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23 Days Exquisite East Europe Tour Package
Duration : 23 Days / 22 Nights
Priced From : $6,260
(All pricing reflects twin-sharing, per-person Land Only expenses)
Dates : July (2008)
For 25 days, we enjoy the many historic sites, cultural attractions and fascinating lifestyles of the peoples of Eastern Europe by touring through three unforgettable destinations. We begin in the Eastern colossus Russia, spending a couple of days wandering through the distinctive streets of St Petersburg and admiring the city's curious blend of East and West influences. Known as 'The Venice of the North,' St Petersburg makes for a feast for the eyes with its palace-lined waterways and bounteous museums; we find out for ourselves why it is the artistic and cultural centre of the country. From here, we make our way through a number of equally memorable towns and cities, exploring magnificent domed cathedrals, gazing at white-stone towers and marvelling at ancient monuments, before we reach Moscow, an awe-inspiring city of contrasts that would alone warrant a visit to Russia. Crossing into Belarus, we find a land that has undergone remarkable restoration since the Great Patriotic War (the Second World War) and a people whose cultural identity is profoundly intertwined with the events of that time in its tragic history. Around every corner, there lies some reminder of the War, be it one of the plethora of memorials, the untouched bullet-holes in the side of buildings, or, perhaps more subtly, the innumerable recently restored edifices that silently convey the extent of damage inflicted on the country. After visiting the major urban attractions, we travel through gently sloping hills and wooden villages reminiscent of years gone by to Ukraine, where we spend the remainder of our tour. Picturesque landscapes and ancient fortresses, castles, churches and cathedrals abound in this wondrous country and we enjoy a full week of taking in its many sights and learning about its unique history.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in St Petersburg
Arrive in St Petersburg, Russia. St. Petersburg is a relatively new city, founded in 1703. When it was nine years old it became the capital of Russia and retained this status till 1918. Even now it is referred to as the "Northern capital" of Russia. Over almost 300 years of its history St. Petersburg accumulated all the grandeur of the Russian Imperial Court and became one of the largest centers of culture, science and industry. Created by Peter the Great as a sea port on the Baltic it was essentially "a window to the West" for Russia, combining the best of the West and the East. PLEASE ADVISE US AT THE TIME OF BOOKING IF YOU PLAN TO ARRIVE EARLY OR (if applicable to your tour) EXTEND YOUR STAY IN RUSSIA AFTER THE TOUR (DUE TO VISA REGULATIONS). Overnight in St Petersburg. Dinner if required.
Day 2 St Petersburg: The Hermitage & Peter and Paul Fortress
Today we explore one of the world's leading museums, The Hermitage. With over 400 exhibition halls, it is virtually impossible to list all of the treasures. While walking through the many galleries, look out for Madonna by Raphael, Judith by Giorgione, Titian's Saint-Sebastian, and many, many paintings by Rembrandt. Inside this beautiful Winter Palace are some of the finest collections of French impressionist works. In addition, there is a fine collection of ancient and classical works from ancient Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia. One could easily spend several days wandering the halls inside the building; for the purposes of our formal guided tour today, we concentrate on the hightlights and provide an orientation to those wishing to explore further on their own during some designated free time. Later this afternoon we will reconvene for a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress and St Isaac's Cathedral. At the fortress we will see how the fort played an important role in the development of St Petersburg. Inside the stone walls we will visit the Cathedral of Peter and Paul, the final resting place of the Romanovs. At St Isaac's Cathedral we will notice the interior reliefs of exceptional beauty. We will also hear of the many legends that make this church famous throughout Russia. As we travel around from point to point today you will also have a general orientation / panoramic tour of this compact city. Overnight in St Petersburg. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 3 St Petersburg: Russian Museum & Catherine Palace
