Introduction to Discover St. Petersburg

Join Citiescapes on this Russian adventure to Czar Peter the Great’s “Window on the West,” the stunning city of St. Petersburg. During your tour you will visit amazing sights such as the Hermitage and Peterhof, the summer residence of the Czars. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore St. Petersburg.

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly Dublin to Helsinki.  Transfer on arrival to the 4 Star Sokos Presidentti Hotel. In the afternoon enjoy a city tour of Helsinki, including entrance to the Temppeliaukio Rock Church. Overnight in Helsinki

Day 2: Breakfast in the hotel before your transfer to the train station. Take the Allegro Train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, arriving in the afternoon. On arrival you will be taken on a panoramic tour of the city, including the Admiralty, St. Isaacs Cathedral, St. Nicholas Cathedral (visiting inside), Palace Square & Smolny Cathedral. Afterwards, continue to your hotel, the 3 Star Ibis Hotel for the night.

Day 3: Breakfast at hotel followed by a comprehensive tour of the Hermitage Museum featuring Old Masters, State Rooms of the Winter Palace and Impressionist’s Exhibition.  Be ready for a long walk inside!. After lunch there is a canal cruise through the Canals of St. Petersburg. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4:  Breakfast at the hotel, followed by an excursion to Peterhof – a magnificent ensemble on the Gulf of Finland, built in the 18th century as the summer residence of Russian Csars. Enjoy the interiors of the Grand Summer Palace which dominates the beautiful park with innumerous fountains.  Afterwards we stop for lunch.  Transfer to the railway station in the evening, departure from St Petersburg back to Helsinki.  Overnight at the Sokos Presidentti

Day 5: Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a day at leisure. You are sure to find something to do in Helsinki, with a wide variety of sights and activities to enjoy. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: check out form the hotel after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home to Dublin.

Price inclusions

• Return Flights Dublin to Helsinki
• Bus Transfer from Helsinki Airport to City Centre
• 1  Night Sokos Presidentti Helsinki, B&B basis
• City Tour of Helsinki
• Train from Helsinki to St Petersburg, 2nd Class Ticket
• 2 Nights in the Ibis Hotel St. Petersburg, B&B basis
• City Tour of St Petersburg
• Tour of the Hermitage
• Excursion of the Peterhof
• Lunch in a Russian Restaurant
• Train from St Petersburg to Helsinki, 2nd class ticket
• 2 Nights Sokos Presidentti Hotel, B&B basis
• Taxes
• 1 Bag pre paid for check in up to 20kgs per person

Booking remarks

• Inclusive of taxes and service charges as indicated
• Single room supplement €260
• Non refundable or transferable booking deposit 10% per person
• Full payment due on confirmation
• 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
• Optional Insurance €48 (conditions apply)
• A Russian Visa is required and the Russian Embassy charge €60

Accommodation details

Sokos Presidentti Hotel Helsinki ****

Recently completely refurbished, Sokos Hotel Presidentti is located next to the Kamppi mall, in the heart of Helsinki, next to a wealth of culture attractions and the best shopping in town.The extensive refurbishing of rooms and restaurant facilities was completed in the spring of 2007.

Meeting and banquet facilities for even large numbers of people. The Spanish-style restaurant Sevilla and Pub Adjutantti invite to enjoy. Meeting, accommodation, pleasures for the palate and great fun – all under the same roof.

Hotel Ibis St. Petersburg 3***

Ibis St Petersburg Centre is a 3 star hotel offering 221 comfortable rooms. Located in the centre of St Petersburg, it is close to Nevsky Prospekt (the main shopping avenue of the city) and only 500 metres from Moscow railway station. The hotel also features the Sud et Cie restaurant with a capacity of 120 seats, a bar with space for 50 guests.

Dates and Prices

Date	Price
07 Jun 2012	€1,289

Introduction to Czar Route

The imperial delights of Russia welcome you on this 9 night tour as you travel from Helsinki to Moscow. Discover the western charms of St. Petersburg. Explore atmospheric Moscow and uncover the colourful history of the Czars that makes Russia such an interesting country to visit.

Itinerary

DAY 1

Flight Dublin to Helsinki direct with Aer Lingus. Arrival in Helsinki and transfer to Hotel Sokos Presidentti**** or similar for overnight stay.

