Soviet Nostalgia (Moscow & Kiev, 7 days)
A plunge into the history, culture and traditions of two great Slavic countries: Russia and Ukraine.
DAY 1: Moscow
Upon arrival in Moscow you will be greeted at the airport by a Tour De Force representative and taken to your hotel. After you check-in, relax with a welcome drink and get acquainted with your travel mates and Program Director.
DAY 2: Moscow
Enjoy a walking tour of this sprawling capital. Stroll through the legendary Red Square – the site of many marches and celebrations during Communist times, the Kitay-Gorod, Lubyanka square and the magnificent St. Basil's cathedral. You'll take a ride on the Underground and see the Moscow Metro stations that were built during Stalin's rule as “palaces for the people". In the afternoon, you'll explore the grounds of the Kremlin – the famous fortress and seat of Russian power.
DAY 3: Moscow
Get a glimpse of Soviet Moscow. Ever imagine being 65 meters underground in a Soviet bunker built as a nuclear war shelter? Up until recently it has been kept a state secret. This tour also features a visit to the monuments to Soviet leaders assembled in the famous Sculpture Park.
DAY 4: Moscow – Kiev
Check-out. Transfer to airport and flight to Kiev. Gather at the hotel for a city orientation tour featuring the site of the recent "Orange Revolution," a visit to St. Sophia Cathedral, the city's oldest church, built in 1031 in honor of a victory over a rival tribe from the East. The cathedral provided the stage for all royal ceremonies including coronations, the signing of treaties and the reception of foreign dignitaries. You'll also visit Babiy Yar, the dramatic sculptural monument to the 100,000 Jews, Gypsies and partisans killed at the ravine by the Nazis in 1941. Top off the day with a welcome dinner and enjoy traditional Ukrainian cuisine.
DAY 5: Kiev
Take a morning drive to the Pirohovo (open-air museum). The museum of folk life and architecture is some distance south of the centre, but well worth the trip as it's the largest of its kind in the country. Spread out over rolling hills dotted with groves of trees, you'll see 17th to 20th–century cottages, churches and windmills – many with manicured flower and vegetable gardens and interiors furnished with exquisite textiles, traditional furniture and tools. The museum is divided into seven small villages representing different regions of Ukraine.
DAY 6: Kiev
Pecherska Lavra (Monastery). The caves monastery was the first and most important in Kievan Rus and features a unique array of gold - domed churches, underground labyrinths lined with mummified monks, and elegant monastic buildings, now museums. One displays a hoard of Scythian gold which rivals the collection in the Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg. You will also visit a fascinating museum of micro miniatures. The monastery served as an intellectual centre, producing significant chronicles and icons. In 1924, the monastery was turned into a museum, but the caves and buildings were returned to the Orthodox Church in 1988.
DAY 7: Kiev
Check-out and departure.
In the morning, if your departure time permits, you may opt for a tour of the Chernobyl Museum. The museum offers a number of exhibits and photographs documenting the worst nuclear tragedy in history, including displays on the first clean-up crews, who were exposed to fatal doses of radiation.
Price: from €979
What you get:
- arrival transfer
- air ticket Moscow - Kiev economy class
- 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
- guided tours
- relevant transportation
- entry fees
Services on request:
- Single supplement
- Departure transfer
- Pre/post accommodation
Enhance your journey with a 4-day pre-trip to St. Petersburg. The cost (from €290) is inclusive of train ticket to Moscow (see "Cradle of the Revolution")
