The Snowball – 6 days land only

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- Arrival airport/hotel transfer
- 4 nights 3* hotel accommodation
- 1 overnight train from St. Petersburg - Moscow in a 4 berth cabin including bed linen
- Breakfast daily, a lunch & a dinner
- A Moscow Metro travel card valid for 6 journeys
- Assistance of an English speaking Russian tour guide
- Guided sightseeing in St Petersburg & Mosow
- Touring as per itinerary

** Excludes entrance fees of approximately USD40- USD50 per person

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St Petersburg

Welcome to Russia & the start of your winter holiday! Upon arrival you will be met at St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport & transferred to your hotel for check-in. Later tonight you'll be treated to dinner with the rest of your group at the hotel, followed by an informative welcome meeting. Remainder of the evening at leisure - your tour guide can recommend some local bars for you to try out.

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The Hermitage

This morning a driving tour will give us an introduction to St Petersburg. We will make our way along the famed Nevsky Prospekt, past the museum & university districts & a few photo stops will be made along the way at places such as the magnificent St Isaac's Cathedral & The Bronze Horseman. Later, we will enjoy a guided tour of the Hermitage Museum in the Winter Palace - which houses one of the biggest & best art collections on earth. The rest of the day is free for you to further explore. Most of the city sights are dotted along & just off the main thoroughfare - Nevsky Prospekt. It’s an easy city to find your bearings & get around. St Petersburg has a spirited restaurant, bar & jazz club scene, plus some of Russia’s best beers.

During our time in St Petersburg there will be the chance to book optional evening excursions such a traditional Cossacks performance or a night at the Russian Ballet. All optional excursions are subject to availability, & are booked & payable locally.

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St Pete's Sightseeing

St Petersburg - Moscow. We start today's touring with a visit to Peter & Paul Fortress & the Peter & Paul Cathedral, which houses the tombs of the Romanov monarchs. Then we'll head out to city to explore beautiful Catherine Palace at Tsarskoe Selo (or Pavlosk Palace if Catherine Palace is closed). At Catherine Palace the exterior & the interior of this lavishly decorated building really catch the eye - particularly the spectacular Amber room. After stopping for a hearty traditional lunch at a local restaurant, we'll continue on for a guided tour of the exquisite interior of The Church on Spilled Blood.

Meeting back at the hotel at an agreed time, we gather our bags & travel to the railway station for our overnight journey by train to Moscow.

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Red Square

An early morning arrival will bring us into Moscow where we will head to our hotel for check-in. This afternoon we will ride the capital’s efficient Metro to Red Square, for a walking tour. Here we will see the fantastical St Basil’s Cathedral, the iconic Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum & the glitzy Neo-Russian facade of the GUM shopping mall.

The rest of the day is free for you to explore more of Moscow. Cultured out? Moscow’s restaurants & clubs are open ‘til very late! During our stay in Moscow there will be the chance to join one of our optional evening excursions, such as a traditional Cossack Show or a Moscow by Night coach tour.

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The Kremlin

This morning we head back to Red Square to pay our respects to Lenin - the grandfather of Communism, at his eerie mausoleum. It is here that his embalmed body has lain in state since his death in 1924. Later we will continue to the Kremlin - Russia’s bastion of political might, where we will enjoy a guided walk through the grounds, seeing numerous government buildings, gold-domed cathedrals & the tsar bell. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or perhaps visit one or two of the city’s plentiful museums. Alternatively we offer an optional guided tour of a formerly top secret Cold War bunker today.

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Goodbye Russia!

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast & hotel check out