DAY 2

Welcome meeting and free day to explore the city. Overnight stay

DAY 3

Helsinki is truly located at the crossroads of Western and Eastern culture and it is reflected everywhere in the green and lively Finnish capital. The sightseeing tour takes us around the harbours, up central Mannerheim Street and by the Parliament Building, the Finlandia Hall, and the Sibelius Monument and for a visit at the famous Church-in the-Rock. In the afternoon an optional excursion by waterbus is offered to the historic Suomenlinna Fortress.

DAY 4

Today we continue eastbound to St. Petersburg. Shortly after crossing the border into Russia we arrive in Vyborg, where we take time for a short sightseeing tour and a visit to Vyborg Castle. In the late afternoon we arrive in St. Petersburg and check in at Hotel Sokos Olympic Garden**** or similar.

DAY 5

St. Petersburg is an amazing city. Its imperial palaces and museums enjoy worldwide fame, while the Neva River and the many canals have deservedly given the city the title “The Venice of the North”. During the morning sightseeing tour we get acquainted with all the splendours of the city: the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Savior, the Nevsky Convent and much more. The afternoon offers an optional visit to the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum. In the evening an optional visit to the Nikolaevsky Palace with an exciting Russian folkore show is on the program.

DAY 6

An optional excursion in the morning offers a visit to Peterhof, an uncontested masterpiece of the time of Peter the Great, with the imptessive Grand Palace , Grand Cascade and Water Avenue and its wonderful parks. The afternoon is reserved for an optional excursion to Zarskoye Selo with the impressive Catherine’s Palace and the Amder Room, which vanished during World War II and was restored for St petersburg’s tri-centennial celebrations. In the evening enjoy an optional Russian dinner at Restaurant Na Zdoroviye.

DAY 7

The morning is reserved for an optional guided shopping tour to fashion and souvenir boutiques on the Nevsky Prospect. In the afternoon we go to the Moscow Railway Station and board the Aurora train bound for Moscow. The train ride takes us along endless Russian landscapes along the River Volga. In the evening we arrive in Moscow and check in at Hotel Holiday Inn Lesnaya**** or similar.

DAY 8

Moscow, The Mother of Russia, is a genuine Russian city with the Kremlin and its onion domed cathedrals. The dramatic changes over the last decade have made the city to one of the most dynamic metropolis of the world. The morning sightseeing tour includes all the highlights of the vast city including the Red Square with Kremlin, the Theater Square with Bolshoi Theater, Sparrow Hills with Moscow University and a visit to the famous Moscow Metro. In the afternoon an optional excursion to the Kremlin grounds with a visit to a cathedral is offered.

DAY 9

Today offers an optional excursion to Novidevichy Convent, a cluster of sparkling domes, one of the city’s most beautiful group of buildings and full of history and treasures. The adjacent Novodevichy Cemetery is Moscow‘s most prestigious resting place after the Kremlin. The rest of the day is reserved for exploring more of Moscow individually. The evening offers an optional visit to the Old Russian Circus.

DAY 10

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Dublin.

Price inclusions

• Flight Dublin to Helsinki
• Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
• 9 overnights at centrally located 3-4 star hotels
• 9 x buffet breakfast
• Entrances to Church-in-the-Rock in Helsinki, Vyborg Castle, Peter-Paul Fortress in St.Petersburg and Moscow Metro
• Train ticket St. Petersburg-Moscow OW (2nd class 6-persons compartments)
• Service of 1st class motor coaches or 1st class minivans from arrival in Helsinki to departure from St. Petersburg and in Moscow
• Service of English speaking tour escort from arrival in Helsinki to departure from St. Petersburg and local English speaking guide in Moscow on all tours
• Portage at hotels and railway stations
• Service and VAT
• Flight Moscow to Dublin
• Taxes & Charges of €160

