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Freedom Tours by Maritime Travel

Providing customized, private group tours for twenty years. Private excursions for groups are their specialty. Tours can be customized based on any number of preferences. Experience Saint John up close and personal as nationally certified guides bring the past to life through stories and visits to our most interesting and well known landmarks.

Hours listed are office hours. Tours can take place anytime.

45.2700488, -66.0609825

Contact info, you may also like, cliff valley astronomy, spooner island nature park, kefi travel club.

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The Saint John Region is situated on the traditional and unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Mi’Kmaq, and Peskotomuhkati Nations. This territory is covered by Peace and Friendship Treaties signed with the British Crown in the 1700s. The treaties did not surrender the territory and resources, but recognized Wolastoqiyik, Mi’Kmaq, and Peskotomuhkati title, and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

Envision Saint John: The Regional Growth Agency pays respect to the elders, past and present, and descendants of this land, and is committed to moving forward in the spirit of truth, collaboration, and reconciliation.

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Freedom Tour with Simon Conway

The iowa/california 2023 freedom tour presented by news radio 1040 who and news radio 600 wmt, with simon conway.

July 2-8, 2023

Discover the Battleship of Presidents and the West Coast’s only battleship museum.  A unique experience on board takes you on a memorable journey through World War II, Korean War, and Cold War; following in footsteps of thousands of sailors that lived on a city at sea.  Visitors tour six decks and numerous exhibits on the Battleship that hosted three U.S. Presidents during her service as a symbol of democracy.  The Battleship USS IOWA is located at the L.A. Waterfront, former home to the US Navy Battleship fleet, an area rich in maritime history.  Also included in this popular tour is the Reagan Ranch, Reagan Library, Catalina Island and much more!

See orange buttons on the right of this screen for trip brochure with itinerary details, and traveler information form.

Price per person : $3999.00 double occupancy, $4500.00 per person single occupancy.

Space is limited! A non-refundable deposit payment of $500.00 per person is due to confirm your reservation.

Trip insurance is recommended and varies by age, but estimated to be $312.00 per person. The trip insurance premium is non-refundable and must be paid with deposit payment to cover pre-existing conditions.

Final payment is due March 24, 2023.

Contact Dean Burtch at Allied Travel: 515-270-7070

Freedom Tours by Maritime Travel

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Canada’s first Carrabba’s Italian Grill! Fresh pasta made in-house daily, grilled Italian favourites with a wide selection of wine, cocktails & beer.

Some of the finest, authentic Indian, Mughlai and Tandoori cuisine available in the Atlantic region.

Kelsey’s Original Roadhouse

Large portions of American fare & specialty cocktails in a casual setting with comfy booths & TVs.

La Diperie Dieppe

Serving award winning ice cream with over 40 different chocolate dips as well as famous cheesecakes from The Cheesecake Factory, donuts, cookies and more.

Comfort Inn Moncton Dieppe

Avenir Centre

An indoor arena in Downtown Moncton. Opened in September 2018, it serves as the home to the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

The Cookie Jar

Live the sweet life at this delectable dessert stop offering cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, deep-fried cookie dough and much more.

Country Meadows

The Country Meadows course was designed by PGA of Canada Life Member Doug Sullivan who has operated this complete, friendly, affordable golf facility just north of Moncton since its opening.

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Freedom Biker Tours 

Your cage-free vacation experience... no cars... no buses..., just motorcycles, feel the freedom | share your authentic self | be accepted.

Experience the BROTHERHOOD

Rides for all Bikers

Guided motorcycle tours, #1 motorcycle tour company in canada, canadian owned and operated, your 'cage-free' vacation experience.

As Close To All-Inclusive As You Can Get

The motorcycle is the universal symbol of independence and personal freedom. For each of us it holds special and deeply personal meanings on many levels. We self-express. We show our authentic selves. We experience the Brotherhood. We encourage all riders to experience and live our core values: Freedom , Authenticity , Acceptance and Brotherhood  

Let's have some fun... We Guarantee you will have a safe, worry-free experience

Jd guarantees it | call me @ 250.490.1914  | e-mail me @ [email protected], let us handle all the details.

