Welcome to Russia and the start of your holiday! Meet and greet 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

Merry Christmas! Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, grandiose St Petersburg is designed around an intrinsic network of canals and rivers. Known as the cradle of Revolution, in the 20th century the city underwent three name changes, three revolutions and 900-day siege. Enjoy a coach orientation of St Pete’s. Afterwards, we enjoy a guided visit at the Hermitage - which houses one of the biggest and best art and antiquity collections on earth, the bulk of which was amassed by Catherine the Great. With some 2.8 million pieces of art, including collections ranging from a dazzling array of Great Masters to Egyptian mummies and Greek vases, Catherine was, to put it lightly, one heck of a collector. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy St Pete’s your way. Tonight head to a local cafe for dinner or have a few Xmas drinks in a club or bar. Cheers! Overnight - St Petersburg (B)

Free day. If you purchase the pukka pass today will include additional guided sightseeing inclusive of transport. The timetable of events will incorporate a visit to Peter and Paul Fortress on the Petrogradskaya Side, Catherine Palace at Tsarskoe Selo or Peterhof and lunch. Peter and Paul Fortress, built on the orders of Peter the Great was at one time a gruesome prison. On the grounds is SS Peter and Paul Cathedral - housing tombs of the Romanov dynasty. St Isaac’s Cathedral is one of the world’s largest. The construction was a colossal engineering feat. Thousands of wood piles were sunk into the city’s marshy ground to support its weight of 300,000 tonnes! From the dome are panoramic views that sweep across the city. The lavish imperial palace at Tsarskoe Selo was designed for Tsarina Elizabeth, who named it Catherine Palace in honour of her mum, Catherine I. The Amber Room is a stunning drawcard.

This evening enjoy a night at one of St Pete’s many great clubs or bars or join us for an evening at the ballet or Russian Cossacks performance (book/pay locally, if available). Overnight - St Petersburg (B)

St Petersburg – Novgorod. Free day. Last day in St Pete’s before we head south to Novgorod. Stock up on stackable wooden dolls at the souvenir market near the striking Church on Spilled Blood, have some delicious St Petersburg ice cream or take a hike along Nevsky. The choice is yours!

Later we travel by coach or train to Novgorod where we enjoy a steamy Russian banya (sauna). Overnight - Novgorod (B)

Novgorod – Moscow. Novgorod is one of Russia’s oldest cities, located within reach of the Volkhov river and Lake Ilmen. It was formed as a town in the middle of the 10th century. A tour of Novgorod takes in the riverside fortified kremlin, cathedral and other sights. The fortress was mentioned in chronicles as early as in 1044, whilst today’s walls and towers, despite being re-built in 15th century, are impressive all the same. Tonight we have dinner before travelling by overnight sleeper train from Novgorod to Moscow. Overnight - Sleeper Train (B, D)

Early this morning, we arrive into Moscow - the capital that spawned dozens of spy novels! Today we will ride on the capital’s efficient Metro to Red Square. From here, we’ll take in the jewels of Russia’s capital on a guided walk in the Kitay-Gorod and Lubyanka area, taking in sights such as the epitome of Russian power – the Kremlin (guided tour on day 8), Lenin’s Mausoleum and the ritzy GUM department store. At the south end of the square, feast your eyes on the wildly coloured, turban domed St Basil’s Cathedral, an enduring Russian symbol commissioned by Ivan IV (also known as Ivan the terrible) in 1555. Overnight - Moscow (B)

We’re here in the city that kept Bond busy. Today, with our guide, we travel aboard the capital’s efficient Metro system to Red Square. From here, we’ll take in the jewels of Russia’s capital on a guided walk in the Kitay-Gorod and Lubyanka area that takes in sights such as the epitome of Russian power – the Kremlin (where we enjoy a guided tour on 31 December). In Red Square, feast your eyes on the wildly coloured, turban domed St Basil’s Cathedral - an enduring Russian symbol. If open, we can see the eerie Lenin Mausoleum in Red Square, where the grandfather of Russian Communism – Vladimir Lenin still lies in state.

The remainder of the afternoon is free for your explore on your own or why not sign up for our Inside a Soviet Bunker bolt on? Head 65 meters underground to explore a Stalinist-era bunker that up until recently was a top secret symbol of Soviet Power. See the giant tunnels and get a guided tour of the rooms and secret paraphernalia.

Cultured out? Moscow’s restaurants and clubs are open ‘til very late! Overnight - Moscow (B)

Today, we head into Red Square where, we enjoy a guided tour of the Moscow Kremlin - Russia’s bastion of power. Walking through the grounds we’ll see numerous government buildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the tsar bell. Rest of day free to enjoy the last day of the year your way. There’s loads of eateries and bars in the immediate area - a good choice for your own private Moscow New Year’s celebration! Overnight - Moscow (B)

Happy New Year! Our tour ends after breakfast and hotel check out at 12 noon. (B)