13-nights, International Air, Train, Ground Transport, 4-Guided Tours and more - Just $3,350

August 26th - September 9th, 2017

It's been 4 years since our last Russia trip, so we're due to go back. This time, after Moscow and St. Petersburg we will visit Estonia, Latvia and Frankfurt.

Russia is one of the most extraordinary countries in the world, with an almost matchless depth of cultural and historical riches, and landscapes that have inspired artists and poets for generations. From the glittering spires of St Petersburg, the fabulous palaces of the Tsars or simply the haunting and unique landscape of the steppes. Until you've actually seen them, it is hard to imagine the extraordinary glamour of the gilded palaces built for the Russian emperors. These historic buildings, created by the world's finest craftsmen with absolutely no expense spared can make you gasp with the sheer glamour. Palaces like Catherine's Tsarkoe Selo and the Peterhoff, with its sparkling fountains, can make even Versailles look second rate. Just by visiting the Red square you will be standing on the place of great historical significance where Russian sovereigns decided fates of their people for centuries.

This is the land of great love stories like Doctor Zhivago and Anna Karenina. It is the birthplace of the world's greatest romantic ballets, from Swan Lake to Sheherezade. If you have even the remotest interest in art, you will be blown away byRussia's unique artistic heritage. In St Petersburg's Hermitage museum, you have what is possibly the world's greatest art collection, with room after room of masterpieces, from Raphael to Matisse. And that is just a fraction of the art Russia has to offer, with an almost inexhaustible array of galleries and museums in St Petersburg and Moscow housing a gargantuan feast of fine art. But Russia's artistic attractions lie not just in the paintings hung in the galleries, but all around you, in the buildings, both large and small, which have seen the hands of artists at work over the century.  From the Russian circuses to the ballets, from classical music concerts to jazz festivals; Russia has perhaps one of the most vibrant entertainment cultures in t he world.

We will start our journey with 3 days in Moscow. During our 3-days we’ll visit the must-see sites including the Red Square, the largest and most famous square in Russia. Like a magnet it attracts all visitors of Moscow. Standing on Red Square you see the most significant buildings in the capital – the Kremlin, GUM department store, the State History museum, the Lenin's Mausoleum. A real wonder is the elaborate brightly domed Saint Basil's Cathedral. It's like an exotic stone flower planted by the architects of the 16th century. The first time you see this colorful, Russian masterpiece, it seems unreal. The cathedral was built in the 16th century by the decree of Ivan the Terrible. The wonderfully ornate structure was restored in 2004. Visitors who choose to tour the inside of the cathedral are treated to a complex interior filled with nooks and crannies that are painted throughout with Russian Orthodox depictions.

Another must-see is the Kremlin. The Kremlin is the center of government in Russia. The term "Kremlin" roughly translates as "fortress" in English and every major city in Russia had one. TheMoscow Kremlin is a giant fortress consisting of a brick wall surrounding the Kremlin grounds on which stand cathedrals, a palace, an armory, an arsenal and numerous government buildings. The Kremlin is vast and packed with interesting historical landmarks, museums and cathedrals.

We will set up a Moscow River Boat Excursion that takes you through the center of the city past many of Moscow's greatest buildings and views. In two hours you can get great views of the Kremlin, Gorky Park, Vorobevy Hills, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow State University and more.

Other sites include , the Bolshoi Ballet , the Tretyakov Gallery , the Pushkin State Museum and the Conservatory which we will have opportunities to see.

Our next stop will be St. Petersburg. We will get on the fast train and be in St. Petersburg in just 4-hours. We have added an extra day to this amazing city for a total of 4 nights. Our hotel is just a few minutes walk away from the Hermitage Museum and close to many shops and restaurants.

The Hermitage Museum is one of the most important sights to see for any visitor to St. Petersburg. Galleries upon galleries of old mastersare located within the sumptuous interior of the Hermitage. We will also pay a visit to the one of Russia's most famous historical prisons, the Peter and Paul Fortress with the Prison Museum and the Peter and Paul Cathdral .  Then there’s the Catherine Palace, also known as the Summer Palace at  Tsarskoe Selo , which is part of a gorgeous complex of parks, guest houses, and the blue-and-gold palace itself. Visitors often feel breathtaken at how Russia's royalty once lived. Every inch of the Catherine Palace speaks of luxury.

There are no shortage of interesting sights in St. Petersburg, another one being the Church of Our Savior on the Spilt Blood in St. Petersburg. The exterior may satisfy your desire for sparkle, but the interior of the church will wow as well. The interior of the Church on the Spilt Blood is covered in mosaics that mimic paintings of famous Russian artists.