Find Your Freedom

At Freedom Biker Tours, we feel confident in saying that there are a lot of us seeking some ' Throttle Therapy'

Why not get that therapy while exploring amazing regions of Canada, the USA, and other areas of our world with Biker Brothers and Sisters

Ride with Freedom Biker Tours... 

Feel the FREEDOM |   Share your AUTHENTIC Self | Be ACCEPTED

Together We Ride

Testimonials

Bryan park | new zealand.

Ride The Yucatan | 2023

I have had many overseas trips on my Harley and recommend this trip as it gave us many fantastic experiences. Very educational, very safe, and friendly environment. A must do experience for all.

John Wilson - Local Biker, Canadian Maritimes

Ride The Maritimes |

From a comment on Facebook:

"That's an incredible itinerary from someone who has ridden most of the routes every summer, living here in the Maritimes. You won't be disappointed!" 

Testimonial Australians | 2023

Testimonial Keith | 2023

Testimonial Travis | 2023

Testimonial Julie | 2023

Testimonial Susan | 2023

Testimonial Howard | 2023

Testimonial Ted | 2023

Karen Boyes | New Zealand

We loved this small group Harley tour thru the Yucatan. It was a great mix of riding, culture, geology, archaeology, beaches and so much more. Curt, Manny and Carlos ensured that everyone got the most out of the trip. Many people we told about going on this trip and we were concerned about be safe in Mexico but be assured at all times we felt very welcomed and safe. I highly recommend you add this to your to do tour list.

Carmen Pineda-Selva

What a great mix of riding and relaxing. From enjoying the sand at fabulous beaches, exploring ancient ruins, experiencing the alluring culture, and relaxing with fresh and feisty mouth watering cuisine. Life doesn't get better than warm weather and riding Harley's through small towns waving to kids. The tour guides were knowledgeable and the bikes were well maintained. Do this!

Keith Smead ( Minnesota, USA)

Ride The Rockies + Best Of BC | 2023

This was an awesome trip. Met a great group of people from all over. Saw some beautiful country and learned about the history. Well worth the money for checking things off bucket list. Plan to sign up for another trip with FREEDOM BIKER TOURS. THANKS JD

Ted Davis (Canada)

The “Ride The Rockies and Best of BC” motorcycle tour was well organized and conducted by Freedom Biker Tours. They ensured that everyone experienced an abundance of great scenery and excellent mountain roads, with time to stop and take in the views. When not riding their motorcycles, participants were provided with a wide variety of meals throughout the day, and comfortable accommodations for the night. It was a great trip, with riders from all walks of life – some from overseas – who bonded through their shared two-wheeled experience of BC and Alberta!

Videography Incognito

I was commissioned for a 7 day CMTA (Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association) and Travel Alberta video project, and JD from Freedom Biker Tours was hired as my guide. It was my first time on a motorcycle.

JD was very safety conscious, always checking the oil, the tire pressure, the route maps and the weather forecast. He never complained about having to pack and balance my camera equipment, or the extra swag I bought at rallies. He always seemed to have a plan and was happy and easy going.

Since it was my first motorcycle experience I was asked to rate from 1-10 the danger I felt on a bike. I said “a 3 because there’s no seatbelt, I’m completely exposed and I can see the road zipping past from under me so I know there’s danger”

They responded with “wow, you must have had a good driver”

Yes, yes I did. JD was an excellent Sherpa. His experience was evident, I felt comfortable on his bike and I now insist that we continue to work on future video projects together. I have confidence in him and his operations. He is a fantastic tour operator.

