ITINERARY

Day 1. Arrival in St. Petersburg. Transfer to the majestic ship Bunin, which is today considered to be one of the finest vessels on Russia's waterways. Your first night onboard! We will spend three glorious days in this exciting city while your ship is docked in the port. Welcoming cocktail reception in the evening.

Day 2. After breakfast on the ship, you have a guided tour of St. Petersburg. This magnificent city enchants all its visitors with its legacy of history and the arts, and its striking beauty. St. Petersburg is a city of canals and rivers, built on 101 islands and linked by 350 graceful bridges, thus earning the name "Venice of the North". We take a bus tour around the city. You will see the major sights of St. Petersburg, including the Peter & Paul Fortress and the Church of Christ’s Resurrection (The Saviour of the Blood), which revives the traditions of 17th century Russian church building. We go on to the Peter and Paul Fortress, the historic heart of St. Petersburg, dating from 1703. The fortress, the first building of the new city, was founded to protect the lands of the Neva from possible attack by Swedish troops. The sacred site of the fortress complex is the Cathedral of Peter and Paul. Until 1917 the fortress housed political prisoners. Many of its buildings have now been converted into museum. It features a splendid cathedral containing the tombs of the Romanov monarchs.

Day 3. Today we visit one of the world’s most famous museums, the Hermitage, housed in the former Winter Palace. The museum contains a vast collection of Western Art, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso and many other great masters. There are also fascinating Historical, Russian and Oriental sections. From the 1760s onwards, the Winter Palace was the main residence of the Russian Tsars. Magnificently located on the bank of the river Neva, this Baroque-style palace is perhaps the major attraction of St. Petersburg. Later in the afternoon we will embark and start our amazing river journey. 

Day 4. Our destination today - the island archipelago of Valaam which with its ancient stone monastery from the 10th century is the part of the living history of the Byzantine culture. Valaam islands include the isle of Valaam and more than fifty smaller islands. Later in the afternoon we will embark and continue our amazing river journey. 

Day 5. Today we sail from Lake Onega along the scenic Svir River, also known as the “Blue Route”. We stop at Svir Stroy for a stroll around the village. Then on to Lake Ladoga, to enjoy the variety of picturesque scenery on its banks. Lake Ladoga,Europe’s largest lake, spans nearly 7,000 square miles and contains 700 islands. High craggy hills lour over the northern shore of the lake, while the southern shore is lined with dunes and sandy beaches.

Day 6. Today our ship will take us to the amazing tiny island of Kizhi via the Volga/Baltic Canal. The island is located at the northern end of Lake Onega. We will visit the renowned open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture, collected from various areas of the country and restored to form a glimpse of the past. The Church of the Transfiguration, with its 22 domes, is the ultimate in Russian fairy-tale church architecture. The Kizhi museum is one of the most interesting cultural sights in Northern Russia, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Day 7. Our new destination today is Goritsy, a tiny settlement where the largest monastery of the Russian North, the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery, is situated. This is a unique treasure of traditional Russian Orthodox architecture. We continue our river journey in the afternoon. 

Day 8. Arrival in the charming Russian city of Yaroslavl. This is an important port with a population of 600,000, stretching for 18 miles on both banks of the Volga. Yaroslavl was founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, and still has many interesting architectural and historical treasures. Of special interest is the magnificent 13th century Spassky Monastery complex, a group of several majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant rotunda and the remains of an ancient trading center. We will start our city tour in the early morning and will visit the Spaso-Preobrazgenskiy Monastery, the Church of the Prophet Elijah and many other cultural highlights.

Day 9. Today we arrive in one of the loveliest cities of the Golden Ring, Kostroma. Among the highlights of Kostroma is the Ipatyevsky Monastery, founded in the 14th century. Kostroma is the only Russian city that retains its original layout, dating back to the 18th/19th centuries.

Day 10. In the afternoon we arrive in one of the best loved towns of provincial Russia, Uglich, founded in 1148. The view of the town as approached from the Volga River is especially beautiful, with the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John's Church towering on the horizon. At the end of the 16th century, the seventh wife of the Tsar Ivan the Terrible lived in honorary exile in the Kremlin at Uglich. We will visit the Cathedral of the Resurrection and the Kremlin, which are among the oldest buildings in Uglich. Tonight is our magnificent Farewell Gala dinner on board ship.

Day 11. Arrival in Moscow. After breakfast on the ship, you have a guided tour of the city. Our bus will take you through the main streets of Moscow – wide, busy and elegant. You will also visit the Novodevichy Convent, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Convent is located near the Moscow River and is a peaceful retreat from the bustling city of Moscow. It was used by women from the Tsar’s family and the aristocracy. Many members of the Tsar’s family and some very famous Russian artists, writers and politicians are buried in its cemetery. The Convent is one of the finest examples of Russian architecture, with rich interiors and an important collection of paintings and artefacts. Depending on the timing of our trip to Moscow, in the evening we may be able to attend a performance at the famous Bolshoi Theatre (by request).

Day 12. Today we explore Moscow as a great city of Russian history and culture. We will visit the Kremlin (the former residence of the Tsars and Russian Orthodox Patriarchs) and its uniquely beautiful Orthodox cathedrals. You will also see the Byzantine splendour of St. Basil's multi-coloured onion-domed cathedral, in Red Square. You can take an optional tour to the Pushkin Museum, as well as the Armoury Museum, where you'll admire many of the treasures of the Tsars, including famous and spectacular jewels, crowns, thrones and royal armour. Later in the afternoon we will embark and start our amazing river journey.

Day 13. Breakfast on the ship. Transfer to the airport for the flight back to the UK.

Some places you visit in this journey are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Please click here to view the UNESCO review page:

• Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments
• Moscow: Kremlin and Red Square