Waterways of the Tsars 2012 

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar for Brussels in Standard Premier Class, with a light meal and drinks. We change at Brussels and continue to Cologne, where we overnight at the 5-star Le Meridien Dom Hotel. (E,D)

Today is free for you to explore Cologne at your own pace. Be sure to visit the immense cathedral, a popular UNESCO World Heritage site. This evening we board the Jan Kiepura sleeper service to Moscow. We spend Day 3 travelling across Poland, through Belarus and into Russia. (Day 2 - B)

This morning we arrive in Moscow, where we board the superb luxury river cruiser MS Amakatarina, our fl oating home for the next twelve days. We remain at our moorings in Moscow for the next three nights. This vibrant metropolis offers a variety of cultural delights, from medieval cathedrals to Stalin's neo-Gothic skyscrapers and the commanding presence of the Kremlin. After settling in to your cabin, the rest of the day is free for you to begin exploring Moscow at leisure. (D)

Today we enjoy a morning city tour of Moscow's most iconic locations. Our tour includes Red Square, best known as the setting for Russian state ceremonies. The wide cobbled square offers wonderful views of the grandiose Kremlin. We also visit the State Tretyakov Gallery, which houses an extensive collection of Russian fi ne art. There is the opportunity for you to enjoy a performance at the Moscow Circus this evening (payable locally). (B,L,D)

This morning we explore the vast Kremlin, a walled 'city' surrounded by 18th century towers with its own cathedrals, palaces, museums and the seat of government. Our guided tour includes the outstanding Armoury Museum, which houses the jewel-encrusted thrones and robes of the Tsars. Later today we take a short ride on Moscow's amazing Metro system. Construction of the Metro system began in 1932 and features huge elegant stations with art and sculpture spanning modernist avant-garde to Soviet philosophy. This afternoon you are free to explore Moscow. Perhaps try a traditional bath-house, which is an established Russian relaxation technique. (B,L,D)

Today we begin our cruise along the Moscow Canal and the mighty Volga River. We pass through the territory of ancient Muscovy, a region of glittering towns that were once the envy of all Russians. We dock in the city of Uglich for a guided tour, followed by a visit to a Russian family home, a truly unique cultural experience. The city was destroyed during the confl icts that followed the death of Ivan the Terrible, but was gloriously rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries and now boasts some of Russia's most beautiful religious architecture. (B,L,D)

We drop anchor in the Golden Ring city of Yaroslavl today for a sightseeing tour of this ancient city, rich in monuments. We visit the historic Transfiguration Monastery located on the Solovetsky Islands. On Day 9 we stop in Goritzy, a small typical Russian village. We visit the Monastery of St Cyril on the White Lake and the Museum of Icons before returning to our ship to cruise to Kizhi. (Days 8 & 9 - B,L,D)

We dock at Kizhi Island - an early pagan centre and now a UNESCO protected open-air architectural museum and reserve. Here we see the Church of the Transfi guration, built completely of wood without a single nail, and boasting 22 timbered onion-domes. On Day 11 we continue to Svirstroy, an unspoilt Russian village on the Svir river only 100 miles (161km) from St Petersburg. We moor here overnight. (Days 10 & 11 - B,L,D)

Today we arrive into St Petersburg, our final port of call where we stay for three nights. We take a sightseeing tour of the city after our arrival, which includes St Isaac's Cathedral. We also visit St Petersburg's Palace Square which features the Alexander Column. (B,L,D)

We enjoy a fantastic tour of the Hermitage Museum. One of the largest and oldest museums in the world, the Hermitage was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and includes the largest collection of paintings in the world. The museum is housed in the Winter Palace on the banks of the River Neva, formerly the Palace of the Russian Tsars until the October revolution. This evening we enjoy the evening ballet performance at the Hermitage Theatre, the private theatre of the Tsars. (B,L,D)

Today we visit the opulent Imperial Estate - Peterhof Palace, built by Peter the Great as his summer residence. From the great marble terrace you'll see the famed Grand Cascade. Day 15 is free until we transfer to the airport for our return flight home to London. (Days 14 - B,L,D; Day 15 - B)