THE HIGHLIGHTS OF

SWEDEN, FINLAND & RUSSIA

8 DAYS/6 NIGHTS

Day 1 - Departure

Depart New York this evening for Sweden.

Day 2 - Stockholm                              

Welcome to Stockholm. Arrive at Stockholm Airport where your tour representative will greet you. Depart by private deluxe motor coach for a brief orientation tour of the City. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Laced with canals and bridges, unique in its blend of tradition and innovation, Stockholm has a charm and sophistication all its own. Some of Scandinavia's finest museums are here. The restaurants are sure to please the most discriminating gourmets. And Swedish crystals have earned a universal reputation for high quality. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner. 

Day 3   - Stockholm   

After breakfast depart the hotel for a city tour, which will introduce you to the sights of Sweden's capital, situated on fourteen islands. Included is a visit to the famous City Hall, with its elegant Golden Hall, site of the Nobel Prize Banquet. Stroll through the Old Town with its cobble-stone streets and medieval buildings and the 13th-century Cathedral. Take a short walk past the Royal Palace and the Stock Exchange before rejoining the coach to go to the Southern Island where you enjoy a splendid view over the city and the harbor. The tour will come to an end at your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. 

Day 4 - Stockholm/Silja Line/Helsinki  

The morning is at your leisure, an optional tour will be offered.

Afternoon transfer from the hotel to the Silja Line pier where you board one of the modern “Silja Ships” bound for Helsinki. Relax as you gently weave your way through the incredibly beautiful maze of the Swedish archipelago. Enjoy a delicious Scandinavian Buffet Dinner.

Day 5 - Helsinki/St.Petersburg                        

After arrival in Helsinki this morning, depart from the pier by private motor coach for a city tour of Finland’s cosmopolitan capital on the Baltic, where east blends with west.  Helsinki is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. The tour includes the neo-classical Senate Square with a Lutheran Cathedral; the colorful market square, the Sibelius monument a tribute to the great Finnish composer. Continue to Finlandia Hall, a modern concert hall, designed by the famous Finnish architect Alvar Alto. Finally visit the Temppeliaukio Rock Church which is carved out of solid rock and topped with a copper dome. The tour will end at the Helsinki Rail Station. Enjoy some time on your own for lunch or shopping. This afternoon depart Helsinki on the modern Russian train Repin" bound for St.Petersburg. Travel through the beautiful Finnish countryside crossing the Finnish and Russian border. Box-dinner will be served. Prepare for a late evening arrival in St. Petersburg which is called the "Venice of the North", and regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Day 6 - St. Petersburg                        

This morning enjoy a tour of St. Petersburg including the street of perfect proportions and harmony, Nevsky Avenue and the Palace Square with the magnificent Winter Palace built in baroque style by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. It served as a residence of the Russian Royal family, and now houses one of the largest art museums in the world, the State Hermitage. Drive past the first construction in the city, the imposing Peter and Paul's Fortress with the Cathedral where many Russian Tsars are buried. St. Isaac's is one of the three largest dome cathedrals in the world, with its huge golden dome dominating the entire city. See the monument to Peter the Great, as well as the first garden in the city, Summer Garden. Visit the Field of Mars and the elegant Smolny Cathedral, designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. In the afternoon visit the State Hermitage, it occupies six magnificent buildings situated along the embankment of the River Neva, right in the heart of the city. Founded on the original 18th century collection of Empress Catherine the Great, it was enriched by all the Russian Royalties purchasing canvases in France, Holland, Italy, Germany, and other countries. View masterpieces of Leonardo, Titian, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens, as well as the canvases of Caude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne, and Paul Gauguin. Numerous old coins, china, tapestries, jewelry and handicrafts are on display. This evening dinner is included at the hotel. You may choose an optional excursion tonight to a theater, opera, or circus.

Day 7 - St.Petersburg/Helsinki 

This morning travel to Peterhof (Petrodvorets) the Grand Summer Palace. The history of Petrodvorets (called Peterhof until 1944) begins in 1704 when Peter I, built a wooden house on the Gulf to oversee the construction of the nearby Kronstadt Fortress. In 1713 he began transforming the area into an imperial residence. The palace was inaugurated in 1723 and later expanded by Empress Elizabeth. The Grand Palace dominates the estate filled with lavish rooms and galleries which were used for official functions. It continues to be a place for gala events and dinners, mostly for incentive groups and corporate presentations. Petrodvorets includes several other mini-museums of interest: Monplaisir Palace, which Peter I considered his favorite; the Chateau de Marly, on the western edge of the park, is a former guest house in Louis XIV style; the nearby Hermitage Pavilion, offers pretty views and artwork. The Emperor's favorite summer Cottage Palace is located on the grounds of adjacent Alexandria Park. The reconstruction project took over five years to complete and brought to life the 144 fountains and four cascades. The intricate system of pipes and ducts stretches for nearly 22 km and was built in 1721-22. In both artistry and engineering the fountains of Petrodvorets are truly unique. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before transfer back to St. Petersburg. Board a late afternoon train back to Helsinki. Box dinner will be served on the train. Overnight stay is in Helsinki.  

Day 8 - Departure

Your tour comes to an end today as you transfer to the airport for your return. Arrive home, your hearts and minds filled with happy memories! 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS OF SWEDEN, FINLAND AND RUSSIA

• International air New York/Stockholm-Helsinki/New York  2 nights accommodation in Stockholm at a deluxe hotel
  

• 1 night accommodation on board the “Silja” cruise ship from Stockholm to Helsinki
  

• 2 nights accommodation in St. Petersburg at a deluxe hotel
  

• 1 night accommodation in Helsinki at a deluxe hotel
  

• 7 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch and 6 Dinners
  

• All transfers and sightseeing by deluxe air conditioned motor coach
  

• All sightseeing as per program including entrance fees
  

• English speaking local guides
  

• Porterage of 1 piece of luggage per person
  

• Shipping of one piece of luggage from hotel in Stockholm to hotel in Helsinki.
  

NOT INCLUDED

• U.S. Departure Tax and Airport Security fees
  

• Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, fax, inter-net, travel insurance, tips to drivers, guides, transfer and restaurant personnel, soft drinks, coffee, tea (excluding breakfast), alcoholic beverage, mineral water, etc…
  

PLEASE NOTE: Itinerary sequence subject to change.