Itinerary of Russia - Eastern Europe Tour | Arza World Israel Tours
Wednesday. Depart the USA to Kiev. Flight includes meals, drinks and in-flight entertainment for your journey.
Thursday. Arrive in Kiev. You will be welcomed by our representative who will assist with arrival formalities. Transfer to your hotel in the heart of the Kiev with the balance of the day at leisure to explore the city. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation with your tour manager at the hotel. (D) KIEV
Friday. Enjoy a full day of Jewish sight-seeing featuring a visit to Congregation Hatikvah and other spheres of modern Jewish life in Kiev. Meet with members of the Kiev Jewish Community. In the afternoon, visit Podol Synagogue and the Babi Yar Memorial. Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Visit a local Synagogue for Shabbat services. Following services, have dinner with members of the Jewish community at a local restaurant (B,D): KIEV
Saturday. This morning begins with a walking tour of Kiev. Visit the Brodsky Synagogue, a hub of Jewish cultural life, and the Great Kiev Jewish Community Center. See the monument to the renowned Jewish writer, Sholom Aleichem. Balance of the day at leisure (B): KIEV
Sunday. Depart on an excursion to Zhytomir, which according to legend was founded in the year 888. Visit the once thriving Old Jewish Quarter and the Bogunsky Forest Holocaust Memorial. In the afternoon continue to the former shtetl of Berdichev with its numerous Jewish Heritage sites in the Old Quarter of the town. Berdichev was the second largest Jewish city in the Russian Empire and the only town where Jews made up the majority of the population. Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure (B): KIEV
Monday. Drive to Minsk today via Gomel, the second largest city in Belarus after Minsk. One of the oldest towns in the country, at one time it had a flourishing Jewish Community. After lunch at a local restaurant, a short tour of Gomel includes a visit to the Old Jewish Quarter.
Continue on to Minsk and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure (B,L): MINSK
Tuesday. This morning, enjoy an excursion to Mir to see the Yeshiva and Holocaust Memorial. Visit the 16th century castle, one of the biggest castles in Eastern Europe. During World War II, the Jewish ghetto was situated in Mir within the territory of Mir Castle. Depart Mir for Slonim, a typical old Belarusian town where the Jewish population prevailed before World War II. Leisure time to shop before visiting the remains of the synagogue. Return to Minsk for dinner at the hotel with local Jewish Community guests(B,D): MINSK
Wednesday. Morning city tour of Minsk, focusing on its Jewish heritage. Visit Yama (Pit), the monument to the victims of fascism and Pravednikov Lane, an alley in memory of people who saved Jews during the World War II. See the surviving main Synagogue and Yeshiva, as well as remnants of other former houses of Jewish worship. After the city tour, depart for Vitebsk located on the picturesque banks of three rivers. Tour the Chagall House Museum including the art-center where Chagall's works are displayed and the House-Museum where Chagall's family used to live at the beginning of the 20th century. After dinner at a local restaurant, transfer to the rail station for the overnight train to Moscow. (B,D): TRAIN DVINA
Thursday. Morning arrival in Moscow.
After breakfast at a local restaurant, enjoy the Jewish sights of Moscow including the Synagogue and the Berl Lazar Shabbat Center in Marina Roscha. This wooden part of Moscow was the old Jewish area. City tour continues with the most famous landmarks of Moscow: Red Square and the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed. Visit the Poklonnaya Gora Holocaust Museum and Memorial Synagogue. Enjoy lunch at a picturesque Russian restaurant. After lunch, visit the Gum Mall, the Underground Shopping Center Manez and take a ride on the Moscow Metro. Balance of the evening at leisure (B,L): Moscow
Friday. Enjoy the sights of classic Moscow today with a tour of the Kremlin including the Armory. At the center of the Kremlin is Cathedral Square, where the four main Cathedrals are located. You will be amazed by the enormous size of the world's largest Tzar Bell & Tzar Cannon. Visit the Armory, Russia's oldest museum which possesses a priceless collection of Imperial treasures such as ancient state regalia, the tsar's ceremonial coronation dress, the largest collection of gold and silver by Russian craftsmen, ceremonial weapons, carriages, Oriental and European gold artifacts. Balance of the day at leisure or visit the Tretyakov Art Gallery at Krymsky Val. The gallery houses a unique museum exhibition of National 20th century art including paintings by Malevich, Kandinsky, Chagall, Filonov, and Popova. In the evening, depart for Shabbat Services at the local Synagogue. Enjoy Shabbat Dinner at a local restaurant with local Jewish Community guests (B,D): Moscow
Saturday. Enjoy a full day at leisure or choose an optional tour to the Kolomenskoye Estate, the summer residence of Moscow's Grand Princes and Russian Tsars. This unique architectural ensemble was created here in the 16th & 17th century in order to express the splendor and magnificence of the Russian monarchy; it is culturally and historically invaluable ($59) (B): Moscow
Sunday. Morning flight to St. Petersburg.
Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, depart on a full day tour to the Grand Palace of Peterhof. Founded in the very beginning of the 18th century by Emperor Peter the Great not far from his new northern capital St Petersburg, Peterhof was intended to become the most splendid official royal summer residence. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the spacious Throne Room, the Royal Bed Chambers, the Oak Study of Peter the Great, as well as the Chinese Studies. Have a stroll in the Lower Park, which is famous for its wonderful fountains and waterfalls with an abundance of gold sculptures.
Depart Peterhof for St. Peterbsurg. Upon arrival in the city center, enjoy a short orientation tour. Walk around Spit of Basil Island with the Stock Exchange and Rostral Columns designed by the architect Tomas de Tomon and raised on the Spit in 1810 as a symbol of naval supremacy of the Russian Empire and in honor of the Russian fleet's conquests.
(B,L): ST. PETERSBURG
Monday. Morning drive to Tsarskoye Selo. Visit the 18th century Baroque style Catherine's Palace, the largest royal summer residence, designed by Italian architect Rastrelli. The highlight of the tour is the world-famous Amber Room. Take a stroll in the French regular garden and English landscape park. Admire the Cameron Gallery designed for Catherine's the Great special dinner parties. Visit the "Formula of Sorrow" memorial. Conclude the day with a visit to The Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral, the burial place of all the Russian Emperors and Empresses from Peter the Great to Alexander III. The Cathedral was the first church in the city to be built of stone( between 1712-33 ) and its design is curiously unusual for a Russian Orthodox church. (B): ST. PETERSBURG
Tuesday. This morning enjoy a canal cruise.
Visit the Hermitage Museum, one of the world's finest art museums containing more than two and a half million works of art representing different ages, cultures and peoples. Visit the Palace of Prince Yusupovs, the finest former private palace of one Russia's richest aristocrats. See the ground floor dining room which houses an exhibit of Gregory Rasputin assassinated in 1916.
Farewell dinner at a local restaurant (B,D): ST. PETERSBURG
Wednesday. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight (B
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