Scenic Tours
1300 SCENIC (723 642)
Russia, Baltic States & Eastern Europe
(17 days, Moscow - Berlin, 2013)
This 17 day tour explores the best of Russia, the Baltic States and Eastern Europe as you travel from Moscow to Prague.
Moscow to St. Petersburg
A journey through Russia is an unforgettable contrast of the extraordinary (ballerinas, Fabergé eggs and St Basil’s Cathedral) and of controversy (the fall of the Romanovs and remnants of the Soviet era), from Moscow's reminders of its imperial and Soviet past including Red Square and the Kremlin plus its cultural icons including the famous Moscow Circus, to the beautiful and cosmopolitan St. Petersburg, a showcase of canals, baroque and neoclassical architecture, extraordinary history and rich cultural traditions.
A journey through Russia is an unforgettable contrast of the extraordinary (ballerinas, Fabergé eggs and St Basil’s Cathedral) and of controversy (the fall of the Romanovs and remnants of the Soviet era), from Moscow's reminders of its imperial and Soviet past including Red Square and the Kremlin plus its cultural icons including the famous Moscow Circus, to the beautiful and cosmopolitan St. Petersburg, a showcase of canals, baroque and neoclassical architecture, extraordinary history and rich cultural traditions.
Tallinn to Vilnius
Discover the heart of the beautiful Baltic States, including Tallinn, the medieval Estonian capital filled with cobblestone streets, manor houses, folkloric legends and ancient castles; Pärnu, Estonia’s summer capital, famous for its mud baths and spa resorts; Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, which is on the World Heritage List for its rich legacy of gothic, renaissance, baroque and classical buildings including the 14th century Trakai Island Castle; and Riga, the vibrant capital of Latvia, which boasts the baroque Rastrelli-designed Rundale Palace and Europe’s pre-eminent collection of art nouveau architecture.
Warsaw
Poland is a proud country bearing both the tears and triumphs of its turbulent history. There is plenty to discover in the resilient capital, Warsaw including the Palace of Culture and the Chopin Memorial.
Berlin
Berlin, the cosmopolitan German capital, may have experienced some of history’s most radical changes, but today it is widely known for its knowledge, tolerance, museums, palaces, street art, architecture, and energetic approach to the arts and culture. Nearby is beautiful Potsdam, former residence of the Prussian kings.
Prague
A major cultural centre, the Czech capital, Prague is also one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Built on nine hills along the Vltava River, Prague is a showcase of extraordinary architectural diversity whose history began with the founding of Prague Castle in the 9th century. Today its extensive historic centre is World Heritage-listed.
- 17 night land tour including 3 days in Berlin
Included Scenic Enrich
- Enjoy a Chopin Concert at a Manor House in Warsaw
- Join our local expert historian in Potsdam who will guide us through the Cecilienhof
- We gain special entry to the Reichstag in Berlin for a tour as well as coffee and cake under the famous glass dome
Included Scenic Free Choice
- In Warsaw visit Wilanow Palace; or visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum
- Visit Checkpoint Charlie Museum; or take a relaxing tour on the Spree River; or tour the Topography of Terror Museum (Gestapo HQ); or enjoy cycling at leisure
Included Scenic Special Stays
- The Ritz Carlton is one of Germany’s finest hotels and is the winner of numerous awards and is ideally located in Potsdam Platz
Included Scenic Free Choice Dining
- Enjoy Estonia’s cuisine at your choice of three superb local restaurants in Tallinn
Included Scenic Dining
- 26 superb meals including 16 Full Breakfasts - hot and cold buffet selections (FB), 3 Highlight Dinners - three course table d’hôte (HD) and 7 Dinners - three to four course table d’hôte (D)
Included Scenic Highlights
- Sightseeing in Moscow including Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral
- Night of entertainment at the Grand Moscow Circus
- City Tour of St. Petersburg including a visit to Hermitage Art Museum
- Russian Ballet Performance in the Hermitage Theatre
- Visit the major sites of Riga
- See the ‘Hill of Crosses’ near Siauliai
- All the must see attractions in Berlin
Land Touring Exclusive Inclusions
- Luxury 40 seat coach
- Small group touring experience
- Professional Tour Director
- Whisper Headsets for all walking tours
- All Tipping, Gratuities and Porterage Included on all walking tours
Day 1: Moscow
(D)
You will be met at Moscow International Airport by your Scenic Tours Representative and transferred* to your hotel. Meet up this evening over a welcome dinner at the hotel with your fellow travellers and Tour Director.
Three Night Stay: Moscow
Three Night Stay: Moscow
Day 2: Moscow
(FB,D)
This morning you’ll set out on an exploration of the city of Moscow. Our Included guided tour takes you to Red Square with a visit to Lenin’s Tomb, GUM department store, Gorky Park and St. Basil’s Cathedral. This afternoon you’ll tour the Kremlin, seat of the former Soviet Union’s intrigue. In the State Armory, you’ll see priceless weaponry, jewels, Fabergé eggs and ceremonial robes.
Day 3: Moscow
(FB)
Today our Included visit takes us to Sergiev Posad, the spiritual home of the Russian Orthodox Church. Returning to Moscow in the afternoon we see the famous Moscow metro including the historical stations on the Ring-Line. Tonight we see the internationally acclaimed Moscow Circus.
Day 4: Moscow - St. Petersburg
(FB,D)
Enjoy the morning exploring Moscow at your leisure. This afternoon we will transfer to the Moscow train station where we will board the Sapsan high-speed train to St. Petersburg. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.
