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ENJOY A BLEND OF THE BEAUTY OF STOCKHOLM AND THE GRANDEUR OF ST. PETERSBURG, THE IMPERIAL CITY OF THE TZARS. EXPLORE THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THIS REGION, THE MANY PALACES INCLUDING PETERHOF PALACE AND STATE HERMITAGE IN ST. PETERSBURG . DURING YOUR STAY YOU WILL ALSO EXPERIENCE HELSINKI WITH ITS MIXTURE OF SWEDISH, RUSSIAN AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURE.

Itinerary

Arrival to Arlanda Airport, meet & greet by our English-speaking representative, for Regular Arrival Transfer Service to the hotel* for check-in (Please see notes below for this service). Please consult the Borealis Destination Management welcome letter which you will receive upon check-in at your hotel, and kindly note where and when to meet your tour leader.The day is at leisure

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet with local guide and depart by private coach for a 3-hour city sightseeing. The city of Stockholm is built on 14 islands and connected by 57 bridges. The city embraces the unique character of the 13th century Old Town and modern high-tech architecture. Stockholm's islands are bordered by Lake Mälaren in the west and the Baltic Sea in the east where the archipelago,with its 30.000 islands awaits exploration. The capital is a big city with a small town personality. Stockholm is proudly called “Beauty on Water” and a sightseeing tour, which includes a walk in the Old Town and a visit to the City Hall, makes for a memorable morning tour. Discover a city of contrasts. Go back 750 years in time and feel the medieval atmosphere of the Old Town "Gamla Stan" as you wander through its narrow streets. The seven hundred year old cathedral of Stockholm, Seat of the Archbishop, will be seen during your stroll through Old Town, where you will also get a chance to see Stortorget, where the Stockholm Blood Bath took place. An inside visit is paid to one of the city’s best known symbols, the City Hall with its Blue and Golden Halls, where the great Nobel banquet is held. The tour ends at the hotel. The afternoon is at leisure

OPTIONAL: VASA Museum following regular sightseeing PRICE: $70 per person.

Duration: approximately 2 hours

Includes: entrance to Vasa Museum w/guided tour, private tour guide

Min 10 persons. Available by pre-booking

Breakfast at the hotel. The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, transfer to the pier by private coach to board the comfortable overnight ferry of Tallink Silja Line, sailing along the Baltic Sea, bound for Helsinki. Dinner will be served on board

Breakfast is served on board before arrival to Helsinki. Private transfer to the hotel followed by a panoramic sightseeing tour. Meet with your local guide for a city sightseeing of the capital of Finland, also known as “The Daughter of the Baltic Sea”. The tour includes the Senate Square, the University and Lutheran Cathedral –all displaying neoclassical architecture of the 1840’s, the colorful Market Square by the sea in the South Harbour, Kaivopuisto Park and diplomatic residences, the imposing statue of Marshall Mannerheim, the Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall, the Orthodox Russian Church Uspenski and the Sibelius Monument. A visit is also made to Temppeliaukio Church –called the “Rock Church” as it is carved into solid rock (the church reserves the right not to allow the entry of visitors in case of ceremonies)

Breakfast at the hotel. The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon depart Helsinki (by private coach or by train. To be confirmed in situ) and travel to St. Petersburg, founded in 1703 by Tzar Peter the Great and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Also known to the world as the "Northern Capitalof Russia" and "the Venice of the North", St. Petersburg was virtually unharmed by the 1930-50s Stalinist reconstruction, and its downtown dazzles the eye of the visitor with splendid palaces, stylish monuments, straight avenues, beautiful bridges and other attractions. St. Petersburg is filled with history and mystery. Arrival at St. Petersburg and transfer to the hotel for check-in

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we will be met by a local guide for a panoramic city sightseeing tour, which will cover some of the many highlights of the city. We will drive along the Nevsky Prospect -the heart of the city, and make picture stops at the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, the Senate Square, The Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Art's Square and the Russian Museum as well as at the two magnificent churches, the "Spilled Blood" and the Nikolsky Cathedral.The city tour ends at the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to further explore this magnificent city and its treasures. Your tour escort will provide you with suggestions for tours.

OPTIONAL: :Peterhof Palace

PRICE: $105/PERSON

Duration: approximately 4 hours

Includes: private transportation to hotel, entrance to Peterhof w/guided tour, private tour guide

Min 6 persons. Available by pre-booking & in situ

Take the opportunity to visit the Peterhof Palace, also known as the palace of the Sea God. Here the fountains are not mere accessories: they are the essence of the place. They are the symbolic expression of the sea's dominion, the mist that rises from the waves as they surge against its shores. The world-famous palace, fountain and park ensemble of Peterhof, is an outstanding landmark of Russian artistic culture from the 18-19thCenturies. Founded in the very beginning of the eighteenth Century by Emperor Peter the Great, not far from his new northern capital St. Petersburg, Peterhof was intended to become the most splendid official royal summer residence. Credit for its creationshould go to a great number of eminent architects, artists, and anonymous folk craftsmen. Its wonderful parks, 176 fountains of various forms and styles, and four cascades, majestic palaces, numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes, remarkable collections of sculpture, painting and works of the minor arts make Peterhof a veritable gem of art unique in the world, often called "Capital of Fountains". After 1917 the Peterhof ensemble was taken into state custody and turned into architecture and art museum. Nowadays, due to the unforgettable beauty of its fountains, parks and palaces, Peterhof has become the most attractive suburban royal park and palace ensemble of northern Russia's capital for numerous Russian and foreign visitors

Breakfast at the hotel. We meet our local guide to continue our adventure in this charming city. You willvisit The State Hermitage Museum, which occupies six magnificent buildings situated along the embankment of the River Neva, right in the heart of St. Petersburg. The leading role in this unique architectural ensemble is played by the Winter Palace, the residence of the Russian Tsars that was built to the design of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1754-62. This ensemble, formed in the 18th and 19th Centuries, is extended by the eastern wing of the General Staff building, the Menshikov Palace and the recently constructed Repository. Put together throughout two centuries and a half, the Hermitage collections of works of art (over 3,000,000 items) presents the development of world culture an art from the Stone Age to the 20th Century. Today the Museum is creating a digital self-portrait to be displayed around the world. The tour ends at the hotel. The evening is at leisure.

