Please note: A visa is required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders to enter Russia.

Witness the resurgence of folk culture as you travel through St. Petersburg and the Baltics. Admire the stunning views of St. Isaac's Cathedral, with its looming gold dome, along the river in St. Petersburg. Then sail the Baltic Sea aboard a cruise to the Finnish capital, Helsinki.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - St. Petersburg

Your trip begins with a regularly scheduled overnight flight to St. Petersburg aboard an internationally recognized airline.

Day 2 - St. Petersburg

Welcome to St. Petersburg! A Go Ahead representative greets you at the airport after you clear customs and escorts you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to begin acquainting yourself with the city. At an included dinner this evening, meet your fellow travelers.
Included meals: breakfast (in flight), dinner

Day 3 - St. Petersburg

This morning, meet your local guide for an extensive tour of St. Petersburg, Peter the Great’s stunning “Window on the West.” You’ll notice the city’s canal network, similar to that of Venice and Amsterdam. All in all, some 360 bridges connect the canals. You’ll see Palace Square, one of Europe’s great meeting places, which saw victory over Napoleon in 1812 and all-night vigils for democracy in the 1980s. Also view the Winter Palace and the Nevsky Prospekt, a tree-lined boulevard that resembles Paris’ Champs-Élyées. In the afternoon, see Peter and Paul Fortress and St. Isaac’s Cathedral. The latter was a labor of love for Czar Nicholas I, who commissioned a dome with 220 pounds of gold leaf and even had granite imported from Finland. Later this afternoon, you’ll have some free time to shop or explore on your own before tonight’s included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac’s Cathedral

Day 4 - St. Petersburg

Spend a free day in St. Petersburg however you wish. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to nearby Petrodvorets, also known as Peter’s Palace, a stunning ensemble of palaces, dining halls and summer homes that rivals Versailles. View fountains, gardens and art galleries—most of which were completely restored after Soviet and Nazi bombings during World War II. Dinner is included tonight.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

$99 USD

Petrodvorets Journey to the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland to visit Peter the Great’s Petrodvorets, summer residence of the czars. Explore the many opulent rooms and chambers of the grandly decorated palace, much beloved by Russian royalty.

Day 5 - St. Petersburg

Actually four linked buildings as big as a small town, the Hermitage Museum features more than 3 million pieces of art and sculpture ranging from ancient Greece to Renaissance Italy and modern times. On a special full-day visit, view over 3,000 years of human expression on display. Highlights include works by Leonardo and Caravaggio, as well as priceless jewelry in Catherine the Great’s Treasure Gallery. Your Tour Director will advise you on how best to tackle this giant attraction—a map and guidebook are essential. After some free time, regroup for an included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Hermitage Museum

Day 6 - Tallinn

This morning, motor through the countryside to Tallinn, Estonia’s historic capital. The city’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates back to the 12th century and is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Enjoy free time before an included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 7 - Tallinn

Meet your expert local guide this morning for a tour of Tallinn by motorcoach and on foot. Pass through the ancient stone gates of the Old Town and into a world of cobblestone streets, Gothic cathedrals and town squares. You’ll see Toomkirik Cathedral, a Lutheran church founded in the 13th century. Also view Toompea Castle, where the Estonian parliament meets, and Town Hall Square.
Then visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a 19th-century Russian Orthodox church with a beautiful mosaic interior, and the Estonian Art Museum, housed in an 18th-century noble’s house. The rest of your afternoon is free to explore the city on your own. We suggest walking through the streets of the Old Town or taking a trip to Kadriorg Park, built for Peter the Great. Later, enjoy tonight’s optional Seafood Specialty Dinner.
Included meals: breakfast
Included entrances: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Estonian Art Museum

$89 USD

Seafood Dinner In Tallinn In the Bay of Tallinn, savor what can only be considered some of the most succulent and savory seafood you’ll ever sample.

Day 8 - Tallinn

Spend a free day exploring Tallinn. You might wish to shop for craftwork at the small shops and markets or journey out to the countryside. Nearby Lahemaa National Park offers waterfalls, lakes and forests covering a vast space right next to the Baltic Sea. Or take an optional excursion to the capital of Finland, cosmopolitan Helsinki. The excursion includes a cruise and a full-guided sightseeing tour of the city, featuring the Parliament building and Helsinki Cathedral.
Included meals: breakfast

$199 USD

Helsinki Tour & Cruise On this full-day land and sea tour, visit breathtaking Helsinki, Finland's seaside capital. You'll explore the city on a guided tour with a local guide. Please note: This optional excursion requires advance reservations and must be booked 20 days prior to departure.

Day 9 - Riga

Leaving Tallinn, stop in the resort city of Pärnu, situated on Estonia’s western coast. The port, founded in the 13th century by the German Teutonic Knights, has a fortified Old Town and traditional spas. Then cross into Latvia and reach Riga, its historic capital. After hotel check-in, you’ll have some free time to relax or begin discovering the city. Dinner is included this evening.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner

Day 10 - Riga

On today’s guided tour, discover the monuments and character of Riga, once the headquarters of the Livonian Order and now the center of Latvian politics and culture. The city is divided into the Vecriga (Old Town) and the New Town. Walk through Vecriga and take in sights like St. Peter’s Church and Riga Castle, which dates back to the 14th century. Then head to the New Town for a look at the Freedom Monument, erected in 1935. The rest of the afternoon is free to continue exploring on your own.
Included meals: breakfast

Day 11 - Riga

Spend a full free day in Riga. You might wish to join our special optional excursion highlighting Riga’s huge variety of stunning architecture. An expert local guide takes you for a walking tour that spans from the Art Nouveau period to the later Russian influences. Along the way, your guide offers fun lectures and discussions about Eastern Europe’s art and architectural history.
For those not going on the excursion, spend a free day in Riga. Options include the markets and shops of the New Town, the Jewish quarter of Maskavas and the fascinating Riga Motor Museum. This evening, opt to view a performance of Riga Opera, located in the famous theater where composer Richard Wagner (Tristan and Isolde and 12 other operas) was once the musical director.
Included meals: breakfast

$99 USD

Riga Opera Evening In the late 18th century, traveling opera troupes from all over Europe came to Riga to perform. Soon after, the official Riga Opera opened as the prestigious German Theater. Please note: This optional excursion requires advance reservations and must be booked 20 days prior to departure.

