2013 - APT Europe River Cruising

13 Day Russian Waterways Moscow to St Petersburg 1 Night Moscow | 11 Night River Cruise from Moscow to St Petersburg Moscow | Uglich | Yaroslavl | Kizhi Island | Svirstroy | St Petersburg Enjoy a wander around Red Square in Moscow TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF OUR FLEET ONLINE www.aptouring.com.au Freedom of Choice InclusionsTM Signature Experience ARRIVE IN MOSCOW Day 1. Arrive Moscow. On arrival in Moscow, be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day to explore this intriguing city at your leisure. Stay: Moscow Marriott Tverskaya Hotel. Day 2. Moscow, Freedom of Choice Inclusions. This morning's tour of Moscow takes you to Red Square, where you'll absorb the incredible sight of St Basil's Cathedral. The tour also includes the famous GUM Department Store, Tverskaya Street, Sparrow Hill and you'll also see Lubyanka Square, location of the famous KGB building. This afternoon, board the MS AMAKATARINA, moored on the Moscow Canal. Tonight, enjoy the first of many delicious meals in one of your ship's restaurants. After dinner, take an excursion to the famous Moscow Circus or enjoy a tour of Moscow By Night. Eleven Night Stay: the MS AMAKATARINA. BD Day 3. Moscow. Today ride the Moscow Metro, where each station is like a museum of mosaics, marble statues and crystal chandeliers. Stop at the 15th-century Arbat Street, then delight in a lunch cruise along the Moscow River on a day boat. This evening after dinner, you'll gain great insight into the local culture during a Russian folklore show. 168 Day 4. Moscow. After breakfast, take a guided tour of the Armoury Museum within the walls of the Kremlin, an historic fortified complex that was once the royal residence of the Czars. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you choose. Later this evening, return to the ship for dinner. CRUISE MOSCOW TO ST PETERSBURG Day 5. Moscow Canal, Volga River, Uglich. This morning your ship will begin cruising along the Moscow Canal on the way to the Volga River. Soon, you'll dock in the historic Golden Ring city of Uglich where, on a guided sightseeing tour, you'll visit the Chambers of Prince Dimitri and the Church of St Demetrios on the Blood, with its tragic story of dedication to Ivan the Terrible's son. After the tour, enjoy a visit to the home of a local Russian family for a traditional meal and a unique glimpse into the everyday lives of a family in Uglich. Later, you'll re-board your ship, which will continue cruising along the Volga. BLD Day 7. Goritsy, White Lake, Volga-Baltic Waterway. Today, dock in Goritsy, a small and peaceful farming town. Your guided sightseeing tour here includes a visit to the Monastery of St Cyril on the White Lake and its Museum of Icons. Later, re-board the MS AMAKATARINA and continue cruising onto the White Lake and the Volga-Baltic Waterway, which links the Volga River and the Black Sea, enroute to Lake Onega and the remarkable Kizhi Island. BLD BLD BLD RUSSIA'S GOLDEN RING CITIES Day 6. Volga River, Yaroslavl. Today your river ship stops in another fascinating Golden Ring city, Yaroslavl, which stretches for miles along the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers. Founded by Prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1010, this is one of Russia's oldest cities, tracing its roots back to the Vikings. Here, a sightseeing tour will illuminate the city's history through its glorious architecture, including a fortified 12th century monastery, the Yaroslavl Museum of Russian Art and the former residence of the Governor of Yaroslavl. THE WONDERS OF KIZHI ISLAND Day 8. Lake Onega, Kizhi Island. Situated on Lake Onega, Kizhi is home to some of Russia's most amazing wooden architecture. Explore the open-air museum of wooden architecture and marvel at two of the few remaining original wooden churches in Russia, including the Transfiguration Church, built in 1714 without a single nail. Afterwards, return to your ship and cruise towards the lovely Svir River. BLD Day 9. Svir River, Svirstroy, Lake Ladoga. After cruising through the night, dock in the tiny village of Svirstroy and enjoy time at leisure to look around, and browse the many handmade trinkets for sale. Enjoy a BBQ lunch and head for Lake Ladoga, Europe's largest lake. BLD BLD SPECTACULAR ST PETERSBURG Day 10. St Petersburg, Catherine Palace. Today your ship will dock at its final port of call, St Petersburg. Tour the lavish Catherine Palace and grounds, constructed in the 18th century as a summer palace for the Empress, and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. BLD

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