Optional Tours

• Visit to Old Russian Circus: €70.00
• 4-hours excursion to Novodevich Convent: €55.00
• Russian dinner at Restaurant Razgulay: €55.00
• 3-hour excursion to Kremlin and visit to one cathedral: €50.00
• Russian dinner at Restaurant Na Zdrorovie: €60.00 pp
• 3-hour guided shopping tour: €35.00 pp
• 4-hour excursion to Zarskoye Selo and visit to Catherine’s Palace: €60.00 pp
• Visit to folklore show at the Nikolaevsky Palace: €50.00 pp
• 3-hour visit to the Hermitage Art Museum: €45.00 pp
• 3-hour excursion with waterbuses to Suomenlinna Fortress: €55.00 pp (English speaking local guide and multimedia show in various languages)

Booking remarks

• Prices are correct at time of going to press, flight supplements may apply depending on availability of negotiated airfares
• Optional Insurance €48 (conditions apply)
• Half Board at hotels on request
• Single room supplement €660
• 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
• Full payment due on confirmation
• Non refundable or transferable booking deposit of 10% per person
• Inclusive of taxes and service charges as indicated
• A Russian Visa is required and the Russian Embassy charge €60

Accommodation details

Helsinki

The Sokos Hotel is a classy, international and friendly hotel in the heart of Rovaniemi, close to River Kemijoki. The hotel features 159 comfortable, cosy rooms. The three welcoming restaurants cater to a wide variety of tastes.

The meeting room accommodates events for up to 60 people.

St Petersburg

The 348 room Sokos Hotel Olympic Garden is located in a quite park along Moskovsky prospekt – the historical prospect of the city and one of the main arterial roads, close to city centre (2 km) and airports (10 km). The hotel is located near Tehnologichesky Institut subway station. Sokos Hotel Olympic Garden introduces the concept of Scandinavian hospitality and quality in St. Petersburg. This is the ideal choice for groups and meetings. The hotel has excellent meeting facilities (13 rooms seating up to 350 people). All rooms are modern, fresh and well-equipped.

Moscow

Make the most of the Holiday Inn Moscow Lesnaya Hotel central location. The contemporary building on Lesnaya street, the Holiday Inn Moscow Lesnaya Hotel is a short stroll from famous attractions like the bustling Tverskaya-Yamskaya shopping street.

Modern Guest rooms are designed and equipped with comfort in mind. Enjoy home comforts like Satellite TV and

Dates and Prices

Date	Price
09 Jun 2012	€1,659
16 Jun 2012	€1,659
23 Jun 2012	€1,659
30 Jun 2012	€1,659
07 Jul 2012	€1,659
14 Jul 2012	€1,659
21 Jul 2012	€1,659
28 Jul 2012	€1,659
04 Aug 2012	€1,659
11 Aug 2012	€1,659
18 Aug 2012	€1,659
25 Aug 2012	€1,659
01 Sep 2012	€1,659
08 Sep 2012	€1,659
15 Sep 2012	€1,659

Introduction to The Russian Capitals

Peter the Great abandoned Moscow to create, in 1703, his new capital – a port on the Baltic coast and a ‘Window on the World’. Inviting the best European engineers, shipbuilders, architects, craftsmen and merchants to Russia, he initiated the impractical and expensive task of transforming a marshland into a great European city of canals, cathedrals and palaces – like Venice frozen in time and built on islands criss-crossed by canals and bridges.

Moscow was the first capital of Russia from the early 15th century until Peter the Great moved it to St. Petersburg. In the 18th century, the influence of Italian and French architects, which so inspired St. Petersburg, spread to Moscow and the surrounding countryside and it was thus that the great families of the period erected splendid houses and palaces. Red Square in Moscow is one of the largest of its kind and flanked by St. Basil’s Cathedral, the GUM department store and at its very heart, the Kremlin. Originally a fortress, this 60-acre architectural icon houses some of Russia’s finest churches, palaces and monasteries. Most notable is Cathedral Square, around which are grouped the cathedrals of the Assumption, Archangel Michael and the Annunciation. The great collections housed here in the Armoury include some of the Fabergé eggs created for the Imperial family. Other splendid museums include the Pushkin Museum of Fine Art, which houses many master works and the Tretyakov Gallery with the greatest display of Russian art, from icons to art nouveau.

