Moscow to Saint Petersburg
13 days/ 12 nights
Moscow and St. Petersburg are Russia’s best-known cities, but the towns of Russia’s historic Golden Ring are delightful too. The luxurious Volga Dream offers a unique opportunity to visit these Russian gems by sailing gently along the Volga River on an unforgettable cruising experience. In small, exclusive groups you’ll enjoy preferential access to some of Russia’s most significant cultural sites.
Day by Day
Day 1 Moscow 
Gold, Platinum: Airport transfer / Check-in at centrally located Ararat Park Hyatt ***** or St. Regis*****
Imperial: Private airport transfer / Check-in at the gorgeous Four Seasons Hotel Moscow***** right near the Kremlin and Red Square.
When you arrive in Moscow, transfer to a 5-star hotel in the historic city center near the Moscow Kremlin, the Red Square and the Bolshoi Theatre. Enjoy a warm-up meeting with your guide and fellow guests in the hotel lobby (6 to 9pm).
Volga dream experience: -
Meals: -
Day 2 Moscow 
Gold City Tour/ Novodevichy Cemetery.
Imperial, Platinum City tour / Lunch in a Moscow City Skyscraper /
Novodevichy Cemetery.
Gold
9:30 am – 2:30 pmCity Tour / Novodevichy Cemetery
Begin the day with an orientation tour of the city before proceeding to the famous Novodevichi Cemetery, where numerous well-known Russian authors, musicians, playwrights, and poets, are buried along with famous actors, political leaders and scientists. Take the rest of the afternoon at your leisure, explore Moscow on your own or seek out a cultural performance at one of the city’s word-class venues.
Meals: Breakfast
Imperial, Platinum
09:30am – 5:30pm / City tour / Lunch in a Moscow City Skyscraper / Novodevichy Cemetery
In the morning enjoy an orientation tour of the city. The architecture of Moscow, though seemingly contradictory and contrasting, makes for a dazzling combination in a quite unique city. Lunch is served in a restaurant on the top-floor of one of Moscow’s skyscrapers offering spectacular city views. After lunch, visit the famous Novodevichi Cemetery, where well-known Russian authors, musicians, playwrights, and poets, are buried along with famous actors, political leaders, and scientists.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 Moscow 
Gold: Kremlin / Armoury Museum / Red Square / GUM Department Store
Imperial, Platinum: Moscow Kremlin / Armory Museum / Red Square / St. Basil’s Cathedral / GUM Department Store / Park Zaryadye
Gold
9:30 am – 2:30 pm / Moscow Kremlin / Armory Museum / Red Square / GUM Department Store
The morning consists of a stroll through the famous Moscow Kremlin with its beautiful cathedrals and unique museums. The Armory hosts an impressive collection of opulent coronation finery, hand-forged armor and ancient weapons, royal carriages and sleighsNext are the magnificent Red Square and its famous landmarks - Lenin's Tomb and St. Basil's cathedral (outside). The rest of the day is left open for independent exploration: for example you may walk to the new park Zaryadye located near the Kremlin and Red Square or choose any one of several optional tours.
Meals: Breakfast
Imperial, Platinum
9:30am – 5:30pm / Moscow Kremlin / Armory Museum / Red Square / St. Basil’s Cathedral / GUM Department Store / Park Zaryadye
The morning consists of a stroll through the famous Moscow Kremlin with its beautiful cathedrals and unique museums. The Armory hosts an impressive collection of opulent coronation finery, hand-forged armor and ancient weapons, royal carriages and sleighs. After lunch, cross Red Square to visit GUM, Moscow’s largest department store, and enter a masterpiece of medieval Moscow – St. Basil’s Cathedral. Then proceed with a leisurely walk through the newly designed park Zaryadye, a stone’s throw from the Kremlin and Red Square.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 Moscow 
Gold: Tretyakov Gallery / Metro Ride / Embarkation on the Volga Dream
Imperial, Platinum: Leo Tolstoy House-Museum / Tretyakov Gallery / Metro Ride / Embarkation on the Volga Dream
Gold
1:00 pm – 6:00 pmTretyakov Gallery / Moscow Metro Tour
The morning is free for you to walk at leisure before enjoying lunch in the hotel or near-by. Hotel check-out is at noon followed by a trip to the Tretyakov Gallery, the first museum dedicated exclusively to Russian fine art. Explore Moscow’s Metro, famed for its architectural splendour. Meanwhile, the luxurious MS Volga Dream awaits and your voyage along Russia’s extensive waterways is about to begin. The Captain's welcome reception and dinner mark the start of our unforgettable cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Imperial, Platinum
10:00 am – 6:00 pm / Leo Tolstoy House-Museum in Hamovniki / Tretyakov Gallery / Moscow Metro Tour
The first stop after checking-out of your hotel is a small and cozy former home-estate once owned by one of Russia’s literary greats, Leo Tolstoy. He lived with his wife and thirteen children in this two-storey wooden Moscow house from 1882 to 1901; it is now a carefully preserved memorial. The sightseeing continues after lunch at the State Tretyakov Gallery with its extraordinary collection of Russian art, ranging from Rublev's 12th century icons to 19th century masterpieces. Explore Moscow’s Metro, famed for its architectural splendour.
