Day 1: Fly Heathrow to Moscow. You will be met on arrival and taken to the Holiday Inn Moscow (Suschuvskay), where you will enjoy a welcome dinner. You can also meet the guides and run through the programme.
Day 2: Morning city tour, including Red Square and the possibility of seeing Lenin in his mausoleum (please let us know in advance as it may be closed to the public). You will also see St Basil's Cathedral built by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate his victories in the 1550s. Chance to meet Russia Students
Day 3: Full day’s sightseeing of a Russian Church including a meeting with the priest. Visit the Tretyakov Gallery (Russian Art) in the afternoon. This evening there is the chance to enjoy one of Moscow’s famous ballet performances.
Day 4: Drive out of Moscow to Zagorsk. This town is built around the Trinity Monastery of St Sergius. It is one of Russia's most important religious and historical landmarks and is a place of spiritual pilgrimage.
Day 5: full day’s sightseeing tour of Vladimir. Overnight in Suzdal staying in the Pokrov Convent Hotel, which is located in the grounds of one of the most beautiful sights of the town – Pokrov Intercession Convent - founded in 1364. This evening there is the chance to meet some of the local religious figures in the Convent over dinner.
Day 6: Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Sudzal, considered one of the most beautiful ancient cities of Russia. It boasts more than 50 examples of religious and secular architecture dating from the mid-12th to the mid-18th century. After lunch with a local family, you will return to Moscow for the overnight train to St Petersburg, travelling in second class, four berth, sleeping compartments.
Day 7: Arrive in St Petersburg where you will be driven to the IBIS hotel for check-in. Continue for a city orientation, followed by visits to the Peter & Paul Fortress and Church of the Spilled Blood. This evening you will enjoy an evening out at a local restaurant in St Petersburg
Day 8, 9 and 10: A full day’s sightseeing tour to include the Hermitage (European Art) and a local school, where you will have the chance to meet a number of Russian students who will join you again in the evening for a communal dinner. Another day’s sightseeing tour to include the Academy of Fine Art and Usupov Palace. There may also be the chance this evening to enjoy a drinks reception with fellow Russian teachers and students. This morning you will check out of the hotel and then visit Catherine’s Palace and Pavlovsk. After lunch you will return to the airport for the flight back to Heathrow, arriving back in the UK later the same evening.