Today we will spend the morning touring the Russian Museum. The museum opened in 1898 by Alexander III in the beautiful Mikhailovsky Palace--well worth inspecting before you take a look at the collection inside. Works of Russian art abound with over 370,000 pieces in the collection. There are prized paintings, sculptures, iconographic art and several masterpieces. It truly is an encyclopaedia of Russian life, character and soul. This afternoon we travel to Pushkin to see the sumptuous Catherine Palace, created in the eighteenth century by Catherine the Great, the second wife of Peter III. Designed by Rastrelli, this palace is a truly stunning example of classical baroque architecture and interior design. The true glory of the palace is the Amber Room, made of several tons of the golden tree resin--the lightest gem in the world. The room was first installed in the Winter Palace, but in 1755 Empress Elizabeth ordered Francesco Rastrelli to move it to the Catherine Palace. The individual amber panels were carried from St Petersburg to Tsarskoe Selo by 76 guardsmen in six days. They were not large enough to complete the new 100 m decor, so mosaic and mirror insets were added and the upper part of the walls was painted to imitate amber. Overnight in St Petersburg. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 4 St Petersburg: Peterhof Palace - Overnight train to Yaroslavl
This morning we travel to Catherine's Chinese Palace in nearby Lomonosov.* Left virtually undamaged by war, this little-visited gem is a stunning example of the rare Rococo style of architecture, with its original inlaid floors and walls, and superb collection of Ming Dynasty porcelain still intact. We will also visit Peterhof Palace, a remarkable example of 18th and 19th century country estates. Built by Peter I in 1717, the palace was to be "better than the French king's at Versailles." An intricate system of water fountains surrounds the palace in the immaculate gardens. We will have a chance to walk through the palace, as well as take a leisurely stroll through the gardens. We return to the city by hydrofoil (weather/season permitting). The balance of your day is free to explore St Petersburg on your own, or make an last-minute souvenir purchases. Later we board our overnight train to Yaroslavl. This train is very comfortable and most passengers find the experience very enjoyable (single compartments NOT available; single supplements reflect sharing for this one night). * PLEASE NOTE: The palace at Lomonosov will be closed indefinitely for restoration from 16 Sep 2007. Accordingly, should it be closed during your chosen departure, we will substitute a visit to Pavlovsk Palace, one of the most splendid residences of the Russian imperial family and part of the World Heritage Site of Saint Petersburg and related groups of monuments. Overnight train. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 5 Yaroslavl: City Tour
This morning we arrive in Yaroslavl and embark on a tour of this ancient regional capital. Yaroslavl is older than Moscow. Established about 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise at the bank of Volga River in the 17th century, Yaroslavl was the biggest trade and industrial town of Russia. During this time many new buildings were built there, such that the town now has its own peculiar school of architectural styles and construction. Indeed the successful merchants in the town tried to out-do each other in their contributions to the city's architecture, encouraged by the city's architectural school. The Yaroslavl churches of the 17th century differ by dimension, multiple domes, and picturesque asymmetry created by side-chapels, vestibules and porches. The churches are strongly decorated by tiles and figured carving. On the whole, this is the style called "the Russian style", unique and inimitable. AN Benua, a prominent art historian, called this style "the true Russian style of disappearing magnificent Russian culture". The inner walls of Yaroslavl churches display multiple wall-paintings, very picturesque, symmetrical with a cheerful and bright combination of clean, and open shades: blue, red and golden. There are other interesting monuments related to the 17th century, such as the architectural ensemble in Korovniki, the Church of Nikola Mokry, the Palace of Metropolitan and the Church of Saviour. The former Saviour Ressurection Convent (Cathedral and walls built in the 16th century) is located in place where River Kotorosl flows into the Volga. These days the walls of ancient convent preserve the collection of icons, embroidery, church plates and ancient church books. We visit the Art Museum located on Volga embankment. The museum collection includes icons, including the icon of Saviour dated by the 12th century, the pictorial image of Yaroslavl the Wise, the Tolgskaya icon of the Virgin, the finest collection of icons of the 17th century, which all belong to the Yaroslavl school of icon painting. The display shows provincial portraits and Russian paintings of the 18-19th centuries. Overnight in Yaroslavl. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 6 Yaroslavl - Rostov the Great - Kostroma