Susan Graham (British Columbia, Canada)

I had the absolute pleasure of participating in the ‘Ride the Rockies + Best of BC’ tour earlier this month. We saw some very beautiful country and even some wild critters! The tour was well organized and it was really nice to have everything taken care of - route, breaks, meals, fuel and accommodation. We even had a support vehicle to help pack some of our luggage. Our tour hosts were friendly and made everyone feel comfortable. As a woman travelling solo, I felt safe. I would highly recommend Freedom Biker Tours as a way to see some spectacular places, do some spectacular riding and spend time with some spectacular people!!

Julie Heasman (Canada)

JD and Tim from Freedom Biker Tours put together a amazing 10 day tour. Was amazing to see such breath taking scenery! Made new friends and made new memories. Highly recommend attending one of the tours. My only suggestion is gas station at the end of the day so we can get out and enjoy the roads first thing.

Travis Bonner (Canada)

Just did the Ride the Rockies + Best of B.C tour. I must say what an awesome experience. Fun roads, great sites and some wicked riders from around the globe . A true all inclusive deal and well worth the money, the hosts where friendly, helpful and super knowledgeable about the area we rode through. 2 highlights for me were the visits to the ice on the Athabasca glacier and sunrise in the 6 floor penthouse suite overlooking Okanagan lake. I will be looking at doing another one if there tours. 5 stars Freedom Biker Tours.

Sub-Zero Productions (Canada)

Ride The Rockies + Best OF BC | 2023

Just completed the Ride the Rockies/Best of B.C tour and highly recommend it. The adventure was a unique experience with a great variety of locations, wicked roads, and top notch hospitality. Met some really awesome riders from around the globe and new friends for life.

Carmen Pelletier (Alberta, Canada)

I am now spoiled. Not having to worry was the greatest gift Freedom Biker Tours provided. This was a perfect way to experience the sights and smells of the uncaged Canadian Rockies and BC. The entire route was well mapped and planned out. All I did was show up and enjoy the ride. As a 5ft 107lbs girl I found so much security travelling with FBT tour group and really learned the meaning of 'brotherhood/sisterhood'. Each morning we discussed our anticipated routes and had fuel up check-ins where I learned more about the motorcycle that I anticipated. There were regular leg stretching sightseeing pit stops with an array of refreshments emerging from the support vehicle. After a full day of riding it was glorious to be given a key to a hotel room that was not just clean but upscale. Equally fabulous knowing that you had reservations for breakfast lunches and dinners with options to cater every picky eater. That said, one of my favourite was our 'Riders Retreat' glamping experience where Freedom Biker Tours surprised us with a live band and fully catered Steak BBQ to enjoy by the fire pit and converse with other riders staying at the campground. This is what I mean by spoiled, as you certainly experience the windfall of JD's many years in biker culture and tourism.

Howard Phillips (U.K.)

I was a little nervous about going on the tour, but after JD phoned me l was reassured by his genuine and personable manner and that he wanted everyone to have a great experience. The whole tour was very well organised with every detail thought through. There were many highlights on the tour, but a couple that stand out was the Cookout at the Biker’s campground with a live band, followed by the next day's ride on one of the world's top ten motorcycle roads, where everything came together and I felt at one with the bike. I just couldn't believe l was riding an awesome Harley on these spectacular Canadian roads. The hotels were great, especially at Lake Okanagan, we had dinner on the terrace with the sun going down behind the mountains across the Lake. The other riders were very friendly and helpful, especially when parking the bikes. With the backup support, everything ran very smoothly. It was one of my best holidays. 

Our Rides are for all Bikers. We are Brothers and Sisters no matter where we are from or what we ride. Ride with us and share your Authentic Self. Make Life A Ride...

Rides: canada, ride the rockies + best of bc.

June 22, 2024

• from $7,285 P.P. CAD

Ride The Maritimes

August 01, 2024

• from $5,515 P.P. CAD

Ride The West Coast

• from $6,069 P.P. CAD

Rides: Australia & Mexico

Ride australia's southeast.

