Splendours of Russia & Scandinavia

When Russia is on your travel list, there’s no better place to start your “Sailani’s – Splendours of Russia & Scandinavia Tour” than the most vibrant European capitals, Moscow. With its multi-faceted attractions ranging from historic to futuristic, the city is forever buzzing with life and thrill. And this is where we begin our voyage too.

We arrive at the Moscow airport and after clearing the immigration and customs procedures, we head out to the exit where our Sailani’s representative is waiting to give us a warm welcome and transfer us to our hotel (Check In at 16:00 Hours). Overnight at Moscow.

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Today, we begin exploring this history, culture and colour-rich town with a guided city tour of Moscow, wandering past iconic landmarks including the Bolshoi Theatre, the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics, the Cathedral of Archangel, the Novospassky Monastery and of course, the iconic public square, The Red Square with the colourful St. Basil’s Cathedral (known for its onion-shaped domes) on one hand and the red wall of Kremlin on the other.

Our guided city tour also takes us on a time travel journey of Russian art as we visit the Tretyakov State Gallery that houses more than 1,80,000 works of Russian art in the form of paintings, sculptures, graphics and other illustrations. While exemplary masterpieces from the 11th century to the early 20th century can be witnessed in the historic building of the gallery, the new building holds works of the 20th-century artists.

We then move from art history to mysterious stories as we head to the Stalin’s Bunker, an underground world of its own that’s just as enigmatic as the person who commissioned it… Commander-in-chief of the Red Army, Joseph Stalin. Masked by the gigantic 1,20,000-seater stadium above it, this military object is a massive space divided into lavish rooms. There’s Stalin’s office, there is a dining room and there’s even a grand meeting hall crafted with rich marble.

Continuing our journey to the mystic underground realms of Russia, we take the Metro tour (up to three stations). Known as the “people’s palaces” the majestic Soviet-era stations with all their palace-like opulence, extravagant décor and sculptures and lavish use of marble, are a definite must-visit of Moscow. And because no trip seems complete without bagging a few souvenirs, we take some free time at the Arbat Street to shop for a few collectables.

No, the day’s not over yet! We still have to catch the famous Russian Circus. Great Moscow State Circus known for its nerve-racking stunts, hilarious clown stints, inventive acrobat performances and a lot more. Overnight at Moscow.

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Today we make our way to yet another Russian town, St. Petersburg but not without exploring one last gem in the beautiful Russian capital… the Kremlin, a fortress that’s nestled in the very heart of Moscow along the banks of Moskva River. The fortress is an exemplary structure of the dramatic Russian history, having served as a residence to many political heads in the past from the Russian Grand Dukes to the Romanov Tsars to Soviet leaders and now to the President of the Russian Federation. Encapsulated within Kremlin’s distinctive red-bricked walls (that were hanged from the original white stoned-walls in the 15 century) are four cathedrals, three palaces and two museums, apart from the President’s residence. While here, we also visit the Armoury Museum which was once Kremlin’s Armoury Chamber.

Next, we head to the train station to take our voyage on to St. Petersburg via the famous Sapsan train, Russia’s fastest rail service. Overnight at St. Petersburg.

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After the vibrancy of Moscow, we now gear up to soak in the splendour of St. Petersburg and our first stop happens to be the most visited attraction of the town, the Peterhof Palace & Gardens. Board a Hydrofoil (Subject to Operation) to this world-famous Palace, Fountain and Park ensemble of Peterhof that shines forth as a glittering landmark of Russia’s aesthetic culture in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its wonderful parks, 176 fountains of various forms, majestic palaces, numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes, paintings and works of art and culture make Peterhof a veritable gem of art, often called the ‘Capital of Fountains.’ In fact, the lower park has a few trick fountains too that often leave visitors soaked in water.

Next, we begin our guided city tour of this gold-capped, colourful town. As we go, we marvel over the architectural brilliance that is evident in just about every structure of the city, both ancient and modern. Our tour takes us past Isaac’s Cathedral and Colonnade, the Peter and Paul Fortress, State Russian Museum and many other architectural treasures.

We also make a visit to the city’s most associable monument, the Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood which is surprisingly colourful given that it stands to mark the tragic assassination of Alexander II. This vibrantly colourful building boasting of typical Russian Revival architecture stands out in striking contrast to the Italian elegance of the pristine white Russian State Museum in the neighbourhood.

Next on our travel list is the Ballet Show. Sensational and not to be missed. Overnight at St. Petersburg.

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Today, we embark upon yet another journey through the history of Russian art. And taking us on this time travel journey today is the Catherine Palace or the Tsarskoye Selo. Once a summer residence for the tsars, the blue and gold Russian Baroque building is now a museum giving us a glimpse of the extravagant and opulent lifestyle of these ancient royals. Popular among its many rooms are the Amber Room, the Grand Hall and the massive Catherine Park.

