Friday 18 May 2012. Welcome to Russia and the start of your holiday! Arrival transfer from St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport to your hotel and check in. Tonight, our tip filled Welcome Meeting takes place. Rest of evening free. Your tour leader will recommend some local bars and restaurants for you to try out. Overnight - St Petersburg

A city tour gives us a run-down of St Pete’s key areas. We will drive along the famed Nevsky Prospekt, the museum and university districts and a stop will be made at the Church on Spilled Blood (viewed from outside from the Nevsky prospect side for photo opportunities), The Bronze Horseman and Peter and Paul Fortress. Peter and Paul Fortress was built on the orders of Peter the Great. At one time a gruesome prison, within the compound is SS Peter and Paul Cathedral - housing the tombs of the Romanov monarchs.

Later, we enjoy a guided visit at the Hermitage - which houses one of the biggest and best art collections on earth.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax or further explore. Most of the city sights are dotted along and just off the main thoroughfare - Nevsky Prospekt.

Tonight at approximately 9pm we set off to spend the night touring the Museums of St Petersburg, accompanied by our guide, with private transportation and inclusive of entrance fees. Over thirty of St Petersburg’s most respected museums and art galleries will stay open from 9pm on 19th May 2012 until 6am the following morning for this wonderful annual event, which is accompanied by unique exhibitions, street art and performances around the city. The city of the tsars becomes a hive of late night activity as people flock to see some of the St Pete’s finest cultural offerings and take advantage of the wonderful Russian ‘White Nights’ when the sun barely sets!

In 2011 the Night at the Museums was devoted to space exploration and we visited the following museums: The Museum of Political History, the Planetarium, the Geological Museum, The Gallery of Modern Art and St. Isaac’s Cathedral where we enjoyed a classical music performed by the city Symphony Orchestra. Please note, the list of museums that will be open this evening is yet to be finalised. Overnight - St Petersburg (B)

A free day to explore, alternatively jump on board with our optional Pukka Pass! The Pukka Pass includes entrance fees and guiding, with visits to the Church On Spilled Blood, Peterhof in summer or Catherine or Pavlovsk Palace in winter and lunch at a waterside restaurant. Later this evening we board our overnight sleeper train bound for Moscow. Overnight - Sleeper Train (B)

Moscow. The city that kept Bond busy. At Red Square, we enjoy a guided walk of the Kitay Gorod and Lubyanka area. Discover the delights of Red Square, home to St Basil’s, the GUM department store and Lenin’s Mausoleum. The rest of the day is free for you to further explore. Overnight - Moscow (B)

Today, we tour Russia’s powerhouse - the mighty Kremlin, with a guided walk through the grounds where we’ll see numerous government buildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the tsar bell - the largest bell that never rang! Later you can visit St Basil’s Cathedral, commissioned by Ivan IV (also known as Ivan the terrible) in 1555 to commemorate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan. The multi-tented cathedral with brightly coloured onion shaped domes is destinctively iconic Russia.

Afterward there is free time. If open, you can pay your respects to the grandfather of Communism at Lenin’s mausoleum. The city offers amazing galleries, museums, plenty of cafes, shops (including the GUM department store for high rollers) and bars all within walking distance. Alternatively, hop from station to station using your Metro pass. Be sure to take the circle line to fully view and absorb the opulence of Stalin’s marble clad, chandelier lit underground stations. Overnight - Moscow (B)

Wednesday. Our Night at the Museums tour concludes after breakfast and hotel check out at 12 noon. Happy Travels! (B)