Day 1          Friday          Arrive in Moscow
Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure. Tonight meet your traveling companions and Tour Director for a Welcome Dinner (D)

Day 2          Saturday          in Moscow

Moscow, which in 2020 celebrates its 873rd birthday, is the symbolic heart and soul of Russia.

A sightseeing tour of this great city begins at Red Square with its iconic St. Basil's Cathedral and the massive red walls of the Kremlin.

Visit inside the Armory Museum, see Moscow University and the Old Arbat shopping district. Then drive along the wide boulevards and stroll through GUM, Russia's largest department store.

The balance of the day is free for independent activities.

You may take part in an optional evening tour of Moscow and explore its palatial Metro (subway) system (B)

 Day 3          Sunday        Trip to Sergiev Posad, Russia's Spiritual Centre on the Golden Ring

After breakfast, travel 75 km north east of Moscow to Sergiev Posad, a powerhouse of Ancient Russ, one of the oldest seats of Russian Orthodox Church and still among the most important pilgrimage centers in the country. 

Simply put, Sergiev Posad is Russian Orthodox equivalent of the Vatikan. 

Of all the monasteries in Russia, none is holier than the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. (Lavra is the Monastery of the highest ranking)

For centuries, the monastery served as a Spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church and the place of pilgrimage.

You will be taken for an in-depth tour of the Monastery.

Inside you will see many fascinating treasures including the icons that belong to the brush of Andrei Roublyov, the founder of the Russian icon painting. You will visit the Trinity Cathedral, Chapel-at-the-Well and the Refectory.

Admire the Russian Orthodox architecture of the Cathedral of the Assumption known for its fairy tale blue-and-gold domes. 

Sergiev Posad is also famous for being the birthplace of Matryoshka nesting doll, the most recognized symbol of Russia (B,L)

Morning is free. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to railway station to take a High Speed train (3.5 hours journey) to St. Petersburg, a former capital of the Romanov Czars. Your sightseeing adventures here begin with a visit to the Peter-n-Paul Fortress, with its museum and the cathedral which houses the crypts of most of the Russian emperors. Next, visit impressive St. Isaac's Cathedral, exquisitely decorated with sculptures, stained glass, columns, mosaics and paintings (B,D) 

Day 5          Tuesday           In St. Petersburg

There aren't many cities in the world that can match the grace and grandeur of St. Petersburg. When Peter the Great founded the city in 1703, he hired Europe's best architects, craftsmen, and artists to build and decorate it. The city is spread over 100 islands and linked by over 600 bridges. It is often called the Venice of the North.

In the morning enjoy a tour of the world famous Hermitage which houses many treasures from the Czarist era. After the tour you can stay on inside the museum and explore the museum on your own. 
An optional tour to visit the spectacular Peterhof (in Russian: Petrodvorets), Peter the Great's Summer Palace, is available. This evening, you might want to attend an optional folklore performance (B)

Day 7          Thursday       To Tallinn

Travel to Estonia, where your first stop is in Narva, near the border with Russia. Continue to Tallinn, Estonia's capital, set on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland (B,D) 

Day 8          Friday            Tallinn to Riga

On to visit Toompea Castle and see the 14th-century Gothic Town Hall. Later travel to Riga, the capital of Latvia (B,D)

Day 9          Saturday          In Riga

Your morning City sightseeing tour features Riga Castle on the banks of the Daugava River, the magnificent Dome Cathedral, St. Jacobs Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, the Parliament building, Liberty Monument, and the district of Art Nouveau houses. Balance of the day is free for independent activities (B)

Day 10          Sunday          To Vilnius

Depart this morning for Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. The rest of the day is at leisure to begin exploring the city on your own, with its unique architecture, or relax in a tavern with a krupnikas (B,D)

Day 11          Monday          In Vilnius

The city of Vilnius is located on the confluence of the Neris and Velnele Rivers. In Old Vilnius, visit baroque St. Peter & St. Paul's Church and striking St. Anne's Church. View Vilnius University, dating back to 1570, Gediminas' Tower in the Upper Town, and Vilnius Castle. The afternoon is free to continue exploring, or you may want to join an optional excursion to the town of Trakai, beautifully set on three lakes (B)

Day 12          Tuesday           To Warsaw

Drive through the landscapes of Lithuania on your way to cross the border into Poland. Then take in the Polish countryside, cities and towns as you head towards Warsaw arriving at the day's end (B,L,D)

Day 13          Wednesday        In Warsaw

The 700-year-old capital of Poland has been called the city of Phoenix as it revived after almost a complete destruction during World War II.

Your Sightseeing tour of Warsaw includes a drive along the famous Royal Route from superb Castle Square to Lazienki Park and Palace, the summer residence of the last king of Poland. Then view the Palace of Science and Culture (known as a "wedding cake"), the Saxon Gardens, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Monument to the Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto, and the Barbican.

Next, on a walking tour, see the Old Town, its Old Market Square and St. John's Cathedral. The rest of the day is free to stroll through a park, shop, or perhaps attend an optional evening Chopin concert (B)

Day 14          Thursday           Depart Warsaw
After breakfast your tour ends. Transfer to airport is included 

Itinerary below is for those extending the tour from Warsaw to Krakow, Prague and Vienna: 

Travel to Czestochowa, known for the blackened picture of St. Mary in the Yasna Gora Monastery, known as the "Black Madonna." In the afternoon, tour somber Auschwitz-Birkenau. The notorious World War II concentration camp is now on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Continue on to Krakow, Poland's Cultural Capital (B, D)

Day 15          Friday           In Krakow

A sightseeing tour today starts with a visit to Wawel Hill, where you'll view the Royal Castle and visit the Royal Cathedral. Then take a walking tour of the Old Town, and see the Main Market Square, Renaissance Cloth Hall, and St. Mary's Church. The afternoon is free. You might want to go for a stroll, shop, or relax over some szarlotka (B)

Day 16          Saturday       To Prague

After a drive through unspoiled Polish landscapes, cross the borders of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Then, on to Prague, with its Baroque churches, promenades, parks, and ancient city walls (B,D)

Day 17          Sunday           In Prague

Prague has a long and colorful history, from its early days as a bishopric, to becoming the residence of the Bohemian kings, and later the capital of both Bohemia and the Holy Roman Empire. The city was built across seven hills on both banks of the Vltava River more than 1000 years ago. Today, it is one of the most attractive cities in Europe. Your sightseeing starts with panoramic drive to famous Wenceslas Square, Strahov Stadium, and Castle Square.

Then, on a walking tour, visit the Royal Castle of Hradcany with the Cathedral of St. Vitus, the Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica and the Golden Lane with the Daliborka Tower. Cross the Charles Bridge and walk through the old quarter of Prague to view the Jewish Ghetto, Town Hall and world-famous Astronomical Clock. Balance of the day is free. You might want to attend an optional cultural performance (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to airport for departure flight (B)

 Day 19          Tuesday         In Vienna 

A panoramic City tour of Vienna features the beautiful views of city's major landmarks including Hofburg palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Belvedere Palace, Prater amusement park, UN complex and more other sights from country's imperial past. Farewell dinner (B,D)

 Day 20          Wednesday      Depart Vienna 

After breakfast your tour ends. Transfer to airport is included (B)

Dates & Prices: 

A 14-Day Tour: $ 4,475 per person, in twin share, land only   
Single Room supplement: $ 1,875 

 Extension: Warsaw-Krakow-Prague-Vienna is an additional $ 1175 per person in twin share