Road Scholar : Home
Russian River Voyages between Moscow and St. Petersburg

Program Number: 14304RJ
Start and End Dates:
6/5/2013 - 6/18/2013; 7/17/2013 - 7/30/2013; 8/28/2013 - 9/10/2013;
Duration: 13 nights
Location: Russia
Price starting at: $3,172.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Adventure Afloat Study Cruise; River Boats
Meals: 33; 12 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 12 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Immerse yourself in the vast country of Russia and its people through the prism of life along its waterways. Learn about Russia's Imperial past in St. Petersburg and experience the Volga region's villages. Learn about the dynamic center of Moscow during lectures and informal talks and walks addressing Russia's history, architecture and current issues.




Activity Particulars

Please note that the cruise operator reserves the right to substitute the vessel with a sister ship. Walking up to two miles a day and standing in museums. Program cost excludes 2 lunches to enjoy on your own.



Itinerary At-a-Glance

St. Petersburg (Russia), 2 nights, aboard vessel, 10 nights.



Day 1:
Overnight flight from the U.S.A.


Days 2-6:
St. Petersburg (Russia):

Focus on the history of St. Petersburg and the Romanov dynasty during narrated visits to Catherine's Palace in Tsarskoye Selo and Peterhof. Visit a WWII memorial and Discuss modern Russia with an expert. A licensed museum expert leads you through the Hermitage Museum and the Amber room.



Day 7:
Mandrogy:

Stroll through this quaint riverside village and enjoy lake and river vistas. Engage in an expert led onboard discussion on Russian national customs and traditions. Enjoy an evening concert on board.



Day 8:
Kizhi Island:

A narrated excursion presents the wooden architecture, featuring the spectacular Church of the Transfiguration, on this UNESCO-designated fairy-tale islands on Lake Onega. Enjoy onboard activities.



Day 9:
Goritzy:

With a local expert, explore the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery in the village of Goritzy. A narrated excursion takes you through the monastery grounds and the local museum featuring a collection of rare icons. Attend a lecture and enjoy an onboard evening performance.



Day 10:
Yaroslavl:

Admire this historic river city's medieval architecture featuring 17th-century cathedrals during the city excursions. Hear about the events of Russia's turbulent medieval history and the 'Time of Troubles' which took place in this region as presented by an expert speaker onboard. Enjoy on board activities.



Day 11:
Ouglich:

During a walking excursion view the ancient Kremlin walls of Ouglich, see the Cathedral of Resurrection and St. John's Church. Hear about the Rurick dynasty of the Russian Tsars which ended here. Enjoy the Captain's farewell dinner.



Days 12-14:
Moscow/disembark/departure

Focus on modern Russia and the dynamic life of Moscow's citizens. Visit the legendary Kremlin compound and admire the medieval architecture in Red Square reflecting the soul of Russia. Attend an evening performance.



ms Russ

This modern German-built riverboat was extensively renovated in 2007. At 423 feet long it comfortably accommodates 260 passengers. All cabins are outside with large (except lower deck) scenic windows, air conditioning and refrigerators. Public areas include reading room, bar, beauty salon, sauna, first-aid post and gift shop.