Transfer with local guide from your hotel to the Railway station, where we will board the Sapsan Train bound for Moscow. This train ride takes you through endless Russian landscapes and along the Volga River. Afternoon arrival at Moscow and transfer to Intercontinental Tverskaya Hotel, located on the main avenue of the city, Tverskaya. The evening is at leisure.

NOTE: Your tour escort will continue services until the end of the tour in Moscow

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning starts witha full day privately guided panoramic sightseeing tour of Moscow. We will see many ancient churches and cathedrals, some of them dating as far back as the 15thcentury, many of them having been restored or even built again; beautiful theatres and palaces; modern business complexes and hotels; buildings of late Soviet architecture such as the Moscow State University and the Central Stadium in Luzhniki, which hosted the 1980 Olympic Games. Moscow, with its some 10 million inhabitants, is vast and at times chaotic. We will visit the historic centre of the city, which includes the Red Square, Sofiiskaya Embankment, St.Sophia Cathedral, and the panorama of the Kremlin walls. We will also see the modern part of the city which includes the Vorobievy (Lenin Hills) –the highest place in Moscow, providing a beautiful view of the city and Poklonnaya Hill where there is a monument commemorating defenders of the city duringWorld War Two. During this visit we will also experience a tour of one of Moscow’s beautiful Metro stations, a highlight in itself and a must do when visiting Moscow. After the Metro visit, free time for lunch before we continue our visit of the city.Therest of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.

OPTIONAL: National Russian Dance show “Kostroma”

PRICE: $120 /PERSON

Duration: approximately 4 hours including transportation

Includes: private transportation to /from hotel, 2 hours show private local tour guide. 6.00pm - 10.00pm

Min 6 persons

Available by pre-booking & in situ. Subject to availability

“The Russian National Dance Show “Kostroma” is the program that reveals the history of Rus and the life of its peoples where the infinite of time and horizons broaden the boundless means of the art of dance. Vital historical milestones, traditions and customs of the multinational Russia expose originality of the hundreds of cultures of the united people of Russia plunging the audience in the times of christening of Rus, tsar’s Russia and USSR, revealing the life of the people living in the Far North, in the southern steppes, in the mountains of the Caucasus and in the Central Russia. The Russian National Dance Show “Kostroma” cleverly and with great prowess unites lyrical sketches with elements of folklore and ancient Russian epic. It uncovers the Russian culture through the nature of its people, social status and national coloring. You can witness the temporal, urban, village, military culture of Russia. The accurately created images of mother, wife, daughter, son, husband and warrior reflect the heritage of the many generations and the unique spirit of the Russian nation. 50 dancers on stage, masterly technique, outstanding acting, 15 reincarnations, 10 tons of freight, 600 unique costumes, 300 items of props, 8 sets changes –this is the fabulous reality of “The Russian National Dance Show “Kostroma” that captivates the audience of all ages and nationalities

Breakfast at the hotel. We meet our local guide for a half day excursion, which includes a privately guided tour of Kremlin Territory with Armoury Chamber. During this tour we will walk through the Kremlin grounds and visit the Armoury Chamber with its famous collection of Faberge eggs, jewels and royal thrones. The word Kremlin (Kreml) means a fortress or walled town; Moscow’s is the biggest and most famous. The earliest ramparts were of earth and wood, but successive rulers raised and strengthened the defenses after every attack. The present brick walls date from the 1490s, though they have been frequently restored.We end the tour at the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

OPTIONAL: River cruise on the Moscow river

PRICE: $100 /PERSON

Duration: approximately 3-3,5 hours including transportation. Includes: private transportation to /from hotel, 2 hours cruise private local tour guide. 4.00pm - 7.30pm

Min 6 persons

Available by pre-booking only. Subject to availability

The Radisson Royal Flotilla yachts are state-of-the-art river yachts-restaurants meant for excursion and entertainment cruises along the Moskva River for citizens and visitors of Moscow. The flotilla consists of 10 white-beauty-yachts designed for year-round entertaining excursion cruises on the Moscow River. Flotilla offers all year around navigation -365 days a year: daily cruises with fixed schedule along with touristic rides with audio excursion about attractions along the route in 2 languages on mp3 players or free iPhone application; free internet access (Wi-Fi). Once aboard the custom designed yachts, passengers enjoy the beauty and comfort possessed by these exceptional vessels. State-of-the-art technology ensures safety and reliability, allowing guests to fully relax and enjoy the splendid two-hour cruise. Two promenade decks offer panoramic visibility of picturesque Moscow

Breakfast at the hotel. A English-speaking representative will meet you for the Regular Transfer Service to Pulkovo Airport*(Please see notes below for this service)

Notes