View on Narva castle from the border bridge

• Welcome to Estonia!  Arrival in Tallinn (on your own), capital of Estonia.
• If you arrive in the morning we recommend you to have a walking tour in the beautiful old city of Tallinn, one of Northern Europe's best-preserved medieval cities (UNESCO's World Heritage)
• Take train or bus Tallinn-Narva on your own (Korea Konsult arranges train or bus booking). The travel time from Tallinn to Narva is typically around 2.5 to 3 hours. 
• Arrival in Narva
• Check-in at Narva Hotell & Spaa. The hotel is located in the centre of Narva, in the immediate vicinity (500m) of the train and bus station on one side and Narva Castle and the river on the other side. The hotel has a brand new Spa center.

Abandoned Kreenholm factory in Narva

• Breakfast
• Meeting with the tour leader from Korea Konsult
• Welcome to Narva, Estonia's third-largest and easternmost city, located on the left bank of the Narva River, on the border with Russia. Narva is a unique place that for centuries has served as a border crossing and meeting point for different nations and states. Narva's golden age was in the 17th century under Swedish rule, when the downtown area, with its distinctive baroque architecture, was built. Unfortunately, the city was nearly completely destroyed in 1944 during World War II, and only a fraction of its former glory remains.
• 5-Kroon viewing platform - this observation platform is the best place to enjoy the view on Narva castle (Estonia) and Ivangorod fortress (Russia) as a whole. It is the only place in the world where a fortress and a castle face each other across a river, representing two different countries.
• Swedish Lion - monument in memory of the 1700 battle of Narva in the Great Northern War between Sweden and Russia.
• Narva river promenade - this promenade facing the Russian fortress of Ivangorod is situated on the riverbank in the historical heart of Narva.
• We take Gan Staircase to the Dark Garden Park. The staircase was built in 1875, and its design is believed to be inspired by the famous Potemkin Stairs in Odessa.
• Dark Garden - Narva's oldest park, an example of park architecture from the end of the 19th century. Located on the Bastions offering a magnificent view on Narva River and Russian Ivangorod on the other side.
• Kreenholm manufacture - situated along the banks of the Narva river by the large Narva Falls. In 2010 the Viru County Court declared bankruptcy of Kreenholm, the enterprise that had existed for over 150 years. At one point, the company's cotton spinning and manufacturing mills were the largest in the world. A captivating guided tour will take you to the old spinnery in the huge, abandoned textile factory complex - a true journey into the past! The factory is facing the Estonian-Russian border where you get a good view on the Russian Ivangorod's former industrial Parusinka district and the Holy Trinity Church.
• Lunch
• Visit of Narva Castle (Hermann Castle). It is more than 700 years old and has been ruled over by Danes, Germans, Swedes and Russians through the centuries.
• Visit of Narva Bastions - in order to protect the city of Narva, strong fortifications were built during the Swedish era. Visit the mysterious 'underground tunnels' where the passages form a part of the defense system of the bastions.
• Narva Town Hall - dates back to the 17th century, built during the period when Estonia was under Swedish rule. The square in front of the Town Hall was recently renovated and named "Stockholm Square".
• Dinner at your own expense

Border cities: Narva in Estonia and Ivangorod in Russia

• Breakfast
• Before crossing the border, we will visit a currency exchange office where you can exchange your money into Russian roubles. Please note that, since September 2022, it is prohibited to bring EUR cash banknotes into Russia (USD are allowed).
• Border Bridge crossing from Narva to Ivangorod (on foot).
• Welcome to Russia! After completing border formalities, we will have lunch at the Vityaz Hotel in Ivangorod, a Russian border town.
• Visit of Ivangorod Fortress - built in the 15th century during the reign of Ivan III to form a bulwark against the Teutonic Order. Until the 16th century the fortress was a outpost and the first harbour sea of Russia in the Baltic sea.
• Bus from Ivangorod to St Petersburg (approx. 2.5 hrs)
• Arrival in St Petersburg, check-in at Anabel Hotel. This cosy cosy hotel is nestled in the heart of St Petersburg in 0.7 km from Fontanka River.
• Dinner at your own expense

Bank Bridge in St Petersburg

• Breakfast
• Welcome to St Petersburg, Russia's second largest city and the capital of the Russian Empire for more than two hundred years. Known as the "Venice of the North", the city is built on over a hundred islands linked by a series of beautiful bridges crossing an extensive canal network.
• We start our journey with a fascinating boat trip around the rivers and canals. Enjoy unique views of St Petersburg's best landmarks!
• Walk on Nevsky Prospekt - St Petersburg's main avenue and one of the best-known streets in Russia.
• St. Isaac's Cathedral - originally the city’s main church and the largest cathedral in Russia
• Lunch
• Enjoy St Petersburg sightseeing tour by bus including main attractions of the city’s historical center
• Lakhta Centre 87-story skyscraper (462 m) - the tallest building in Russia and Europe, and ranks as the 16th tallest in the world. Enjoy breathtaking views of St Petersburg from the Center's observation deck
• Dinner at your own expense.