March 22, 2025

• from $15,859 AUD

Ride The Yucatan

November through April

• from $1,750 P.P. USD

We’d like to share our authentic self…

I invite you to take a couple of minutes and watch this video about Freedom Biker Tours.

Learn who we are, our brand, and our values...

– Cheers, JD

your next RIDE is calling

Your next THROTTLE THERAPY  session is just around the next bend in the road

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Your cage-free, worry-free motorcycle vacation experience, we guarantee it, no cars. no buses. just motorcycles..., where freedom begins..., ~canadian owned and operated~.

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Freedom tours nw, inc..

You're going to love where FREEDOM takes you

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Our overnight tours will encourage you to make lasting friendships, explore new environments, and help you achieve your travel goals.

The following tours were created with you in mind, as we attempt to find the best spots, shows, and foods of the PCNW, USA, and the World. Join us on a tour and let us help you find your FREEDOM.

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Includes: Transportation, 2 ferry rides, entrance fees, 3 nights hotel, one dinner

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Includes: Transportation, hotels, entrance fees, some meals

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Independent Travel to Moscow and St. Petersburg

My wife and I have traveled independently to many European countries and, after reading many of the comments in this forum, feel like we may be able to do so in Moscow and St. Petersburg as well, although we feel somewhat less comfortable than the other countries where we have traveled in Europe.

My biggest question is how much we will miss by visiting the main sites without a tour guide. In the other European countries we have visited on our own we have been comfortable and satisfied with the level of knowledge we have gained by studying and visiting on our own, although we believe a tour guide or tour company in any country would normally be able to provide greater insight than visiting a site on our own, but about in Moscow and St. Petersburg?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Unless you speak at least some Russian and read the alphabet it would be difficult without a guide. Very few signs in English especially in Moscow. Also not too many people speak English there.

I visited St Petersburg last Autumn for a protracted period , and did not find it anymore daunting than any other European city . As Ilja says , learning the Cyrillic alphabet is a big plus . I also found that it was fairly easy to grasp . It will , among other things , enable you to read signs with relative ease . I would answer the main part or your question ( about tour guides ) thus - I am not enamored of tour guides or tours. While I only use a tour under duress ( A sites rules prohibiting an independent visit - ie Glasgow School of Art , Municipal House in Prague , etc ) . Doing your own preparation and homework is the best way , in my opinion . My wife and I ventured through St Petersburg with nary a concern ,and made two day trips outside of the central district ( one was twenty five miles away , and no English speakers in sight ) Figuring out the logistical details , did not present any difficulties . While I never use tours , I am an inveterate eavesdropper , have done so many times , and find , that on balance , the information that they impart is fairly elementary . If you want greater detail , they are unlikely to supply it . I also prefer to go at my own pace , not being rushed and being able to dwell on things that most other visitors barely give a passing glance . If you are interested , let me know . I would be happy to provide you with information that will enable you to travel independently

Thank you, Steven. I am encouraged by your comments and feel the same way you do about tour groups. We are very much willing to prepare in advance and learn the basics of the Cyrillic alphabet to help us have a better experience.

I would be very interested in learning more about your experience in Russia and receiving any additional information you can provide on independent travel there, starting perhaps with obtaining the visa.

I am not opposed to hiring a private or small group guide for a specific site or for a day trip outside St Petersburg and Moscow, but, like you said, I much prefer the freedom of staying at places as long or short as I want and seeing the sites that interest me most. For example, neither my wife nor I are big into shopping, yet most tour itineraries leave afternoon time for just that. Not interested!

Please provide whatever you may feel would be helpful for us.