Three Night Stay: St. Petersburg
Three Night Stay: St. Petersburg
Day 5: St. Petersburg
(FB)
Our city sightseeing tour today takes in all the great sites St. Petersburg has to offer. A highlight today is St Isaac’s Cathedral with its huge gilded dome, exquisite mosaics and icons. We end the tour with a visit to Peter and Paul Fortress. After lunch we will visit the Hermitage Art Museum.
Day 6: St. Petersburg
(FB)
Today our excursion takes us to Tsarskoe Selo, built for Catherine the Great, for an Included visit of Catherine’s Palace. Tonight we travel to the Hermitage Theatre for a performance by the Russian Ballet.
Day 7: St. Petersburg - Tallinn
(FB,D)
After breakfast we leave Russia behind for Estonia via Ivangood to Narva. The border town is dominated by the 15th century Hermann Castle which also overlooks the Ivangorod Fortress on the Russian side of the River. We continue to Tallinn.
Two Night Stay: Tallinn
Two Night Stay: Tallinn
Day 8: Tallinn
(FB,HD)
Our tour today takes in the Old Town, famous for its jumble of twisting, cobblestone streets and Gothic spires. The tour includes Toompea Castle fortifications, located nearby the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky and the beautiful Town Hall Square. We also explore the city walls, still largely intact and a great vantage point to observe this striking city. Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE Dining: This evening, choose to dine at one of three superb local restaurants.
Day 9: Tallinn - Paernu - Riga
(FB,D)
This morning we depart Tallinn for Riga in Latvia, passing through Parnu, Estonia’s summer capital, famous for its mud baths and spa resorts. The Historic Centre of Riga has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the city is particularly notable for its extensive Art Nouveau architecture, cosy beer cellars and cafés. Our tour includes St. Peter’s Church with its 123 metre high tower, the city walls and Riga Castle.
Overnight Stay: Riga
Overnight Stay: Riga
Day 10: Riga - Rundale - Siauliai - Vilnius
(FB,D)
This morning we leave Riga and travel to Rundale where we visit Rundale Palace. On route to the Lithuanian city of Siauliai we stop at the extraordinary ‘Hill of Crosses’. This symbol of Christian resistance to the Soviets features millions of small Crosses, which were repeatedly bulldozed during the occupation. This evening we arrive in Vilnius for our two night stay.
Two Night Stay: Vilnius
Two Night Stay: Vilnius
Day 11: Vilnius
(FB)
This morning we join our expert local guide for an insightful walking tour around the Old Town, with its many famous examples of baroque architecture. We’ll get to see all the famous landmarks, including the University, the Gates of Dawn with its remarkable chapel and the famous Vilnius Cathedral. In the afternoon we visit the beautiful Trakai Island Castle, located a short drive outside of Vilnius. The castle is sometimes referred to as ‘Little Marienburg’ and construction began in the 14th century.
Day 12: Vilnius - Warsaw
(FB)
After breakfast we depart Vilnius. Our route will take us into the amazing Mazurian region, which encompasses 4,000 lakes in a pristine setting, where a great deal of the landscape remains virgin forest. We cross the border into Poland and continue on to the capital Warsaw.
Two Night Stay: Warsaw
Two Night Stay: Warsaw
Day 13: Warsaw
(FB,HD)
Warsaw was largely destroyed in World War II, however the historic centre has been rebuilt and has attained UNESCO World Heritage status. We visit the Jewish Ghetto with a local guide this morning for a striking reminder of the suffering endured in WWII. We will also see the monument to the Ghetto heroes, the Palace of Culture and the Chopin Memorial. Choose from the following Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE: (1) an excursion to Wilanow Palace - known as Poland’s Versailles; or (2) visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum, and learn about Poland’s history. SCENIC ENRICH: This evening enjoy an exclusive piano concert of Chopin music in a Manor House, followed by dinner.
Day 14: Warsaw - Berlin
(FB)
This morning we will be taken to the main train station where we board our first class carriage for a journey across the heart of Poland and into Germany. Time en route to relax and watch the scenery pass by, arriving into Berlin early afternoon.
Three Night Stay: Berlin
Three Night Stay: Berlin
Day 15: Berlin - Potsdam - Berlin
(FB,HD)
This morning we journey to Potsdam, former residence of the Prussian Kings until 1918, where SCENIC ENRICH our local expert historian on Potsdam shares his knowledge of the town and its history as we visit the Cecilienhof where the Potsdam Treaty was signed in 1945. After free time in Potsdam we return back to Berlin. Berlin has undergone an exciting transformation since reunification in 1989. SCENIC ENRICH: We have arranged special entry to explore the renovated parliamentary building that was controversially set on fire in 1933. After our tour, we’ll enjoy coffee and cake whilst under the famous glass dome. This afternoon see the Brandenburg Gate, State Opera House, Alexander Platz, drive ‘Unter den Linden’ and visit the former Checkpoint Charlie. Checkpoint Charlie was once the notorious border crossing between the Soviet and American sectors, and witness to a number of dramatic events during the cold war. This evening we’ll enjoy a highlight dinner of delicious food in a local restaurant.
Day 16: Berlin
(FB,D)
This morning choose from the following Included SCENIC FREE CHOICE tours: (1) visit Checkpoint Charlie Museum, where you will learn the historic details of this notorious time in German history, such as the Berlin Wall and stories of those who risked their lives for freedom; or (2) take a relaxing Cruise on the Spree River where you can view all the Berlin sites and fine architecture from the waterways; or (3) enjoy a guided tour of the Topography of Terror Museum (Gestapo HQ); or (4) enjoy cycling at leisure around the city.
Day 17: Berlin
(FB)
After breakfast this morning transfer* to the Berlin airport.
*Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For guests who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.
*Check transfer entitlements with your travel agent. For guests who have already received documentation - refer to your booking summary.
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