This is good value for a tour of this nature because all of the following are included:

• Air fares with Finnair, Qantas, British Airways, and Cathay from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane into Moscow and out of St Petersberg. 

• A 12 day, 11 night river cruise between Moscow and St. Petersberg including all port taxes. 

• A 2 day stopover in Hong Kong with tour. 

• A 2 day stopover in Helsinki with tour.
  

• All accommodation, mainly 3 to 4 star.  

• All transport and transfers.

• Many meals. 

• All entrance fees. 

• Services of local tour guides and if there are 14 or more participants there will be an Australian tour leader.

For people without a travel partner wishing to travel at twin share rates, we will do our best to match them up with someone else, but this is not guaranteed. For a single room there is an extra cost of $1225.

For Melbourne and Brisbane passengers, there is an extra charge of $80 plus airport taxes to cover the one way domestic flight from Sydney.

Tour Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

Booking Form

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	Itinerary for  Russian Waterways Tour with Helsinki Stopover
	Included meals are indicated as B = Breakfast, L =Lunch, D = Dinner
02.09.09	Sydney passengers depart Sydney at 10.45am on QF 127, arriving in Hong Kong at 5.50pm. Brisbane passengers depart at 11.35am on CX 102, arriving in Hong Kong at 8.20pm. Melbourne passengers depart at 2.40pm on CX 104, arriving in Hong Kong at 10.05pm. All passengers will be met at the airport and transferred to our Hong Kong Hotel.
03.09.09	This morning there will be an included Hong Kong Island tour.  The half day Hong Kong Island tour includes a visit to some of Hong Kong's famous scenic attractions.  You will see the floating community at Aberdeen Fishing Village and enjoy some serious bargaining at Stanley Markets.  A highlight of any Hong Kong visit is Victoria Peak accessible by the famous Peak Tram.  Take time to absorb the panorama of one of the most famous harbours in the world.  Afternoon free.
04.09.09	Transfer back to Hong Kong Airport, departing at 9.20am on AY 068, arriving in Helsinki at 2.55pm.  Depart Helsinki at 4.25pm on AY 155, arriving in Moscow at 7.10pm.  Transfer to your river cruiser, the MS Furmanov for a 12 day-11 nights cruise.  The ship's crew have been especially trained to cater to the needs of Western tourists.  The ship features outside staterooms, affording majestic views of the passing countryside, and are all air conditioned.  The cabins are comfortably furnished and feature refrigerator.  The dining rooms offer both Continental and Russian cuisine, as well as specialties of the surrounding regions, served in a warm shipboard atmosphere. There are two bars, a small souvenir shop, music salon, dance hall and beauty salon.  Laundry service is also available.  Parties, games, dancing and shipboard entertainment all serve to ensure a memorable cruise holiday.  From their spacious loungers to sweeping sundecks, our floating hotel offers unique journeys of distinction. On every cruise there's a government-licensed guide who will fill you in on the history, mythology and art of the ports you visit so you'll go home with more than just a tan - you'll take with you a greater understanding of Russia.
05.09.09 B,L,D	Moscow Today's  sightseeing, of Russia's beautiful capital city, founded in 1147, includes Red Square, St Basils, the Lenin Hills, Tverskaya and KGB building, followed by a visit to the New Maiden Convent.
06.09.09 B,L,D	Moscow Today visit the Moscow Kremlin -  the former Royal residence of the Czar and main centre of the Russian Orthodox church.  You will also visit the Cathedrals inside the Kremlin walls.
07.09.09 B,L,D	Uglich Founded in 1148.  City tour will include the Resurrection Cathedral and the Church of Dmitry, with its tragic story of dedication to Ivan the Terrible's son. Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in old Russia.  The view of the town as it is approached from the Volga River is especially lovely with the  Cahtedral of the Resurrection and St John's Church looming on the horizon. At the end of the 16th century, Maria Nagaya, seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible, lived in honorary exile in the Kremlin at Uglich.  It was here in her garden that the Tsarevich Dmitry met his death and where the Church of St Demitrius of the Blood was built and still stands today.  Within the Kremlin is the oldest building in Uglich, the Palace of Tsarevich Dmitry.
08.09.09 B.L.D	Yaroslavl Tour will include the  city founded in 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, you will visit Spasko-Preobrazgensky Monastery and the Church of Elijah the Prophet, home to many beautiful icons. Stretching for 18 miles on both banks of the Volga, Yaroslavl is an important Volga port with a population of 600,000.  It was founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise and today retains many noteworthy monuments of its colourful past. Of special interest is the magnificent 13th century Spasky Monastery ensemble, a group of majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant rotunda and remnants of an ancient trading centre.  Loveliest of all is the Church of Elijah the Prophet, situated in the town's central square.  The frescoes on the walls and vaulting inside the church constitute a veritable museum of old Russian paintings.
09.09.09 B,L,D	Goritsy Typical Russian village.  The tour will include the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. Goritsy is a tiny settlement seven kilometres from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. Visit the remains of the Nunnery of the resurrection on the banks of the Sheksna River in Goritsy, within a quarter of a mile of where the ship stops, will be interesting for any tourist with a real interest in Russian history.
10.09.09 B,L,D	Kizhi Island Via the Volga/Baltic canal, our cruise takes us to the tiny island of Kizhi, located at the northern end of  Lake Onega.  Renowned for its open-air Museum of Architecture assembled from various areas of the country and restored to form a glimpse of the past. Kizhi is home to some of the most amazing wooden architecture in Russia.  Forever linked to Novgorod the Great, the style of architecture reflects its early introduction to Christianity.  In 1764 locals built the Church of Intercession, its towering walls and 22 domes, without the use of a single nail.  The walking tour will include the Museum of Wooden Architecture.
11.09.09 B,L,D	Mandrogi Free time. Stroll around and enjoy the scenery. Green Stop. In the village there are some structures built according to the Russian fine traditions of wooden architecture. Village dwellers will meet you and organize something special. There is a museum of Russian  Vodka  where tourists can get acquainted with the history of Russian vodka industry (entry cost not included). Remeslennays Sloboda, a walk in picturesque woods.
12.09.09 B,L,D	St Petersburg This city is home to many museums,galleries,Palaces,impressive squares and streets. The sightseeing tour of this beautiful city will show you Nevsky Prospect, Palace Square, St Isaac's Cathederal and the battle-cruiser Aurora. You will also visit Peter & Paul Fortress. Saint Petersburg Created by Peter the Great to rival Venice,its 101 islands, 66 canals and hundreds of bridges have secured its reputation as the most beautiful city in the country.
13.09.09 B,L,D	St Peterburg Tour the Hermitage Museum formely the Winter Palace, home of the last six czars. A treasure trove of over 3 million exhibits,its 320 halls display Davincis, Rembrandts,Titians, Michelangelos, French impressionists and Northern American artists.One of the biggest and most impressive museums in the world.
14.09.09 B,L,D	St Petersburg Today is free.  Explore the city on your own or join one of the optional tours to one of the Summer palaces.
15.09.09 B	St Petersburg  End Of Cruise. After breakfast transfer to St Petersburg Airport. Departing at 12.35pm on AY166 & arriving in to Helsinki at 12.30pm (time change). Transfer to your city 4 star hotel for a 2 night stay.
16.09.09 B	Today there will be an optional day tour to Tallinn, the beautiful capital of the Baltic state of Estonia. The price of $325 per person includes Hotel/Port transfers, Hydrofoil cruise to Tallinn Return & a 3 hour tour of Tallinn with  a local tour guide.
17.09.09 B	Morning free in Helsinki. In the afternoon there will be a Helsinki city sightseeing tour which includes Helsinki Harbour, Finlandia Hall, Parliament Buildings, Senate Square with Lutheran Cathedral, Church in the Rock, Temppeliakio Church and Sibelius Park. Transfer to Helsinki Airport, departing at 11.40pm on AY095, arriving in Bangkok at 1.35pm the next day.
18.09.09	Depart Bangkok at 6.10pm on BA009, arriving in Sydney at 6.05am on the 19.09.09. Melbourne & Brisbane passengers will have connecting domestic flights.
Note:	Airport taxes and levies at present total an additional amount of approxmiately $740. We have no control over this price and it is subject to change.