Meals: Breakfsat, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Uglich 
Gold, Platinum, Imperial: Town of Uglich / Church of St. Dmitri-on-the-Blood
After a full day of cruising through idyllic forested countryside, we tie up in the ancient trading town of Uglich, a key point in Russia’s renowned ‘Golden Ring’. Explore the impressive Church of St. Dmitri-on-the-Blood, erected on the site where Dmitri, son of Ivan the Terrible, was murdered in 1591. Then an enchanting concert of choral music performed in St. John’s Church.
Volga dream experience: Costumed Russian Tea Ceremony & Russian Cooking Class
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Yaroslavl 
Gold, Platinum, Imperial: Yaroslavl City Tour / Governor’s house
Founded in 1010, Yaroslavl is one of central Russia’s oldest cities and boasts the Volga’s first port. There is so much to see: the Spassky Monastery houses the Transfiguration of the Savior and the Church of Elijah the Prophet with its impressive collection of mosaics. Take part in a costumed reception at the governor’s house before re-boarding the MS Volga Dream in time for lunch.
Volga dream experience: Barbeque on the Sun Deck
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Goritsy 
Gold: Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery
Imperial, Platinum: Ferapontov Monastery
Gold
Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery
In this tiny settlement, we visit the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, founded in 1397, now home to one of the world’s finest collections of Russian icons. After a guided tour, we continue cruising toward the majestic Lake Onega.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Imperial, Platinum
Ferapontov Monastery
This morning takes us on an early crossing of Lake Beloye, or the White Lake, once known as the “tsar’s fishing grounds”, before arriving in the peaceful village of Goritsy where we tour the Ferapontov Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with magnificent frescoes by Dionysius, one of Russia’s most renowned icon painters. He painted the temple ceiling about 10 years before Michelangelo even started on the Sistine Chapel! Return to the ship for a late lunch and afternoon cruising.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 Kizhi 
Gold, Platinum, Imperial: Island of Kizhi / Lake Onega
Kareliya is a region that must be seen to be believed, it spans all the way from St. Petersburg to the Arctic Circle, a vast wilderness of forest and water. Lake Onega is fed by 58 rivers and is home to 1,369 islands, including our stop, Kizhi with its quaint collection of ancient wooden houses and windmills including the famous and remarkable Transfiguration church, built in 1714 without a single nail being used.
Volga dream experience: Piano Concert – pieces by Tchaikovsky and Rakhmaninov
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Svirstroy 
Gold, Platinum, Imperial: Svirstroy village / Local resident’s home / Local primary school
The highlight of your day in Svirstroy is being invited into a local resident’s home. Warm and welcoming villagers will offer tea with jam and “pirozhki” (local pies). They will enthusiastically tell you all about Russian tradition, lifestyle and the attractions of Svirstroy village while proudly showing off their homes and kitchen gardens. After tea, hop on a bus to tour the nearby town, see a spectacular WWII memorial and visit a local primary school.
Volga dream experience: Farewell Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 St. Petersburg 
Gold: City Tour / Peter and Paul Fortress
Imperial, Platinum: City Tour / Canal boat / Tour of Yusupov Palace / Red Army Choir Performance
Gold
9:30am – 2:30pmCity Tour / Peter and Paul Fortress
Arrive in St. Petersburg via the Neva River and disembark the MS Volga Dream. Enjoy a city tour including the Peter and Paul Fortress, the burial place of the Romanov monarchs, and Nevsky Prospect, with its rich selection of fine shops, cafes, and museums. Afternoon check-in at the five-star Belmond Grand Hotel Europe*****.
