A Winter Fairytale in St Petersburg
Programme Overview
Duration: 5 days
A 5 day group and incentive program engaging with the winter culture and charm of St Petersburg in the snow.
Highlights: St Petersburg, Hermitage Museum, Catherine Palace, Shuvalovka Village, Yusupov Palace
Arrive St Petersburg
Upon arrival at St Petersburg airport, and passing through Customs and Passport formalities, you will be met in arrival hall by your expert English-speaking guides.
In the airport you’ll have a chance to participate in traditional Russian Bread & Salt welcome ceremony before transfer to the hotel in St Petersburg city centre.
Cultural tips:
This tradition gave rise to the Russian word that expresses a person's hospitality: "khlebosolny". In general, the word "bread" is associated in Russian culture with hospitality, bread being the most respected food, whereas salt is associated with long friendship. Bread and Salt are to be presented to arriving guests as an expression of good wish towards the host's household.
Welcome dinner at Gymnasia restaurant
Gymnasium restaurant is located in the historical heart of St-Petersburg, within several minutes walk from St. Isaac’s Cathedral. The restaurant is located in a unique building of a former Nicholas palace, designed in 1861 for the children of Russian emperor Nicholas I.
The main hall is decorated in a classical style resembling palace interiors: elegant columns along the hall, cosy elite furniture made according to historical patterns and fine lamps decorate the walls.
Enjoy a classic music performance during the dinner.
Meal Plan: D
St Petersburg
Orientation city tour (duration: 2 hours)
Today in the morning enjoy an observation city tour. Drive through the historical city centre to see the main city sights including Nevsky Prospect, Palace Square, Winter Palace, Admiralty, Vasilevsky Island and Peter & Paul Fortress. Stop to takea look inside St Isaac’s Cathedral which was built between 1818 and 1858, by the French-born architect Auguste Montferrand, to be one of the most impressive landmarks of the Russian Imperial capital
This afternoon will be at your leisure.
Late afternoon, visit to the Hermitage Museum (you will have late admittance to the museum, so you can enjoy a private visit to this world-famous museum )
The Hermitage museum is situated in the lavishly decorated Winter Palace. The Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings and houses 3 million pieces of artwork from the Stone Age to modern times. The main building and largest part of the museum is the rococo-style Winter Palace, residence of the Czars from 1762 to 1917. The museum was commissioned by Catherine the Great and she and her successors built the Hermitage collection in large part with purchases of the private collections of the Western European aristocracy and monarchy. By the time Nicholas II ascended the throne in 1894, he was heir to the greatest collection of art in Europe. The collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings will be covered with a local specialist guide.
Dinner at restaurant Academia
Restaurant Academia is situated on the Vasilyevsky Island in the vicinity the Academy of Sciences, hence the name. The spacious restaurant offers combinations of European cuisine blended with elements of traditional Russian recipes. The dining rooms are decorated in a modern style.
Meal Plan: B,D
Pushkin - St Petersburg
Catherine Palace visit (we offer early admittance to the museum, so you can avoid the crowds)
This morning transfer by coach journeying to Pushkin to see famous Catherine Palace and Parks, situated 25 km south of St Petersburg in Tsarskoe Selo (renamed Pushkin in 1937 to commemorate the centenary of his death). You may visit the summer palace, created for Catherine I, expanded and redesigned for Empress Elizabeth and remodeled again for Catherine the Great. The baroque Catherine Palace, whose exterior features golden domes and blue and white facade mouldings, suffered extensive wartime damage, but is today a masterpiece of restoration thanks to the reinstatement of the world-famous amber room that enhances the interior that gleams and glitters with mirrors, chandeliers and gilded woodcarvings.
Afterwards have a unique chance to participate in an Old Russian entertainment – riding on a Russian Troika. Three horses will take you for a ride on a big carriage painted in traditionally Russian style. The fervent ring of the bells tied to a bridle will be your accompanying music.
Afterwards to warm up, enjoy a glass of vodka and taste pancakes stuffed with caviar and sour cream
Lunch at Podvorie Dacha restaurant with impressive Cossacks Performance
Enjoy a traditional hearty Russian lunch at Podvorie Dacha which resembles a Russian terem (wooden palace): pickles, cold cuts, salads, borsch, and pancakes with ice cream). The restaurant is housed in a typical Russian log house and its interior is filled with wooden panels and bear skins hanging on the walls of the restaurant. The restaurant offers a relaxed, informal atmosphere. This restaurant in recent years has hosted President Putin’s birthday celebrations and is also renowned for its excellent and lively folklore performances – you are invited to join in and learn some energetic Russian traditional dances.
Return to the hotel and enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure
Meal Plan: B,L
Shuvalovka Village - St Petersburg
Teambuilding at Shuvalovka village
In the morning travel out of town to the Russian village of Shuvalovka – where you can immerse yourself in real Russian culture.
This hospitable Russian Village consists of the Crafts Centre, the Traditional Log Hut and Blacksmith's and Potter's workshops. The group will be divided into smaller groups to compete in traditional Russian crafts under the careful tutelage of professionals: create a pot or a clay toy, forge a real horseshoe to hang above your doorstep for good fortune, cook dumplings, make rustic toys, create talismans from birch bark etc. You will also participate in traditional Russian outdoor activities: “tag of war”, pole climbing, capture of the Snow Fortress (if weather permits) etc. Afterwards cheer up at Vodka tasting.
These activities will help you to immerse yourself in the bright and festive culture of the Russian people.
Enjoy lunch in the village before returning to the hotel
Russian Bath house experience (Banya) 10-15 pax
Spend a day at one of Russia's baths experiencing extremes of temperature as you move from the hot baths to the icy pool.
Baths differ greatly in temperature and humidity. A Russian bath has the same levels of humidity as the air we breathe every day: about 60%. And the temperatures usually do not exceed 80C/180F. Russians pay special attention to the quality of steam: by throwing water on stones heated to extreme temperatures behind metal doors, they create steam droplets of exceptionally small size; this makes breathing easy and enjoyable. And of cause there's a famous Russian venik - leafy, fragrant bundle of birch twigs used to gently beat and massage fellow bathers.
Gala Dinner at Yusupov Palace
Enjoy a short tour of Yusupov Palace, which belonged to Prince Felix Yusupov, who organized the assassination of the infamous Siberian monk Gregory Rasputin. Also visit the room where the assassination took place.
Apart from the notorious fame the palace has magnificent interiors. Admire antique furniture and see the room where parties for the Russian Nobility took place and the private theatre where the clients will enjoy the opera & ballet performance.
The evening will be followed by the cocktail and Gala Dinner.
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Depart St Petersburg
Today you will be privately transferred to the airport for your return flight home.
Meal Plan: B