The 12-day river cruise offers you a chance to discover Russia in all its diversity: from our capital with its traditional architecture and world-known city sites – to the city of Astrakhan which combines miraculously Eastern and Western cultures. During the journey, you will have a chance to discover several other Russian cities, such as Uglich, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Saratov and Volgograd. Each of them has its distinct and unique character, maintained over the centuries. Panoramic city tours will give you an insight into their history and main local sites.
Did you know that in the 19th century, French writer Alexandre Dumas visited Uglich, seeking inspiration? Did you know that Daniel Defoe has mentioned the city of Yaroslavl in the second part of his famous novel Robinson “Crusoe”? Did you know that Kazan was a hometown of Gala Dalí, the wife of Salvador Dalí?
You’ll learn a lot more during this fascinating cruise, get ready to be surprised!
Upon arrival, you will be met and driven to the boat. Boarding. The rest of the day is free, so you will have time to relax from the journey. Dîner.
Breakfast. Panoramic city tour, during which you will see the Red Square, the Saint Basil’s Cathedral, the Lenin’s Mausoleum, and the State Historical Museum. We will visit the famous GUM (acronym for “Glavny Universalny Magazin”, literally “Main Universal Store”). You will see the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (the highest Christian Orthodox Church in the world), and enjoy the panoramic view of the Olympic Stadium and the whole city from the point of view of the Sparrow Hills. Lunch aboard a boat. Visit to the Kremlin – the official residence of the Russian government. You will see the majestic Cathedral Square, which owes its name to the three cathedrals facing it – Cathedral of the Dormition, Cathedral of the Archangel, and Cathedral of the Annunciation. You will also discover the real historical pearls – the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell (Full board).
Free time before leaving Moscow: enjoy the city, relax on board or book an optional city tour. In the evening, you can enjoy the company of the boat’s captain over a welcome cocktail (Full board).
During the walking city tour of Uglich – one of the most beautiful cities of the Golden Ring – you will visit: the famous Transfiguration Cathedral, the Church of Dimitri on Blood, built on the site where prince Dimitri, the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, was assassinated (Full board).
Arrival in the fascinating ancient city of Yaroslavl, famous for its long history which dates back to 1010. Visit to the historical part of the city – a World Heritage Site – located at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl. Visit to the Saint Elijah the Prophet’s Church and the Transfiguration Monastery (also called Spasski monastery) of the 12th century (Full board).
Arrival in Nizhny Novgorod, located at the confluence of the rivers Oka and Volga. Panoramic tour of the city, founded in 1221 by Prince Yuri II of Vladimir (Yuri Vsevolodovich) to protect the borders of Russia. The huge Kremlin (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is one of the strongest and oldest fortresses in Russia, built in 1508-1511 (Full board).
Arrival in Kazan. Guided tour of the city – one of the most important religious, economic, educational, cultural and sports centers in Russia. Kazan has a rich history that has contributed to a mix of Orthodox and Islamic cultures. The magnificent Kazan Kremlin is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Full board).
Arrival and city tour of Samara. During the Second World War, Samara served as the alternative capital of the Soviet Union; the city was never invaded by the Nazis. Today, Samara is a commercial city and an important aerospace center (Full board).
Arrival in Saratov, a city founded in 1590 with the aim of protecting the commercial route along the Volga from the nomadic aggressors. In the 19th century, Saratov became an important commercial center, especially after the construction of the railway to Moscow in the 1870s. The modern city is a large industrial complex extending for several kilometers along the river. The road bridge over the Volga (3 kilometers long), opened in 1965, is one of the longest in Europe (Full board).
The city of Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) is famous for the great historical battle – the Battle of Stalingrad – which lasted almost a year. It was the largest battle in the history of warfare. Stalingrad has been described as the biggest defeat in the history of the German Army and became a turning point in the Second World War (Full board).
Astrakhan is located in the place powerful Volga flows into the Caspian Sea. Astrakhan was the capital of Khazar Khaganate and, later, of the Golden Horde. Moscow took Astrakhan in 1556. As the gateway to eastern Russia, the city is a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures (Full board).
Breakfast. Departure and transfer to the airport.
*Veuillez noter que nous nous réservons le droit de modifier l'ordre des visites.
Niveau 1 (facile)
Croisière
Niveau 3 (modéré/actif)
Tour régulier
