Arctic by Train

Day 01

Moscow: Welcome to Russia’s Capital 
After arriving in Moscow and taking an airport shuttle to your hotel in the city center, you immediately feel immersed. That evening after dinner, you and your fellow travelers take nighttime city of Moscow, illuminated by the inviting lights of bridges, towers, palaces—and two spectacularly beautiful train stations that feel more like cathedrals and art museums than mass transit systems. After such an enjoyable day, you head back to the hotel where you grab a nightcap or simply rest your head and let the day’s sights populate your dreams.

Overnight: Hotel Intercontinental Tverskaya(or similar) (D)

Day 02

. From Moscow to St. Petersburg: Your First Step North
In the morning, after a hearty breakfast at the hotel, you continue your informative guided discovery of Moscow. You explore the grounds of the Kremlin, including several gorgeous cathedrals from Russia’s Tsarist era. You also have the opportunity to see a few of these amazing buildings from the inside. In the afternoon, you take an express train to St. Petersburg, where you spend the night in your hotel, excited about the days to come.

Overnight: Park Nevsky (or similar) (BLD)

Day 03

St. Petersburg: Russia’s Northern European City 

During a city tour, you discover the important attractions of this Venice of the North: Nevsky Prospect—the city’s main street—Palace Square, Vasilyevsky Island, the Old St. Petersburg Stock Exchange and much more.

Overnight: Park Nevsky(or similar) (BD)

Day 04

St. Petersburg: the Tsars’ Crypt and a Treasure Trove of Art 

Today, you get the opportunity to visit both the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Peter and Paul Cathedral—the burial place of the Romanov Dynasty—where you see the sarcophaguses of almost all the former Tsars and Tsarinas. On a guided tour through the world-renowned State Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg, you see spectacular paintings from Leonardo da Vinci and Raffael. The museum is located in the Tsar’s former residence, the Winter Palace. In the evening, you have time for a long stroll through the city, a visit to the theater or a lovely boat tour down the Neva River.

Overnight: Park Nevsky (or similar) (B)

Day 05

St. Petersburg: Castles of the Tsar and the Amber Room 

In the morning, you go on an excursion 15 miles south of St. Petersburg to the town of Pushkin, formerly known as Tsarskoye Selo, the residence of the Russian imperial family. In the middle of the town is Catherine Palace, the former summer palace of the Tsars and Tsarinas. The palace’s most famous room, the legendary Amber Room was stolen during World War II and has been missing ever since. In 1979, however, the Russian government began building a replica of the room, which was completed in 2003. For lunch, you enjoy a Tsar’s feast of Russian culinary specialties, vodka and artistic performances. That evening, the friendly staff of your private train welcomes you on board, and you depart for Petrosavodsk.

Overnight: On board (BLD)

Day 06

Petrozavodsk: a Day on the Lake 

When you arrive in the Karelian capital of Petrozavodsk, you take a trip to Kizhi Island on Lake Onega.  The island itself is an open air museum and features more than 80 beautifully crafted wooden buildings, including Kizhi Pogost, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the late evening, you board your private train once again and journey farther north.

Overnight: On board (BLD)

Day 07

Solovetsky Islands: Last Stop Before the Arctic

After you reach Kem, a small historic town on the coast of the White Sea, you take a bus to the harbor, where you board a ferry for the Solovetsky Islands (given the weather conditions allow). There, you see the famous Solovetsky Monastery, one of the first sites in Russia to make it onto the UNESCO World Heritage List. You enjoy a traditional lunch, and in the late evening, your private train takes you toward Murmansk, your first stop within the Arctic Circle—also known as the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Overnight: On board (BLD)

Day 08

Murmansk: Inside the Arctic Circle

In the morning, you enjoy a delicious meal on board your private train, after which you go on an informative tour of Murmansk, the Arctic’s largest city, situated on the picturesque Kola Bay. In the afternoon, you visit one of the city’s most unique attractions—the K-21 Soviet submarine museum—followed by a harbor cruise. That evening, you spend a final night aboard your private train.

Overnight: On board (BLD)

Day 09

Kirkenes: Welcome to Norway 

In the early morning, you enjoy a scenic bus ride from the town of Nikel on the Russia–Norway border toward Kirkenes. After a tasty lunch in town, your tour guide takes you on a fun and informative mountain hike. That evening, you enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers, reminiscing about the highlights of your journey to the Arctic.

Overnight: Scandic (or similar) (BLD)

Day 10

Oslo: Last Stop, Norway’s Capital

After breakfast, you fly to Oslo, the gorgeous capital of Norway, where you enjoy a city tour. In the afternoon, you have time to explore the city and discover its treasures on your own, with plenty of tips and suggestions from your tour guide.

Overnight: Radisson(or similar) (BL)

Day 11

Oslo: a Farewell to the North (11 JUN 2019, Tuesday)

On your final day in the north, you wake up at the hotel feeling refreshed and fulfilled. The sights and sounds of the Russian and Norwegian Arctic echo in your head as you enjoy your last breakfast. Thoughts of your next adventure are already on your mind as you take the shuttle to the airport. (B)