Russ , I see you are quite near San Francisco - you can start by looking at the VISA procedure , it's fairly straightforward . Since there is a consulate in San Francisco - look here http://www.consulrussia.org/eng/visa-sub1.html

And here - http://ils-usa.com/main.php

Having always traveled independently, we thought we could do a better job than any tour. How misguided (pun intended) we were. Now that we have had the experience of having someone native to the area walk us around and explain things through a personal perspective we realize how much we missed. For St. Petersburg I highly recommend http://www.peterswalk.com/tours.html . This is not a traditional guided tour, but an opportunity to receive some orientation to the area as well as insight into the "Russian soul". I think if you did this upon arrival the rest of your time would be much more meaningful. We really liked the http://www.pushka-inn.com . The location is superb (just around the corner from the Hermitage square), the rooms lovely, the included breakfast at the restaurant next door ample and overall an excellent value. We used this company to get our visa: https://www.passportvisasexpress.com/site/san_francisco_customer_service Note that it costs about the same for a 3-year visa as a one-year, and you never know if you might want to return within that more extended window of time. It is not cheap, so factor that into your planning.

If you like traveling without a guide in other countries and find this satisfying, the same will be true in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Of course it's not either/or - you can certainly take a guided walk or boat tour, for instance.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of learning Cyrillic if you're going on your own. The book I used was Teach Yourself Beginner's Russian Script, which was great. It breaks down the alphabet into letters that are the same as English, letters that look the same but are pronounced differently, etc. It's out of print, but you can get used copies on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-Beginners-Russian-Script/dp/0071419861/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1459701143&sr=8-2&keywords=teach+yourself+russian+script

Russia is indeed a bit more "foreign" than say, Italy. However, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, I found enough English to be able to get by. Many restaurants had English menus and/or English speaking staff, for instance. This was most emphatically not true in Vladimir and Suzdal (two cities in the Golden Ring outside Moscow). I went with my sister, a Russian speaker, and if she hadn't been there, I would have been in big trouble. So, if you want to see places outside these two big cities, use a guided tour (even if just for that part). Also, Moscow and St. Petersburg are huge cities. Coming from New York, I wasn't intimidated, but those not used to a megacity may not be so cavalier (even I found them overwhelming at times, especially Moscow).

I found both Lonely Planet and Rough Guide to be helpful, and both to have various errors. Look at both, buy whichever one has a more recent edition, and then be prepared to have to discard some of the advice therein. Also, these places change more quickly than places in Western Europe. Be very careful of outdated advice. For instance, I was there in 2001 and 2010, so I won't give you any specifics on getting a visa - that changes constantly.

Just as a teaser, two things I saw and loved that I doubt would be included in any escorted tour are the Gorky House in Moscow (an Art Nouveau wonder) and the Sheremyetov Palace in St. Petersburg (it's now a museum of musical instruments, and the decor is amazing, particularly in the Etruscan Room).

Thanks for all the good advice. Any additional thoughts are welcomed.

One of history's seminal works pertaining to Russian history and culture and a MUST for anyone contemplating a visit or simply interested , is this fine work from 1980 - http://www.amazon.com/Land-Firebird-The-Beauty-Russia/dp/096441841X

This is about you and not about Petersburg. Do you like guided tours? We don't and didn't find that a guide added to our experience in China where we did hire private guides mostly for the logistics; it was easy to have someone drive us places. But once at a site, we didn't need the guide. I felt the same way about our 9 nights in Petersburg. We did hire a guide for the trip to the Catherine Palace again for the ease of logistics for us Olds. Here is our visit: https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2016/01/23/an-easy-trip-to-the-catherine-palace/ There are also snapshots of the Church on Spilled Blood in this photo journal. Having someone pick us up at the apartment and get us in without line ups and shepherd us through the palace steering clear of the tour groups was lovely. But we didn't need commentary because we can read and prepare.

