Day 1: (Sat)
Welcome to Russia and the start of your holiday! Wanting more time in Moscow? This is the trip! Meet and greet arrival transfer from airport. Transfer to hotel for registration and check-in. Tonight, around 2000hrs, our tip-filled Welcome Meeting takes place. Rest of evening free. Overnight - Moscow

Day 2: Moscow – breakfast
To legendary Red Square for a guided walk of the Kitay-Gorod and Lubyanka area. Adjacent to the square is the Kremlin - bastion of Russia’s political might, where we later enjoy a guided tour. In Russian, Moscow’s famous Red Square is called Krasnaya Ploschad. The word ‘red’ doesn’t refer to the colour of the bricks or Communism. The word ‘krasnaya’ simultaneously means ‘red’ and ‘beautiful’. In Red Square, feast your eyes on the wildly coloured onion domed St Basil’s Cathedral, an enduring Russian symbol. Along one side of the square runs the elegant façade of the illustrious GUM department store, once the only choice for shopping in the Communist era. Also on Red Square is Lenin’s Mausoleum. If open, we can pay our respects to the father of Communism for free! Rest of day free. Overnight - Moscow

Day 3: Moscow – breakfast
Journeying to Red Square via Metro, we enjoy a guided inside the Kremlin taking in the grounds and one or two of the ancient cathedrals. Famous Gorky Park with it’s summertime amusements and neighbouring Sculpture Park, home to redundant statues from Russia’s Communist era are worth a visit and for those interested, we’ll head there with our guide. Alternatively, you’re free to enjoy Moscow your way. The Metro is the easiest way to get around. Overnight - Moscow

Day 4: Moscow - Pskov - breakfast
Free day. Relax and chill out or perhaps visit one or two of the city’s plentiful museums. The Moscow Metro, a gift to the good Soviet people from Joseph Stalin, is a tourist attraction in itself. Many of the central stations are richly adorned with bronzes and chandeliers and clad with marble and mosaic! Tonight, we travel to Pskov. Overnight - train

Day 5: Pskov region – breakfast
Arrival at Pskov. Just a stone’s throw from Estonia, historical Pskov has played host to a stream of Baltic invaders for 700 years. A tour of Pskov takes in the riverside fortified kremlin, cathedral and other sights. A short drive brings us to the beautiful 14th century Pechory Monastery, where we explore the peaceful grounds and if monastic law permits, an exploration of the burial caves of this fascinating and still-working cloister. Steaming up at a local Russian banya (sauna) will work our appetites up for a vodka and lunch. Lunch, dinner & overnight - Pskov

Day 6: Pskov - St Petersburg – breakfast
This morning, we drive to St Petersburg, whereupon our early afternoon arrival, we have the remains of the day free. Stunningly grandiose St Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great in 1703, is built around a series of bridge-connected canals and rivers. Benefitting from architectural refurbishment in advance of the city’s 300th anniversary, central St Pete’s is looking very handsome these days. With more than 90 museums, many of which are housed in imperial palaces, plus flamboyant galleries, churches, restaurants, cafes, bars and shops housed in some of the grandest architectural concoctions, the city is a feast for eyes and a real favourite of visitors. Most of the inner city sights are on and just off the main thoroughfare - Nevsky Prospekt. St Pete’s is good for walkers. Overnight - St Petersburg

Day 7: St Petersburg – breakfast
This morning, a city coach tour gives us an overview. Housing some 2.8 million pieces of art, with collections ranging from Egyptian mummies to Greek vases and a vast and dazzling array of Old Masters, we’ll view the highlights of the Hermitage Collection at the Winter Palace. The rest of the day is free to do St Pete’s your way. Overnight – St Petersburg

Day 8: St Petersburg - breakfast
Free day. If you purchase the pukka pass, day 8 will include additional guided sightseeing inclusive of transport. The pass will incorporate a visit to Peter and Paul Fortress on the Petrogradskaya Side, St Isaac’s Cathedral, the Summer Gardens at Peterhof or Catherine Palace at Tsarskoe Selo and lunch. Overnight – St Petersburg

Days 9 - 11: St Petersburg - Vladimir - breakfast
Bidding goodbye to those on the 9 day ‘Russia Unplugged’ tour on day 9, we enjoy 3 free days to relax in vibrant St Pete’s. On the evening of day 11, we meet our new tour leader and new people joining the next leg of the tour before continuing south by train to Vladimir. Also, enjoy our cultural and historical revolution evolution excursion as a unique inclusion on this tour.
Overnight (2) - St Petersburg, overnight (1) - train

Day 12: Vladimir – breakfast
Comrades, welcome to Vladimir! Today, we’ll travel out to beautiful Suzdal, a little town packed with awesome buildings and churches. We’ll explore the town mostly on foot, visiting the 11th century Kremlin, some impressive cathedrals and a wood–carving museum. Back in 11th century Vladimir, we’ll explore the town. We’ll see a couple of cathedrals and the famous Golden Gate. Later, we’ll relax and have a few laughs in a steamy Russian banya (sauna), before tucking into a vodka and a Russian lunch. Later tonight, dinner at the hotel. Lunch, dinner & overnight – Vladimir

Day 13: Vladimir – Moscow – breakfast
This morning, we drive to Moscow. Arriving around 1300hrs, we’ll have the remains of the day free. Overnight – Moscow

Day 14: Moscow – breakfast
After breakfast, tour ends.