Begin in beautiful St. Petersburg with a cultural performance at the Alexandrinsky Theater and a visit to Catherine’s Palace to see the famous Amber Room. Enjoy an early entrance to the State Hermitage Museum, before our 6-night cruise on the Volga, Svir and Neva Rivers. Journey to the quaint village of Mandrogi, and Kizhi Island, where churches stand as testimony to the skills of Russian craftsmen. Explore Goritsy, once closed to western visitors; Yaroslavl, home to one of Russia’s oldest monasteries; and the historic town of Uglich. Enjoy specially arranged visits to the Kremlin and the Armory Museum in Moscow. Wander through Red Square, admiring colorful St. Basil’s Cathedral. Learn about Russia’s history from revolution to communism, Gorbachev to Putin, and examine the country’s challenges today.