Itinerary

In brief:

St. Petersburg 3 Nights – Moscow 3 Nights

Day 1 Arrival in St. Petersburg, optional transfer to Hotel Radisson Sonya**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

Day 2 St. Petersburg is an amazing city. Its imperial palaces and museums enjoy worldwide fame, while the Neva River and the many canals have deservedly given the city the title “The Venice of the North”. During the morning sightseeing tour we get acquainted with all the splendours of the city: the Peter-Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Savior, the Nevsky Convent and much more. The afternoon offers an optional visit to Peterhof, an uncontested masterpiece of the time of Peter the Great, with the impressive Grand Palace, Grand Cascade and Water Avenue and its wonderful parks. In the evening enjoy an optional visit to the Nikolaevsky Palace with an exciting Russian folklore show and Russian “champagne” and snacks.

Day 3 The morning is reserved for an excursion to Zarskoye Selo with the impressive Catherine’s Palace and the Amber Room, which vanished during World War II and was restored for St. Petersburg’s tri-centennial celebrations. In the afternoon, visit the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum. In the evening enjoy an optional Russian dinner at Restaurant Na Zdoroviye.

Day 4 The early morning is reserved for an optional guided shopping tour to fashion and souvenir boutiques on the Nevsky Prospect. Around noon we go to the Moscow Railway Station and board the Sapsan high-speed train bound for Moscow. The train ride takes us through endless Russian landscapes along the River Volga. In the evening we arrive to Moscow and check in at Hotel Holiday Inn Lesnaya**** or similar.

Day 5 Moscow, The Mother of Russia, is a genuine Russian city with the Kremlin and its onion domed cathedrals. The dramatic changes over the last decade have made the city to one of the most dynamic metropolis in the world. The morning sightseeing tour includes all the highlights of the vast city: the Red Square with Kremlin, the Theatre Square with Bolshoi Theatre, Sparrow Hills with Moscow University and a visit to the famous Moscow Metro. In the afternoon is offered an optional excursion to the Kremlin grounds with a visit to the cathedrals. The evening offers an optional excursion with a cruise on the Moscow River.

Day 6 The day offers an excursion to Novodevichy Convent, a 16th century cluster of sparkling domes, one of the city’s most beautiful groups of buildings and full of history and treasures. The adjacent Novodevichy Cemetery is Moscow‘s most prestigious resting place after the Kremlin. The balance of the day is reserved for exploring more of Moscow individually. The evening offers an optional visit to the Old Russian Circus.

Day 7 Transfer to the airport for your flight home to Dublin.

Price inclusions

• Flight Dublin to St. Petersburg
• Airport transfer to your hotel
• 6 nights accommodation (see Itinerary)
• Meals : Breakfast daily
• All tours outlined in the itinerary
• Return transfer from your hotel to airport
• Flight Moscow to Dublin
• Services of guide and local representatives
• Taxes and charges of €246

Booking remarks

• Inclusive of taxes and service charges as indicated
• Single room supplement €410
• Non refundable or transferable booking deposit 10% per person
• Full payment due on confirmation
• 2% surcharge if balance is paid by credit or charge card
• Optional Insurance €48 (conditions apply)
• Flight times and routing are subject to confirmation
• The sequence of tours in the itinerary is subject to change, depending on local arrangements
• Taxes, charges or compulsory charges introduced after publication are not included in the above price
• Holders of Irish passports are required to have a visa to enter Russia
• All Irish passport holders require a Russian visa for travel. On booking an invitation to Russia is sent along with your confirmation and detials of how to apply for the visa. All applications must be done first online and then forwarded to the Russian Embassy in Dublin.

Accommodation details

St. Petersburg – Radisson Sonya 4****

Moscow – Holiday Inn Lesnaya 4****

On occasion hotels of a similar standard may be used.

Dates and Prices

Date	Price
01 May 2012	€1,589
22 May 2012	€1,589
05 Jun 2012	€1,589
12 Jun 2012	€1,589
19 Jun 2012	€1,589
26 Jun 2012	€1,589
03 Jul 2012	€1,589
10 Jul 2012	€1,589
17 Jul 2012	€1,589
24 Jul 2012	€1,589
31 Jul 2012	€1,589
07 Aug 2012	€1,589
14 Aug 2012	€1,589
21 Aug 2012	€1,589
28 Aug 2012	€1,589
04 Sep 2012	€1,589
11 Sep 2012	€1,589
18 Sep 2012	€1,589
25 Sep 2012	€1,589