14 Day Russia & The Baltics

Zdravstvuyte! Welcome to Russia. Its capital Moscow has survived centuries of revolution and tumult, from the days of the tsars, through the Communist era to the growing pains of democracy. It’s a fascinating city. Beneath its modern veneer, it has a rich history and the landmarks and grand monuments to show for it. It’s also home to renowned museums, theatres and art galleries. You’ll find lovely green spaces, like Sparrow Hills and Gorky Park, also home to an open-air movie theatre.

On arrival, please make your own way to your central accommodation.

Check in & arrival information:

• A taxi Pilkovo airport to your accommodation costs approximately 1,100 rubles per car. You can book a taxi in advance with some taxi company operating in St. Petersburg. In this case they will be waiting with a sign in hand with your full name. KiwiTaxi is a reputable option.
• Hotel check in is at 3pm. Should you arrive earlier than this, hotel staff will do all possible to check you in as soon as possible. If your room is not available before check-in time, you are welcome to leave your luggage in storage and explore the surrounding area.

Today you will be collected from your hotel at around 10:00am to join a city tour of St Petersburg. During this city tour you will see all the major architectural and historical attractions such as the Palace Square, the Winter Palace (former residence of Russian Tsars), St. Isaac's Square, Decembrists' Square, the Square of Arts, the Field of Mars, the Summer Garden, the Marble Palace, Michael's Castle, the Church of Our Savior (Outside), the cruise Aurora, the Spit of Basil's Island, admire a beautiful view of St Peter & Paul Fortress, the Hermitage and the Admiralty. You will also pass by Nevsky Prospect - the main boulevard of St Petersburg. Also during this tour you will visit (inside view) St Nicholas Orthodox Church built in the Late Empire style and decorated by Moscow's Peschekhonovs icon painters.

The tour runs for approximately 3 hours, after which time you will be returned to your hotel.

Enjoy a free day in St Petersburg for your own exploration. The city is arguably one of the most influential and historic cities in the world and offers a wide choice of sights and activities to undertake.

In the morning, make your way to Finlyandsky train station where you will board a high-speed train to Helsinki, capital of Finland. Over 70% of Finland is covered by forest and it's also known as the land of a thousand lakes – 188,000 of them, to be precise.

Please note:

• Train travel today is by 2nd class high-speed train and the following times are approximate:
  Depart St Petersburg: 11:00am
  Arrive Helsinki: 14:27pm
• The train terminates at Helsinki so there is no chance of missing your stop. On arrival, please make your own way to your hotel.

Enjoy a free day in Helsinki for your own exploration or undertake an optional tour.

Optional Tour:

• Full Day Guided Medieval Tallinn tour including lunch - You are required to make your way to the ferry terminal this morning. Check-in begins at the Tallink Silja West Harbour terminal 2 at 9:15am. On arrival in Tallinn a guide will meet you in the arrival hall, inside the terminal, Holding “Medieval Tallinn” sign. Please look for the guide inside the terminal and present your voucher to the guide. Depart for the guided city tour by coach and on foot lasting approx. 2.5 hours in total. The tour takes you to the main sights in Tallinn and a walk through the Old Town with its cobbled streets and ends in the centre of the Old Town where you will enjoy lunch. The guide will show you the meeting point for the return transfer in front of Sokos Hotel Viru with a bus transfer back to the ferry terminal at 6:30pm. You have up until this time to enjoy Tallinn at your own leisure. Upon returning to Helsinki, please make your own way back to the hotel.

Enjoy a free day in Helsinki for your own exploration.

This morning enjoy a free day in Helsinki. Check out from your hotel is 10:00am. Please leave your luggage with the hotel to allow you to explore Helsinki.

This afternoon, return to the hotel to collect your luggage before making your way to the international ferry terminal to board your ferry to Stockholm. The overnight ferries are a very comfortable way of travelling between cities with a variety of restuarants and entertainment on board.