Meals: Breakfast
Imperial, Platinum
9:30am – 6:30pm / City Tour / Canal boat / Tour of Yusupov Palace / Red Army Choir Performance
The MS Volga Dream ties up in St. Petersburg on the Neva River where we disembark for a city tour, including Peter and Paul Fortress (outside), the Royal Romanov burial site and Nevsky Prospect with its rich selection of fine shops, cafes, and museums. Then we proceed to St. Isaac's Cathedral, whose gilded dome dominates the city skyline. During lunch you will enjoy the Red Army Choir Performance. After meal we embark on a canal cruise sailing under the city’s many historic bridges and past its magnificent pastel. The day ends with a tour of Yusupov’s Palace – a former home to one of St. Petersburg’s wealthiest aristocrats. The enigmatic story of Grigory Rasputin, the monk assassinated here by Prince Felix Yusupov, is told in this very basement.
In the evening Imperial guests check-in at the luxurious Four Seasons Lion’s Palace*****
The Platinum guest check-in at Belmond Grand Hotel Europe*****.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11 St. Petersburg 
Gold: The State Hermitage Museum / Peterhof: Park and Small Cottage
Imperial, Platinum: The State Hermitage Museum (Early Entrance!) / Gold Room / Peterhof: Park and Small Cottage
Gold
10:00am – 6:00pm / The State Hermitage Museum / Peterhof: Park and Small Cottage
The day begins at the world class Hermitage Museum, home to one of world’s most important collections of European art.Lunch is followed by a tour of the meticulously restored Peterhof, St. Petersburg’s most famous and spectacular Imperial estate, often cited as the Versailles of Russia. Visit one of the authentic Small Cottages and stroll in the vast Lower Park with its 176 fountains and four cascades. There are majestic palaces and numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes. Return to St. Petersburg by hydrofoil.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Imperial, Platinum
9:00am – 7:00pm / The State Hermitage Museum (Early Entrance!) / Gold Room / Peterhof: Park and Small Cottage
The morning takes you to one of the most famous museums in the world, the awe-inspiring Hermitage in the lavishly decorated Winter Palace. (To avoid the crowds, we’ve arranged special Early Entrance for you, before official opening hours.) The Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings and houses 3 million artworks ranging from Stone Age to modern times. The collection includes Leonardo Da Vinci, Rafael and Titian. After exploring the main galleries, proceed to the Gold Room, usually closed to general public, with a collection of gold Scythian artwork and elaborate imperial gifts.Lunch is followed by a tour to one of the most spectacular Imperial estate of Peterhof, often dubbed the Russian Versailles. The vast Lower Park, with its 176 fountains and four cascades, is a glorious place to walk, taking in majestic palaces and numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes. Return to St. Petersburg by hydrofoil.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12 St. Petersburg 
Gold: Catherine’s Palace / Amber Room
Imperial, Platinum: Faberge Museum / Catherine’s Palace / Amber Room
Gold
2:00pm – 7:00pm / Catherine’s Palace / Amber Room
This morning, join one of the optional tours or explore St. Petersburg at your own pace.In the afternoon, drive to Catherine the Great’s Palace, which houses the extraordinary Amber Room. Its six tons of solid amber are deftly carved and framed in gold leaf. Once dubbed the “eighth wonder of the world,” the room was stripped by the Nazis in 1941, but meticulously rebuilt to mark the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg’s founding.
Meals: Breakfast
Imperial, Platinum
9:30am – 5:30pm / Faberge Museum / Catherine’s Palace / Amber Room
Enjoy a full sightseeing day with a visit to the Fabergé Museum, founded by entrepreneur, Viktor Vekselberg. The museum was opened in December 2013 to display a glittering collection of Faberge eggs and objects d’art created by Peter Carl Fabergé and his staff. Vekselberg's collection is rated as one of the world's most valuable and includes items he bought from the Forbes family in 2004 for $100 million. After lunch we travel to the Tsar’s Village to visit the famous Catherine’s Palace and the exquisitely recreated Amber Room. A stroll through the formal gardens is highly recommended. We enter the Pushkin grounds through the Golden Gate and ascend the staircase to the Grand Hall. The Golden Enfilade offers a glorious view of the Amber Room.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 13 St. Petersburg 
Gold, Platinum, Imperial: Check-out / Airport transfer
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
For Imperial guests we arrange private airport transfer.
For Imperial guests we arrange private airport transfer.
Volga dream experience: -
Meals: Breakfast
Pricing
The rates are set for a cruising season. The price is not dependent on the month within a selected year
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All prices are per person based on double occupancy.
All rates are per person, based on double occupancy.
Actual size of cabins can slightly differ within one category.