Russia and The Baltics

Upon arrival in Moscow, we will be met by our tour leader and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure before we meet in the evening for our welcome dinner.

Accommodation: Azimut Hotel Olympic

We spend today exploring the founding centre of Moscow, the Kremlin and Red Square. Wander within the walls of this ancient fortress and admire the magnificent St. Basil’s Cathedral.

Accommodation: Azimut Hotel Olympic

This morning we tour Moscow’s unique and beautiful Metro stations. See the beautiful mosaics, marble pillars, stained glass and artwork that make the Moscow metro unlike any other metro system in the world. Tonight we have the opportunity to enjoy either an iconic Russian Ballet Theatre show or the famous Moscow Circus.

Accommodation: Azimut Hotel Olympic

We depart for Suzdal today via Vladimir, where we visit the Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals. In Suzdal we explore the Suzdal Kremlin, Monastery and Wooden Architecture and Peasant Life museum, which offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the rural folk in the area. This evening enjoy a group dinner at your hotel

Accommodation: Sokol Hotel

Today we travel to Sergiev Posad where we will visit the Trinity Lavra Monastery of St. Sergius, the most important monastery in Russia and the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church. Before we travel back to Moscow, we get to test our creative skills with a Russian doll painting master class.

Accommodation: Azimut Hotel Olympic

Travel by high-speed train from Moscow to St Petersburg today. On arrival, we tour St Petersburg, including a visit to Nevsky Prospekt Street, the main thoroughfare of St Petersburg, as well as the Statue of Peter the Great and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, known for its onion-shaped domes and colourful exterior.

Accommodation: Original Sokos Olympia Grand Hotel

Today we explore St Petersburg, including the Peter & Paul Fortress, founded by Peter the Great in 1703. We also visit the impressive St Isaac’s Cathedral, whose dome dominates the St Petersburg skyline. Our afternoon is spent at the Museum of Russian Vodka.

Accommodation: Original Sokos Olympia Grand Hotel

Palaces are today’s theme as we embark on a short road trip to visit nearby palaces and parks at Peterhof and Pushkin. Catherine Palace, with its elaborate blue and white facade, is a magnificent example of Russian baroque, while Peterhof’s Versailles inspired palace and vast parklands with numerous fountains are a sight to behold!

Accommodation: Original Sokos Olympia Grand Hotel

We spend our last morning in St Petersburg appreciating art and culture at the Hermitage State Museum, the second largest museum in the world. The afternoon is free for you to spend at your leisure.

Accommodation: Original Sokos Olympia Grand Hotel

Today we depart St Petersburg and head for the Estonian capital, Tallinn. Just across the border, we stop at Narva, to explore Hermann Castle and Art Gallery. Lunch is included before we continue our journey to Tallinn.

Accommodation: Park Inn Meriton

Spend the morning exploring Tallinn, including the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and St Olaf’s Church, before enjoying a Medieval lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon is free to explore Tallinn further at your leisure.

Accommodation: Park Inn Meriton

We depart for Riga today. After crossing the border into Latvia, we make stops at the Turaida Castle complex in Sigulda and the Soviet Underground Bunker in Ligatne before continuing onto Riga.

Accommodation: Opera Hotel & Spa

Today our exploration of Riga includes the Riga Cathedral, the Freedom Monument and St Peter’s Church, where you can take the lift to the observation deck for 360-degree views of the city of Riga. We visit the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia that covers the period when the Russians and German Nazis occupied Latvia.

Accommodation: Opera Hotel & Spa

Our journey through the Baltics continues as we head into Lithuania today. En-route we visit the Ninth Fort Memorial, completed in the 1900s as a final part of Kaunas Fortress and located on the outskirts of Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city.

Accommodation: Hotel Avenue Congress

Today we visit local sights including the Vilnius Cathedral and Gediminas Castle, as well as the Uzupis district in the old town, which in 1997 declared itself an Independent Republic. We also head to the nearby Trakai Castle, located on an island in Lake Galvė.

Accommodation: Hotel Avenue Congress

It’s a long travel day today as we make our way into Poland. Just across the border, we stop at Bialystok for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we continue our journey to Warsaw, the capital of Poland.

Accommodation: Polonial Palace

Spend today exploring Warsaw. Highlights include the Royal Castle, Rising Museum and Poland’s tallest building; the Palace of Culture and Science, where you can admire the views from the observation deck.

Accommodation: Polonial Palace

Today is at leisure for you to relax and enjoy Warsaw. You could make your way back to the Old Town and explore in-depth, take in the gardens,do some shopping or enjoy a traditional Polish lunch at one of the many restaurants.

Accommodation: Polonial Palace

We travel across Poland to Krakow today via Tokarina, where we will explore the Kielce Region Countryside Museum, an open-air folk museum with historic buildings such as homesteads, cottages, windmills and watermills as well as a splendid manor house.

Accommodation: Inx Design

Spend this morning touring the city of Krakow. We visit the Wawel castle as well as the Jewish district of Kazimierz in the Old Town, now a jumble of galleries, quirky shops, vintage clothing stores and bars. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure.

Accommodation: Inx Design

Today we travel to Oświęcim and take a guided tour of Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration and extermination camps, synonymous with genocide and the Holocaust. Visit the onsite museum to learn about the Nazi Holocaust and how the camps functioned.

Accommodation: Inx Design

This morning we continue into Hungary and on to Budapest, where we spend the afternoon getting acquainted with the city. Take a short tour which includes the famous Chain Bridge that spans the River Danube between Buda in the west and Pest in the east and the Dohany Great Synagogue and museum.

Accommodation: Novotel Danube

We further explore Budapest today, where our highlights include the Buda Palace and Budapest History Museum. The afternoon is at your leisure before we meet up for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Accommodation: Novotel Danube

Today we farewell Budapest and head to the airport for our flight home.

Our Escorted Escapes concludes today. Farewell your new friends and tour host as you head home.