This morning we travel to Rostov*, one of the oldest cities on our route, situated by the beautiful Lake Nero. The history of this place begins four thousand years BC when the first tribes stayed next to the lake. Until the 11th century the territory of Rostov was inhabited by the Finn-Ugors, or 'Meryans' people. Slowly they assimilated with the Slavs, who came from the south. On arrival we will have a tour of the enormous cathedral of the XVI century and its "metropoly," considered to be the ancient city center, so called "Rostov Kremlin". Its towers impress by their white-stone architecture. We also visit the "Rostov Finift" Museum for which the town is famous. After lunch and some free time in Rostov*, we reverse our route to Kostroma. * On some departures, depending on scheduling, we may travel to Rostov and later to Kostroma by rail. Our baggage will be in storage for the day. Overnight in Kostroma. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 7 Kostroma - Suzdal
This morning we have a tour including the highlights of Kostroma, established in the 12th century. During the time of Polish-Lithuanian intervention in the beginning of the 18th century, Kostroma played a prominent role in the formation of people's volunteer corps led by Minin and Pozharsky. Another representative of Kostroma, peasant Ivan Susanin took enemies to thick woods and deadly swamps where they all met their deaths. The Central district of Kostroma comprises the buildings and structures built in a classic architectural style during the period between 1770 -1830. It's a fine example of unique, monolithic urban architectural complex. Kostroma is famous for its wonderful architectural monuments: Ipatyevsky Convent (16th-17th century), and the Church of Resurrection on Debra River (1652); Ipatyevsky Convent, located where the Kostroma River flows into the Volga. The St Trinity Cathedral of Convent is a powerful, monumental structure beautifully ornamented and decorated with the wall paintings of Sila Slavin and Guriy Nikitin, who display fantastic artistic flair, expressing the widest range of human emotions the anxious expectation of talking with God. We visit the museum on the territory of the convent with an interesting collection of icons of the 16th-19th centuries, needlework, books, church plates and some exhibits representing the art of provincial painting of the 18th-19th centuries. This afternoon we continue our journey (by private bus) to the next city on the Golden Ring, Suzdal (191 km / 4 h). Overnight Suzdal. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 8 Suzdal: City Tour
Today we have a full day of sightseeing in Suzdal. In full "Suzdal Principality," in Russian "Suzdalskoye Knyazhestvo," this medieval principality occupied the area between the Oka River and the Upper Volga in northeastern Russia. During the 12th to 14th centuries, Suzdal was under the rule of a branch of the Rurik dynasty. As one of the successor regions to Kiev, the principality achieved great political and economic importance, first becoming prominent during the reign of Andrey Bogolyubsky, who conquered Kiev (1169) and transferred the title of "grand prince" from that ancient capital first to Suzdal, then to Vladimir, his new capital on the Klyazma River. He and his brother and successor, Vsevolod III, organized a strong monarchical political system and, as rulers of the Grand Principality of Vladimir, became the most powerful of the Russian princes. They encouraged their subordinate princes to develop the principality and to build churches, palaces, and new cities. We make an excursion to The Kremlin, including the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God (built 1222-1225), which dominates the Kremlin grounds with its five huge domes; the Archbishop's Palace, which contains the local Museum with exhibits of icons, decorative religious arts and the history of architecture in this area of Russia. On the Kremlin territory are the remnants of Suzdal's first stone church, built in the 12th century. Also located in the Kremlin are the main belfry and the snow-white Archiepiscopal Palace. Suzdal's beauty is not limited just to its Kremlin grounds. The center of the town is decorated with various churches standing side by side one another. These churches vary in size, and have domes and belfries of different shapes and designs, which all add the architectural charm of this small town. Overnight in Suzdal. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 9 Suzdal - Vladimir
