Jewels in the Crown: St. Petersburg and Moscow Treasures Tour, October 2022
Join Marie Betteley for an exclusive 10-day adventure that will shake your world as you discover the fascinating World of Jewelry and Treasures of Imperial Russia. October 10-20, 2022. Registration Closing Date: May 10, 2022. Limited to 8 guests.
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Tour Highlights
Join Marie Betteley for an exclusive 10-day trip to discover the fascinating World of Jewelry and Treasures of Imperial Russia.
First in St. Petersburg, on this one-of-kind journey, we will retrace the steps of the renowned Jewelers to the Romanov Court to Nobles and Nobels and Ballerinas and Bureaucrats. Along the way, you’ll hear the fascinating stories of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of these historic goldsmiths in producing jewels for the richest Court of Europe – all while enjoying 4-star accommodations and meals and the luxuries only this world class city can offer.
In Moscow, you will marvel at the glorious Diamond Fund treasures in the Kremlin Armory Chamber, including Catherine the Great’s iconic coronation crown set with 5000 diamonds and a 398 carat spinel, the Orlov diamond sceptre, the imperial solid gold orb, and other sumptuous jewels of the Romanovs. Visit the silver reserves of the Moscow Historical Museum with a private guide.
Tour Highlights
- Bespoke visit to the Gold and Diamond Treasury room in the Hermitage.
- Private tour of the world’s finest Fabergé collection in the Fabergé Museum on the Fontanka.
- Lecture on the glittering imperial capital of the Romanovs led by a renowned St. Petersburg historian.
- Visit to Tsarskoe Selo or Pavlovsk, the Imperial family’s magnificent summer residences.
- Tailored boat ride around the canals, the Venice of the North (weather permitting).
- Highlights of the Russian Museum to showcase the opulence of life in the imperial capital.
- Views of the wondrous architectural landscapes of the 2016 Cultural Capital of Europe.
- High-speed train, Sapsan to the ancient capital of Moscow.
- Tour of the Moscow Kremlin, including a private visit to the Diamond Fund.
- Meet and dine with a leading curator in the field of Russian jewels and treasures.
- Private tour of the famous Tretyakov Gallery and the Moscow Historical Museum to learn about the rich history of Russia’s fine and decorative arts.
- Optional tour of antique shops and art salons and of new and emerging jewelers of Moscow.
Join us on this memorable, one-of-a-kind Russian adventure led by Marie Betteley! This tour is open to a maximum of eight guests and is only offered once a year. Sign up today to avoid disappointment. Questions? Call us at +1 (917) 319-5736.
Your Tour Leaders
Marie Betteley, GIA, GG, author of Beyond Fabergé: Imperial Russian Jewelry
Leading St. Petersburg and Moscow curators, docents, and cultural experts
Details
When: October 10 to 20, 2022, 11 days/10 nights (Program runs from October 11 to 19)
Price: $6,950* per person, double occupancy
Single supplement: $750 (single occupancy is limited and will be available on a first come, first serve basis)
Meals: Included (all breakfasts and late lunches or dinners per itinerary)
Group Size: Maximum of 8 travelers
Registration Closing Date: May 10, 2022
*Per person based on double occupancy. Price does not include airfare, passport fees or visa processing, incidentals and alcoholic beverages. Visa processing is provided by a separate agency. Approximate cost of tourist visa is $400. It is the responsibility of the traveler to complete all visa procedures and receive a Russian visa well before travel. Details will be sent after deposit received. The itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of the organizers without notice. Price and dates may fluctuate. Payment in full due June 10, 2022.
“Just back from a fabulous trip to St. Petersburg, organized by leading Russian expert and gemologist Marie Betteley. Seeing the city through her eyes was truly a rare treat – we all learned so much, made wonderful new friends and it was an adventure I’ll never forget.”
– M.T.
“My favorite part was visiting sites and getting to meet experts and seeing ‘behind the scenes’.”
– J.H.
Read a poem this tour inspired one of our past guests to write.
