DAY 1 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – MOSCOW
Meeting with our valued guests at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal at 04:15. After baggage drop and check-in procedures, departure to Moscow at 07:15 with THY flight TK413. After our arrival in Moscow at 11:05 and being welcomed at the airport, we depart by our private vehicle for the Moscow Panoramic City Tour. Places we will see on our panoramic city tour include the historic Red Square, which has been the scene of political and social turmoil, St. Basil's Cathedral with its onion-shaped, colorful and interesting domes located here, the Kremlin Palace, the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Street, Gorky Park, Novodevichy Convent, Swan Lake, Luzhniki Stadium, Lenin Hills, and Moscow State University. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel and free time.
DAY 2 MOSCOW
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, free time. Our guests who wish can participate in the extra Kremlin Palace, Moscow Metro, Arbat, and Nazım Hikmet's Grave Tour. The Kremlin, where the office of Russian President Vladimir Putin is also located, houses the Cathedral of the Dormition, which has been accepted as the most important church in Moscow since the 14th century, and the world's largest bell. We will continue our tour with the Moscow Metro. The Moscow Metro, which started construction in 1931 by Stalin, is considered the most beautiful metro in the world in terms of its interior architecture and decoration, although it is compared to the New York, Paris, or London metros in terms of size today. Arbat Street, which passes through the middle of Moscow, is a pedestrianized road that everyone who happens to be in this city visits at least once and walks from one end to the other with pleasure. Here you can visit the colorful shop windows, taste the best examples of Russian and world cuisines, sit in stylish cafes that rival Paris, and sit on a bench and watch the Russians who have lost themselves in the flow of life. If you want to get a Moscow souvenir, this street is the right place. Then we will continue our tour with the Novodevichy Convent and Nazım Hikmet's grave. Novodevichy, one of the most important monasteries in Russia, was founded in 1524 and has been the place where the stars of many tsarina candidates have faded over time. Although it was wanted to be demolished by Napoleon's order in 1812, the nuns managed to prevent this decision. As part of the trip, we will visit Nazım Hikmet's grave. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 3 MOSCOW – ST. PETERSBURG (TRAIN JOURNEY)
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we check out of our rooms and transfer to the train station. After our train journey between Moscow and St. Petersburg, we are welcomed and depart by our private vehicle for the St. Petersburg Panoramic City Tour. On our panoramic city tour, we will have the opportunity to see the streets where the works of world-famous architects and artists are exhibited, and the historical and tourist places of the city. Nevsky Prospect, which is the subject of books by famous authors, 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 places to be seen. After our city tour, transfer to our hotel and free time. In the evening, our guests who wish can participate in the "Russian Night Tour" organized as an extra by our guide. You should not miss the opportunity to watch magnificent dance shows accompanied by dinner in St. Petersburg. (The Russian Night Tour may be organized on different days depending on the availability of the restaurant.) After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 4 ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast, free time. Our guests who wish can participate in the extra Hermitage Museum, Peter and Paul Fortress, and Canal Tours. The Hermitage Museum, located on the banks of the Neva River and housing approximately 4 million works from the Tsarist period, is one of the largest museums in the world and Russia. It has also entered the Guinness Book of Records for having one of the largest painting collections. Then, accompanied by a guide, we will start our canal tour where we will see St. Petersburg from the canals and extend to the Neva River. Our tour will continue with the Peter and Paul Fortress. The fortress, which is the first structure built in St. Petersburg by Peter in the 1700s, is located on the Neva River. There are tombs belonging to the Romanov Dynasty in the cathedral inside the fortress. At the end of the tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 5 ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast, free time. Our guests who wish can participate in the optional Peterhof and Pushkin Tsar Village Tours. On this tour, we will have the opportunity to see the summer palace located in the Gulf of Finland, which Peter personally drew the plans for and had built by the Italian architect Rastrelli. This structure, which is a rival to the Palace of Versailles in Paris, is a magnificent palace complex with gardens decorated with 150 monumental fountains and four waterfalls. Although it was severely damaged during World War II, it has been restored in all its glory, remaining faithful to its original architecture. Then, we will see the complex consisting of parks, palaces, and buildings built by Catherine in the 18th century and known as the Tsar Village. The main building of this town, which covers an area of 600 hectares, is the Catherine Palace. Although the Amber Room here is extremely interesting, it cannot be visited by many tourists due to the density, especially in the summer months. In this famous town where the Tsarist aristocracy met with the Tsar family, there is also the school where the famous poet Pushkin was educated. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel.
DAY 6 ST. PETERSBURG – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
After breakfast, free time. Transfer to the airport at the time determined by our guide. After our arrival and the completion of passport and check-in procedures, departure to Istanbul at 13:55 with Turkish Airlines' scheduled flight TK402. Arrival in Istanbul at 18:05 local time. Hope to meet on our next tour.