Today we travel by road from Suzdal to Vladimir (38 km / 1 h, 10 m). Vladimir was founded by Prince Vladimir Monomakh in 1108. In 1157 Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky moved the capital of Vladimir-Suzdal Principality to Vladimir because of the sacred icon of Our Lady from Constantinople having been moved there. In 1299 the town also became the residence of the Russian Metropolitan. By the middle of the 14th century Vladimir had lost its political importance and Moscow had become the main political centre of the Russian state. The ancient monuments dated by the 12th century remain in town and its suburbs. We will visit the great Cathedral of Dormition, built 1158-1160 by the order of Andrei Bogolyubsky. The interior of the cathedral displays the ornaments and wall paintings that go back to the 12th-13th centuries, and wall-paintings of the 15th century. The Church of St Demetrius stands close to the cathedral. The church was built in 1194-1197 by the order of Prince Vsevolod Big Nest, who was baptized as Demetrius. The facades of the church are ornamented by fine white-stone carving. We see The Golden Gates (1158-1164), located close to the town centre. There is also a white-stoned Arc of Triumph with half-encompassed ceiling and the Church over the gates. Finally we visit the Church of Intercession on Nerly, built in 1165 by the order of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. The moderate tracery ornament contributes to the quiet beauty of the church. Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky was one of those who admired the cult of Our Lady and introduced it actively in Russia. Overnight in Vladimir. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 10 Vladimir - Sergeiv Posad (Zagorsk) - Moscow
Today we travel by road from Vladimir to Moscow via Sergeiv Posad. Sergeiv Posad ("Zagorsk" in Soviet times) developed from a settlement around the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra, one of Russia's most famous monasteries (founded 1340). The Trinity Sergiev Monastery was one of the largest monasteries founded in Russia in the 14-15th centuries. In 1774, the monastery was given the title Lavra, the monastery of the highest rank, and played an important role in the history of the formation of the centralized Russian state and in the development of the Russian culture. Due to its wealth, the monastery could afford to invite the best architects and icon-painters for the construction and decoration of the buildings. The monastery bought, and was given as gifts, many first class art objects and crafts. The best of these now form the collection of the museum, which is on the grounds of the monastery. The architectural ensemble of the Trinity Sergiev Monastery was accomplished by the end of the 18th century. The oldest structure of the monastery is the Trinity Cathedral built in 1422 to 1423 and painted by the Russian icon painters Andrei Rublev and Daniel Chorny. The Assumption Cathedral (l558-1585), which resembles the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, is the center of the ensemble of the monastery. We will visit the monastery, which has currently become a place of pilgrimage of the Russian Orthodox Church, including the museum, where one may find the icons of Andrei Rublev and other famous masters of the 15th-18th centuries. After our visit to Sergeiv Posad we will continue to Moscow. Overnight in Moscow. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 11 Moscow: Kremlin & Red Square
Our sightseeing today will include a tour of the Moscow Metro system, in which each station is designed and decorated in a different style, with chandeliers, mosaics, and paintings. Amazingly the underground trains are nearly silent. Some of these stations are so deep that they were used as air raid shelters during WWII. We will also have a walking tour of the Kremlin--the famous triangular-walled citadel of the Soviet Government dating from the end of the 15th century with its many cathedrals and their iconostases, the bell tower of Ivan the Great; and the Czar Bell, which weighing 200 tons, is the largest in the world. Upon leaving the Kremlin, be sure to touch the Kremlin Wall--an omen foretelling your return to this hospitable city. We also include a visit to the Kremlin Armory. In the afternoon we will tour famous Red Square, once the centre of Soviet life. Around the square is the History Museum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Lenin Mausoleum, which was built in 1929. In the 16th century, Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of one of Moscow's most famous landmarks--Saint Basil's Cathedral. Originally called Pokrovsky Sobor (the Cathedral of the Veil), each of the nine cupolas cover a chapel named after the saint on whose feast-day the Russian armies won their battles. Overnight in Moscow. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 12 Moscow: Tretiakov Gallery