Your Team
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Art & Treasures Tours special?
Our tours are personal reflections of our quest for beauty in jewelry and art. We travel to Europe to explore historic treasures, often in private settings in current and former jewelry capitals such as Paris and St. Petersburg, Russia, or UNESCO Heritage sites such as Vicenza, Italy. Our recent tour to Amsterdam and Haarlem (2025) explored the riches of Dutch art from the 17th century to the present. Our philosophy is to keep it small and create carefully curated itineraries for individuals who love discovering rare jewels and treasures in historic settings.
How do you plan or design each tour?
We travel to each destination beforehand, choosing selected artistic sites, as well as visiting jewelry designers, dealers, curators, connoisseurs and other experts, art auctions, and handpicking restaurants and charming boutique hotels to accommodate a small group of art lovers. We avoid the tourist traps, unless if for example we go to a famous museum, we’ll visit specific rooms only, such as the Louvre for the French Crown Jewels (before the heist), the Gold and Diamond Treasury rooms in the Hermitage, the 18th century art rooms in the Rijksmuseum. That said tours would not be possible without the expertise and knowledge of local art and cultural historians, guides and curators who help us create unique and fabulous tour experiences.
What time of year do you schedule tours?
Our tours occur in the Fall and in the Spring, typically, from March to May and from September or October to the end of November. We avoid the high tourist seasons to bring down the cost of both travel and hotel stays.
Who joins these tours?
How do I book a tour?
You may book a tour on our website by clicking on the tour of your choice and following the prompts. Early Bird rates are usually available when the tour is first posted. To receive notification of when tours are posted, sign up for our newsletter or follow @mariebetteley.
How large is the group?
To ensure the utmost in personal attention our tours are limited to 8 to 10 guests. We match the services and curation of luxury travel companies at much more favorable prices. Potential guests are encouraged to register early as spots fill up quickly.
How many events are planned per day?
We plan up to two events a day, with the occasional addition of an evening performance. For more information see our tours page. We also factor in free time to explore on your own as well as coffee or tea breaks.
What is the activity level of each tour?
Guests may be expected to walk at a moderate pace for some distance during guided tours, to climb some stairs without handrails, and to stand for extended periods of time. Many ATT programs involve extensive walking over uneven surfaces, climbing stairs at monuments and other locations and climbing in and out of various conveyances.
Does the price include meals?
The price usually includes breakfast and dinner each full day, a welcome reception and a farewell meal as indicated. Restaurants range from those with Michelin stars to brasseries or excellent family or eateries many with locally sourced, seasonal food.
What’s included in the price of the tour?
- A comprehensive educational and cultural program with ATT and local experts.
- Venue tours, events as listed in final itineraries.
- Transfers to and from venues during the tour days.
- All meals per itinerary.
- Entry fees to all museums, venues, performances and parks per itinerary.
- Services of experienced tour directors and local guides, speakers and translators if necessary per itinerary.
- Pre-trip information.
How long do tours usually last?
The duration of tours are 3 or 4 full days to 6 full days. They usually begin on a Monday with a welcome reception and dinner and end with a farewell feast either on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday late afternoon or evening. We choose weekday travel to avoid weekend crowds of tourists, and to enjoy the expertise of jewelry professionals, curators and jewelry designers, art historians and other specialists who may only work during the week. Also this encourages some guests who have more time to add their own travel to nearby destinations either before or after one of our tours.
What is the deadline for booking tours?
Registration for tours usually ends 3 months before scheduled departure date. However, it’s always good to contact us afterwards as single spots may become available. We encourage potential guests to register early to secure a space as spots are limited and we have a generous cancellation policy.
What is your cancellation policy?
Tours are fully refundable up to 45 days before departure. Cancellation from 44-20 days prior to departure will result in forfeiture of 25% of the entire cost of the trip per person; 19 to 10 days prior to departure, 50% of the trip cost per person; cancellation from 9 days up to the time of departure will result in 100% forfeiture of the entire cost of the trip.
