DAY 1 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – MOSCOW
Meeting with our esteemed guests at Istanbul Airport Outbound Terminal at 04:15. After baggage drop and check-in procedures, departure for Moscow with Turkish Airlines flight TK413 at 07:15. After our arrival in Moscow at 11:05 and being welcomed at the airport, departure with our private vehicle for the Moscow Panoramic City Tour. Among the places we will see on our panoramic city tour are the historical center Red Square, which has been the scene of political and social upheavals, St. Basil's Cathedral with its onion-shaped, colorful and interesting dome located here, the Kremlin Palace, the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Street, Gorky Park, Novodevichy Convent, Swan Lake, Luzhniki Stadium, Lenin Hills, and Moscow University. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel and free time.
DAY 2 MOSCOW
Free time after breakfast at our hotel in the morning. Guests who wish may join the optionally organized Kremlin Palace, Moscow Metro, Arbat and Nazım Hikmet’s Tomb Tour. The Kremlin, which also houses the working office of Russian President Vladimir Putin, contains the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, considered Moscow's most important church since the 14th century, and the world's largest bell. We will continue our tour with the Moscow Metro. Started in 1931 by Stalin, the Moscow Metro is today compared to the New York, Paris, or London subways in terms of size, but is considered the most beautiful metro in the world in terms of its 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 best examples of Russian and world cuisines, sit in stylish cafes reminiscent of Paris, and watch the Russians sitting on a bench, letting themselves go with 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 the Novodevichy Convent and Nazım Hikmet’s tomb. Novodevichy, one of Russia's most important convents, was founded in 1524 and became the place where the stars of many tsarina candidates faded over time. Although there was an order by Napoleon to demolish it in 1812, the nuns managed to prevent this decision. Within the scope of the excursion, we will visit Nazım Hikmet’s tomb. Transfer to our hotel after the tour. 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. Following our train journey between Moscow and St. Petersburg, we are welcomed and set off for the St. Petersburg Panoramic City Tour with our private vehicle. On our panoramic city tour, we will have the opportunity to see the streets where works of world-famous architects and artists are exhibited, as well as the historical and tourist spots of the city. Nevsky Prospect, subject to the books of famous 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 places to be seen. After our city tour, transfer to our hotel and free time. In the evening, guests who wish may join the “Russian Night Tour” optionally organized by our guide. You shouldn't 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 restaurant availability.) Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 4 ST. PETERSBURG
Free time after breakfast. Guests who wish may join the optionally organized Hermitage Museum, Peter and Paul Fortress, and Canal Tours. Located on the banks of the Neva River and housing approximately 4 million works from the tsarist period, the Hermitage Museum 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. Afterwards, accompanied by our guide, we will start our canal tour where we will see St. Petersburg from the canals as well and extend all the way to the Neva River. Our tour will continue with the Peter and Paul Fortress. Built by Peter in St. Petersburg in the 1700s, the fortress is positioned on the Neva River. The cathedral inside the fortress contains tombs belonging to the Romanov Dynasty. Transfer to our hotel at the end of the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 5 ST. PETERSBURG
Free time after breakfast. Guests who wish may join the optionally organized 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. Rivaling the Palace of Versailles in Paris, this structure is a magnificent palace complex with gardens decorated by 150 monumental fountains and four waterfalls. Although it suffered heavy damage during World War II, it was restored faithfully to its original architecture in all its splendor. Afterwards, we will see the complex consisting of parks, palaces, and buildings built by Catherine in the 18th century, known as the Tsar Village. Covering an area of 600 hectares, the main building of this village is the Catherine Palace. Although the Amber Room here is extremely interesting, it cannot be visited by many tourists especially due to the crowds in the summer months. In this famous village where the aristocracy of the tsarist era 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 6 ST. PETERSBURG – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
Free time after breakfast. Transfer to the airport at the time determined by our guide. Passport and check-in procedures after arrival.
DAY 7 ST. PETERSBURG – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
Departure for Istanbul with Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK 404 at 01:40. Arrival in Istanbul at 05:30 in the morning local time and the end of our tour. Hoping to meet on our next tour.