Russia

Russia developed under the influence of intellectuals, peasants, tsars and demagogues. Byzantine origins meld with Christianity in vibrant architecture, while religion, folkways and revolution inspired artists from Stravinsky to Chagall. Oppressive regimes helped to create the Iron Curtain, but the late 20th century ushered in glasnost, perestroika and a democratic nation of billionaires, ongoing reforms and an integral role in modern geopolitics.
Meals and Lodgings
   Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel, Building 2
  St. Petersburg, Russia 2 nights
   MS Russ
  St. Petersburg, Russia
Various ports of calls, Russia
Moscow, Russia		 10 nights
 Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel, Building 2
Type: Three-Star Hotel
  Description: The international-class Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel is a comfortable, conference-style hotel offering facilities for tourists and business guests. It is located 3 miles away from Pulkovo Airport, about 5 miles to the heart of St. Petersburg, and close to a Metro station (5-7 minute walk), on a direct line to the heart of the city. The hotel is located in two buildings and has total of 840 guestrooms and suites. For this program, rooms are reserved in Building 2 of the hotel.
  Ship Information: N/A
  Contact info: 1 Pobedy Square
St. Petersburg,  196240 Russia
phone: +7 (81274) 039-00
web: www.parkinn.com/hotelpulkovskaya- stpetersburg
  Room amenities: Standard guestrooms are spacious and air conditioned, all have telephone and TV, are nicely furnished, have a small refrigerator, have private baths and standard amenities, including hair dryers. No WiFi service is available in standard rooms but is available in the hotel lobby.
  Facility amenities: The Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel has a pleasant, newly updated lobby, excellent conference facilities, WiFi service in the hotel lobby, a business center with Internet access, 3 restaurants, several bars, a theater ticket desk, a fitness center with solarium, sauna, swimming pool and a beauty salon (fee applies). The hotel offers various services, employs English-speaking staff and has 24-hour security.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: not available Additional nights are subject to availability and should be booked independently by participants. Note: the rooms for the program dates are reserved in Building 2 of the hotel, which is adjacent to the main building. Please note that this hotel is not located in the city center and is chosen to best fit the program schedule for the first two days in St. Petersburg, which we spend outside the city.

 MS Russ
Type: Cabin
  Description: For 10 nights your floating hotel/study site will be your river cruiser. The ship, MS RUSS, run by Vodohod cruise operator, was built in Germany in 1986, and completely refurbished in 2002 and 2007 and freshly painted in 2010, with new carpeting installed in the cabins and all public areas, and with new furniture in the restaurants and bars. This ship and all cabins are updated every travel season. The all-Russian crew and cruise staff are trained to service western travelers and most of them speak English.
  Ship Information: Ship Type 302 – a 4 passenger deck vessel. Length – 129 m. Width – 16,7 m. Draft – 2,9 m. Speed – 25,5 km per hour (approx.15 mph). Passenger capacity: 260 -280. The ship has two suites (not offered for this program),120 standard twin cabins (approx.129 sq. feet) and 10 single cabins (approx.100 sq. feet). These are all outside cabins with large windows located on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th decks. For this program we have reserved cabins with 2 twin lower beds on the 2nd and 3rd decks only. The same cabin types are used for single occupancy as well. Single cabins are usually assigned on 2nd deck. The ship is equipped with the latest navigational system and satellite phones. Communication: radio and mobile phones (used for emergencies only).
  Contact info: River Terminal Utkina Zavod
Oktyabrskaya nab. 31
St. Petersburg,   Russia
phone: +011-7 916 641 0623
web: www.vodohod.com
  Room amenities: All outside cabins (129 sq. feet) with 2 lower beds, located on the 2nd and 3rd decks; they are air conditioned with large windows, have private facilities, a built-in wardrobe,a table, and a small refrigerator. The cabins are clean and pleasant but modest by western standards. Bed linen is changed every 3 days, and towels are changed daily. No hairdryers are provided in the cabins, but electrical outlets are available for hairdryers.
  Facility amenities: There is ample sun deck space, a reception area, a gift shop, two bars, a large conference / meeting room, two restaurants, and recreation areas. The ship is fully air-conditioned. The ship has medical facilities and a medical doctor or trained nurse on board. Other services on board include laundry and a hair salon. There are no ATMs and no public phones on board.There is no WiFi service on board. Personal mobile phones suitable for use in Russia are recommended to bring along for possible personal emergency communication. It must be remembered that this ship is comfortable, but it is still a river vessel, not a luxury ocean cruise ship. The ship will serve the needs of sailing along the rivers and canals with frequent stops for shore excursions along the way. In inclement weather all passengers gather inside and attend various activities on board.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Additional nights after: n/a Not available on board the ship
  Check out time: 9:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Day 2: 3:00 pm - Hotel check-in starts. 6.00 pm - meet at hotel lobby of Building 2 for Road Scholar registration. You will be staying at Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel, Building 2 that night.
  End of Program:
Day 14: 9.00 am. - Program ends. 9.00 am - Check-out. You will be staying at MS Russ the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Not applicable
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
  Train or bus availability: Public buses are available to the Pulkovskaya Hotel in St. Petersburg, but they are not recommended. Airport/Hotel shuttles are not always reliable.
To Start of Program
  Location:  St. Petersburg
  Nearest city or town:  St.Petersburg
  Nearest airport:  LED Pulkovo
  Transportation to site: Participants traveling independently are responsible for their own transportation arrangements to meet the group at the first site (BUILDING 2 at the Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel). Public transportation is not recommended. If you choose to hire a taxi at Pulkovo Airport (LED) upon arrival, please make arrangements for a taxi with the official stand INSIDE the arrival hall and reconfirm the taxi fare in advance (expected cost: equivalent of approximately $30, payable in rubles). A currency exchange desk is located in the Pulkovo 2 Airport arrival hall.
  From End of Program
  Location:  Moscow
  Nearest city or town:  Moscow
  Nearest highway: n/a
  Nearest airport:  DME Domodedovo
  Transportation from site: Participants traveling independently are responsible for getting to the airport on the last day of the program. Public transportation is not recommended. Please reserve a taxi in advance on board the ship.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Departure from the USA to St. Petersburg, Russia
(Wednesday, June 5)

