3-Star Russian River Cruise - St. Petersburg - Golden Ring - Moscow - 11 Days (CR-01)

We arrive at the airport in St Petersburg where our driver awaits, ready to transfer us to the ship. On board, there'll be a cocktail reception giving us the perfect opportunity to mix with our fellow passengers.

Leaving the ship docked in port, we head into St Petersburg today, our destination perhaps Russia's most iconic museum. The Hermitage, housed in the Tsar's Winter Palace, is now a permanent exhibition of more than three million works of art. All the world's great artists are represented, from Leonardo da Vinci to Picasso and everyone in between. Commanding a magnificent location on the bank of the river Neva, this Baroque-style palace is undoubtedly the major attraction of St. Petersburg.

St Petersburg doesn't bear to be rushed, and so today we spend a second day in this beautiful city. Our guided tour will take us to the Peter and Paul Fortress, at the historic heart of the city since its construction in 1703. It was founded to protect the new settlement from possible attack by the Swedes. The sacred site of the fortress complex is the Cathedral of Peter and Paul. Until 1917 the fortress housed political prisoners, but many of its buildings have now been converted into museums. It features a splendid cathedral containing the tombs of the Romanov monarchs.

In complete contrast to the city, today we reach the village of Mandrogi and get out into the Russian countryside. There are many attractive walks to delight, both within the village and through its surrounding woodland. The villagers, proud of their heritage, will put on a show to teach us about their traditions and culture. Sights which are just begging to be explored include the village's traditional wooden architecture and a museum devoted to that most Russian of drinks, vodka (optional). Midway through the day we'll enjoy a picnic lunch of traditional Russian shashlik (shish kebab) served buffet-style.

Delightful Kizhi is today's port of call, a tiny island nestled at the northern end of Lake Onega which we reach by transiting the Volga-Baltic Canal. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of its extensive collection of ancient wooden structures collected and brought here to be lovingly restored. The Church of the Transfiguration is its jewel in the crown, a charming fairytale building with no less than twenty two domes. Note that for river cruises between 1st and 14th May, we'll have to stay on the ship. Due to the lake freezing solid, unfortunately a visit to Kizhi would not be possible.

We move on to Goritsy, which, despite its diminutive size, plays host to the largest Russian Orthodox Church in the country. It's name is the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery and we'll explore it thoroughly before continuing along the river in the afternoon.

Charming Yaroslavl has a long history and there is much to explore here. An important port strung out along both banks of the Volga, it dates back to the 11th Century. Prince Yaroslav the Wise, its founder, made a good choice with its location. Of special interest to visitors is the magnificent 13th century Spassky Monastery complex, as well as several majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant rotunda and the remains of an ancient trading center. In addition, we'll also pay a visit to the Museum of Russian Art, which features a large collection of icons, graphics and sculptures, located in the former residence of the Governor of Yaroslavl.

Uglich is one of Russia's best loved towns, dating from 1148. The best way to arrive is as we do: by boat. The view of the town as approached from the Volga River is especially beautiful, with the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John's Church dominating the horizon. At the end of the 16th century, the seventh wife of the Tsar Ivan the Terrible lived in honorary exile in the Kremlin here. We will visit the Transfiguration Cathedral and the Kremlin, among the oldest buildings in Uglich. Tonight, our last night sailing, we celebrate with a lavish Gala dinner.

The Russian capital combines the very best of old and new. Its leafy avenues, landscaped gardens, imposing squares and of course the granite embankments found along the Moscow River make this a very pleasant city to explore. Our guided bus tour will pick out the highlights, including a panoramic view of the city from the Sparrow Hills observation platform. Heading to the center of this world-class city, we'll visit Red Square and also the home of the Bolshoi ballet.

Today we will visit the Kremlin, the former residence of the Tsars and Russian Orthodox Patriarchs, and now the base of the Russian president. We will also see the Byzantine splendor of St. Basil's multi-colored onion-domed cathedral in Red Square. You can take an optional tour to the Kremlin Armoury Museum, where you'll be able to admire many of the treasures of the Tsars, including spectacular jewels, crowns, thrones and royal armour.

Our driver will be on hand today to transfer you to the airport for the return flight.