It's not so long ago when the capital of Russia, Moscow, had a grand celebration of its 850th anniversary, and the country looked forward to celebrate the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, the Northern capital of Russia. Young as it is St. Petersburg is probably the only city in the world to have acquired so much historic importance in so short a time. The world famous splendors of St. Petersburg, its great baroque palaces, classical facades and historical and architectural monuments are waiting to be discovered by you.

Day 1

Arrival in St. Petersburg, transfer to hotel, check in, dinner.

Day 2

Breakfast, city sightseeing tour including a visit to the Piskaryovskoye memorial cemetery to pay homage to those starved to death or fallen in action during the siege. Proceed to the cruiser "Aurora", the symbol of the October Revolution in 1917; lunch, afternoon visit to the Peter & Paul Fortress, the birthplace of St. Petersburg, and the Cathedral of the Saints Peter and Paul, the burial ground of the Romanov dynasty. Dinner in a Russian cuisine restaurant.

Day 3

Breakfast. Visit to the Summer Garden, the oldest and the most beautiful park of the city; tour of the Summer Palace of Peter the Great. The small wooden hut of Peter the Great was the very first structure in the city. Lunch; afternoon excursion to the Menshikov Palace overlooking the Neva river. Menshikov was Peter's close associate and the first General Governor of St. Petersburg. Dinner in a Russian family home.

Day 4

Breakfast. Morning excursion to the State Hermitage Museum, the world-renowned art treasury. Lunch; afternoon excursion to St. Isaac's Cathedral, the pantheon of the Russian arts. The huge building was on construction for 40 years. A galaxy of the most famous Russian artists and sculptors took part in its decoration. Proceed to the Marine Cathedral of St. Nicholas, a functioning Russian Orthodox church. Dinner.

Day 5

Breakfast. Trip to Kronstadt - a port and a Navy base in the Gulf of Finland. Lunch, afternoon tour of the Alexander Nevsky Cloisters founded during Peter's reign and known for the old cemetery where world famous Russian writers, artists and composers were buried. Dinner.

Day 6

Breakfast. Trip to Pushkin to visit the superb Catherine's Palace. It was designed in a fanciful baroque style by the famed architect Rastrelli in the middle of the 18th century. The highlight of the excursion is the famous Amber Chamber. It was a gift to the Russian ruler Peter the Great from King Frederick William I of Prussia in 1716. The Amber Chamber was decorated with pieces of intricately carved amber arranged on its walls in ostentatious Baroque designs. During World War II the amber was stolen by Nazis, and never seen again. After 24 years of work, Russian experts have rebuilt the room in time for St. Petersburg's 300th anniversary. Lunch in the Russian styled restaurant 'Podvorye'. Proceed to Pavlovsk, the summer residence of the Russian Emperor Paul, to visit his yellow domed palace built in the elegant classical style at the end of the 18th century. Dinner.

Day 7

Breakfast. Trip to Peterhof. Tour of the Grand Palace. Lunch. Afternoon excursion to the Museum of political history established in the premises of the Kshesinskaya Palace. The exhibits of the museum give a basic idea of the most important political events in the Russian history. Farewell dinner.

Day 8

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport/railway station. Departure.