Wilderness Travel 2018 Catalog of Adventures

Our journey into Russia is a true insider’s experience, with our native-born Trip Leaders sharing the treasures of their homeland. We’ll see Red Square on a nighttime walking tour and hear the shimmering tones of bell ringing in the medieval towns of the Golden Ring. In romantic St. Petersburg, we have a special early admission to the opulent Hermitage, see the famed Amber Room, and enjoy a private boat ride on the atmospheric canals of this World Heritage city. We’ll enjoy the long summer twilight of Russia’s “White Nights,” and our cultural odyssey is filled with unique opportunities to meet Russians and learn about their lives, including lively meals with families in their homes. Russia: Land of the Czars MOSCOW, THE GOLDEN RING, AND ST. PETERSBURG

DETAILS • 11-day trip begins in Moscow and ends in St. Petersburg • 10 nights hotels • All meals included except 1 lunch and 4 dinners

DATES May 11-21, 2018

Jul 6-16 Sep 7-17

Jun 1-11

TRIP COST $5195 (10-15 members) $5595 (7-9 members) $5995 (4-6 members) Single supplement: $610 Baltic States extension: from $2895 TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cultural exploration, city walking tours, and easy country walks

HIGHLIGHTS • Discover Old Russia in history-filled medieval towns along the Volga River • Explore romantic St. Petersburg, capital of the Czars, with a private boat ride on the canals • Enjoy meals with local families in their homes for a true experience of Russian culture

Our cultural adventure brings you the treasures of Russia’s heritage and inside its culture. PHOTO: BLAINE HARRINGTON

Days 1-3 Moscow Along with visiting Moscow’s grand monuments, we also take a stroll among the artisans on Arbat Street, ride to ornate metro stations, have lunch with an artist at a local gallery cafe, explore the Novodevischy Convent, whose icons date from the time of Boris Godunov, and walk in Izmailova Park, with its flea market full of Soviet memorabilia. Days 4-6 Golden Ring / Volga River / Plyos and Suzdal / Family Meals In the small town of Sergiev Posad, we visit the blue-domed Trinity Monastery and have a chance to paint our own matroyska dolls in an art class. We view Rostov’s ancient Kremlin, a sweeping ensemble of

DAN HELLER

“One of the most inspiring WT trips

I have ever been on. The Russian history and culture we experienced was fascinating.”

Jerry T., Laredo TX

WWW.WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM/TRIPS/EUROPEEUROPE EXTEND YOUR ADVENTURE Explore the charms of the Baltic States—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—with their Old World style and exquisite architecture. COMBINE ANY TWO EUROPE TRIPS FOR A $400 PER PERSON DISCOUNT! monasteries and churches, and the golden domes of World Heritage-listed Yaroslavl. After a private boat ride on the Volga, we head to the Holy City of Suzdal, where we learn about the ancient Russian tradition of bell ringing and hear the melodies of the giant bells. In Suzdal and the tranquil town of Plyos, we are welcomed in for meals with families in their homes. Days 7-11 St. Petersburg / Pushkin Our early admission to the Winter Palace, better known as the Hermitage, lets us explore ahead of the crowds and visit the Gold Room, and we enjoy a private boat ride on the city’s legendary canals. We also visit Usupoff Palace, where Rasputin met his end, and Catherine the Great’s summer palace in Pushkin, with its dazzling Amber Room. Depart on Day 11, or join our Baltic States extension.

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