You certainly don't need a guide for the Hermitage (we spent 4 days there), the Russian Museum, the Kazan Cathedral or Church on Spilled Blood or the Faberge Museum. We enjoyed a number of self guided walking tours including a couple from Rick Steves guidebooks. We took the canal cruise suggested by RS that had an English commentator. I would not take one without that as you will be totally clueless. The commentator was not all that good but at least we had some idea what we were seeing. So for people like us who like to do our own thing and can read a guidebook and don't particularly like to be led about, a tour is not needed. If you enjoy tour groups, then go for it. Petersburg is easy to negotiate. It helps if you can read the cyrillic alphabet and it is also useful to have the google translate ap on your phone. We found ourselves translating packages in grocery stores with it and the occasional museum sign or menu. I have one food I need to avoid and so it was handy to have the translator to talk with waiters (I could either show them the sentence, or play it for them or play it to myself and then repeat it to the waiter -- that all worked well)

Dear Russ, I cannot help you with Moscow, but about four years ago, my husband and I went to St Petersburg on our own. But, we did use a private guide for 4 half days. We both feel that our guide absolutely made our trip (we stayed 6 or 7 nights). We used a company owned by Tatyana Chiurikova, www.tour-stpetersburg.com I cannot say enough good things about her and our experience. I emailed her and we worked out a schedule/ sights that was tailored to our interests. She also offered some recommendations, which we took. The guide will meet you at your hotel. And frequently, at certain places, with the guide, we were able to skip the long entrance lines. We had an half day driving tour of the city (car, driver, & guide). You are taken to & go in places such as Peter & Paul Fortress, some of the cathedrals, etc. We had a half day with the guide at the Hermitage which ensured that we would see the major sights there. And, of course, you can stay after your guide leaves or return another day. Also, we had the guide for Peterhof (a must & go by boat) and Catherine's Palace. I hope that you will go to the website. As I said, our guide made our trip. I am positive that we would have missed quite a bit on our own everyday. And I'm sure we would have wasted a lot of time trying to get to various place.This was the best of both worlds, a guide where needed and plenty of time on our own. Whatever you do, I'm sure that you will love St Petersburg! Ashley

I am curious about the lines as we encountered no lines on our trip -- but it was in September. We got tickets for the Hermitage at machines and skipped those lines and our guide for the Catherine Palace which was our only guided experience (as noted before, chosen for the logistics of getting there) had arranged tickets and we didn't have a line, but then we also didn't see lines. We did not find lines at any other site.

Both Moscow and St Petersburg I've done on my own, that is together with the Dear Partner. I can't remember any problem getting where we wanted to go. The Metro systems are well signed, and with a little exercise and patience you can recognize the station names. With a good map and a good guide - we had the Rough Guides - that part of the logistics is solved. The language is a major problem, but the usual tricks of pointing, looking helpless, and making a joke of it all do wonders. I would hate to be led by a guide, but for others it is a comfortable thought.

We also did both cities on our own. I found the DK Eyewitness guide for Moscow has the best map. I used the one from our library (kept the book at home). Took the smaller RS book for St. Petersburg ( his book on northern cities). His map and restaurant ideas were all good. We also downloaded the Google maps in our Android Samsung tablets/phones for both cities and then could get directions to any place we typed in. The blue ball guided us everywhere. I'm sure we missed somethings by not having a guide, but we just enjoy walking around and getting a sense of a place. If you like art, The Hermitage is great. We went 3 times and still missed alot. In St. Peterburg we stayed at the 3 Mosta which we loved (quite and not far from the Church of Spilled Blood.) We also loved the Georgian food in both cities. There's a great Georgian restaurant near the 3 Mosta hotel. We're now in Belarus- very scenic. Enjoy your trip!!

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• The Silk Road with Art Tours with Amy Osaki | Willamette International Travel on Silk Road of China: Art, History & Archaeology

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THIS TRIP IS NOT CURRENTLY SCHEDULED Over the years, Amy has developed and operated trips to a variety of destinations including this one, but not all trips are offered every year. If you are interested in joining a scheduled departure of this trip in the future, please send us an email and let us know. Click to send us an email or use the form at the bottom of this page.

We can organize and operate this trip as a private group departure with a minimum group size of 8 persons. Start organizing your private Russia art adventure here .

