Trip to Russia for 7 adults

About the destination: Moscow, the political, historical and economic capital of Russia, showcases the country's most extreme contrasts. The old and the modern merge seamlessly in this city of 10 million people. The Russian capital is today a dazzling metropolis whose sheer grandeur never ceases to astonish. Take the metro from one of the ornate stations to get close to the city’s main attractions that are a symbol of the city's grand and terrible past. The remnants of the Soviet state are scattered throughout the city. Monuments commemorate fallen heroes and victorious battles, while museums strive to analyse and synthesise the past. See Lenin and Stalin – off their pedestals – at the whimsical Art Muzeon. Step into the Socialist Realist fantasy at VDNKh. Delve into the depths of the Soviet system at Bunker-42 Cold War Museum. And remember the millions who suffered at the Gulag History Museum. Nowadays, many fun or clever retro clubs and cafes offer their guests a taste of the Soviet experience. The very founding site of the city (and arguably, the country), the Kremlin and Red Square are still at the heart of Moscow – historically, geographically and spiritually. Among the city’s most recognisable sights are the almost cartoon-like onion domes of St Basil’s Cathedral that tower above Red Square, UNESCO gems that were built between the 14th and 17th centuries. Modern-day Moscow defies its grey Soviet past and has developed a hedonistic atmosphere and the sense that great things are once again happening here. Shopping for designer labels at frighteningly expensive boutiques has become a national sport, but Moscow is considered one of the world’s most culturally sophisticated capitals, with world-class institutions like the Bolshoi Theatre, the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. The city is also proud of its great writers, playwrights, composers, choreographers, and film-makers. Glitzy, historical and screaming hedonism, Moscow is truly captivating.

About the destination: Inextricably tied to the major events of the Soviet Union, St. Petersburg cannot escape its imperial past. Physically, at least, St. Petersburg has been the city of the tsars since Peter the Great founded the city in a bog and moved the capital here from Moscow in 1712 to provide greater contact with the West. Many of the major baroque and neoclassical buildings and well-designed streets and landscaped parks are the work of imperial French and Italian architects. St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city, is often referred to as Russia’s Western Gate, and the City of White Nights. For a splendid overview of the city, climb the dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral on Isaakievskaya square, a massive example of 19th century civic-religious architecture; its dome is covered in pure gold. Nearby, on Senate Square overlooking the Neva, is Falconet’s Monument to Peter the Great. Peter and Paul Fortress was founded by Peter the Great and was erected in just one year between 1703 and 1704 during the Great Northern War against Sweden. The fortress was never used to defend the city but it was used as a political prison under the Tsar. Inside the fortress is the main attraction for visitors: the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul containing the tombs of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas II and other tsars. Nevsky Prospect is St. Petersburg’s main avenue and one of the best-known streets in Russia. The buildings along Nevsky Prospekt are a treasure house for art-nouveau-fans. Nevsky Prospect is also the city’s central shopping street and the hub of the city’s entertainment and nightlife. Even if the rest of the city were non-existent, the Hermitage alone would merit a week-long visit to St. Petersburg. Located in the magnificent, luxurious Winter Palace, former residence of the tsars, this collection of art unquestionably ranks among the world’s finest. But before you immerse yourself in the art, take in the main halls where the tsar reigned and entertained, especially the awesome Malachite Hall, where the provisional Government held its last meeting before the revolution exploded around it. Cool and aristocratic St. Petersburg is a magnificent city with beautiful architecture everywhere. Often described as the Venice of the North, St Petersburg is a city defined by water. Whether you’re cruising the elegant canals, crossing one of the 342 bridges in the city, or just watching them being raised over the mighty Neva River at night to allow ships to pass through, you’re never far from water in St Petersburg.

About the destination: Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, located on the Volga River, and is often referred to as the third capital of Russia. The Kazan Kremlin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In recent years, Kazan has earned a strong reputation as a sports city thanks to significant investment in sporting infrastructure. It hosted the 2013 Summer Universiade, the 2015 FINA World Aquatics Championships, and was one of the host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Kazan is home to Orthodox and Catholic Christians, Muslims, Protestants, Jews and a range of smaller religious communities. A visit to the city offers a unique chance to enjoy striking natural surroundings and to explore important historical and cultural landmarks such as the Kazan Kremlin, the Kazan trading quarter, Kazan State University and the Old Tatar cemetery. You can connect with a living, ancient history at sites like the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Virgin Monastery of Raifa, the sacred sites of Bolghar on the Volga, and the village of Kyrlai, where history is reflected both in the architecture and in the enduring traditions you’ll encounter throughout your trip.

About the destination: Moscow, the political, historical and economic capital of Russia, showcases the country's most extreme contrasts. The old and the modern merge seamlessly in this city of 10 million people. The Russian capital is today a dazzling metropolis whose sheer grandeur never ceases to astonish. Take the metro from one of the ornate stations to get close to the city’s main attractions that are a symbol of the city's grand and terrible past. The remnants of the Soviet state are scattered throughout the city. Monuments commemorate fallen heroes and victorious battles, while museums strive to analyse and synthesise the past. See Lenin and Stalin – off their pedestals – at the whimsical Art Muzeon. Step into the Socialist Realist fantasy at VDNKh. Delve into the depths of the Soviet system at Bunker-42 Cold War Museum. And remember the millions who suffered at the Gulag History Museum. Nowadays, many fun or clever retro clubs and cafes offer their guests a taste of the Soviet experience. The very founding site of the city (and arguably, the country), the Kremlin and Red Square are still at the heart of Moscow – historically, geographically and spiritually. Among the city’s most recognisable sights are the almost cartoon-like onion domes of St Basil’s Cathedral that tower above Red Square, UNESCO gems that were built between the 14th and 17th centuries. Modern-day Moscow defies its grey Soviet past and has developed a hedonistic atmosphere and the sense that great things are once again happening here. Shopping for designer labels at frighteningly expensive boutiques has become a national sport, but Moscow is considered one of the world’s most culturally sophisticated capitals, with world-class institutions like the Bolshoi Theatre, the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. The city is also proud of its great writers, playwrights, composers, choreographers, and film-makers. Glitzy, historical and screaming hedonism, Moscow is truly captivating.