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2010 Departures

June	17
July	15, 29
August	12, 19, 26
September	02
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A blend of the charming old town of Tallinn, its wonderfully preserved history 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 the State Hermitage. Helsinki, is also included in this historical tour, where you will experience the fascinating mixture of Swedish, Russian and International cultures!

Arrival in Tallinn, own transfer arrangements to your hotel. Please consult the reception at your hotel where you will have a welcome letter waiting for you including the contact details of your tour escort. Rest of the day is at your leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel. At 11:00 hrs. meet your tour escort at the hotel reception to receive information and meet your local English speaking guide. We will leave the hotel for a 3-hour city sightseeing. This leisurely tour provides an excellent introduction to the city of Tallinn. We will start with a short tour on coach through the city center and around the ancient city walls, ending up at Toompea Hill for a further walking tour. Our stroll includes the Toompea Hill with the Toompea Castle and a visit to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Dome Church. We will make a stop at the Viewer Square (panorama platform), onwards along Luhike Street to the Lower Town. We will walk further through this historic part of Tallinn to the Old Town Hall Square with views at the Old Town Hall, the Old Town Pharmacy house and the Church of Holy Ghost. We continue along Puhavaimu Street to the Latin quarter of Tallinn's Old Town where you will find open markets, studios and shops of artisans who daily practice their craft. The tour ends at the hotel. Afternoon free at leisure.

Breakfast buffet at your hotel. The morning is at leisure until your transfer from

your hotel to the Tallinn Ferry terminal. Travel across the Baltic Sea and enjoy the

scenery on the fast ferry ride from Tallinn to Helsinki. On arrival in Helsinki, meet &

greet by your local English speaking guide for a 3-hour 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 neo-classical

architecture of the 1840’s, the colourful 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 tour ends at your hotel.

Breakfast at your hotel. Depart Helsinki and travel through the Finnish countryside

until crossing the boarder and later arriving in St. Petersburg, a city 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 Capital of Russia" and the "the Venice of the North",

St Petersburg was virtually unharmed by the 1930-50s Stalinist reconstruction, and

it’s 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.

On arrival to St Petersburg you will be met by your local English speaking guide for

a 3-hour panoramic city sightseeing tour which will cover some of the many

highlights of the city. You will drive along the Nevsky Prospect - the heart of the

city, and make picture stops at the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, the Senates Square, the

Peter and Paul’s Fortress and the 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 tour ends at your hotel for check-in. Evening at leisure.

Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your local guide for a full day excursion which will

include Peterhof, 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 18-19th Centuries. 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 creation should 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,

often called "Capital of Fountains", unique in the world. 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, for numerous Russian and foreign visitors,

suburban royal park and palace ensemble of the northern Russia's capital.

At noon you will have lunch at a local restaurant after which you will visit 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) present the

development of the world culture and art from the Stone Age to the 20th Century.

Today the Museum is creating its digital self-portrait to be displayed around the

world. The tour ends at your hotel. Evening at leisure

Breakfast at your hotel. Day is at leisure to further explore this magnificent city and

its treasures.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Individual transfer. End of our services.

Notes