Arrive in Moscow on your flight from the UK. You will be transferred to the ship where you will enjoy dinner on-board this evening.

Moscow is a dynamic city, bursting at the seams with awe-inspiring architecture, rousing museums, ancient monuments, memorials and ruins from the Soviet period. Enjoy getting to know the city on your included tour. Later you will have plenty of time to make your own discoveries of Moscow, perhaps take the Metro and admire some of the beautiful underground stations or stand in the famous Red Square.

Encounter more of Moscow today as you have another full day in the city. Your included tour takes you to the symbol of the Russian state - the magnificent Kremlin. Explore the red brick towers and glorious cathedrals of the Kremlin and discover exquisite treasures in the Armoury. Golden-domed cathedrals, magnificent palaces and beautiful buildings line the streets and squares of the Moscow Kremlin; all of which have been carefully created over many centuries. We depart Moscow this evening.

The ancient town of Uglitch is our port of call after lunch today. Your included walking tour this afternoon enables you to discover more of Uglitch, including the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood. The church is a memorial to the young son of Ivan the Terrible, Dimitri, who is said to have died tragically in the city after he was exiled here in the late 1500’s.

The name Goritsy means ‘hills’ in Russian and it is upon the namesake that this small town sits overlooking a calm, blue lake. One of the religious havens in this vast country it is home to the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery, which is one of the oldest in the world. Discover more of this compact town and its history as you join the included excursion to the monastery. You will have free time this afternoon to enjoy Goritsy before we set sail for Kizhi.

Kizhi Island is one of over 1500 islands which pepper Lake Onega. Around 80 wooden structures populate the island creating a tremendous open-air museum. In the early evening we will take a walk around the island to admire the unique architecture and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the island. The remarkable wooden structures are believed to have been crafted by skillful carpenters, around the 16th century.

Mandrogi is a reconstructed traditional Russian village complete with craft workshops, a vodka museum and a Russian bathhouse. In this fairytale-like village you will be able to witness craftspeople at work, sample the local specialties and buy Russian craft items.

Later today we will call at Svirstroy – a small village located on the Svir River. Villagers sell individually crafted items and artwork from traditionally built kiosks. Welcoming residents are known to invite visitors into their homes for tea and a keen ear – they will happily tell stories of the village’s history.

St. Petersburg, formerly Leningrad, is widely renowned as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. You will discover more on your included tour today as we traverse the streets - pausing to admire significant sights and monuments on our way. Be sure to visit the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Alexander Nevsky Monastery.

You will have plenty of time today to make your own discoveries of this mesmerizing metropolis. Why not walk around the streets and canals, an area widely referred to as ‘Venice of the North’, or visit the incredible Yusupov Palace - former home of the Yusupov family and murder scene of the infamous Rasputin. An excursion is included to the world renowned museum complex, The Hermitage. The complex is made up of numerous significant buildings including the Winter Palace, the Hermitage Theatre, Menshikov Palace and more. Within the museum you will discover paintings, admire sculptures and works of applied art, marvel at archaeological finds and a fascinating and comprehensive collection of numismatic material.

Following breakfast this morning you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to the UK.