Note: Travel overnight, arriving the next day
   
 Depart From: Depart USA via overnight flight to St Petersburg.

Day 2: Arrival in St. Petersburg / Dinner at hotel / Group orientation meeting
(Thursday, June 6)

Note: All participants traveling on air tickets from the Road Scholar Travel Services will be met and transferred to the program hotel. Independent travelers are welcome to join designated group transfers as per schedule.
   
 Afternoon: Arrival at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport. Transfer to Building 2 at the Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel. Rest.
 Dinner: Dinner at hotel.
 Evening: Group meeting. Introductions. Meet your Group/Study Leader and the program participants.
   
Accommodations: Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel, Building 2
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 3: St. Petersburg and the Romanov Tsars / Visit to Peterhof / Evening performance
(Friday, June 7)

Note: Expected walking up to 2 miles. Comfortable shoes are a must. Rest areas are available.
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: We begin exploring St. Petersburg with a visit to Peterhof -- a summer residence of the Romanov tsars on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. En route to Peterhof, hear about the city and the Romanov tsars. We learn about Tsar Peter I (the Great) and his vision to build a city on the Baltic Sea and to 'open a window on the West' for then-medieval Russia in the early 1700s. Have an expert-led walk in the famous lower park of Peterhof, featuring over 150 fountains and see numerous constructions, now beautifully restored (note: inside visits to the Grand Palace and other museums in the park are not part of the visit). Free time in the park.
 Lunch: Lunch on your own in Peterhof.
 Afternoon: Return to hotel. Free time before dinner.
 Dinner: Dinner
 Evening: Evening performance.
   
Accommodations: Park Inn Pulkovskaya Hotel, Building 2
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) / Leningrad Defenders Memorial Museum / Transfer to the ship
(Saturday, June 8)

Note: Walking up to 2 miles in the palace and park. Rest areas are available.
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at hotel.
 Morning: Today we continue exploring the summer residences of the Romanovs and visit Tsarskoye Selo (now known as Pushkin). En route to Tsarskoye Selo and during the visit there, learn more about the Romanov dynasty. Have an inside visit to Catherine's Palace -- an elaborate baroque and rococo palace built in 1752 by Tsarina Elizabeth to honor the memory of her mother Katarina, first wife of Tsar Peter I (the Great). This palace was later rebuilt to become the main summer residence of Tsarina Catherine II (the Great). Here see the eighth wonder of the world -- the extraordinary Amber Room -- decorated with six tons of solid amber, carved and framed in gold leaf. The original room was mysteriously lost or stolen by the Nazis during WWII, never found, and finally meticulously reconstructed in 2003 by a team of Russian restoration artists.
 Lunch: Lunch on your own.
 Afternoon: In the afternoon participate in a visit to the Leningrad Defenders' Memorial Museum. Hear the story of the 900-day siege during WWII. If desired, view the museum's collection of old documents and photographs. Transfer to the ship.
 Dinner: Dinner in ship's restaurant
 Evening: Ship's Orientation, meet your on-board representative. Evening free on board
   
