Your plane lands in Moscow.
One of the largest cities in Europe, a home for 10 million people, Moscow managed to preserve great number of historical monuments as well as its old urban structure. Russians say that the history of Moscow is the history of the whole Russian country.
Transfer to the Ritz Carlton Hotel, the newest addition to the family of Moscow hotels. The Ritz Carlton, Moscow, with its grand classical facade, is situated just 150 metres from Red Square and has panoramic views from its rooftop across the square and to the Kremlin, which is 400 meters away.

The hotel offers 334 air conditioned guestrooms located on 11 floors, all with traditional style decor and polished dark cherry wood furnishings. Guestrooms include mini-bars, high speed Internet connections, LCD televisions, clock radios, complimentary newspapers and safes. Spacious marble bathrooms provide robes, scales, hair dryers and designer toiletries.
Guests can indulge themselves in the hotel's 2,000 square meter full service spa complex with its indoor pool, 10 treatment rooms, jetted tub, fitness centre, steam rooms and saunas and beauty studio

Welcome cocktail is served on the roof-top Q2 open-air lounge. Enjoy great views of Kremlin and the Red Square - site of countless coronations, conflicts and celebrations. Today, this symbolic space serves as a cultural epicenter of one of the world's great cities and invites visitors to share in its many wonders.

After cocktail the guests are invited for a short walk across the busy Tverskaya street and then through the Kamergersky pedestrian street lined with numerous cafes and restaurants. The dinner is served in crème de la crème of Moscow restaurants - the Bolshoy Restaurant. A unique project of the renowned Novikov group, it is located in a few steps from the famous theatre.

White classic interior with ivory shades is decorated by Doric order columns and luxury furniture from Ralf Lorain. The walls and fireplaces have an extensive collection of modern art.

Moscow By Night City Tour
When the evening rush hour is over it is time to start your first exploration of Moscow with coach and guide. In the night Moscow is especially beautiful. Have a walk across the main place of Moscow - the famous Red Square, flanked by the redbrick Kremlin walls and huge building of GUM department store on the opposite side. Enjoy the view of Kremlin towers, History Museum and Cathedral of St. Basil with colorful onion-shape domes. Return to hotel. Overnight.

Private Visit to the Armory
After breakfast the guides will take you to the Kremlin, the historical nucleus of the city, the former residence of the Czars, now the seat of the Russian President. Visit the most precious gem of the Kremlin - the Armory, Treasury of Czars. By special arrangement we enter the museum before official opening hour to observe the Armory's huge collection in private.

The collection consists of many precious gifts once presented to Russian Czars by foreign monarchs and ambassadors as well as their thrones, clothes, beautifully carved gilded ceremonial carriages, Czars regalia and ceremonial armor. You will also see many pieces of applied art and jewelry including famous Faberge works. Enjoy a brief private concert of the Kremlin Choir on the steps of the staircase leading to the second floor of the museum.

Tour of the Kremlin Grounds
Explore the grounds of Kremlin by foot.
The Moscow Kremlin is an outstanding monument of Russian history, enclosing an area of 70 acres. The walls are about half a mile long and up to 62 feet high and 21 feet thick, with 20 towers and gates. During the walking tour you will see the Cathedral Square, Belfry of Ivan the Terrible, Czar Bell and Czar Cannon and visit one of ancient cathedrals.

Private Visit to the Grand Kremlin Palace
Private Visit to the Grand Kremlin Palace. By special arrangement split in smaller groups we visit the Grand Kremlin Palace - now the seat of the Russian president. The Grand Kremlin Palace is a complex of several buildings built in the course of 4 centuries. Apart from the ceremonial halls of the Grand Kremlin palace used on solemn occasions you will see the ancient XV-century Terem palace, the Faceted Chamber and the private chambers of Ivan the Terrible and the Romanovs.

Lunch at Godunov
Lunch is served in the popular "Godunov" restaurant serving Russian cuisine of the 18th century. Start your acquaintance with Russian cuisine - try traditional Borsch and pancakes, famous Beef Stroganoff and taste vodka.

Walking tour of the Red Square
After lunch you may want to return to hotel or explore the famous Red Square with the help of our guides. Enter the square through the Iverskaya Gate near the small church of our Lady of Kazan, both ruined shortly after the Revolution and reconstructed in 2000. You will see the beautiful red-brick building of the History Museum, oldest department store GUM with a very long façade, the place of execution, ending with the famous St. Basil's cathedral, perhaps the most eye-catching structure in Moscow. Return to hotel by foot.

Free time for rest before dinner

Dinner at YAR restaurant with variety show (not private):
Elegant dinner is served in the legendary YAR restaurant famous for its variety show. Founded in 1826, the restaurant was a popular place among the cream of the society for its kitchen and Gypsy singing.

Nowadays YAR carefully follows gastronomic traditions and presents a dynamic Lido-style variety show.
Return to hotel. Overnight.

City Tour with visit to the Christ Cathedral and Novodevichy Convent.
Attend morning service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior which has the most dramatic history reflecting the history of the whole country. Built in the course of 40 years and completed in 1883 the Cathedral commemorated the victory over Napoleon in 1812. Closed in 1917 after the Revolution it was blown up by the order of Stalin in 1931. A giant open-air swimming pool was built on its place in the 60-ies. A decision to rebuild the cathedral was taken in 1990. Restored to its full splendor in 2000, the Christ Cathedral has again become a dominating landmark of the Russian capital.

Not far from the cathedral you will see the giant statue of the first Russian Emperor - Peter the Great. The proportions of the monument can be compared with Rio's Christ the Savior. The work of Georgian architect Tseretely, a close friend of Moscow's mayor, for several years the monument has been a theme for constant jokes.