Today's sightseeing in Moscow takes us to Manej Square, the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Avenue, Novodevichij convent (outside), the buildings of Moscow University, and panoramic view of the whole Moscow from Poklonnaya Hill, with its Victory Monument. This afternoon we visit a unique treasure house of Russian painting, graphs and sculptures--the Tretiakov Gallery. It has 62 exhibition halls representing the works of the XII century artists, sculptors and icon painters. There you'll see works of Brulov, Savrasov, Vasiliev, Kuindgi, Nesterov, Rublyov, and Ushakov. Overnight in Moscow. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 13 Moscow, Russia - Kyiv, Ukraine
Today we fly from Moscow to Kyiv ("Kiev" in Russian), the capital of Ukraine. Overnight in Kyiv. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 14 Kyiv: City Tour
Today we have a busy day touring Kyiv, including the cathedral of Hagia Sophia, the oldest cathedral in Ukraine. Founded in the early 11th century, and largely rebuilt during the 17th and 18th centuries, it is now a museum with beautiful Christian frescoes. St Sophia Cathedral is inscribed on the UNESCO list of the most important monuments of the world's cultural heritage. We also see the Golden Gate, St Andrew's Church, designed by Rastrelli, the famous architect who built the world famous Winter Palace in St.Petersburg; St Michael's Monastery, monuments to Yaroslav the Wise, Princess Olga, monument to Prince Vladimir, who converted Rus' to Christianity. We also visit the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Monastery where we will be able to see the famous caves, one of the most sacred places of Orthodox Christianity; unique museums of precious historical items, and collections of ancient books and icons. This afternoon we head to the suburbs of Kyiv to the sobering memorial at Babi Yar. Kyiv had a Jewish population of 175,000 on the eve of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. The Nazi forces captured the city in mid-September; within less than a fortnight, on the 29th and 30th, nearly 34,000 Jews of the ghetto were brought to a suburban ravine known as Babi Yar, near the Jewish Cemetary, where men, women, and children were executed over two days. In subsequent months, most of the remaining population was exterminated. Overnight in Kyiv. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 15 Kyiv - Lviv
Today we fly from Kyiv to Lviv, the "capital" of Western Ukraine and one of the country's most impressive cities. The Ukrainian Catholic Church, forced underground by Stalin in 1946, re-emerged here with Glasnost in the late 1980s to play a significant role in a new Ukrainian independence movement. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Lviv. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 16 Lviv: City Tour
Lviv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a rich and impressive history. Numerous historical events are concerned with the city. The walls of old Lviv buildings still keep the spirit of past centuries; cozy streets and fascinating monuments make it a unique attraction among the Ukrainian and Eastern European cities. Lviv's architectural landscape joins the monuments of numerous styles and different epochs. From the gothic 14th century Latin Cathedral, to the baroque of St. George (Sviatoho Yura) Cathedral. Renaissance-style Bernardine Monastery and Chapel of Boimes coexist with the strict simplicity of Armenian Church. We have a city tour including the following major sites: the High Castle or Prince Hill, where the fortress used to be, with the panorama lot; the Church of St. Nicholas (13th century); the Church of Assumption and the Kornyakt Belfry (16th century); the Church of St.Parasceve (17th century) and its unique 70-icon iconostasis; the Cathedral of Dominicans (18th century); the Old Pharmacy; Market Square (over 40 14th-18th century buildings; St.George's Cathedral (18th century); St.John's Cathedral (14th century); the "Vienna-like" Prospekt Svobody (Liberty Avenue); the magnificent Opera House (exterior). You may wish to take in an optional performance at the Lviv Opera if schedules permit. Overnight in Lviv. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 17 Lviv: "Golden Horseshoe" Tour