Now we will take a road trip to our next destination - Estonia, one of the three Baltic States - three countries on the shores of the Baltic Sea – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. All three are united by their common history going back many centuries, and the joint struggle for independence. We will have 3-nights in the capital of Tallinn. Estonian history extends across a long and winding road through time, telling the tales of many nations from Vikings to the kings, queens and medieval merchants of German, Swedish, Danish and Russian descent. Estonia's deeply rooted pagan spirit and European mindset means that the country and its people bear close ties with nature while being a proudly independent EU and NATO member state with a growing reputation for innovation. Estonia offers visitors to experience the spirit of the Medieval Ages, omnipresent in the cobblestone streets and buildings of Tallinn.

We will soak up the history while exploring the medieval old city but Estonia also features some wonderful naturalresources. With close to 1,500 lakes and along the shores of which are situation Estonia's unique Russian village communities. In addition to its lakes, Estonia also has over 200 natural spring-fed rivers. The possiblities for tours are endless but we will be working on narrowing our choices down. Check out this website for some of the interesting sites to see in Tallinn, Estonia. We will also offer a day trip to enjoy some nature. Check out this website to get an idea. How about some adventure on a quad tour ? We'll probably set up a bike tour . This country is also a great value as you can see. Everything is really inexpensive. . You can count on us to work out a wonderful day.

Next up is the small country of Latvia. Again, we will enjoy a nice road trip with beautiful scenery on offer from Estonia to Latvia and enjoy some stops along the way. We will be staying in the capital of Riga at a beautiful 4-star hotel just steps from the Old Town. Latvia boasts they are amoung the world's greenest countries. Thanks to its multiple extraordinarily beautiful art nouveau buildings, it is considered the European art nouveau metropolis. Latvians continue to observe the traditions of their ancestors – culture embedded in Latvian folklore that is best experienced during the Summer Solstice or "Jani" holiday, and the massiveSong and Dance festivals, as well as through traditional crafts and handiwork, events organised by museums, and a lot of other activities. Those who enjoy music and performing arts will enjoy major opera festivals in Riga and Sigulda, and a large number of various concerts and festivals across the country. We will have just one full day here so it's likely we will just enjoy our time in Riga.

Lastly, since our air routed through Frankfurt anyway, we decided it was worth spending one night there. We get in at 3 pm and depart the next day at 2 pm so we'll have an evening and part of a morning to site see and count one more country in our itinerary. Our hotel is located right at the airport. After we check in we'll take the train, just 15-minutes, to the city where there may just be some Pre-Oktoberfest celebrations going on.

And that will conclude this 2-week trip. We are going in prime-time summer months so I expect the weather to be ideal. Our last Russia trip sold our quickly with a large wait list so sign up early to secure your spot.

DEPOSIT - $200

Includes:

• Roundtrip air
• 13-nights hotel in 3 & 4-star hotels with daily breakfast
• 3 half day city tours
• Train from Moscow St. to Petersburg
• All ground Transportation

Not included:

· Gratuities: guides and bus driver are at your discretion.

· Passport/visas: Valid passport and Russian visa required. Processing fees are approximately $250. We will help handle this process.

· U.S. Departure Taxes/ fuel surcharge - currently running $367 (subject to change).

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT : $850

OUR AIR deduct $950 with your own air and you will not pay the departure tax

FLIGHT:LUFTHANSA 451 DEPARTURE: LOS ANGELES 26AUG/715P ARRIVAL:FRANKFURT 27AUG/300P
FLIGHT: LUFTHANSA 1450 DEPARTURE:FRANKFURT 27AUG/430P ARRIVAL:MOSCOW DOMODEDOVO 27AUG/840P

FLIGHT: LUFTHANSA 891 DEPARTURE:RIGA 08SEP/155P ARRIVAL:FRANKFURT 08SEP/310P **Stop over**

FLIGHT: LUFTHANSA 450 DEPARTURE:FRANKFURT 09SEP/205P ARRIVAL:LOS ANGELES 09SEP/440P

OUR HOTELS

Moscow

KATERINA CITY HOTEL - 4-star

Hotel Katerina City is a modern 4 star business hotel ideally located in the Moscow city center, just a few minutes' walk from Paveletskaya metro station and only 3 km away from the Red Square and Kremlin.

Modern Europea n architecture and fresh interiors in a Scandinavian style are combined with the home-like atmosphere that makes Katerina City hotel the perfect retreat in a hectic city like Moscow. Each of our 120 hotel rooms & suites is fully equipped with all necessary amenities always including free Wi-Fi and complimentary mini-bar.

