Russia scores with culture fans

It’s official, Chelsea have booked their place in Moscow, completing the all-English line-up in the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 21st. For those whose knowledge of footie would just about fill the back of a postage stamp, Peregrine Adventures offers a different approach – a 6-day exploration of Russia’s glorious past and present, from cosmopolitan and bustling Moscow to the stunning palaces of St. Petersburg.

Once the ‘blues’ and ‘reds’ have gone, it’s the culture, history, breathtaking architecture and opportunity to get beneath the surface of a country that for so long guarded its treasures from the west, that lures the traveller. The tour commences with two days in Moscow, allowing plenty of time to visit the major sights, including Red Square, home of the city’s best-known landmarks – the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Mausoleum, and see the city’s foremost art collections at the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum and Tretyakov Gallery. For those more interested in observing daily life, the Moscow Metro contains ornate and elaborate stations that are virtually museums themselves, while the Arbat pedestrian mall and Gorky Park are great places for people watching.

Time in Moscow concludes with a convivial get-together over dinner, before boarding a sleeper train bound for St. Petersburg. Tsar Peter the Great established St. Petersburg as his capital in 1703. The city was later known as Leningrad during the Soviet era, and has also been dubbed the ‘Venice of the North’ due to its elegant buildings and intricate canal system. An early morning arrival gives guests almost two full days to sightsee, including visiting the splendid pastel-coloured palaces - the former Winter Palace is home to the famous Hermitage Museum containing one of the world’s greatest art collections. As a finale, guests are treated to a cultural performance in one of the beautifully restored palaces.

The short break costs £830 p/p including arrival transfer, transport, hotel accommodation, some meals, sleeper train, sightseeing, cultural evening and the services of a Peregrine tour leader. Flights are not included.

For more information, visit Peregrineadventures.co.uk.