ITINERARY
Sunday 26 August
Early arrivals fly from USA
Monday 27 August
Regular group fly from USA. Early arrivees: You will be met at the airport by a local guide who will be holding a sign, “Barker’s European Tours.” He will lead you to the taxi that will take you in to the Park Inn Pribltiyskaya Hotel (+7 812 329 26 26) for check-in. Dinner is not included in the package. Let’s plan to meet in the lobby at 7:00 to find dinner (optional) somewhere. Overnight in the Park Inn Pribitivskaya Hotel.
IMPORTANT: If you miss a connection on your flight over and are not going to arrive on the flight listed below, please call ASLA in St. Petersburg at +7 812 334 1650. If it is not during normal business hours, call Olga Bedova at +7 812 936 3880. (Russia is 2 hours ahead of central Europe, 8 hours ahead of the East Coast, 9 hours ahead of TX, and 11 hours ahead of the West Coast.)
Tuesday 28 August
Regular group arrival in St Petersburg. Look for your guide with the “Barker’s European Tours” sign. Everybody: Buffet dinner and overnight in the Park Inn Pribitivskaya Hotel.
Wednesday 29 August
Our guide, Julia Skliarova, will meet us for a 9:30 departure for our city tour, including a visit to the Peter & Paul Fortress. Estimated return to hotel at 16:00. Buffet dinner and overnight in the Park Inn Pribitivskaya Hotel.
Thursday 30 August
10:00 departure from hotel for guided tour to the Hermitage (Winter Palace) with option to stay on at the museum after the tour. Buffet dinner and overnight in the Park Inn Pribitivskaya Hotel.
Friday 31 August
Check out of hotel. 10:00 departure for guided tour of Catherine Palace and the Amber Room. Transfer to the train station to take train # 161 departing at 15:00 and arriving to Moscow at 19:15. Arrival transfer to Aerostar Hotel.(+7 (495) 988-31-31) Dinner at 21:00 and overnight in the Areostar Hotel.
Saturday 01 September
Early morning departure for Tolstoy Estate at Yasnaya Polyana including lunch. Return to Moscow for dinner at 19:00 and overnight in the Areostar Hotel.
Sunday 02 September
Depart hotel at 10:00 for half day visit to the Kremlin and Armoury Chamber then continue onto the metro network to explore the most unusual stations. Dinner at 19:00 and overnight in the Areostar Hotel.
Monday 03 September
Discover the highlights of this capital city on a panoramic tour by coach with plenty of stops for photos. Dinner at 19:00 and overnight in the Areostar Hotel.
Tuesday 04 September
Check out of hotel after breakfast. Visit Christ the Saviour Cathedral en route to the airport
Flight SU1824 departs at 16:50 from SVO and arrives SIP at 18:05. Arrive in Simferopol and transfer to Yalta (approximately 2 hours). Dinner and overnight in Hotel Yalta. (+38 (0654) 270 270)
Wednesday 05 September
9:30 departure from hotel. Visit the Chekhov house-museum followed by Alupka Palace and the Swallow Nest observation platform. Dinner at 19:00 and overnight in the Hotel Yalta.
Thursday 06 September
A full day of sightseeing beginning with Livadia Palace and then continuing to the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens. The afternoon will be spent exploring the Massandra Palace and Massandra Winery. Dinner and overnight in the Hotel Yalta.
Friday 07 September
Check out and depart from the hotel at 10:00 and visit Bakchisaray in the morning before stopping for lunch (included). In the afternoon continue to Khan’s Palace. Transfer to Simferopol for the departure flight. Dinner can be taken in the TES hotel located next to the hotel (under own arrangements) and then the group will be taken to the airport to check in. Flight PS064 departs from SIP at 20:35 and arrives in KBP at 22:00 Arrival transfer to the Rus Hotel (+38 044 256 40 00) for check-in.
Saturday 08 September
Meet in reception at 10:00 to begin exploration ofKiev on a short orientation tour followed by a visit to the National Art Museum. Dinnerat 19:00 and overnight in the Rus Hotel.
Sunday 09 September
Travel to Kiev-Pechersk Lavra monastery (caves and Gold Treasury). Note: Women need to have their heads covered with a scarf to enter the inner buildings and catacombs at the monastery. Afternoon visit to Museum of the Great Patriotic War. At 19:30, be ready in reception to transfer to the Shinok restaurant for dinner. The resteraunt serves traditional Ukrainian cuisine. Overnight in the Rus Hotel.
Monday 10 September
At 9:00, depart for ashort ride/walk to the Old Town seeing the University, Taras Schevchenko Opera & Ballet Theatre, Golden gate and St Michael’s Cathedral. Visit and entrance to St Sophia Cathedral. Visit Andriyivsky Slope with its art galleries, shops and studios. A short visit to Bassarabka market and back to the hotel. Dinner at 19:00 and overnight in the Rus Hotel.
Tuesday 11 September
Check-out and transfer to airport for flight home. Transfers have been arranged and paid for. Time of the departure have been set by our hosts.
Those of you staying on, your rooms have been paid for, dinner is on your own. Overnight in the Rus Hotel.
UA9149 departing @ 05:30 – pick up time 03:30
Packed breakfast from the hotel and check out
Sharon Budd
Carrol Smith
Gretchen Quinn
LH2547 departing @ 06:40 – pick up time 04:30
Packed breakfast from the hotel and check out
Alan Cutler
Beverly Baucum
La Rue Atterbury
Maureen Nowotny
Morgan Irwin
Melissa Irwin
Dona Stuewe
LH1491 departing @ 14:10 – pick up time 11:30
Breakfast at the hotel and check out
Margaret Cowden
Chris Larkin
AZ841 departing @ 18:10 – pick up time 15:30
Laurence Barker
Wednesday 12 September
AF1837 departing @ 06:40 – pick up time 04:30
Packed breakfast at the hotel
Tom Michelson
Vicki Michelson
SA4271 departing @ 09:20 – pick up time 07:00
Joe Di Dio
Bob Tehurne