WEBSITE: http://www.katerinahotels.com/en/moscow/city/welcome_page/

TRIPADVISOR: Ranked 34 out of 293! http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g298484-d299830-Reviews-Katerina_City_Hotel-Moscow_Central_Russia.html

St. Petersburg

HOTEL VERA - 3-Star

All rooms have private bathrooms, AC (central or individual), TV, direct dial telephones, hairdryers, refrigerators.

Hotel Vera occupies a historical 1903 Art Nouveau building in the center of St. Petersburg, Russia and offers 70 unique rooms with exceptional service for tourists and business travelers. The hotel has been renovated to offer accommodations with all modern conveniences while retaining the charm of an architectural masterpiece which has been entered into the St. Petersburg Registry of Architectural Treasures as the house of a wealthy merchant Stepnov.

Hotel Vera is within walking distance of Nevsky Prospect and the Moscow Railway Station, offering visitors to St. Petersburg easy access to all major tourist attractions such as the Hermitage, Russian Museum, Peter & Paul Fortress, Smolny and St. Isaac’s Cathedrals.

WEBSITE: http://hotelvera.ru/

TRIPADVISOR: 41 out of 315 hotels in St. Petersburg!  http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g298507-d578275-Reviews-Hotel_Vera-St_Petersburg_Northwestern_District.html

Estonia

HOTEL PALACE - 4-1/2 Star

Hotel Palace is located in the city centre of Tallinn next to the Freedom Square, at Vabaduse väljak 3.

The Hotel, constructed in 1937 and designed by Elmar Lohk, is one of the most exciting, glamorous and spectacular buildings of its time; it has been a true calling card for Estonia throughout the decades.

The Four Star Superior Hotel Palace has during its 80 years of history earned certain status in Tallinn – its location by the main square of the city and the high quality of service have earned it the reputation of the most legendary hotel in Tallinn for several decades running.

The Old Town of Tallinn, a modern business quarter, shopping centres and multifaceted cultural establishments are only a few minutes’ walk away.

Hotel Palace reopened its doors after a total makeover on June 26th, 2014.

WEBSITE - TRIPADVISOR: #2 out of 82 hotels in Tallin!

Latvia

HOTEL NEIBURGS- 4-1/2 Star

In a monument of Art Nouveau architecture at the very heart of Old Riga, on a quiet, picturesque little street next to the Dome Cathedral and within a five-minute walk of the Riga Opera House, several concert halls and museums, Hotel NEIBURGS awaits you: an exquisite combination of historical heritage and contemporary design, spacious and light suites ideal for both work and rest, wonderful views of the Old Town, comfort, hospitality and warm welcome, as well as one of the city’s best-loved restaurants.

The building has won significant Latvian architecture and building prizes: All of our spacious suites are equipped with comfortable furniture, plenty of light fixtures to allow you to adapt the lighting to suit your mood, and well-appointed bathrooms, and have stunning views of the rooftops and church spires of Old Riga, and, from the upper storeys, even the Daugava and its bridges. The kitchenette and separate living area or even living room in each suite allow our guests to host their travelling companions or friends for dinner, or treat their family to a breakfast made of fresh produce from the Riga Central Market. Should you choose to eat out, our restaurant offers wonderful meals, from sumptuous breakfast to sophisticated dinner.

All suites are equipped with television and DVD, a comfortable desk, both wired and wireless broadband internet access, and an MP3 dock.

The hotel has a small gym and both sauna and Turkish bath; massage services are also available

WEBSITE - TRIPADVISOR: #2 out of 108 hotels in Riga!

Frankfurt

SHERATON - 5 Star

Where to stay in Frankfurt? Land and you've arrived! Whether you are checking in for a while or just waiting for your connecting flight; whether you are in Frankfurt for business or pleasure: Our 1008 generously appointed and comfortable rooms at Frankfurt Airport let you enjoy a sense of peace and security – the ideal place to relax, take a breather and work efficiently.

Discover your home in Frankfurt! Individual, versatile, flexible: Choose from one of eleven room categories at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel, from day rooms to grand suites.

The modern rooms at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center feature a flat-screen TV and maple-wood furniture.

German specialities are served in the Frankfurt Airport Sheraton’s Taverne restaurant. The Flavors restaurant prepares European and Asian dishes. The Lemon & Limes bar shows live sports events.

Drivers are 15 minutes from central Frankfurt. Trains run from Frankfurt Flughafen Train Station to Frankfurt Main Station in 20 minutes.

WEBSITE - TRIPADVISOR: #26 OF 276 hotels

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