$39 USD

Riga Walking Tour This walking tour, directed by an expert local guide, takes you through three generations of Riga’s history, art and architecture and a major UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 12 - St. Petersburg

A Go Ahead representative escorts you to the airport for departure.
Included meals: breakfast
(In the case of early morning departures, breakfast may not be included.)

Protect your investment with affordable travel protection

Basic Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Protect yourself in the event you need to cancel your trip or leave your tour unexpectedly due to an emergency. Or choose one of the comprehensive packages below, and receive a discounted rate!

TravelSafe Plus — For one low price, you’ll receive:

• Trip cancellation & interruption protection
• Medical & accident protection
• Baggage & property protection

TravelSafe Gold with Flight Cancellation Protection
Take advantage of the best possible deal for your investment dollar. For $60 USD more, you’ll get all of the above plus additional coverage (up to $1,000 USD) if the flight to your tour is cancelled due to reasons beyond your control.

Purchase your travel protection package early and receive an added benefit!
Purchase one of the above TravelSafe packages within 14 days of reserving your tour, and you’ll automatically receive AnyTime Travel Protection at no additional charge. This means you can cancel for any reason up to 72 hours prior to the departure of your initial flight and still protect your investment. You will be provided with a credit voucher towards your next Go Ahead tour.

What’s unique about these protection plans?

• Most primary travel protection companies don’t cover international travel.
• Under the AnyTime Travel Protection Plan, you can cancel for any reason and your investment is protected in the form of a credit voucher.
• Efekta travel protection covers lost or stolen cash while on tour.
• Efekta travel protection covers the cost towards replacement of valuable documents—such as passports, airline tickets and visas while on tour.
• In the event that your roommate cancels for a reason covered under the policy, you will be reimbursed for the single supplement fee, should you still choose to travel.
• The following policies are also available to be purchased separately:
  • Medical & Accident: $70 USD
  • Baggage & Property: $60 USD

Extended Protection Plan
The Extended Protection Plan allows you to purchase extended coverage for any travel you do before or after meeting up with your Go Ahead Tours tour group (with flights arranged by Go Ahead Tours).

For more detailed descriptions of the benefits available under Efekta Insurance International LTD's Travel Protection Plans please call 1-800-597-0350 or download a PDF copy of the Efekta Travel Protection booklet here.

Passport & Visa

Passport Information:
In order to enter the countries on this itinerary, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return to the United States.

Visa Information:
A visa is also required for U.S. and Canadian passport holders to enter Russia. We recommend that you obtain an individual visa prior to departure through our recommended provider, Zierer Visa Service. They can be reached by either calling 1-866-788-1100 or visiting www.zvs.com/tourkits. (If you get to a page requiring a log in, please use code 73041 to access Go Ahead's visa kits).

If you opt to apply for your visa directly with the Russian consulate and require additional assistance and/or documentation from Go Ahead, a special arrangements fee of $95 per person may be charged.

If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact the relevant embassies as soon as possible for your specific entry requirements.

Health

There are no major health risks at your destinations. It is always advisable to check with your doctor or health-care provider for the latest updates and overseas travel requirements.

Transportation / Walking on tour

Round-trip flights arrive in St. Petersburg and depart from Riga. Included transportation on St. Petersburg & the Baltics is by private motorcoach. In your free time, you may wish to explore the cities by public transportation and on foot.

St. Petersburg’s metro system is the easiest way to get around the larger city. It’s ultra-fast. There’s rarely longer than a three-minute wait. Buses, trolleybuses (electric trams) and trams are also available and efficient. Tickets can be purchased from major kiosks and, sometimes, from the drivers.

There is also a train transfer from Moscow to St. Petersburg for travelers taking the Moscow pre-tour extension. When traveling by train there may be times when you will have to handle your own luggage, and you’ll find that lightweight luggage provides a distinct advantage.

Clothing & Packing Tips

Light, loose-fitting clothing that provides comfort when exploring the sights is essential for your tour. A sun hat, sunglasses and a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers are recommended for sightseeing. It’s always a good idea to be prepared for any eventuality—a lightweight sports jacket and emergency rainwear are advised. If you plan to visit an especially elegant restaurant or attend the opera or theater, you will probably feel more comfortable with something more formal to wear. Also, remember that it is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Be sure to visit www.travelsmith.com, official outfitters for Go Ahead Tours. Please enter JY9220 in the field for Catalog Key Code when creating your account!

Currency

The Russian ruble, the Estonian kroon and the Latvian lat are the currencies you’ll be using on this trip. Better rates of exchange are usually available in your destination countries rather than in the United States, although it is worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.

We strongly suggest bringing a combination of cash, ATM/debit cards and credit cards with you to make purchases. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges. Traveler’s checks are increasingly difficult to cash, especially in Russia.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Go Ahead Tour Director and driver a gratuity. We recommend tipping in your tour country’s currency, the equivalent of $3USD/CAD per person per day for your driver and $6USD/CAD to $9USD/CAD per person per day for your Tour Director. If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD/CAD per local guide.

Tips can only be paid in cash.

Please keep current local currency exchange rates in mind when tipping.