Peterhof Palace

• Breakfast
• Travel by boat to Peterhof. The Grand Palace at Peterhof is a majestic fusion of European and Imperial Russian styles, it was originally designed to be the centerpiece of Peter the Great’s “Russian Versailles”.The park includes 5 palaces, a large number of golden fountains, thousands of paintings, sculptures and covers an area of 1,000 hectares.
• Lunch in Peterhof
• Continue sightseeing in Peterhof
• Boat trip back to St Petersburg
• Dinner at own expense

Noteburg fortress

• Breakfast
• Drive to Shlisselburg 50 km (about 1h) and then boat trip to Shlisselburg fortress. It occupies an island in Lake Ladoga at the head of the River Neva. Originally founded as Oreshek in 1323, this was once a vital strategic location in territory and trade disputes between Sweden and the medieval Republic of Novgorod. The town fell into Swedish hands in the early 17th century, and they constructed the fortress of Noteburg (Nöteborg). Captured by Peter the Great in 1702, it was renamed Shlisselburg and became a crucial stronghold defending St. Petersburg.
• Lunch
• We continue our trip along the Ladoga Lake - the largest freshwater lake in Europe, covering an area of about 17,700 square kilometers. Its scenic beauty and vastness make it a popular destination for nature lovers and tourists.
• Broken Ring monument - it is made in the form of two ferroconcrete semi arches symbolizing the ring of the Leningrad blockade (1941-1944). The break between the arches symbolizes the Road of Life - a crucial supply route across the frozen lake, used to transport food, fuel, and medicine to the starving city when all other routes were cut off by Nazi forces.
• Drive to the Road of Life Museum. It is located on the western shore of Ladoga Lake and commemorates the heroic efforts during the Siege of Leningrad in World War II.
• Return to St Petersburg
• Dinner at your own expense

Vyborg Castle

• Breakfast
• FREE DAY
• A few tips for your free day:
• State Hermitage Museum (Winter Palace) - it was the main residence of the Russian Tsars and today it is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious museums.
• Peter and Paul Fortress - it is the place where the original citadel of St Petersburg was founded in 1703. The fortress was used as a political prison under the tsars and is housing a cathedral where the Romanovs are buried.
• Day trip outside St Petersburg: visit of Vyborg (about 1 hour ride by express train from Finlyandsky Railway Station). Vyborg was founded in 1293 as a medieval fortress in Finland under Swedish rule and for 417 years it served as a residence of the vicegerent of the Swedish King.  In 2 km away from the Vyborg castle you will find a stunning Mon Repos park - the only rocky landscape park in Russia from the 18th–19th centuries and one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Europe.

Pskov-Caves Monastery

• Departure by train to Pskov from Baltiysky railway station at 06:55 am.
• Breakfast is served in the train
• Arrival in Pskov at 10:27 am.
• Welcome to Pskov - one of the oldest Russian cities, being first mentioned in a chronicle of the year 903.
• Pskov City tour:
• Pskov Railway Station - it is historically significant as the site where Tsar Nicholas II of Russia signed his abdication on March 2, 1917, marking the end of the Romanov dynasty and the Russian Empire. The event took place aboard the imperial train during Nicholas's journey from the front lines of World War I. Today, the station serves as a reminder of this pivotal moment in Russian history, with a plaque commemorating the Tsar’s abdication, symbolizing the beginning of the Russian Revolution and the end of the monarchy.
• Kremlin with Trinity Cathedral - it dates back to the 12th century, it served as a vital defense structure and administrative center for the region.
• The Princess Olga Monument - a key character for Russian history, Olga was born on this earth. The princess was one of the first to receive baptism and began to introduce Christianity on Slavic soil. Near the princess is her grandson Vladimir, who in the future will be known as the great baptist of Russia.
• The Park of sister cities - it is a public park located in Pskov, celebrating the friendship and connections between Pskov and several sister cities across the world (for example, Kuopio in Finland, Norrtälje in Sweden, Arles in France)
• The Battle of Ice Monument - dedicated to the battle between Russians and Germans on the ice of Lake Peipsi in 1242. The monument is located on a mountain and directed towards the lake, opening a magnificent panorama of Pskov.
• Lunch
• Trip to Pskov-Caves Monastery (55 km, 1h). Founded in 1473, it is located in the town of Pechory nestled in a picturesque area surrounded by lush forests and cliffs. The monastery is renowned for its unique cave system.Visitors can explore its beautiful churches, including the impressive Assumption Cathedral, adorned with stunning frescoes and intricate iconography. The monastery is one of the most important Russian Orthodox spiritual centers.
• Drive back to Pskov
• Free time
• Dinner at your own expense
• Night bus Pskov - Tallinn, departure at 23:05

Old city of Tallinn

• Arrival in Tallinn at 05:05 am.
• Departure to destination of your choice

IMPORTANT NOTE!  Border formalities in Russia and Estonia may take longer than expected, which could affect the bus arrival time in Tallinn. Please avoid scheduling your departure flight from Tallinn too close to the bus’s scheduled arrival time.