Given its sheer size and its aesthetic magnificence, it’s hardly a surprise that we’ve spent all morning meandering through the many rooms of this palace-turned-museum.

Next on our list is the Neva River Cruise. If there’s anything that could make this historic town even more magical, it is viewing it from the blue waters of the Neva River which offers spectacular views of St. Petersburg’s various landmarks. Later enjoy free time at Souvenir Boutique Bazaar.

Bringing the day to a dramatic close, we head to the Nikolaevsky Palace to catch the evening Folklore Show. From contemporary renditions of romantic and heartbreak folk songs to foot-tapping folk-dance performances to impressive acrobat stints, the evening brings along liberal doses of fun and laughter. Overnight at St. Petersburg.

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Before we leave the Russian lands and head to Helsinki, Finland we have one final gem to explore in St. Petersburg… the Hermitage Museum standing mightily on the banks of the Neva River. Originally, a palace of the ancient tsars, The Hermitage comprises a collection of several buildings making it one of the largest museums in the world, and also one of the most famous ones. With several rooms and other spaces to unravel and over 3 million works of art including paintings, sculptures, antiques, ancient coins, etc., it makes it impossible to go through the entire museum at once. We, however, will explore the most important rooms in the palace-museum in the few hours that we spend there. Of course, some of that time will also be dedicated to absorbing in the architectural awesomeness of this gigantic structure itself.

Next, we board yet another high-speed train, Allegro, that will take us from St. Petersburg to Helsinki, Finland. One of the world’s northernmost capitals, Helsinki is a hotbed for Scandinavian design, museums, and cute cafés. … Mixed in with Art Noveau architecture, Russian-built neoclassical churches remind visitors that Helsinki was once ruled by Czar Alexander I. Overnight at Helsinki.

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After the history-rich sights of Russia, we are about to meander through Europe’s youngest capital, Helsinki. There are no antique ruins or remains, no medieval squares and not even a palace here, all you have is a vibrant metropolis with a multi-faceted architecture that boasts as much of Neoclassicism as it does of Romanticism and Modernism.

We begin our guided city tour of Helsinki discovering some of the world’s most distinct architectural merits such as Finlandia Hall – the leading congress, event and entertainment venue in Finland, the Helsinki Cathedral, the Market Square – bustling with activities with vendors selling fresh food and souvenirs, Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral and many other landmarks. The highlights of the city tour, however, happen to be our visits to the Lutheran Temppeliaukio Church, a unique Rock Church known for its thrilling work of modern architecture, built entirely underground with a ceiling made of copper wire) and the Sibelius Monument, dedicated to the Finnish Composer, Jean Sibelius, consisting of a series of more than 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave-like pattern.

Board our ship at Silja Line in Helsinki that will take us on to Stockholm, Sweden. As we see Finland disappearing before us, we gear up to embrace ourselves for a night spent marvelling at the eternity of the blue water beneath us, pausing only to enjoy a lavish dinner buffet served aboard. Overnight Ferry to Stockholm.

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Note: From the moment we step on the ship, we follow Swedish time which is one hour behind Finland.

Today enjoy your breakfast while cruising on the Baltic Sea, we disembark the ship in Stockholm. We start our guided city tour of the Swedish capital sprawled over 14 islands. Incidentally, one-third of this coastal capital consists of water while another one-third is occupied by parks and woodlands. It’s safe to say then that there is certainly no dearth of scenic beauty in Stockholm. But scenic stretches aren’t all there is to the town; there is also an interesting amalgamation of historic architectural treasures and that of modern structures. We get a hint of this beautiful blend of historic and modern as our tour takes us past popular landmarks like The Royal Palace and Gamla Stan, the colour-rioted old town among others.

We then visit the Vasa Ship Museum which, as the name suggests is a maritime museum. One of the most visited attractions in town as it is, this is the only museum in the world to have an almost fully intact 17th-century ship, the warship Vasa that was salvaged three centuries after it sank.

The final destination on our itinerary today is the Stadshuset, the iconic Stockholm City Hall which is often spotted on pictures and postcards of Sweden. Apart from assembly rooms and offices the building also houses grand ceremonial halls. Overnight at Stockholm.

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Today, we proceed to Oslo. Enroute we halt at Karlstad, we take some time to look around this beautiful riverside town, which is sprawled all the way down to the shore of the Vanern Lake. Incidentally, Vanern Lake marks our next halt. We make a photo stop here for beautiful picture additions to our social media folders.

Next, we drive towards Oslo, surrounded by mountains and sea, this compact, cultured and fun city has a palpable sense of reinvention. Overnight at Oslo.

