Day 1 To Moscow: Morning flight from London Heathrow to Moscow with British Airways. Transfer to the Hilton Leningradskaya Hotel (De Luxe Room) for 3 nights. (N)

Day 2 Moscow: Morning tour of Moscow, including Red Square, Moscow State University, Novodevichy Convent, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and St Basil’s Cathedral. Afternoon at leisure or optional visit to the Tretyakov Gallery. (B)

Day 3 Sergiev Posad: Visit Sergiev Posad, built around the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius, one of Russia’s most important religious and historical landmarks. (B, L)

Day 4 To St Petersburg: Morning visit to the Kremlin, including the Patriarch’s Palace, Catherdral Sqaure and the Armoury Museum. Take a late afternoon train to St. Petersburg (4-5 hours). On arrival, transfer to the Renaissance Baltic Hotel for 4 nights. (B)

Day 5 St Petersburg: Morning tour of St Petersburg, including Nevsky Prospekt and Vasilevsky island, and the entrances to the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood and the Peter and Paul Fortress. Afternoon visit to the Yusupov Palace with its Rasputin. (B)

Day 6 St Petersburg: Full day visit to the Hermitage, with its unrivalled collection of European masterpieces, followed by a canal boat cruise (weather permitting). (B)

Day 7 St Petersburg: Morning tour of Catherine’s Palace at Pushkin, including the Amber Room. Afternoon visit to Petrodvorets to view the exterior of Peter the Great’s Summer Palace and gardens. (B)

Day 8 To London: Morning visit to St Issac’s Cathedral. Transfer to the airport and fly to London. (B)

Theatre: Opera or ballet performances in Moscow or St Petersburg, can be pre-booked. Please contact Cox & Kings for details.

Note: This tour is locally escorted in Moscow and in St Petersburg. You will be assisted with boarding the train in Moscow and met on the platform on arrival in St Petersburg.