Arrival at Moscow Airport, where you are met and transferred to the five-star Marriott Royal Aurora hotel, located in the heart of the city for a one night stay. This evening will be spent enjoying an opera or ballet performance at the world-famous Bolshoi Theatre. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and greatest ballet and opera companies of the world with a history dating back to the late 18th century and producer of some of Russia's most famous ballets stars, including Maya Plisetskaya.

Our city tour this morning of Moscow principally takes us to Red Square, an iconic symbol of Russia’s former military and political might. Here we see an eclectic mix of fascinating architecture, such as the ornate St Basil’s Cathedral with its magnificent onion-domed spires, the grandeur of The Kremlin and the sombre and evocative site of Lenin’s tomb. Following lunch in the Godunov Restaurant, this afternoon as part of our Freedom of Choice touring programme, you can select to visit the Tretyakov Gallery (National Museum of Russian Fine Art), the KGB Museum or return to the Bolshoi for a historical tour of the theatre. This evening is at leisure, but we can arrange tickets for you (at an extra charge) to see a further performance at the Bolshoi or at another theatre in Moscow. Late evening we board the Golden Eagle, with time to settle into your cabin as we begin our rail journey overnight to Vladimir.

Today we visit the historic city of Vladimir. Founded in 990, it is one of Russia’s oldest communities with an architectural wealth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our tour takes in Uspensky Cathedral, built between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries. It is considered one of the most important and beautiful of Russian cathedrals, where many of the prominent Russian Tsars were crowned. Our excursion moves on to the town of Suzdal, one of Russia’s most perfectly preserved walled cities dating back to 1024. Here we visit the atmospheric St Euthymius Monastery to witness an enchanting choral performance by a male choir.

Our tour of this ancient city and capital of the Ukraine includes the beautifully restored Monastery of Caves, Lavra Complex which has the highest bell tower in the former USSR and together with Saint Sophia’s Cathedral, which we also visit, is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We also visit the huge Mother Ukraina World War Two Monument and Museum and take a stroll along the main Khreshchatyk Street which leads onto Independence Square. This evening we enjoy a performance in the spectacular Vienesse neo-renaissance building of the Ukrainian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Breakfast finds us heading south to the Black Sea, where we arrive in the elegant city of Odessa at lunchtime with its tree-lined Primorsky Boulevard featuring street cafes on the embankment and the Potemkin Steps. This Black Sea city was immortalised in Einstein’s 1925 film ‘Battleship Potemkin’. Nearby is the impressive National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, which first opened in 1810 and recently renovated and where we visit for tonight’s performance.

The Imperial Capital City of St Petersburg is one of the world's most stunning cities where we will stay for the next two nights. St Petersburg is crowded with splendid palaces, impressive historical monuments, wide boulevards, beautiful bridges and is renowned as the Ballet Capital of the World. Today, following an early morning arrival, as part of our Freedom of Choice touring programme you will have a choice of how to spend time in central St. Petersburg. Perhaps you would like to visit the Hermitage Museum, St Isaac’s Cathedral, Sheremetev Palace, which houses a large collection of musical instruments or visit the influential Vaganova Choreographic School, the associate school of the Mariinsky Theatre and the world’s finest ballet school, where Russia’s former and future dancers are trained. Tonight we visit the Mariinsky Theatre for what will be an outstanding production of ballet or opera. Opened in 1860, the Mariinsky Theatre became the finest music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premeries. Since 1988, under the artistic leadership of Valery Gergiev, the theatre has entered a new era of artistic excellence and creativity and tonight’s performance will, no doubt, be an unforgettable evening.

Today we visit Catherine the Great’s rococo Summer Palace in Pushkin, including the world-famous Amber Room. Lunch is at the Podvorye Restaurant. This evening is at leisure, but we can arrange for you a further performance (at an extra charge) at the Mariinsky or another theatre of your choice in St Petersburg.

Following breakfast, you will be transferred to St Petersburg Airport to begin your journey home.