Meeting Point and Time in Helsinki Railway station by the “Sibelius” train to St. Petersburg 30 minutes prior to departure.

Day 1: Czarist Colours (B, D, Train) After boarding the very early Finnish Sibelius train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg you will enjoy breakfast. Upon arrival in the “Venice of the North”, the orientation tour takes you to the Bronze Horseman, Admiralty, Nevski Prospekt and Palace Square. On Palace Square you wil ~admire the harmonious unity of St. Petersburg. The architects of the city gave colours an essential role in their plans and this magnificent Russian city owes much of its special atmosphere to these painted fagades The tour continues to the very roots of St. Petersburg. The city was founded by Peter the Great, as he laid the foundation of the first fortress on an LcJet in 1703. This island, the Peterand Paul Fortress, has become the chief monument to its founder’s reign. Dinner and overnight at tourist-class hotel Moskva or similar.

Day 2: Along Canals and Boulevards (B, 1, D, Coach) The day begins with an excursion to the Hermitage. The Hermitage was established in the year 1764, as Catherine 11 bought paintings made by famous Dutch painters. After the revolution in 1917 the amount of exhibits tripled and now it contains 2,400,000 pieces of art. The Hermitage collection offers art lovers special highlights such as Leonardos, Raphaels and Titians. After lunch, which is served in a local restaurant, you visit the third largest Cathedral in the whole world: the Cathedral of St. Isaac. The cathedral was designed by a French architect Auguste Montferrand and the construction took 40 years - from 1818 to 1858. Dinner and overnight at tourist-class hotel Moskva or similar,

Day 3: 18th-century Russian Luxury (B, L, D, Coach) In the year 1708 Peter I gave his wife Catherine Aleksejevna an estate in the outskirts of St-Petersburg. As the summer residence of Russian Czars for two ceryturies Zarskoje Selo, later Pushkin, was developed into one of the most magnificent and richest residences in Europe by the most famous architects and craftsmen of the time. Lunch in a local restaurant and transfer to city centre. Leisurely afternoon can be put to good use by wandering in the city like any other citizen having a day off. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at tou~~-class hotel Moskva or similar in St. Petersburg.

Day 4: Homeward-Bound (B, L, Train) Spend your last morning at leisure. After lunch at the hotel, transfer to the railway station and afternoon departure to Helsinki, where you arrive late in the evening.