Russia Warsaw and the Baltic States
16 days, Priced from US$3450
Premium Escorted, Departs from & returns to Warsaw
Tour code E977B
Highlights - Highlights include the beautiful Baltic capitals which have blossomed since joining the European Union in 2004. Also add Trakai Castle, Red Square and the Kremlin in Moscow, the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, plus the novel train journey between these two great cities.
Hotels - The Sovietsky in Moscow epitomises the traditional Russian-style, as does the Pribaltiskaya on the Gulf of Finland. The two hotels in Warsaw are extremely well-equipped and situated in the heart of the city, as is the modern Reval Latvija, located only metres from Riga’s historic Old Town.
Enjoy Your Included Tour Features
Premium Highlights
- Enjoy a fascinating film about the reconstruction of Warsaw after the devastation of WWII
- Visit the restored red-brick Gothic castle of Trakai, perched atop an island on Lake Galvé.
- Tour one of the world’s greatest museums, the spectacular Hermitage in St Petersburg
- Visit the fabulous gardens and fountains of Peter the Great’s summer residence at Petrodvorets
Personal Insights
- Go deep beneath Moscow to see the marble, mosaics, sculptures and chandeliers of one of the most beautiful train stations in the world
Additional Excursions & Sights
- Visit the Chopin Memorial and Ghetto memorial in Warsaw and see the ‘Wedding Cake’
- See the Jesuit University and former K.G.B. headquarters in Vilnius
- Visit the astonishing ‘Votive Hill of Crosses’ near Siauliai
- Visit Riga’s Domkirk and see the ‘House of Three brothers’ Swedish Gate and Castle
- See Tallinn’s Weighing House, Pharmacy and Town Hall in the old Market Square
- See the Hermannsburg fortress in Narva
- In St Petersburg, see the fortress of St Peter and Paul and St Isaac’s Cathedral
- See the ‘Church of Spilled Blood’, Nevsky Prospect and cruiser ‘Aurora’ in St Petersburg
- Tour Moscow’s Red Square, seeing St Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s tomb
- Visit one of the Cathedrals inside the Kremlin walls
- See the Soviet-era buildings and Lenin statue in Minsk
- Insight's First Class Services
- Escorted by a professional Tour Director
- Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
- Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
- Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
- Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and Day 16
Included Quality Dining
- Highlight Dinner in Minsk including champagne and vodka (HD)
- 15 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 3 Lunches (L) and 6 three-course table d’hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
ITINERARY
Visas - Please verify that the start/end dates correspond to your dates of entering and leaving Russia. An incorrect start date will result in denial of entry to Russia by the Russian authorities. |
Day 1 - WARSAW AT LEISURE |
Welcome to Poland! On arrival at Warsaw Airport, your airport transfers depart for the tour hotel at 10:30, 12:30 & 15:30. Relax & settle in before enjoying a Welcome Drink with your fellow guests & Tour Director.
Hotel: Sheraton
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Day 2 - WARSAW SIGHTSEEING |
Join a local guide to take in the highlights of Warsaw. Pass the 'wedding cake' Palace of Culture & visit the Chopin Memorial in Lazienki Park. Now some time to reflect at the Memorial of the Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto. Finally, walk to the Market Square in the Old Town to watch a fascinating film about the reconstruction of the city. (BB) |
Day 3 - WARSAW - VILNIUS |
Pass lake side Augustow & Suwalki on a scenic drive through Mazuria, a region richly endowed with a plethora of lakes & vast forests. Cross into Lithuania & continue to the capital city of Vilnius.
Hotel: Radisson Blu Astorija (BB,D)
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Day 4 - VILNIUS SIGHTSEEING |
Sightseeing starts in the baroque church of St Peter & St Paul before moving on to see the neo-classical cathedraland joining a local guide for a leisurely walking tour of the Old Town. See the Jesuit University & the Gates of Dawn, & the former Soviet KGB headquarters. Finally, enjoy a highlight visit to the island castle of Trakai. (BB) |
Day 5 - VILNIUS - RIGA |
Head north to visit the unusual 'Votive Hill of Crosses' near Siauliai, the symbol of resistance against the Soviet occupation. Then it's on to the Latvian capital of Riga.
Hotel: Radisson Blu Riga (BB,D)
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Day 6 - RIGA - TALLINN |
A tour of Riga's Old Town includes a visit to the Domkirk & shows you the city walls. See the House of the Three Brothers as well as the Swedish Gate & the castle of the Livonian Knights. Now drive along the shores of the Gulf of Riga & cross the Estonian border to reach Tallinn, hailed by travel aficionados as the 'New Prague'.
Hotel: Radisson Blu Olumpia (BB,D)
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Day 7 - TALLINN SIGHTSEEING |
Drift back through 800 years of history as you amble through the cobbled streets of the Old Town. Visit the market square with its old German Weighing House, Pharmacy & Town Hall. We walk up Toompea Hill to the castle & Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Tallinn's shops are famous for fine amber & silver jewelry. (BB) |
Day 8 - TALLINN - ST PETERSBURG |
Head east to the town of Narva, dominated by the mighty Hermannsburg fortress. The river Narva at this point forms the border with Russia, which you cross on your way to St Petersburg. Enjoy a champagne dinner in the evening.
Hotel: Courtyard Marriott Pushkin (BB,D)
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Day 9 - ST PETERSBURG SIGHTSEEING |
On your sightseeing tour, see the fortress of St Peter & Paul, the gilded dome of St Isaac's Cathedral, & the cruiser, 'Aurora', now a memorial of the Russian Revolution. See the splendid Cathedral of Kazan, then tour one of the world's greatest museums, the spectacular Hermitage, housing a superb collection of priceless art. (BB) |
Day 10 - ST PETERSBURG |
Visit the fabulous gardens & fountains of Peter the Great's summer residence at Petrodvorets. Tonight, enjoy a selection of restaurants on a Russian Dine-Around evening. (BB,DA) |
Day 11 - ST PETERSBURG - MOSCOW |
The morning is at leisure to relax or shop along bustling Nevsky Prospekt before transferring to the station for a five-hour train journey to Moscow - a city which has captivated the imagination of travellers for centuries. On arrival we have dinner before reaching our hotel.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Moscow (BB,D)
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Day 12 - MOSCOW SIGHTSEEING |
A sightseeing tour takes in Red Square, seeing St Basil's Cathedraland Lenin's Tomb. Walk inside the walls of the Kremlin Fortress to visit one of the cathedrals before exploring the opulent Metro stations. There is also free time to shop for souvenirs. (BB) |
Day 13 - MOSCOW AT LEISURE |
A full day is set aside for you to explore Moscow at your own pace. Visit the Gum department store or the Kremlin museum to gaze at the treasury of the Tsars. (BB) |
Day 14 - MOSCOW - MINSK |
Drive towards Smolensk & the Belarus border. Continue to Minsk, rebuilt in supreme Soviet style after the war. An orientation tour takes you along wide avenues & past gargantuan concrete buildings – a legacy of Minsk's Soviet past. Tonight enjoy a Highlight Dinner, complete with champagne & vodka.
Hotel: Minsk (BB,L,HD)
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Day 15 - MINSK - BREST - WARSAW |
Head south-west to Brest, one of the USSR's 'Hero Cities' during WWII. After lunch, cross the border to return to Warsaw.
Hotel: Sheraton (BB,L,D)
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Day 16 - WARSAW |
Departure transfers arrive at Warsaw Airport at 07:30 & 10:00. (BB) |
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