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Deposits and Payments - A non-refundable deposit of $400.00 per person is payable within 7 days of booking. This deposit is not refundable should you later cancel. The balance is payable in full 10 weeks prior to departure.

Refunds and Cancellations - Cancellations after final payment will result in a refund limited to whatever we can recoup from the airline.

Insurance - Adequate travel insurance is essential. We can arrange this for you if desired.

Passports - All travellers require a current passport with at least 6 months left on it at the end of the tour. Non-Australian passport holders require a re-entry visa for Australia.
Visas are required for Russia and the cost is $85 plus $30 processing.

Not  Included in the Cost - All items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, drinks, excess baggage, tips, meals, (except those specified in the itinerary), etc.
Also travel insurance and airport taxes. Airport tax must now be paid with your ticket, and totals $740 at present. ****Please note that these taxes are subject to change.****

Health and Fitness - Macleay Valley Travel recommends that the passenger is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in this tour. Persons with a disability requiring special assistance must be accompanied by a companion. Macleay Valley Travel and their representatives cannot provide this service. Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to accept/decline or terminate a passenger's participation in the tour under certain circumstances.

Booking through other Agents - As we keep the cost of out tours as low as possible, there is insufficient margin for us to be able to pay commission to other travel agents, so some bookings can only be accepted if the client pays the other agent's commission. 
Macleay Valley Travel is a fully licensed travel agent and as such any monies paid to us are fully insured by the Travel Compensation Fund. We are happy for any prospective traveller with us to check us out with your local Consumer Affairs (fair trading) department.
Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is added to the price to help defray the heavy merchant fees charged to us by the credit card companies.

Limitation of Liability - As Macleay Valley Travel acts only as agent for the Airlines, Hotels, Coach Companies etc., providing accommodation, transportation and other services, Macleay Valley Travel shall not be liable or responsible for death or injury to any person or loss or damage to any property including baggage arising out of or connection with any transportation, accommodation or other services, or resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or defacto wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, delays or cancellations caused by changes in schedules or itinerary, or over bookings or defaults or for any causes beyond Macleay Valley Travel's control or any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas or other documents and neither Macleay Valley Travel, and its servants or employees shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of the foregoing causes.
Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to modify the itinerary or the accommodation if circumstances make this necessary, provided that the amended itinerary is of equal value or greater value than that of the original program.
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