember, it is a museum of superlatives at every step, whether you find yourself at displays of primitive, oriental, Russian art, or West European art from the 16th to 20th centuries; If you think you no longer have the capacity to be amazed, remember the final floor of the Hermitage, with its outstanding collection of impressionists and post-impressionists to take your breath away.
 
Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch proceed for a city tour of St. Petersburg, Tour of a city, rightfully described as Northern Venice or Pearl of the Baltic;

Drive along the Great Perspective world famous known today as Nevsky Prospect lined with marble palaces of Russian royalty and aristocracy, with most fashionable boutiques and art salons arranged in old settings of the 18th century, trading rows and arcades, with impressive classical and Renaissance cathedrals and churches as its backdrop,

Stop over at an excellent picture opportunity with a stunning panorama along the Nevas embankments, by the citys Rostral Columns you will have a view of the 5 buildings of the State Hermitage Museum and the fortress of St. Peter and Paul - the cradle of Russias new capital

Drive by Summer Garden with the Oldest Royal Stone Palace and breathtaking collection of Italian statues and sculpture set in a natural environment of linden trees and ponds with ducks and swans, all surrounded by cast iron fence whose beauty is frequently described as every kilo of cast iron being worth a kilo of gold;

Drive through the Square of Arts which is a perfect classical ensemble of the city;

Stop to enjoy and view an overwhelming beauty of the third largest square in the world - the Palace Square with the Alexander Column at its center being the worlds biggest free-standing architectural monument, nearly 50 meters high to the top of the cross and over 600 tons in weight, the Alexander Column has become surprisingly harmonious element of the Palace Square together with the Triumphal Arch of the general Staff building on its one side and the Winter Palace complex on another;

Dinner at a local restaurant

Transfer back to the hotel and overnight stay.

DAY 06

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast assemble at hotel lobby and meet with the English speaking guide. 

Then transfer to pier for Hydrofoil, Later transfer to Visit Peterhof Park, After a drive through the suburbs of St. Petersburg reach Peterhof, a former summer residence of the Russian tsars in the 18-th - 19-th centuries. Explore Peterhof designed to the request of Peter the Great to rival Versailles. 300-acre parks on the shore of the Finish Gulf, spectacular fountains, the Grand Palace, crowning the hill above the fountains and about 20 smaller Palaces and pavilions represent Russian Versailles now.

Enjoy picturesque Lower Gardens with three unique cascades, dozens of powerful water jets and miniature palaces - Monplaisir, Marley and Hermitage.

Take a deep breath looking at the centre of the composition, the Grand Palace and Grand Cascade, including staircases, waterfalls, an avenue of 64 fountains and 37 gilded statues. Take a picture of the symbol of Peterhof, Samson killing a lion fountain, an allegory of the crucial victory of Russians over the Swedish army at Poltava in 1709.
 
After a lovely day transfer to lunch at a local restaurant

After lunch transfer for Shopping at Nevsky Street / Galleria Mall

Later dinner at a local restaurant.

After dinner transfer back to the hotel and overnight stay.

DAY 07

Breakfast at hotel.

Checkout out from the hotel and take Packed Lunch on way to the Railway station
Transfer to Railway station to Catch Sapsan Train to Moscow.
Arrival Moscow Train Station transfer to a local restaurant for dinner 

After dinner transfer back to the hotel and overnight stay.

DAY 08

Breakfast at hotel.
Checkout out from the hotel and transfer to the Airport.

DAY 09

Arrive in Colombo.

END OF TOUR

DO NOTE: DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC, BAD WEATHER AND UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES
THE TIMING ON EXCURSIONS AND ON BOARD ACTIVITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WHILST ON TOUR.

Price of Russia Tour 

SHARING TWIN
Rs. 349,000/- per person
SINGLE ROOM
Rs. 410,000/- per person
TRIPLE ROOM
Rs. 349,000/- per person
CHILD BETWEEN 2  12 YRS
Rs. 349,000/- per Child
INFANT (0  2 YEARS)
Rs. 125,000/- per infant
  
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES

• Economy Class Return Air Fare.
• Accommodation in Russia.
• Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner as mentioned in the itinerary.
• Arrival/Departure/Transfers and Sight-seeing by Deluxe A/C Coach in Russia.
• Professionally trained Senior Company Executive will accompany the Group.
• Travel Insurance Policy (Coverage: US $ 75,000/ age up to 85 years/ Subject to conditions as per the
• Insurance Policy/Company& Provided for Sri Lankan Passport Holders Only)
• Tips
• Airport taxes in Sri Lanka.
• Airport taxes in Russia.
• Admission Passes : Kremlin with Cathedrals (without armoury) Metro, Sapsan Bullet Train Journey (Moscow  Petersburg  Moscow), Circus, Moscow River Cruise by regular boat, Hermitage Museum, Grand Palace, Garden in Peterhof as per the program

TOUR PRICE EXCLUDES

• Transportation to/from Colombo Airport.
• Any Meals during transit at the Airports.
• Visa Fees
• Excess baggage charges
• Beverages during the meals / Laundry
• Expenses of a personal nature

DEPARTURE & RETURN                 Departure : 07-Aug-2016
DATES                                              Return  : 15-Aug-2016
    
DEPOSIT   : Rs 200,000/- per person payable at the time of booking*
Balance payment to be finalised (12) weeks prior to departure