Accommodations: MS Russ
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: City's architectural highlights / Hermitage Museum
(Sunday, June 9)

Note: Air-conditioned motor coaches are used for city excursions. No facilities on board. Rest stops are made. At the Hermitage: walking up to 2 miles and standing in the museum can be unavoidable. Rest areas are available.
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast on board the ship
 Morning: This morning take an expert-led motor coach excursion and learn about the city's architectural and cultural treasures. Stops are made at major architectural sites: the Peter & Paul Fortress and Cathedral -- the birthplace of the city and the burial place of the Romanovs; St. Isaac's Cathedral; the Bronze Horseman statue; the Summer Garden; St. Petersburg University; and other sites. Drive along glamorous Nevsky Prospekt and pass by splendid palaces, numerous statues, and elegant bridges over rivers and canals before returning on board the ship.
 Lunch: Lunch in the city's restaurant
 Afternoon: This afternoon enjoy a field trip to the Hermitage Museum, one of the world's greatest art galleries. Take pleasure viewing the dazzling collection of Old Masters, French Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, as well as numerous items of all eras, including various newly-revealed collections of masterpieces now on display (2.5 hours with a licensed expert).
 Dinner: Dinner in ship's restaurant
 Evening: Free evening
   
Accommodations: MS Russ
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Free time in the city / lecture on board / SET SAIL
(Monday, June 10)
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast on board
 Morning: Spend this morning on Nevsky Prospekt -- the main street of St Petersburg, center of shopping, commerce, and culture. Consider a visit to the House of Books -- a magnificent art nouveau building -- or consider a visit to a nearby museum of your choice (the Russian Museum, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Resurrection, the Ethnography Museum). Transfer to the ship.
 Lunch: Lunch in ship's restaurant
 Afternoon: (Exclusively for Road Scholars): This afternoon attend a lecture on board: "Russia Today": an overview of current issues of nationalities, ethnicity, religion, and modern social issues (presented by a university professor), followed by a Q&A session. Program on board. Welcome Cocktail. Meet the ship's crew and staff. SET SAIL
 Dinner: Dinner in ship's restaurant
 Evening: At leisure to enjoy on-board activities.
   
Accommodations: MS Russ
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Mandrogy Village / lecture on board
(Tuesday, June 11)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in ship's restaurant.
 Morning: (Exclusively for Road Scholars): Attend a lecture on board, followed by a Q&A session. Arrival in Mandrogy village. Enjoy the lake region and beautiful northern forest. Take a stroll in Mandrogy -- a quaint riverside village dotted with wooden cottages (a reproduction of a typical rural Russian settlement). Free time.
 Lunch: Lunch ashore (local specialties)
 Afternoon: Cruise the 139-mile long Svir River and then along the southern shores of Lake Onega, the second largest lake in Europe and one of the world's purest, then along Lake Ladoga, Europe's largest lake. Both lakes are more like inland seas and can experience waves as high as 3-4 feet during inclement weather. Take time along the way to admire the sandy and rocky beaches and beautiful shores overgrown with graceful willows, tall alder trees, and stately pines.
 Dinner: Dinner in ship's restaurant
 Evening: On-board entertainment
   
Accommodations: MS Russ
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Russian customs and traditions / Wooden architecture of Kizhi Island / On-board program
(Wednesday, June 12)

Note: Walking excursion. Comfortable shoes are a must.
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast in ship's restaurant.
 Morning: Arrival in Kizhi -- one of 1650 islands on Lake Onega. This morning participate in an expert-led walking excursion of the open-air museum and learn about unique fairytale-like wooden churches built in the 1700s. Most spectacular is the Church of the Transfiguration, with its 22 domes, built without a single nail, and featuring rare icons and an iconostasis. The island of Kizhi has been declared a major site for preservation by UNESCO.
 Lunch: Lunch in ship's restaurant
 Afternoon: On-board program.
 Dinner: Dinner in ship's restaurant
 Evening: On-board entertainment.
   