Today we have a trip to the "Golden Horseshoe of Lviv," visiting Olesky and Pidhirts castles, as well as Zolochivsky Castle, site of one of the three Chinese palaces remaining in Europe. Olesky Castle (13-18th century) was built on hill by one of the sons of the Galician-Volynian prince, Yuriy Lvivych. The castle was described as a mighty fortress in documents dating to 1327. During the 15th and 18th centuries the Tatars made frequent attacks on the castle. In the 16th century it was rebuilt in the Italian Renaissance style. Today a museum and art gallery are located in the castle. Pidhirtsy Castle (1635-40). The castle complex includes: a palace surrounded by a system of ditches and walls, a Roman Catholic Church, a Baroque gate, and a park with various buildings from the 17th-18th century. Zolochiv Castle is a former residence of a Polish count, surrounded by defensive ramparts. The Chinese Palace stands nearby. Balance of the day at leisure. This evening you might consider an optional visit to the Lviv Opera (if available; your Tour Leader can help plan this excursion). Overnight in Lviv. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 18 Lviv - Simferopol - Yalta
Today we transfer to the airport for our flight to Simferopol (possibly via Kyiv). We continue by road to Yalta. Yalta is a seaside resort on the Crimean Peninsula, long a favoured spot for Russian and Ukrainian elite who constructed palatial homes here. We visit the magnificent Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its intricate Byzantine adornment. Overnight in Yalta. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 19 Yalta & Sevastopol
We visit the magnificent Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, with its intricate Byzantine adornment, and Anton Chekhov's house and museum commemorating this esteemed writer. Our coastal drive brings us to Livadia Palace, summer home of Tsar Nicholas II, built in 1911 in elegant renaissance style. Livadia later hosted the 1945 Yalta Conference when Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt met at the end of WWII to carve Europe into spheres of influence. We transfer to Sevastopol where we will visit the site of the Crimean War (1864-1865) and the scene of the famous "Charge of the Light Brigade". We also have an Excursion to the ancient Greek town of Khersones, before transferring back to Yalta. Overnight in Yalta. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 20 Yalta - Odesa
Today we drive to Odesa ("Odessa" in Russian) and transfer to our hotel. From the ancient times the area was inhabited by Scythians, Sarmats, Greeks, and Slavs. In the times of Kyiv Rus it was a part of this huge Slavic state. In the 13th century it was annexed to the Tartar-Mongol Empire, "The Golden Horde". At the beginning of the 15th century it was annexed to Lithuania, and in some 50 years, to Turkey. In 1791 the territory became a part of the Russian Empire. Overnight in Odesa. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 21 Odesa: Catacombs & Belgorod
This morning we will make an excursion to the Odesa Catacombs, which create an underground labyrinth stretching the expanse of the city. Our tour begins at a Cossack military settlement just outside the city and involves a 500 metre underground walk with a stop at a World War II command post and local museum with a recreation of the resistance headquarters. Later we travel to Belgorod-Dniestrovsky and visit the impressive fortress on the banks of the Dnister River. First settled by the Greeks, then the Romans, the site was subsequently controlled by Cossacks, Tartars, Russians and Romanians. The 13th century fortress, founded by Stefan II of Moldavia on a strategic spur of land overlooking the Dnister estuary, is among Ukraine's largest. Its walls stretch nearly 2 km (1.25 miles) and its moat, once filled by an artificial tributary of the river. Overnight in Odesa. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 22 Odesa: City Tour
Today we have a city tour, including many architectural sites of 19th-20th centuries, many of them designed by world famous architects and engineers. Most notable are the Opera House (resembling the Vienna Opera and the Dresden Court Theater) built in 1884-87; the Marine (Potyomkin) Stairway (1837-41)--one of the largest stairways in the world; and the heart of Odessa and immortalized in Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 film, Battleship Potemkin; Deribasivska [Deribasovskaya] Street with plenty of shops and pubs. We will visit the five-domed Uspensky Cathedral, visit Shevchenko Park with views of the Black Sea, and the Fine Arts Gallery (formally Count Pototsky's Palace), now housing Russian and Ukrainian paintings dating back to the 15th century. Overnight in Odesa. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 23 Departure
Departure from Odesa. Breakfast. Scaslyvoji podorozhi!!
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