LEARN more. EXPLORE more. DREAM more.
Enrich your vacation with Vantage's collection of deluxe optional tours, designed
exclusively for our guests. You’ll discover a world beyond the landmarks and gain
immeasurable insight into the culture and people of your destination. So join us
… and make the most of your journey!
Approximate Cost:
$129 USD per person
Pirogovo Open Air Museum
Pirogov, Ukraine
Half Day Tour
Approximate Time:
4 hours
Located on the picturesque outskirts of Kiev near the Goloseyevsky Forest and the village of Pirogov is this remarkable collection of open-air exhibits. You’ll view more than 300 original examples of wooden architecture transported here from different regions of the Ukraine, including churches, windmills, village houses, and workshops. The buildings are filled with folk art, traditional household utensils, clothing, and tools from the 16th to the 20th centuries, used for such crafts as weaving, pottery, and barrel making.
Approximate Cost:
$119 USD per person
Home-Hosted Ukrainian Dinner
Kiev, Ukraine
Evening Tour
Approximate Time:
3 hours
What better way to delve into Ukrainian culture than with a home-hosted dinner? This evening, you’ll get a personal feel for the lives of local people. It’s a great way to learn about this dynamic country and its culture. From the hotel, you’ll be taken to the home of a local family. In the relaxed atmosphere of their home, you’ll be treated to a savory home-cooked dinner — typical of an everyday evening meal. You’ll appreciate the gracious hospitality, the interesting company, and get to try tasty regional food. Space for this optional outing is very limited. Reserve now so you don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to feel right at home in this foreign — but wholly delightful — country!
Approximate Cost:
$59 USD per person
Moscow By Night
Moscow, Russia
Evening Tour
Approximate Time:
3 hours
Moscow at night is just as bright and colorful as it is during the day.
The city’s grand landmarks magically transform themselves from
brilliant golds and pastels to ethereal shadows illuminated by
different colored lights. High rises begin to glow, and the banks of
the Moskva River sparkle with bright threads of light streaming from
its bridges. During your guided walking tour, you’ll make your way over
the pedestrian Bagration Bridge. You’ll learn about the creation of
Victory Park, the famed monument to the Russian victory in the Great
Patriotic War, and see the endless chain of fountains, colored at night
in bright red. You’ll also enjoy view of Red Square, which offers the
most spectacular view of the city. With its fantastic illumination,
grand parks and monuments, Moscow by night is indeed a visual
kaleidoscope you won’t soon forget.
Approximate Cost:
$135 USD per person
Sergiev Posad Tour
Moscow, Russia
Full day tour, including lunch
Approximate Time:
6 hours
St. Sergius Monastery or Laura is one of only a few of Russia’s most important monasteries to which even the Tsars thought it honorable to make a pilgrimage on foot. The monastery territory has turned into a real museum of architecture. The picturesque complex of buildings of Trinity, which has organically blended with the lovely surrounding scenery, has been shaped over the course of several centuries. Within its walls there lived and worked medieval writers and philosophers, icon painters, carvers, and jewelers. It was a major cultural center of Old Russia, and the monasterical sacristy has accumulated priceless works of art donated by Moscow Grand Princes, Tsars, and Boyars. Over the years of its existence, the museum has enriched the art collection by more than ten times its original size. One of the main tourist attractions here is the market, which is remarkable for its wide choice of souvenirs made by local craftsmen — especially the pieces of woodwork decorated in a variety of techniques. Lunch is included in this wonderful tour.
Approximate Cost:
$75 USD per person
Tretyakov Gallery
Moscow, Russia
Half-day tour
Approximate Time:
4 hours
The Tretyakov Gallery houses one of the most celebrated and extensive collections of Russian art and artifacts in the world. The gallery was named after the entrepreneur Pavel Tretyakov, who donated approximately 2000 works of Russian art from his own private collection to the city of Moscow at the end of the 19th century. Without Tretyakov’s extensive and generous patronage of the arts many Russian artists would not have been able to achieve the artistic success that they did and the world of Russian art would be considerably diminished. Along with his paintings, Tretyakov also generously donated his own house and surrounding buildings, which became the original premises of the gallery. A visit to the Tretyakov Gallery is a definite must for anyone interested in Russian art and culture.
Approximate Cost:
$149 USD per person
Peterhof By Bus Tour
St. Petersburg, Russia
Half-day tour
Approximate Time:
4 hours
Summer residence of Emperor Peter the Great, the famous “Russian Versailles” is located 36 km from St. Petersburg, at the Gulf of Finland. The focal point of the Lower is the magnificent Grand Palace. The original palace was built for Peter the Great in 1714-25 and in 1745-55 was remodeled to its present baroque glory by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the architect of the Winter Palace in downtown St. Petersburg. Despite all the damage done to the Grand Palace during WWII, its interiors has been carefully restored and are truly breathtaking. Your tour includes visit of the Grand Palace, the sumptuous residence of Russian Emperors, and walking tour of the lower park enjoying the marvelous view: the Grand Cascade with the Samson fountain, Greenhouse, Roman fountains, Cascade “the Chessboard”, amusement fountains (oak let, umbrella, bench), palace Monplezire, the Gulf of Finland.