Wake up this morning in Stockholm! On arrival at the ferry terminal, make your own way to your central hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. Stockholm is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the North” given its appealing architecture, clean and open waterways and numerous parks. Consider just wandering this coastal capital, built on 13 islands joined together. It's a great city to explore on foot and take in the mix of old and new that defines this city. There's the maritime Vasa Museum and the world's first open-air museum, Skansen. There is the medieval cathedral, built in 1279, and the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish monarch.

Today you will be joining a city tour plus Royal Canal boat experience. Please make your way to the starting point of the tour to board your canal tour. There, leave the inner city behind and enter the peaceful Djurgården canal. On the canal you will see several historical buildings, museums and green areas. At the conclusion of the cruise, board a Hop On - Hop Off bus which is a comfortable and fun way to experience Stockholm. You choose where you want to hop on and off as you go and reboard the bus at any time.

After breakfast board a high-speed train to Oslo. The journey takes about 5 hours. From the station in Oslo, it’s a short 5-minute walk with your luggage to your hotel.

Oslo is known for its green open spaces and museums. Many of these are on the Bygdøy Peninsula, including the waterside Norwegian Maritime Museum and the Viking Ship Museum. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy the rest of your day or evening at leisure, exploring this pedestrian-friendly city.

Oslo is the oldest of the Scandinavian capitals, founded in the 11th century, sitting at the head of a 70-mile fjord and surrounded by evergreen forests. Today you have a Hop-on, Hop-off Bus ticket included to explore the city. The comprehensive tour covers all the major attractions in Oslo, from the Vigeland Sculpture Park to the Viking Ship Museum. Hop on and off as you wish to move around the city with ease, all while listening to engaging and multilingual audio commentary on board for that extra dose of information.

Today, make the short walk from the hotel to the train station, located next door, for the start of the “Norway In a Nutshell” tour. Experience the essence of Norway on Norway’s most popular and sustainable tour. Travel through stunning Norwegian fjords, mountains, valleys and cities on 1 green ticket. On the first day of your Norway adventure you travel from Oslo to Flåm. You start with the Bergen railway to Myrdal enjoying the change of scenery and landscape from busy city life up to the quiet high mountains. In Myrdal you change to the famous Flam railway, one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. After a breathtaking train ride to Flåm, board a fjord cruise on the UNESCO Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen. In Gudvangen a scenic bus ride to Voss awaits you. You pass by roaring waterfalls and small farms. In Voss you change to the Bergen railway and go on a relaxing train ride to Bergen. After a day with loads of impressions you arrive Bergen in early afternoon and check in at your hotel.

The ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ route is Norway’s most famous independent trip. The entire journey connects seamlessly and well signed in English. Transport service times are made to connect together making the whole trip effortless.

Baggage:

• To make the journey easier, your luggage will be transferred to Bergen ahead of you. Your luggage (max. 1 bag per person) must be given to the reception at your hotel by 6:30AM. Luggage is picked up from reception at your Bergen hotel this evening.

Today is at leisure to further explore Bergen, also known as the “Gateway to the Fjords”, situated on the West coast of Norway, surrounded by mountains. We recommend visiting the old Hanseatic part of town, known as Bryggen, where you can step back in time and wonder between the old buildings. A highlight of any visit to Bergen is the stunning views from the top of Mt Fløien, and you can reach this by taken a journey on the funicular railway – Fløibanen. The local fish market is also a must when visiting Bergen, and perhaps enjoy dinner in one of the many seafood restaurants located in the harbour area.

Today marks the end of your magnificent and unforgettable tour through Russia and the Baltics. We hope you have thoroughly enjoyed your inspiring experience. At the appropriate time please make your own way to the airport for your onward journey.

A fast way to reach Bergen Airport is by the Airport Bus (called Flybussen in Norwegian), which only takes 30 minutes. The bus costs NOK 135 (AUD $21) and tickets can be purchased on the bus. You're hotel will be able to provide you directions to the closest stop. The bus departs every 20 minutes.