Accommodations: MS Russ
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Talk on famous Russians of the Volga and Lake region / Excursion in Goritzy
(Thursday, June 13)

Note: During the excursion in Goritzy, expect to walk up to 2 miles on uneven terrain.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the ship's restaurant
 Morning: (Exclusively for Road Scholars): Attend a presentation on famous Russians whose lives and artistic creations are connected to the Volga and lake region
 Lunch: Lunch in ship's restaurant
 Afternoon: Arrival in Goritzy. Have an expert-led walking excursion of the village. Learn about the medieval history of these old settlements. Goritzy is a small, picturesque village located about 4 miles from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, which is famous for its rare icons. Goritzy is also known for its convent, a place of exile for politically unpopular ladies of nobility, including Maria Nagaya, sent there by an infamous ruler of Russia, Boris Godunov, in the late 1600s.
 Dinner: Dinner in ship's restaurant
 Evening: On-board activities
   
Accommodations: MS Russ
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Lecture on board / Excursion of Yaroslavl
(Friday, June 14)

Note: Afternoon excursion by motor coach and by foot.
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast in the ship's restaurant
 Morning: (Exclusively for Road Scholars): This morning attend a lecture on "Medieval Russia: the reigns of the Rurik Tsars" (presented by an expert and followed by a Q&A session).
 Lunch: Lunch in ship's restaurant
 Afternoon: Arrival in the ancient town of Yaroslavl. This morning take a motorcoach excursion of the city and the Spassky Monastery. Stretching along both banks of the Volga, Yaroslavl is an important river port with a population of 600,000. It was founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslavl the Wise and today retains many noteworthy monuments of its rich history. Of special interest are the 13th-century Spassky Monastery ensemble, a group of 17th-century cathedrals; an elegant rotunda; and remnants of an ancient trading center. Loveliest of all is the Church of the Prophet Elijah in the town's central square. The frescoes on the walls and vaulting inside the church form a valuable collection of old Russian paintings. The second-largest city in Russia in the 17th century, Yaroslavl was the de facto capital of Russia during the Polish occupation of Moscow in 1612 (the so-called "Time of Troubles").
 Dinner: Dinner in ship's restaurant.
 Evening: On-board concert
   
Accommodations: MS Russ
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Excusion of Uglich / Captain's Farewell Dinner
(Saturday, June 15)

Note: Expected walking up the hill to the town and on uneven terrain.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in ship's restaurant
 Morning: Arrival in the town of Uglich. Join a walking excursion of the town and its cathedrals. Founded in 1148, Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in old Russia. The view of the city from the Volga River is especially lovely, with the blue-domed Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John's Church looming on the horizon. At the end of the 16th century, Tsaritsa Maria Nagaya, the seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible, lived in exile here in the local kremlin before being sent to the monastery near Goritzy. It was here that Tsarevich Dmitry, son of the deceased Ivan the Terrible, met his "mysterious" death in 1591 and where the Church of St. Dmitry on the (Spilled) Blood stands today. Located inside the kremlin walls is the oldest building in Uglich, the Palace of Tsarevich Dmitry.
 Lunch: Lunch on board.
 Afternoon: On-board program.
 Dinner: Dinner in ship's restaurant.
 Evening: Enjoy the Captain's Farewell Dinner to celebrate the last sailing night on board the ship before arriving in Moscow.
   
Accommodations: MS Russ
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Informal on-board discussions / Moscow's architectural highlights / Evening performance
(Sunday, June 16)
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast in the ship's restaurant
 Morning: Participate in an informal round-table discussion on various aspects of life in Russia.
 Lunch: Lunch on board.
 Afternoon: Arrival in Moscow. This afternoon during a motor coach excursion we learn about the history and architecture of Moscow. Explore Moscow's cultural and historical treasures and take pictures during stops at major architectural and historic sites: Moscow University, Manezh Square, Novodevichi Convent (exterior only), the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and other important sites.
 Dinner: Dinner
 Evening: Attend an evening performance
   
Accommodations: MS Russ
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Excursion to the Kremlin compound / Lecture on board / Free time
(Monday, June 17)

Note: Expected walking up to 2 miles.
   
