Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Welcome to majestic Russia. After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Moscow Domodedovo International Airport, subsequent to customs & immigration, you will be met by the Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in and provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next few days.

During any season, any hour of day, Moscow thrills visitors with its artistry, history and majesty. Located on the Moskva River in western Russia, is the nation’s cosmopolitan capital. In its historic core is the Kremlin, a fortified complex that’s home to the president and tsarist treasures in the Armoury. Outside its walls is Red Square, the country’s symbolic center and site of Lenin’s Mausoleum, State Historical Museum and St. Basil’s Cathedral, known for its colorful, patterned, onion-shaped domes.

The very founding site of the city (and arguably, the country), the Kremlin & Red Square are still at the heart of Moscow - historically, geographically and spiritually. Feel the weight of this significance as you wander within the walls of the ancient fortress, marvel at the mind-boggling magnificence of St Basil's Cathedral, and pay your respects to the revered leader of a now-defunct state. Moscow will move you. She'll tantalise your senses, soothe your spirit, and boggle your mind; and it all starts right here.

The remains of the Soviet state are scattered all around the city. Monuments remember fallen heroes and victorious battles, while Museums attempt to analyse and synthesise the past. See Lenin and Stalin - off their pedestals at the whimsical Art Muzeon. Step into the Socialist Realist fantasy at VDNKh. Descend into the depths of the Soviet system at Bunker-42 Cold War Museum. And remember the millions who suffered at the Gulag History Museum. Nowadays, many fun or clever retro clubs and cafes give their guests a taste of the Soviet experience. You can even try your hand at Soviet-era arcade games (beyond Tetris).

People like to talk about 'the city that never sleeps,' but they should talk about Moscow. You don’t have to be a high-heeled glamour girl or a deep-pocketed man about town to enjoy the capital by night. Moscow has a club or a cafe for everyone, from nostalgia-rich retro to rocked-out indie, from contemporary-cool art cafes to let-loose dance clubs. And no matter where you spend the evening, all are invited to gather in the wee hours to watch the sunrise over Moscow’s golden domes and silver skyscrapers.

Check-in at the hotel.

  
Balance of the day is at leisure to relax  (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements for one of the many Optionals if you the time to discover). Overnight. 

Morning, you will be picked up at the pre-arranged time to embark a full day - 6 hour - sightseeing tour of the city, visiting a selection of carefully-chosen highlights of the city, from the remarkable buildings featuring some of the most stunning architecture to be found anywhere.

Morning - around 09:00 am - , you will be met by the Tour-guide and embark on a  -  4 hour - sightseeing tour of the city.

Visit the most famous landmark of the city, the Red Square & the magnificent Kremlin -historical, geographic & spiritual heart of Moscow, as they have been for nearly 900 years. The mighty fortress, the iconic onion domes of St Basil’s Cathedral and the granite Mausoleum of Vladimir Lenin are among the city’s most important historical sights. The surrounding streets of Kitay Gorod are crammed with churches & old architecture. You will visit the fascinating Armoury Museum, to see the spectacular collection of costumes, silver & arms amongst a vast treasure trove of exhibits.

Morning at leisure (you will need to Check-out before 12:00pm. However, you can use the hotel facilities).

In time, you will be transferred to the Leningradsky Rail Station for your journey to board the high speed Sapsan train for St Petersburg.

The city’s White Nights are legendary: those long summer evenings when the northern sun barely dips below the horizon. Revelry begins in May, when spring finally comes to the city and parks are filled with flowering trees, and peaks in mid-June, when the sky doesn’t get dark, festivals pack out concert halls and the entire city seems to be partying over the brief but glorious summer. But don’t worry - even when the skies are grey and the ground covered in snow, St Petersburg’s rich culture still dazzles and delights

Morning - around 10:00 am - , you will be met by the Tour-guide and embark on a - 4 hour - sightseeing tour of the city.

You will see all the major sights of this beautiful city. Visit the world-renowned Hermitage Museum, housed in the Winter Palace, Peter & Paul Fortress - a fort which guards the city of St Petersburg, located on the island, facing the Hermitage and dominating River Neva. Built as a fortification during the Russian-Swedish war, it was never used as a fortress and its bastions were turned into political prison cells where a son of Peter the Great, Prince Alexei - a famous pretender to the throne, Princess Tarakanova, writer Radischev, Decembrists and revolutionaries were held as prisoners. Peter & Paul Cathedral, designed by Tresini, contains the remains of Russian rulers since 1725. Pass along Nevsky Prospect, St Isaac’s cathedral & Church on the Spilled Blood.

Morning - around 10:00 am - , you will be met by the Tour-guide and embark on a - 4 hour - visit of the iconic Hermitage Museum in the Winter Palace - originally created to house the magnificent collection of art of Catherine the Great.

Return to the hotel by - around 02:00 pm. Or you may stay in the Museum for further exploration and make your own way back to the hotel.

Balance of the day at leisure. Perhaps you might want to embark on an optional tour (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). Overnight.  B

Morning - around 10:00 am - , you will be met by the Tour-guide and depart for a - 4 hour - excursion to visit one of St Petersburg’s most prized Palaces in the town of Pushkin (formerly called Tsarskoye Selo) just south of the city. Pushkin is home to one Russia’s grandest royal estates - the Catherine Palace, built in the 1700s as a residence for Catherine I and once called the Palace of Tsarskoe Selo.

After your tour, stroll around Catherine Park, the gardens that surround the residence. Walk along the tree-lined avenues and admire the picturesque buildings that speckle the lawns.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, you are allowed to use the hotel facilities and leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the Airport for your onward journey.

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