Approximate Cost:
$149 USD per person
Pavlovsk Tour With Lunch
St. Petersburg, Russia
Half-day tour
Approximate Time:
4 hours
Join us for an optional tour of the superb Pavlovsk Palace and Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from the late 18th to the 19th century, Pavlovsk was the summer residence of the Russian emperor Paul I and his family. After the 1917 revolution, this residence of the Russian emperors became a museum. During World War II the palace was ruined by the Nazis, and restoration work continued until 1970. Today, all 45 of its rooms are open to visitors, including such gems of Neoclassical art as the Italian and Grecian Halls, which are notable for their lavish use of marble, moldings, and gilding, as well as the beautiful private rooms of Empress Maria Fedorovna. You’ll marvel at the grandeur of the Pavlovsk palace museum and beautiful surrounding park, and leave with a lasting impression of this lavish place.
Approximate Cost:
$89 USD per person
Folkloric Show
St. Petersburg, Russia
Approximate Time:
4 hours
The northwest region of Russia is considered to be a “non-conventional” place for Cossacks. Yet long before the city was founded in the 15th century, the Cossacks had been on guard in Ivangorod, the Northwest border of Russia. During the times of rein of Ivan the Terrible, Cossacks were protecting more than ten military reservations. In St. Petersburg, from the day of its founding, Cossacks were on duty of personal guard of the Emperor. In 1769, three Life-Guard regiments were formed: Regiment of The Life-Guard of His Majesty, Regiment of The Life-Guard of His Highness, and Integrated Regiment of Escort of His Majesty. The memory of them is kept in the names of streets and bridges, the historical quarters where they stayed, and military churches. Since its founding, all kinds of Cossack forces have lived, worked, studied, taught, and performed in St. Petersburg. Many generations of Cossacks made significant contributions into art, culture, and science of this wonderful city. The young and talented Cossack Ensemble Bagatitsa, set up in 2005 in St. Petersburg, carefully keeps and successfully presents centuries-old traditions of the great nation.
Join an evening of exciting Cossack songs and dances, high energy and humor, amazing Cossack costumes, and a high quality of performance that brings joy to every person in the audience — proven by the extreme popularity of Cossack shows in Russia and abroad. We are sure that there is no other show like this in the world!
Approximate Cost:
$149 USD per person
St. Petersburg Ballet Performance
St. Petersburg, Russia
Evening tour
Approximate Time:
4 hours
First brought to Russia under Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich in the 17th century, ballet in Russia evolved as an offshoot of French dance combined with Russian folk and peasant dance techniques. It stunned Western Europeans when it was first taken on tour during the 19th century. Russia is the birthplace of the ballet and St. Petersburg is the home of ballet. The dance was first developed here from the 18th century onwards, with all of the most famous ballets being premiered here. As well as ballet, the city has a thriving musical scene, with many fine orchestras and performers. You should take in a performance simply for the wonderful music, beautiful theatres and costumes on show. Arrangements and transfers to and from your hotel have been arranged.
Approximate Cost:
$69 USD per person
Chernobyl Museum & Babi Yar Memorial
Kiev, Ukraine
Half Day Tour
Approximate Time:
4 hours
The world's worst nuclear accident, Chernobyl, is a scar that still remains on the landscape of Ukraine to this day. This museum is a fascinating overview of the accident and its aftermath. First to the scene of the accident were the firefighters, so it is particularly poignant that the museum is housed in an old fire station. The section detailing the truly heroic deeds of those who were involved in the clean-up just after the accident - all of whom subsequently died - is especially inspiring. Your guide will show you around the museum, translating and explaining the displays where necessary. Your tour also includes a stop to the historical sight of Babi Yar. A memorial to Kiev's Jews and other Ukrainians who were slaughtered by the Nazis during World War II.
Approximate Cost:
$59 USD per person
Excursion to Trakai
Half-day Tour
Approximate Time:
3 hours
One of Lithuania's many former capitals, Trakai, is not very far from the current capital Vilnius; it is a charming settlement, located in the middle of five beautiful lakes. Known as the Town on Water in medieval times, the city is home to some breathtaking architecture and deep rooted culture and traditions. See the famous Trakai Castle and stroll down Karaimu Street on this tour to one of Lithuania’s must-visit cities.
Approximate Cost:
$75 USD per person
Rivers and Canals Tour
St. Petersburg, Russia
Half-day tour
Approximate Time:
3 hours
You’ll see dazzling St. Petersburg from a different vantage point as
you embark on a tour of its numerous rivers and canals. The city is
tied together by more than 300 bridges — many of them decorated with
ironwork fences, lanterns, and sculptures that are an integral part of
the bridges’ architectural makeup. You’ll be fascinated by the splendid
architecture of St. Petersburg itself — its shore panoramas, granite
embankments, and tracery bridges. By the time your tour concludes, you
will have gained a new perspective on the city’s world-famous monuments
such as the Hermitage Museum, the Summer Garden and Summer Palace of
Peter The Great, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, and the Church of Our Savior on
the Spilled Blood.
Please Note: All prices are per person and subject to change.
All optional tours are offered by Vantage Deluxe World Travel. Descriptions and
scheduling are subject to change. Minimum tour participation is required to operate
optional tours. Optional tours cancelled by passengers within 48 hours of the excursion
are non-refundable.