 Breakfast: Buffet breakfast in ship's restaurant
 Morning: Drive to the city center. Participate in a field trip to the legendary Kremlin compound led by an expert. Visit the grounds inside the Kremlin walls, learn about the medieval history of Moscow, and see the intact medieval fortress: the walls, cathedrals, and palace. Take pictures of the legendary Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell. Free time: have a walk in UNESCO-listed Krasnaya Ploshchad (Red Square), where all rulers of Russia left traces of their reigns. Admire the striking Kremlin Clock Tower, the Lenin Mausoleum, and see the exterior of the ornate, multi-colored architectural grandeur of the 16th century, St. Basil's Cathedral, commemorating Russia's victory over the Tatars at Kazan. Enjoy this politically-charged architectural wonder reflecting the mysterious Russian soul. .
 Lunch: Lunch
 Afternoon: Lecture on board (exclusively for Road Scholars)
 Dinner: Dinner on board the ship.
 Evening: Evening free on board to pack.
   
Accommodations: MS Russ
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Program ends. Departures
(Tuesday, June 18)

Note: All participants who travel on air tickets from Road Scholar will be transferred to airports. Independent travelers are welcome to join the designated group transfer bus to DME only.
   
 Breakfast: Buffet Breakfast on board.
 Morning: Check out. Program ends. Transfers to airports.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Crime and Punishment


Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky, David McDuff (Translator)


Description: Dostoevsky's thriller of murder and redemption is redolent of St. Petersburg's atmosphere. A cornerstone of Russian literature, and one of the greatest detective stories ever told.



A Traveller's History of Russia


Author: Peter Neville


Description: An impressively compact, lively survey of Russian history from the coming of the Slavs to the collapse of the Soviet Union.



Catherine the Great


Author: Robert K. Massie


Description: Eager readers of Massie's Nicholas and Alexandria or the Pulitzer Prize-wining Peter the Great will not be disappointed by this latest, an old-fashioned tale of politics, power and 18th-century Europe, drawing effectively from the ambitious Catherine's own memoirs.



Catherine the Great, A Short History


Author: Isabel De Madariaga


Description: A brief survey of the reign of Catherine the Great that nicely balances biography with descriptions of the economic, political and social life of the period.



Communism, A History


Author: Richard Pipes


Description: This short, fiercely critical history of communism provides a compelling overview, from the ideas of Karl Marx to the end of the 20th century.



Culture Smart! Russia


Author: Anna King


Description: A concise, no-nonsense guide to local customs, etiquette and culture with a short overview of the land and people along with practical travel advice.



Eyewitness Guide Moscow


Author: Eyewitness Guides


Description: This outstanding guide covers Moscow's culture, history and attractions with maps, site plans and hundreds of color photographs.



Eyewitness Guide St. Petersburg


Author: Eyewitness Guides


Description: With excellent local maps and site plans, this outstanding visual guide introduces the culture, history and attractions of St. Petersburg.



Land of the Firebird, The Beauty of Old Russia


Author: Suzanne Massie


Description: Massie traces both minuscule details and larger movements in pre-revolutionary Russian art, literature and daily life in this affectionate overview of 19th-century palaces, courts and culture.



Lenin's Tomb


Author: David Remnick


Description: A gripping eyewitness tale of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Remnick, the Washington Post reporter on the scene, combines fine historical scholarship with great storytelling.



Moscow Map


Author: ITMB


Description: A handy, folding map of Moscow.



Odyssey Guide Moscow, St. Petersburg & The Golden Ring


Author: Masha Nordbye, Patricia Lanza (Photographer)


Description: A comprehensive guide to the art, culture and history of two great Russian cities, filled with maps and fine color photographs.



Peter the Great, His Life and World


Author: Robert Massie


Description: In this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, Massie portrays the giant of history who transformed Russia from backwater tsardom into a major empire.



