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SEPTEMBER 13- 24, 2009

[CLOSED  - Deadline was June 1]

Linkages of Rochester, Inc., invites you to join this special Anniversary Celebration Tour to Russia for

stays and sightseeing in Moscow, Novgorod and St. Petersburg.  The Tour will feature 2 full days of historic and cultural activities, performances and exhibits presented for the official 1150th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of Novgorod, the “Father of Russian cities”, in 859 AD, viewed by Russian historians as the birth of the Russian state. (Here is the city's program schedule).

The City and citizens of Novgorod have invited Linkages’ members and interested friends from Rochester to join them in what promises to be a joyous spiritual, cultural and political event of national and international significance.

The official Rochester Delegation for the Novgorod 1150^th Celebration will be accompanying the Tour group. Membership in Linkages is not required to join the Tour.

Escorted Tour Includes:

*2 nights at the VEGA IZMAILOVO Hotel, Moscow, Russia
*3 nights at the HOTEL PARK INN PULKOVSKAYA, St. Petersburg

*1 night, 2^nd class overnight sleeper train from Moscow to Novgorod
*4 nights family homestay in Novgorod - Note: you may request a specific individual/ family, if you wish.

*Breakfast daily

*2 dinners
*Airport transfers for arrival and departures (only for those electing Air Option)
*Professional Tour Director throughout
*Admission fees per Itinerary guided tours
*Luggage handling in hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg (1 each)
*Chartered bus

*Professional local guided sightseeing tours include:

• Moscow - Red Square, Kremlin, Armory Museum, Moscow University, and Arbat Shopping District

• St. Petersburg - Hermitage Museum, Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaacs Cathedral, and Peterhof

  Not Included:

*Optional tours
*Gratuities for local guides and Tour Director
*3% surcharge for credit card payments
*Cancellation insurance

*Visa costs

Land Cost - per person cost based on Double Occupancy*:

$2045.00*             $1850.00*           $1750.00*      

( 15-19 participants)   (20-24 participants)     (25-29 participants) 

* Single Occupancy Supplement - add $375

Air Option - $1325 cost per person (group rate, subject to change if increase in taxes and security fees, or if minimum of 10 persons not met). This option is a group rate available to participants on the tour, and includes Moscow and St. Petersburg airport – hotel transport. Participants may choose to make their own round trip flight and airport-hotel transport arrangements.

TOUR REGISTRATION:

JUNE 1 deadline – Mail copy of Passport (photo and signature pages) with Tour Registration Form to:

Shae Hanford
68 Crosman Terrace
Rochester, NY 14620

PAYMENTS

JUNE 5 – ALL DEPOSITS DUE (NONREFUNDABLE):

$300 per person – all participants for Land Cost

+ $375 Single Supplement - if elected
+ $300 Air Option - if elected
 >

JULY 1 – ALL FINAL PAYMENTS DUE (NONREFUNDABLE):

LAND – Balance of Land Cost
AIR - Balance of Air Option cost (if elected Air Option)

PAYMENT by CHECK, made payable to “DESTINATIONS TRAVEL”

Send to:
DESTINATIONS TRAVEL
322 WEST LAKE RD
PENN YAN NY 14527

PAYMENT by CREDIT CARD: A 3% SURCHARGE WILL BE ADDED TO TOUR COST

PLEASE CALL DESTINATIONS TRAVEL
@315-789-4469 to make CREDIT CARD PAYMENT

INCLUDE WITH ALL PAYMENTS (by CHECK or CREDIT CARD):

PASSPORT NUMBER

NAME - FIRST, MIDDLE AND LAST (exactly as it appears on your Passport)

PASSPORT EXPIRATION DATE

AIRPORT TRANSFER - THE TOUR BEGINS UPON ARRIVAL AT MOSCOW AIRPORT SEPTEMBER 14, 2009 FOR THOSE WHO SELECT THE AIR OPTION.

IF YOU DID NOT BOOK YOUR AIRFARE WITH DESTINATIONS TRAVEL, AIRPORT-HOTEL TRANSFERS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN YOUR RATE.YOU WILL NEED TO MEET GROUP AT THE HOTEL IN MOSCOW ON YOUR OWN. (IF THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THEIR OWN, DESTINATION TRAVEL MAY BE ABLE TO ARRANGE INDEPENDENT TRANSFERS AT AN ADDITIONAL COST)

VISAS & PASSPORTS

A valid Russian visa and valid passport are required for all travel to Russia. Each Tour participant will be responsible for getting a valid passport, and tourist visa.  You may submit your Tourist Visa Application in person at a Russian Consular Office. Contact the Embassy of the Russian Federation.  Here is the visa application form as an ms word document.

Otherwise, you must use a commercial visa service to submit your Visa Application in person for you. There are a number of visa services available to do this; eg. Zierer Visa Service (“ZVZ”)

Obtaining a Russian visa and entry requires that your passport have at least 2 clear visa pages, and be valid at least 6 months beyond the final dates of the trip. Therefore, at the time of your visa application and entry you must have a passport that does not expire before March 25, 2010.

ITINERARY

Sept. 13 – Departure flight from Rochester (for those electing Air Option)

Sept. 14 Upon arrival in Moscow, those electing Air Option will be met and transferred to the VEGA IZMAILOVO Hotel.

Time to relax prior to your welcome dinner tonight in the hotel.(All participants.) Overnight- VEGA IZMAILOVO Hotel
Sept. 15
Breakfast. Then Tour Moscow, beginning in Red Square. Visit the Armory Museum, Moscow University, and the popular Arbat shopping district. Stroll through GUM Department Store. Balance of the day at leisure.
Overnight- VEGA IZMAILOVO Hotel, Moscow

Sept. 16
Breakfast. Free day before being transferred to railway station for overnight sleeper train to Novgorod

Sept. 17
Breakfast on train.

Morning arrive in Novgorod. Host families will pick you up at the train station. Day to meet host family, visit sites and Novgorod agencies. Schedule TBD. Possible visit to Vitoslavlitsy wooden architecture and ethnographic museum.
 

Sept. 18

Breakfast. Visit Novgorod sites and agencies; meeting with Russian American Friendship Society. Schedule TBD

Sept. 19 & 20

Breakfast. Then 2 days enjoying the historic and cultural activities, performances and exhibits of Novgorod’s 1150 Anniversary Celebration in and around the Kremlin. (Here is the city's program schedule)

Sept. 21
Breakfast. Morning depart by bus to St. Petersburg, arriving in the afternoon. Upon arrival, the sightseeing tour will feature the Hermitage Museum.
Overnight- HOTEL PARK INN PULKOVSKAYA, St. Petersburg

Sept. 22
Breakfast
Tour of St. Petersburg, including Peter and Paul Fortress; lunch on own in the afternoon, Continue with tour, including a visit to St. Isaacs Cathedral.
Overnight - HOTEL PARK INN PULKOVSKAYA, St. Petersburg

Sept. 23

Breakfast. Depart to Peterhof for the majority of the day. Return to St. Petersburg. Remainder of the day is at leisure.
Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel.
Overnight - HOTEL PARK INN PULKOVSKAYA, St. Petersburg

Sept. 24
Breakfast. Transfer to St. Petersburg Airport for your departure flight home.
 

For additional Tour information:

Contact Shae Hanford at shaeha@frontiernet.net or phone (585) -244-3863

Note: We will NOT be travelling to Nizhniy Novgorod, the former Stalingrad, 800 Km to the east of Velikiy Novgorod, the one and only.