Best time to travel: June for the “White Nights” Best gateway city: Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia Moscow and St. Petersburg Slide Show

Experience the art treasures of Moscow and St. Petersburg with guide, Amy Osaki. Begin in Moscow, continental Europe’s largest city, the seat of the government of Russia, and now home to over twenty billionaires! View iconic sites such as the Kremlin (which began as a fortress in the eleventh century), Red Square, and the sixteenth century St. Basil’s Cathedral. Then explore the art masterpieces at the Tretyakov Gallery, the National Museum of Russian Fine Art encompassing works from the eleventh to the twentieth century. Visit the Armory at the Kremlin filled with Imperial treasures including Faberge eggs once exchanged by the tsar and tsarina at Easter. Conclude your Moscow experience at the quiet seventeenth century Novodevichy Convent, one of many World Heritage sites included in the trip.

After a short flight, continue the trip with five days in St. Petersburg where you’ll be immersed in the opulence of Imperial Russia. Established by Tsar Peter I in 1703, St. Petersburg (known as Petrograd and Leningrad for most of the twentieth century) was the capital of the Russian empire for over two hundred years until the Russian Revolution of 1917. The Hermitage—said to be the largest art museum in the world with a collection of over three million objects housed in four main buildings—rivals the Louvre in Paris for both the quantity and quality of its treasures. Founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great, and open to the pubic for over two hundred years the museum is so vast that we’ll spread our visit out over several days and organize it by different themes. Also on the schedule is a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress—the original citadel above the river founded in 1703—as well as some of the Imperial palaces in and around St. Petersburg such as Peterhof, a World Heritage Site. Peter I hired French architects to work on his many palaces, including Jean Baptiste Le Blond who worked with Andre Le Notre at Versailles. Consider enhancing your Russian experience by purchasing tickets to a performance—perhaps a ballet at St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre (also known as the Kirov).

Day 1 Overnight in Moscow Arrive in Moscow and transfer to your centrally-located hotel, your base for the next two nights. Enjoy an afternoon and early evening walk through Red Square (Krasnaya Ploshchad) past St. Basil’s Cathedral, and GUM department store all of which are back-dropped by the walls of the Kremlin fortress. Remember that we are here during the fabled “White Nights” when the summer days linger with light-filled evenings.

Day 2 Overnight in Moscow Within the walls of the Kremlin fortress, visit the Armoury Museum, one of Moscow’s oldest museums established at the start of the nineteenth century. The Kremlin Armoury was the royal arsenal; it produced and stored the weapons, jewelry and other regalia of the tsars. The museum’s collection encompasses four thousand items of applied art from Russia and elsewhere dating from the early fourth century to the twentieth century. Later in the day, visit the collection of masterpieces of the renowned Tretyakov Gallery. The Tretyakov collections were begun by the philanthropist Tretyakov brothers in the early nineteenth century. The gallery is recognized by many as a key repository of Russian art spanning the nation’s artistic tradition from early Orthodox icons to art nouveau, impressionist, and avant-garde works.

Day 3 Overnight in St Petersburg Enjoy a morning visit to the sixteenth century Novodevichy Convent named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004. The convent’s name is sometimes translated as “New Maidens’ Monastery” to differentiate is from the convent within the walls of the Moscow Kremlin. Surrounded by white crenellated walls, this complex of churches has remained essentially intact since the seventeenth century. Here you’ll find the five-domed Cathedral of Our Lady of Smolensk with its spectacular iconostasis and the tall, red and white Gate Church of the Transfiguration which is often cited as a fine example of “Moscow Baroque” architecture. The neighboring Novodevichy Cemetery is the final resting place of the likes of Anton Chekhov, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Boris Yeltsin. This afternoon fly to St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city situated on the banks of the Neva River where it empties into the Gulf of Finland.