Romanov Riches, Russian Writers and Artists Under the Tsars


Author: Solomon Volkov


Description: Volkov effortlessly unwinds the twisted relationship between art and the royal family from the rise of the Romanovs in 1613 to their downfall in 1917, including a chapter on Catherine the Great and her era.



Russia from St. Petersburg to Moscow Map


Author: Falk Maps


Description: A detailed map of northwest Russia at a scale of 1:750,000, well-suited for a river cruise between St. Petersburg and Moscow. It covers all but the northernmost extent of the route.



Russia of the Tsars


Author: Peter Waldron


Description: Waldron recounts the exploits of Peter the Great and the Tsars and the splendor of their capital city, St. Petersburg, in this lively, well illustrated and compact overview of the largest and most diverse empire of its day.



Russia, A Concise History


Author: Ronald Hingley


Description: Well-known scholar Hingley sketches Russia's multiple transformations from her illiterate, pagan, Slavic roots to a multi-ethnic empire in this highly readable, well-illustrated brief history.



Russian Short Stories


Author: Robert Chandler (Editor)


Description: This fine collection of tales captures the sweep and soul of Russian literature, including works by Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Chekhov and Tolstoy along with lesser-known greats.



Russka


Author: Edward Rutherfurd


Description: In this absorbing, complex novel Rutherfurd transforms Russian history into an epic saga. The bestseller follows the fate of interconnected families over 800 years. Catherine the Great, Tolstoy, Pushkin and Rasputin all make appearances.



Speak, Memory


Author: Vladimir Nabokov


Description: Nabokov's richly imagined memoir wonderfully evokes cultural life among the well-to-do in turn-of-the-century St. Petersburg.



St. Petersburg Map


Author: Berndtson & Berndtson


Description: A detailed, laminated city plan of St. Petersburg, with street index inset. Place names are in transliterated English.



Sunlight at Midnight: St. Petersburg and the Rise of Modern Russia


Author: W. Bruce Lincoln


Description: A wonderfully written, informative portrait of St. Petersburg, focusing on the city's development in the 18th and 19th centuries as Russia's "window on the West." Highly recommended for travelers with an interest in the character and significance of the city and its monuments.



The Art and Architecture of Russia


Author: George Hamilton, Judith Gordon


Description: An elegantly written introduction to the art and architecture of Russia. Published in 1954, it's a good handbook for the traveler that goes beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg. Includes 314 black-and-white illustrations.



The Hermitage: A Journey in Time and Space


Author: Kultur Video


Description: This 116 minute documentary, directed Vladimir Ptashchenko and accompanied by orchestral music, showcases the extraordinary collections, Originally established as the private collection of the Russian Empress Catherine the Great.



The Ransom of Russian Art


Author: John McPhee


Description: McPhee tackles a rather unusual topic for him: the story of suppressed Russian art and the man who brought it to America.



The Winter Queen


Author: Boris Akunin, Andrew Bromfield (Translator)


Description: Akunin sets a suspected murder among the glitterati of late 19th-century Moscow in this first book in the series of clever detective novels starring the rascal Erast Fandorin, wildly popular in Russia. The series continues with: The Turkish Gambit (RUS263), set during the 1877 Russo-Turkish War; Murder on the Leviathan (RUS225), an homage to Christie; and The Death of Achilles (RUS291), back in Moscow. Fandorin is deputy to the governor-general of czarist Moscow in Special Assignments (RUS371), facing a serial murder and a swindler.



Vodka, A Global History


Author: Patricia Herlihy


Description: A professor of history at Brown, Patricia Herlihy tracks our fascination with this most versatile of spirits from its mysterious 14th Century Slavic origins to today's global dominance in this throughoughly entertaining, erudite and illustrated short history. A volume in the lively Edible History Series, which also includes the ideal companion: Olives, A Global History.





You can't find a better value than Road Scholar.


As a not-for-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing all-inclusive educational programs at great value. From lectures to gratuities to field trips to accommodations - the tuition you pay up front is all that you pay.



Specifically, this program includes:

Plus these special experiences...

View the Daily Schedule to see more

And included with all Road Scholar programs:


© Road Scholar 2013 | Call toll-free: 1-800-454-5768