DAY 1 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – MOSCOW
After meeting our valued guests at the international departures terminal of Istanbul New Airport at 05:35 and completing baggage and check-in procedures, we depart for Moscow on THY flight TK 413 at 08:25. Upon arrival in Moscow at 12:25 and after being welcomed at the airport, we depart by private vehicle for the “Moscow Panoramic City Tour.” During our panoramic Moscow city tour, the places we will see include the historic center, the Red Square, which has witnessed political and social turmoil, the colorful onion-shaped St. Basil’s Cathedral located there, the Kremlin Palace, the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Street, Gorky Park, Novodevichy Monastery, Swan Lake, Luzhniki Stadium, Sparrow Hills, and finally Moscow University, all seen panoramically. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel and free time.
DAY 2 MOSCOW
After breakfast at our hotel, free time. Guests who wish may join the optional Kremlin Palace & Moscow Metro & Arbat & Nazım Hikmet’s Grave Tour. The Kremlin, where Russian President Vladimir Putin also has his office, contains the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, considered Moscow’s most important church since the 14th century, as well as the world’s largest bell. We will continue our tour by Moscow Metro. Started by Stalin in 1931, the Moscow Metro, although compared today in size with the metro systems of New York, Paris, or London, is widely regarded as the most beautiful metro in the world in terms of interior architecture and decoration. Arbat Street, which runs through the center of Moscow, is a traffic-free road that everyone who comes to this city visits at least once and enjoys walking from one end to the other. Here you can browse the colorful shop windows, taste the best examples of Russian and international cuisine, sit in stylish cafés that would not be out of place in Paris, and most pleasantly of all, sit on a bench and watch the Russians who are lost in the flow of life. If you want a Moscow souvenir, this street is the right place. Then we continue our tour with Nazım Hikmet’s grave. We will leave our hotel for a visit to Novodevichy Monastery (where Nazım Hikmet is also buried). One of Russia’s most important monasteries, Novodevichy was founded in 1524 and over time became the place where the stars of many would-be tsarinas faded. Although Napoleon ordered it to be destroyed in 1812, the nuns managed to prevent this decision. As part of the visit, we will go to Nazım Hikmet’s grave located within the monastery. After the tour, transfer back to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 3 MOSCOW – ST. PETERSBURG (TRAIN JOURNEY)
After breakfast at our hotel, we check out of our rooms and transfer to the train station. After our train journey between Moscow and St. Petersburg, upon arrival and being welcomed, we depart by private vehicle for the “St. Petersburg Panoramic City Tour.” During the panoramic city tour, we will have the opportunity to see the avenues where the finest works of the world’s most famous architects and artists are displayed, as well as the city’s historical and tourist sites. The famous Nevsky Prospect featured in the books of renowned 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. Free time and accommodation at our hotel in St. Petersburg. At the end of the tour, guests who wish may join the optional “Russian Night Tour” organized by our guide. Do not miss the chance to enjoy dinner and magnificent dance shows at Troika Restaurant, one of the finest restaurants in St. Petersburg. After the tour, transfer back to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4 ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast, free time. Guests who wish may join the optional “Hermitage, Peter and Paul, and Canal Tours.” The Hermitage Museum, located beside the Neva River and containing approximately 4 million works from the Tsarist period, is one of the largest museums in the world and in Russia; it is also in the Guinness Book of Records for having the largest collection of paintings. Then, accompanied by a guide, we will begin our canal tour, viewing St. Petersburg from the canals and extending to the Neva River. The tour will continue with Peter and Paul Fortress. Built by Peter in the 1700s as the first structure in St. Petersburg, the fortress is located on the Neva River. The cathedral inside the fortress contains the tombs of the Romanov Dynasty. At the end of the tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 5 ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast, free time. Guests who wish may join the optional “Peterhof and Pushkin Tsarskoye Selo Tours.” On this tour, we will have the opportunity to see the summer palace located in the Gulf of Finland, which Peter personally designed and had built by the Italian architect Rastrelli. A rival to the palace in Versailles, it is a magnificent palace complex decorated with 150 monumental fountains and 4 waterfalls. Although it suffered major damage during World War II, it has been restored faithfully to its original architecture with all its splendor. Afterwards, the park, palace, and buildings complex built by Catherine in the 18th century and known as Tsarskoye Selo covers an area of 600 hectares, and the main building of this town is Catherine Palace. Although the Amber Room here is extremely interesting, many tourists may not be able to visit it, especially due to the crowds during the summer months. In this famous town where the aristocracy of the tsarist era met the tsar family, the school where the famous poet Pushkin studied is also located. At the end of our tour, transfer back to our hotel.
DAY 6 ST. PETERSBURG – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
After breakfast, free time. At the time determined by our guide, transfer to the airport. Upon arrival, after passport control and check-in procedures, depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK 402 at 13:55. Arrival in Istanbul at 18:00 local time. Until we meet again on our next tour.