Day 4 Overnight in St Petersburg Start of your exploration of St. Petersburg with a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress, the original citadel of St. Petersburg. The fortress was built to the designs of the Swiss Italian architect Domenico Trezzini in the early eighteenth century. Trezzini’s Peter and Paul Cathedral dominates the fortress grounds and its iconic golden spire punctuates into the Baltic sky. Later visit the Yusupov Palace on the Moika, acclaimed as an “encyclopedia of St. Petersburg aristocratic interior design.” The palace was the home of the Yusupov family from 1830 and 1917 and was the place where Grigori Rasputin, a spiritual mentor to Tsar Nicholas II and the Royal Family in the early 20th century, was assassinated. A visit to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood built between 1883 and 1907 rounds out the day. The church was built in “Russian Revivalist” architectural style by Tsar Alexander III in commemoration of his father, Alexander II. The church occupies a conspicuous location on St. Petersburg’s Griboedov Canal and contains 7,500 square meters of mosaics; the interior walls and ceilings are completely covered by mosaics.

Day 5 Overnight in St Petersburg Seeing St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum in a day would be like trying to see the Smithsonian in a day! Rather than a forced march through the galleries at a rapid pace, we will slow down and savor the masterpieces. Remember, there are nearly seven miles worth of exhibitions! Today we focus on “Imperial Russia,” touring the rooms decorated for members of the Russian Imperial Family and viewing the art they commissioned and collected. This is the art that influenced the style of the grand palaces of the era. View the Grand Suite of rooms, Peter I’s collection of gold, and the jewelers art owned by the Russian Imperial Family (including Fabergé eggs, gold and diamonds). Here, too, are the rooms of Catherine II and her son Paul I with their fifteenth to eighteenth century French paintings and sculpture (Poussin, Watteau, Fragonard, Chardin, and Houdon).

Day 6 Overnight in St Petersburg Return for a second dose of the Hermitage! Today is dedicated to the famous European masterpieces exhibited at the Hermitage. Feast your eyes on memorable works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, Velazquez, and El Greco. At the Hermitage, you can revel in Rembrandt; there are twenty of his works in the museum’s collection. After lunch, enjoy the eighteenth to twentieth century masterpieces of Monet, van Gogh, Gauguin, Rodin, Picasso, Matisse and Kandinsky. Digest the art and reflect on this unique collection of human creations. Consider an evening performance, possibly at the Mariinsky Theatre.

Day 7 Overnight in St Petersburg Journey by hydrofoil across the Gulf of Finland to experience Peter I’s palace at Peterhof, a series of palaces and gardens that evoke comparisons with Versailles which Peter visited in 1715. Begun in 1714 with the construction of the Monplaisir palace and expanded by later Imperial generations who added Rococo and Neo-classical elements, Peterhof is now a World Heritage Site. The creative mastery of architects, engineers, artists and craftsmen from throughout Europe is on display here and all is choreographed to celebrate water in homage to Peter, the maritime emperor.

Day 8 Overnight in St Petersburg Go behind the scenes with an excursion to the Hermitage Museum’s Staraya Derevnya Restoration and Storage Center on the right back of the Neva River north of Kamenny Island. This vast treasure house is only accessible by private tour. Later, travel to Vasilvesky Island across the river from the Hermitage to visit Menishkov Palace completed in 1721 and now the oldest stone building in St. Petersburg. Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening.

About your guide : Amy Osaki holds a master’s degree from the Winterthur Museum. She studied art at the Louvre Museum in Paris and worked as a museum curator for over a decade including six years at the Portland Art Museum. She is an award-winning art educator who has led art trips around the world for the last fifteen years with Walking Softly Adventures. Many of these trips were offered for graduate credit from Portland State University where she is an Adjunct Professor.

Resources for Further Learning

• Preview part of the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery at its website.
• Learn more about the Moscow Kremlin .
• Prepare yourself to experience the Hermitage . You can even shop on-line at the museum’s on-line museum store!

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