DAY 01 İSTANBUL AIRPORT – MOSCOW
Meeting with our valued guests at Istanbul Airport international departures terminal at 05:35 and, after baggage and check-in procedures, departure for Moscow with Turkish Airlines flight TK 413 at 07:15. Arrival in Moscow at 11:05 and, after being welcomed at the airport, departure with our private vehicle for the "Moscow Panoramic City Tour". Sights to be seen during the panoramic Moscow city tour include the historic Red Square, which has been the scene of political and social upheavals, the interesting St. Basil's Cathedral with its onion-shaped multicolored domes located there, the Kremlin Palace, the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Street, Gorky Park, Novodevichy Convent, Swan Lake, Luzhniki Stadium, Lenin Hills, and finally Moscow University as a panoramic view. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel and free time.
DAY 02 MOSCOW
Free time after breakfast at our hotel in the morning. Guests who wish may join the optional Kremlin Palace & Moscow Metro & Arbat & Nazim Hikmet’s Tomb Tour. The Kremlin, where Russian President Vladimir Putin's office is also located, houses the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, considered Moscow's most important church since the 14th century, as well as the world's largest bell. We will continue our tour with the Moscow Metro. Initiated by Stalin in 1931, the Moscow Metro, although compared today in size to the New York, Paris, or London subways, is universally recognized as the most beautiful metro in the world in terms of interior architecture and decoration. Arbat Street, passing through the middle of Moscow, is a pedestrianized street where everyone whose path crosses this city visits at least once and happily walks from one end to the other. Here you can browse the colorful shop windows, taste the finest examples of Russian and world cuisines, sit in stylish cafes reminiscent of Paris, and most enjoyably, sit on a bench and watch the Russians who have surrendered themselves to the flow of life. If you want to get a Moscow souvenir, this street is the right place. Afterwards, we will continue our tour with Nazim Hikmet’s tomb. We will leave our hotel for the Novodevichy Convent tour (Nazim Hikmet’s tomb is also located here). Novodevichy, one of Russia's most important convents, was founded in 1524 and over time became a place where the stars of many tsarist candidate brides faded. Although Napoleon ordered its destruction in 1812, the nuns managed to prevent this decision. Within the scope of the tour, we will visit Nazim Hikmet’s tomb located inside the convent. Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 03 MOSCOW – ST.PETERSBURG (TRAIN JOURNEY)
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, check-out and transfer to the train station. Following our train journey between Moscow and St. Petersburg, upon arrival and greeting, we depart with our private vehicle for the "St. Petersburg Panoramic City Tour". During the panoramic city tour, we will have the opportunity to see the streets displaying the finest examples of the world's most famous architects and artists, as well as the historical and touristic sites of the city. The famous Nevsky Prospect featured in the books of renowned writers, the Old Port Lighthouses, the Mint, the Clock Tower, the Statue of Peter the Great, the Winter Palace, Palace Square, the Admiralty Building, and the Aurora Cruiser are among the sights to be seen. Transfer to our hotel after our city tour. Free time and overnight at our hotel in St. Petersburg. At the end of the tour, guests who wish may join the "Russian Night Tour" organized optionally by our guide. You should not miss the opportunity to have dinner and watch magnificent dance shows in St. Petersburg. (The Russian night tour may be organized on different days depending on the restaurant's availability). Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 04 ST.PETERSBURG
Free time after morning breakfast. Guests who wish may join the optional “Hermitage, Peter and Paul and Canal Tours”. Located next to the Neva River, the Hermitage Museum, one of the world's and Russia's largest museums housing approximately 4 million works from the Tsarist era, has also entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the museum with the largest collection of paintings. Afterwards, accompanied by our guide, we will start our canal tour where we will see St. Petersburg from the canals as well, extending all the way to the Neva River. The tour will continue with the Peter and Paul Fortress. Built by Peter in St. Petersburg in the 1700s, the fortress is the first structure erected and is located on the Neva River. The cathedral inside the fortress contains the tombs belonging to the Romanov Dynasty. Transfer to our hotel at the end of the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 05 ST.PETERSBURG
Free time after morning breakfast. Guests who wish may join the optional “Peterhof and Pushkin Tsar Village Tours”. On this tour, we will have the opportunity to see the summer palace located on the Gulf of Finland, which Peter had built by the Italian architect Rastrelli after drawing the plans himself. It is a magnificent palace complex with its building rivaling Versailles in Paris, and gardens adorned with 150 monumental fountains and 4 waterfalls. Although it suffered heavy damage during World War II, it has been restored in all its splendor, staying true to its original architecture. Afterwards, built by Catherine in the 18th century and known as the Tsar Village, the park, palace, and building complex covers an area of 600 hectares, with the main building being the Catherine Palace. Although the Amber Room here is extremely interesting, it may not be visited by many tourists due to the heavy crowds, especially in the summer months. In this famous village where the Tsarist-era aristocracy met with the tsar family, there is also the school where the famous poet Pushkin studied. Transfer to our hotel at the end of our tour.
DAY 06 ST.PETERSBURG – İSTANBUL AIRPORT
Free time after morning breakfast. Transfer to the airport at the time determined by our guide in the evening. Passport and check-in procedures after arrival.
DAY 07 ST.PETERSBURG – İSTANBUL AIRPORT
Departure for Istanbul with Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK 400 at 00:15. Arrival in Istanbul at 04:15 local time. Hoping to meet on our next tour.