Visit the ancient Novodevichy Convent. The red and white fortified walls and golden domes of the convent make it one of Moscow's most beautiful monasteries. It was founded by the Czar Vasily III in 1524. Many wives and widows of Russian Czars ended their lives here having handed over all their wealth to the monastery. The convent looks like the Kremlin in miniature.

The cemetery, adjacent to the convent, is a very special place to visit - it has the graves of many famous people such as Chekhov and Bulgakov, Shostakovich and Scryabin, Stalin's wife and Khrushchev, Raisa Gorbatcheva and maestro Rostropovich among others.

Lunch is served in the METRO restaurant - a small replica of the Moscow subway with escalators, a subway car, etc. Enjoy fresh home-made beers and simple but genuine Russian menu.

Option 1: Walking tour of Moscow Metro
After the tour you are taken for a short walk to the nearest metro station. The Moscow metro is not the oldest one in the world. However, the architectural style and fascinating marble decor of many stations deserved the name of the "Underground Palace". The first line built in the 30-ies abounds with naïve revolutionary symbols and sculptures. The decoration of after-war lines built in the 50-ies is much more exuberant because it had to demonstrate the advantages of a new socialist society.

You will visit one of the most secret military facilities of the former USSR - a Secured Command Post "Tagansky". Built deep under the ground in the residential area of Old Moscow in the 50-ies it was meant to be a shelter of the Chief Commander and the government in case of nuclear attack.

It was removed from the secret list in the early 90-ies. A fast elevator takes you 65 meters under the ground. You receive a water-proof cloak and taken for a brief excursion through the secret tunnels, you will be shown samples of arming and communication equipment as well as a short movie about the history of the Cold War.

On the way to the hotel the bus is stopped by a black car. Two men in black enter the coach and start checking documents of the passengers in complete silence. The guide who attempts to interfere is told to shut up. Every passport is scrutinized several minutes. The atmosphere is getting very nervous. Finally, they find out "a mistake" in a couple of passports and invite those people to leave the bus for detention. The guide and the tour leader interfere again trying to find a solution. They offer 2 bottles of vodka as a gift. After a minute of hesitation the officer gulps down the whole bottle of vodka, opens the other one and offers it to one of the passengers. The passenger is getting very embarrassed trying to decline the "kind" offer. Finally the officers take off their coats and the passengers see their t-shirts with logo "VODKA-CONNECTING PEOPLE". The crisis is over, they let the bus go. T-shirts with vodka logo are presented to the two "victims".

Free time for rest.

Enjoy the performance of the world-known Moscow Circus before dinner

Dinner at TURANDOT restaurant / Walking distance from hotel:

A replica of the 18th century pavilion, Turandot has become a place where Moscow celebrities meet. The restaurant is located on the main thoroughfare of Moscow - Tverskaya Street in short walking distance from the hotel. On Saturday night it is always very busy with people who come here to see and to be seen. Enjoy the atmosphere of Moscow Vanity Fair.

Overnight

Enjoy free morning or indulge yourself with the variety of spa facilities of the hotel until noon.
Light buffet lunch is served at the hotel.
Check-out and depart for the airport at 13:30.
The distance to St. Petersburg is 700 km and the flight will take only one hour. Arrive to St. Petersburg approximately at 17:00.

Arrive to St. Petersburg which was the capital of Russian Empire for almost 200 years. Few cities can offer so many stunning attractions and intriguing moods as St. Petersburg – City of the Tsars.

Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, St. Petersburg combines its fascinating Russian heritage with a distinctly European outlook. Considered the cultural heart of modern day Russia, St. Petersburg is rapidly regaining its reputation as one of the Great Cities of Europe.

Express check-in and welcome drink at hotel.

Your hotel is the Astoria - the historic deluxe hotel built in 1912 in the heart of the city. The hotel is located next to St. Isaac's Cathedral - the fourth highest cupola cathedral in the world - and is close to all historical landmarks of the city as well as to the nightlife area.

Completely refurbished in 2005 by British Rocco Forte hotel group it has preserved the charm of the old hotel with traditions in combination with latest modern conveniences. Now the hotel is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Comfortable superior deluxe rooms overlooking the cathedral have been reserved for the group.

End the day with private welcome dinner at the Winter Garden of Astoria. It was in this restaurant where Adolf Hitler planned to celebrate the victory over besieged Leningrad in 1943.

Start your acquaintance with Russian gastronomy in a right way and in a right place! Enjoy a lavish choice of traditional Russian cold appetizers pre-set on the tables, try hot Pelmeni and Beef Stroganoff and, of course, sample Russian vodka!

A very special entertainment of the Red Army Choir awaits you in the end of the dinner... Overnight

After lavish buffet breakfast we start a panoramic city tour. There is one museum in the city that is never closed - the city itself.

Panoramic City Tour
Discover St. Petersburg - a city of infinite charm with its majestic palaces, churches and cathedrals, river embankments, beautiful parks and innumerous bridges - a city of imperial proportions and romantic vistas which has been a source of inspiration for the generations of artists.

Visit to Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral.
It is the historical nucleus of the city as well as one of the most interesting and beautiful architectural landmarks. St. Peter & Paul Cathedral with its long gilded spire is the burial place of all Russian emperors from Peter the Great to the last of the Romanovs - Nicholas II.
Designed to protect newly acquired lands in the mouth of the Neva River, the fortress lost its military significance before it was completed. It was turned into the most dismal political prison of Russia for almost 200 years.