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You know a city is truly a culture-rich destination when its theatres, museums and galleries happen to be one of the most distinctive features of the town. And given that we are in one such capital, we dedicate today to exploring as much of this magnificent town as we can.

We begin our Oslo guided city tour today that’ll take us past the most popular attractions of the town. The Akershus Fortress, the Royal Palace, the Oslo Cathedral, the City Hall and the National Opera Theatre to name a few.

One of the biggest highlights of the tour happens to be our visit to the world’s largest sculpture park by a single artist, Vigeland Sculpture Park, one of Norway’s most visited tourist attractions. The park features more than 200 sculptures crafted out of bronze, granite and wrought iron by artist, Gustav Vigeland; the Wheel of Life and the 16-metre long Monolith, depicting 121 intertwined human bodies) being the most popular among these sculptures.

We then move on to get a glimpse into Norway’s Viking past as we head to the Viking Ship Museum next. Apart from housing three well-preserved 9th-century vessels, the Oseberg Ship, the Gokstad Ship and the Tune Ship, the museum also houses other artefacts and exhibits that are indicative of the Viking life at sea.

Next on our list of must-visit attractions in the Norweigan capital is the Holmenkollen Ski Jump & Museum. Perched atop a hill, the journey to the Ski Jump Area alone is quite an interesting one and once there, the sheer height of the construction is likely to blow your mind away, irrespective of whether you are a ski enthusiast or not. Plus, there is the matter of the best possible panoramic views of the town below. There is also the Ski Museum that boasts of 4000 years of ski history.

Visit Magic Ice Bar Oslo, a stylish haven of art and unique icy fun. The bar is literally made out of ice with ice walls. Overnight at Oslo.

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Irrespective of how impressed we are by the architectural and cultural heritage of Oslo, it is an undeniable fact that you haven’t really seen Norway if you haven’t spent some time submerging yourself in the splendour of its natural beauty that comprises scenic landscapes, fascinating fjords and majestic mountains. And the best way to experience this heavenly beauty is to take the ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ tour, which is on our agenda for today. The tour, literally, is a long journey from Oslo to Bergen via trains, ferries and buses that take us past some of Europe’s most scenic stretches.

We drive to the Geilo train station where begins the actual tour as we board the train to Myrdal that offers spectacular views of mountainous terrains. We then board our next train to Flam which gives us a glimpse of the Norwegian Fjords. From Flam starts our water voyage with a fjord cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and the Naeroyfjord, which is the narrowest fjord in Europe surrounded by huge mountains. Our cruise ends at Gudvangen, a small village cradled in the deepest reaches of Naeroyfjord. Our last leg of the tour finishes with a bus ride from Gudvangen to Bergen. Overnight at Bergen.

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NOTE: We will carry packed lunch for the ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ tour while dinner will be served at an Indian restaurant in Bergen.

When you have seven hills standing guard for a coastal city with an entire coastal belt of the city listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, one thing you can expect from the town is ample beauty all around, both, in terms of landscape and cityscape. It is safe to say then that Bergen is nothing if not absolutely and entirely awe-inspiring.

We begin our guided city tour which takes us through its upward meandering roads past popular landmarks like the Fantoft Stave Church, though reconstructed in 1992, is still a classic expression of early Norwegian.

The most beautiful sight, however, in all of Bergen is the Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf, a coastal belt of colourful timbre structures, that has often found its way not just on postcards but on several desktops across the world as a screen saver. One of the most visited attractions of the town, the Hanseatic Wharf now comprises a small museum and several shops, cafes and restaurants.

And because nothing would make our Bergen tour more worthwhile than a trip up one of its much-talked-about seven mountains, next on our itinerary is a ride on the Floibanen, a funicular train that takes us up Mount Floyen. This mountaintop is where you get the most splendid panoramic views of the city below. We then head to Bergen airport to board our flight to Copenhagen. Overnight at Copenhagen.

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We begin our day to explore the beautiful Denmark capital, Copenhagen, a town that’s youthful and historic, at the same time. We begin our guided city tour at the Rosenborg Castle which comprises the oldest royal garden of the country. The tour then takes us past the Renaissance Stock Exchange, Danish Parliament, the famous statue of the Little Mermaid and the Christiansborg Palace that comprises the Danish Parliament, the Danish Prime Minister’s Office and the Danish Supreme Court.

Next way to the city’s most visited attraction, the Tivoli Gardens, part of its dreamy charm is the architectural romanticism that takes the whole experience to new levels of fun. (Rides ticket not included). Overnight at Copenhagen.

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Too soon for our liking as it might be, the “Sailani’s – Splendours of Russia & Scandinavia tour” has finally come to an end. With beautiful memories in our minds and beautiful souvenirs in our luggage, we board our flight back home.
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Note : Please note that this tour may run with an altered flow due to operational constraints.