Splendors of Russia Singles Tour
Moscow - St Petersburg
June 30 - July 10 2011
$2,990*

The splendors of Russia await as we explore the two largest cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg. This fascinating, singles vacation will take us to the historic Russian capitals that have always played the most important part in the country's history. In Moscow, visit Red Square, the Kremlin and take a ride on the Metro. An overnight train ride takes us to St. Petersburg, the magnificent city built by Peter the Great. Then imagine the opulent lifestyles of Russian czars while visiting the Hermitage and wander the halls and grounds of the Catherine Palace and Petrodvorets.

                                                                                                     Download Singles Vacations & Travel Brochures

Russia Singles Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Thursday:  Depart from Home

Best Single Travel will be glad to help with airfare. (Remember fly into Moscow and home from St Petersburg)

Day 2 - Friday:  Moscow, Russia

On arrival at the Moscow Airport, you will be met and transferred to our Hotel. To give everyone a chance to arrive, no activities are planned today. We will meet for an optional dinner at 7:00pm.

Day 3 - Saturday:  Moscow

Explore the Kremlin grounds, the fascinating complex of museums, churches and government buildings.  Tour the State Armory, home to a collection of priceless artifacts dating back to the 14th century and the Diamond Fund to see the spectacular coronation crowns, royal carriages, and famed Faberge Eggs. See the unique cathedrals of medieval Russia including the Assumption Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great.

Relax and view Moscow by boat along the Moskva River. From the river-front you will see the towers and walls of the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the statue dedicated to Peter the Great, House of Artists, the famous Gorky Park amusement park of the Soviet era, St. Andrew’s Monastery and the Stalin-style building of Moscow State University.

After a quick bite to eat we are off to the Moscow Circus. Since the reign of Catherine the Great, the circus has played an important role in the rich cultural traditions of Russia. In Russia, the circus is regarded as an art form on par with the ballet or opera, a showcase for highly skilled and creative artists. 

Day 4 - Sunday:  Moscow

Morning visit to Tretyakov Gallery and Sculpture Garden. This museum houses a great collection of contemporary Russian art. Adjacent to the museum is the wonderful sculpture park with hundreds of random sculptures laid out with wooden walk ways - over looked by the towering Peter the Great monument.

Afternoon city tour including Red Square, envision the important events that have taken place in this center of Russian culture. See the colorful onion-shaped domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, built by Ivan The Terrible and Novodevichy Convent with its 16 gilded domes. Visit Christ the Savior museum and a Jewish Synagogue.

Experience the magic of Moscow at night and photograph the best landmarks on our night tour.

Day 5 - Monday:  Moscow

Ride the famous Moscow Metro today. Stop at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War, with six spectacular dioramas feel the atmosphere of sadness and pride of Russian people who were able to defeat fascist invasion.  In the Museum you will have the chance to see the Hall of Glory representing the triumph of victories. And the Hall of Memory with its historical and military expositions showing the tragedy of the War and heroic events.

Another stop is the Moscow Zoo, opened in February 1864 it is one of the oldest Zoos in Europe. Through all the years of peace, war, revolution - the Zoo was open. Nowadays it appears to be right in the middle of the city and thanks to the Government of Moscow is fully transformed.

Free time for Moscow exploring or shopping.

Day 6 - Tuesday:  Moscow - Sergiev Posad - Overnight Train

Northeast of Moscow lies the town of Sergiev Posad, enjoy a countryside drive to the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergiev, founded by one of Russia’s most revered holy men. To this day, thousands flock to the monastery not only as an act of religious belief but also to see one of Russia’s greatest and most splendid architectural treasures. The monastery’s golden cupolas and blue bell tower are some of the most picturesque in the country.

Dinner tonight at the Hard Rock Cafe before we transfer to the railway station for Grand Express overnight train to St Petersburg

Day 7 - Wednesday:  St Petersburg

Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, we stop for breakfast before we begin our city tour. Built in 1703 by Peter the Great, St. Petersburg rivaled the beauty and architecture of any European capital. See the Bronze Horseman, the canals and Neva River, the Menshikov Palace, and the dazzling Church of Resurrection (Church on Spilled Blood). Within the Peter & Paul Fortress, designed to stave off enemy attacks on the city and later one of the most terrifying prisons in czarist Russia, visit the Peter & Paul Cathedral, the final resting place for most of the royal Romanov family.

Afternoon at leisure to relax or explore on your own.

Day 8 - Thursday:  St Petersburg - Pushkin

Drive into the countryside to the village of Pushkin (another name is Tsarskoye Selo, which means - Tsar’s village) to explore the sparkling Catherine Palace, the summer palace of the Russian tsars. Built in the middle of the 18th century for the Russian Empress Elizabeth, famous as the most beautiful lady in the Romanov family and spent her time among balls and huntings. This palace has more gold in it than all the other palaces in the world. One of the rooms here is especially famous - the Amber Room. all the walls are faced with amber!

Back in St Petersburg visit St Isaac's Cathedral, which holds 10,000 worshipers and is decorated with marble and jeweled stones and whose dome is covered with 200 pounds of pure gold.

Day 9 - Friday:  St Petersburg

Enjoy morning visit to the Hermitage Museum at the Winter Palace, built by the Swiss/Italian architect Rastrelli in 1754 and remained the home of the imperial Russian Royal Family up to 1917. See the staterooms where the Bolsheviks arrested the czarist officials. Its collection contains the stunning state collection of European objects d’art and memorabilia from the lavish Imperial Court through the Revolution, as well as the famous Gold Room. Its collection of paintings spans all eras and is particularly well known for its French Impressionist and modern art.

Step on board a boat and you will see the city in a different way. St Petersburg was designed to have the mighty Neva river as its "main street", so many beautiful buildings and squares face the river and some riverside views are truly breathtaking.

Visit the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated in March 1881. Both the interior and exterior of the church is decorated with incredibly detailed mosaics, designed and created by the most prominent Russian artists of the day.

Also visit the Grand Choral Synagogue, as the successor of the Temporary prayer house for educated Jews, became the center of Jewish religious life in St. Petersburg. After a 24-year epic of getting the permission and construction, St. Petersburg Grand Choral synagogue was opened in 1893.

Day 10 - Saturday:  St Petersburg

Take a hydrofoil across the Gulf of Finland to Peterhof and explore the Grand Palace, the opulent summer palace of Peter the Great. The Peterhof Palace is actually a series of palaces and gardens and are some times referred to as the "Russian Versailles". Set in a 2,500-acre park dotted with fountains, its Grand Cascade - a sequence of sculptures, fountains and water jets, is one of the largest fountain ensembles in the world.

Farewell dinner at local restaurant before our Folklore show in Nikolayevsky Palace. Enjoy a splendid show with some of the best local folk performers. 
 

Day 11 - Sunday:  Depart for Home

Say Dasvidania to St Petersburg as your Russian singles vacation ends and you are transferred to the airport for your return flight home. 

Splendors of Russia Moscow - St Petersburg Price - $2,990* Includes * 8-Nights Accommodations * 1st Class Overnight Train * Breakfast Daily * 3 Dinners * Singles Travel Hostess * English Speaking Guides * Tours and Admissions as stated in itinerary * Airport / Hotel Transfers on Tour Dates * Taxes and Surcharges Click Here for Hotels *The price per person is for a double room. Free roommate matching is available so there is never a need to pay a "single supplement".  If you wish to room alone the cost is an additional $850 (If you want a single cabin on train it is $400 additional) Not included * Airline Flights * Visa to enter Russia * Tips $12 per day collected the first day of tour

Deposit - $400 Balance Due April 15