Baltic Vision 2010
7 days / 6 nights, Tallinn - Helsinki - St. Petersburg | A blend of the charming old town of Tallinn, its wonderfully preserved history and the grandeur of St Petersburg, the imperial city of the Tsars. Explore the history and culture of this region, the many palaces including Peterhof Palace and the State Hermitage. Helsinki, is also included in this historical tour, where you will experience the fascinating mixture of Swedish, Russian and International cultures!
| Departure | Guaranteed Departures: Thursdays, June 17th* July 15th, 29th August 12th, 19th, 26th September 2nd |
| Price | $1,920 per person in double room $2,775 single room $1,730 third person in double room * June 17th departure $280 White Nights supplement, double room $240 White Nights supplement, single room |
| Included | 6 nights at hotels in standard double/twin rooms with private facilities Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily 1 x Luncheons Multilingual tour escort from Day 2 to Day 6 inclusive First class motor coach transportation Sightseeing as per itinerary Visits, excursions and entrances as per itinerary Guided city tours of Tallinn, St. Petersburg & Helsinki Porter service at hotels |
| Not Included | International airfare & airport taxes Arrival & departure transfers Personal insurance / personal expenses / incidental extras Visa to Russia Alcoholic beverages $25 Service fee |
Day 1 Thu ARRIVAL TALLINN Arrival to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Own transfer arrangements to your hotel. Please consult the reception at your hotel where you will have a welcome letter waiting for you including the contact details of your tour escort. Rest of the day is at your leisure.
Swissotel Tallinn *****
Day 2 Fri TALLINN (B) Breakfast at your hotel. Please be in the hotel's reception area at 11:00 to meet your tour escort and receive information on the upcoming tour program. Meet with our local guide for a 3-hour city tour starting with a short tour by coach, through the city centre and around the ancient city walls, ending up at Toompea Hill. Continue with a walking tour of the Tallinn Old Town, including Toompea Castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Dome Church. Stop at the Viewer Square (panorama platform), along Lühike Street to the Lower Town. Further through the historic part to the Old Town Hall Square, with views of the Old Town Hall, the Old Town Pharmacy house and the Church of Holy Ghost. Walk along Pühavaimu Street to the Latin quarter of the Old Town with open markets, studios and shops of artisans who daily practice their craft. tour ends with a short walk back to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
Swissotel Tallinn *****
Day 3 Sat TALLINN - HELSINKI (B) Breakfast buffet at your hotel. The morning is at leisure until your transfer from your hotel to the Tallinn Ferry terminal. Travel across the Baltic Sea and enjoy the scenery on the fast ferry ride from Tallinn to Helsinki. On arrival in Helsinki, meet & greet by your local English speaking guide for a 3-hour city sightseeing of the capital of Finland, also known as “The Daughter of the Baltic Sea”. The tour includes the Senate Square, the University and Lutheran Cathedral – all displaying neo-classical architecture of the 1840's, the colourful Market Square by the sea in the South Harbour, Kaivopuisto Park and diplomatic residences, the imposing statue of Marshall Mannerheim, the Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall, the Orthodox Russian Church Uspenski and the Sibelius Monument. A visit is also made to Temppeliaukio Church – called the “Rock Church” as it is carved into solid rock. The tour ends at your hotel.
Hotel Haven *****
Day 4 Sun HELSINKI - ST. PETERSBURG (B) Breakfast at your hotel. Depart Helsinki and travel through the Finnish countryside until crossing the boarder and later arriving in St. Petersburg, a city founded in 1703 by Tzar Peter the Great and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Also known to the world as the "Northern Capital of Russia" and the "the Venice of the North", St Petersburg was virtually unharmed by the 1930-50s Stalinist reconstruction, and it's downtown dazzles the eye of the visitor with splendid palaces, stylish monuments, straight avenues, beautiful bridges and other attractions. St. Petersburg is filled with history and mystery. On arrival to St Petersburg you will be met by your local English speaking guide for a 3-hour panoramic city sightseeing tour which will cover some of the many highlights of the city. You will drive along the Nevsky Prospect - the heart of the city, and make picture stops at the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, the Senates Square, the Peter and Paul's Fortress and the St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Art's Square and the Russian Museum as well as at the two magnificent churches, the "Spilled Blood" and the Nikolsky Cathedral. The tour ends at your hotel for check-in. Evening at leisure.
Corinthia Hotel St Petersburg *****
Day 5 Mon ST. PETERSBURG (B, L) Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your local guide for a full day excursion which will include Peterhof, the palace of the Sea God. Here the fountains are not mere accessories: they are the essence of the place. They are the symbolic expression of the sea's dominion, the mist that rises from the waves as they surge against its shores. The world-famous palace, fountain and park ensemble of Peterhof, is an outstanding landmark of Russian artistic culture from the 18-19th Centuries. Founded in the very beginning of the eighteenth Century by Emperor Peter the Great, not far from his new northern capital St Petersburg, Peterhof was intended to become the most splendid official royal summer residence. Credit for its creation should go to a great number of eminent architects, artists, and anonymous folk craftsmen. Its wonderful parks, 176 fountains of various forms and styles and four cascades, majestic palaces, numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes, remarkable collections of sculpture, painting and works of the minor arts make Peterhof a veritable gem of art, often called "Capital of Fountains", unique in the world. After 1917 the Peterhof ensemble was taken into state custody and turned into architecture and art museum. Nowadays, due to the unforgettable beauty of its fountains, parks and palaces, Peterhof has become the most attractive, for numerous Russian and foreign visitors, suburban royal park and palace ensemble of the northern Russia's capital.At noon you will have lunch at a local restaurant after which you will visit The State Hermitage museum, which occupies six magnificent buildings situated along the embankment of the River Neva, right in the heart of St. Petersburg. The leading role in this unique architectural ensemble is played by the Winter Palace, the residence of the Russian Tsars that was built to the design of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1754-62. This ensemble, formed in the 18th and 19th Centuries, is extended by the eastern wing of the General Staff building, the Menshikov Palace and the recently constructed Repository. Put together throughout two centuries and a half, the Hermitage collections of works of art (over 3,000,000 items) present the development of the world culture and art from the Stone Age to the 20th Century. Today the Museum is creating its digital self-portrait to be displayed around the world. The tour ends at your hotel. Evening at leisure.
Corinthia Hotel St Petersburg *****
Day 6 Tue ST. PETERSBURG (B) Breakfast at your hotel. Day is at leisure to further explore this magnificent city and its treasures.
Corinthia Hotel St Petersburg *****
Day 7 Wed ST. PETERSBURG - DEPARTURE (B) Tour concludes after breakfast at the hotel. Individual transfer.