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Express to Russia » Tours to Russia » Russia River Cruises » Mother Volga Cruises (20 Days and 19 Nights)
Mother Volga Cruises (20 Days and 19 Nights)Our cruise will take you along practically the entire length of the Volga, one of Europe´s grandest rivers, and along the legendary Don River to the edge of the Black Sea. The cruise includes stops in Moscow and the splendid cities of the Golden Ring (Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Uglich). Visit ancient Nizhny Novgorod, former home to political exiles. Discover exotic Kazan, present capital of the Tartar Republic and former capital of the once invincible Golden Horde Empire. In addition, you will visit Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, which was the site of the largest battle of World War II. Finally, you will explore Rostov-on-Don, the capital of the Russian South.
| Day 1 - 3 |
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Moscow: Your journey begins as soon as you arrive in Moscow and board the ship. During your stay in Moscow you will be able to see the sights, do some light shopping and learn a few things about this incredible city through a city tour. You will also visit to the Kremlin and one of the cathedrals on its territory.
Optional tour to Sergiev Possad (not included).
Moscow: Russia’s political capital and financial as well as cultural center. The city includes many must see attractions from the Kremlin and Red Square to the Assumption Cathedral. Moscow is the largest city in Europe complete with everything one can expect.
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| Day 4 |
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Arrival in Uglich. You will be taken to the walking city tour with visit to Kremlin.
Uglich: Founded in 1148, Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in Old Russia. The view of the town as you approach it from the Volga River is especially lovely with the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John´s Church looming on the horizon. At the end of the 16th century, Maria Nagaya, seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible, lived in honorary exile at the Kremlin in Uglich. It was here in her garden that the Tsarevich Dmitry met his death and where the Church of St. Demitrius of the Blood was built and still stands today. Within the Kremlin is the oldest building in Uglich, the Palace of Tsarevich Dmitry.
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| Day 5 |
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Arrival in Yaroslavl. You will be taken to the panoramic city tour with visit to the Transfiguration Monastery and Church of Elijah the Prophet.
Yaroslavl: Stretching for 18 miles on both banks of the Volga, Yaroslavl is an important Volga port with a population of 600,000. It was founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise and today retains many noteworthy monuments of its colorful past. Of special interest is the magnificent 13th century Spassky Monastery ensemble, a group of majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant rotunda and remnants of an ancient trading center. Loveliest of all is the Church of Ilya the Prophet, situated in the town´s central square. The fresco on the walls and the vaulting inside the church combined constitutes a respectable collection of old Russian paintings.
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| Day 6 |
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Arrival in Pljos. Free time.
Arrival in Kostroma. Treat yourself to another city tour and see the Ipatyevsky Monastery.
Kostroma: One of the loveliest cities of the Golden Ring, Kostroma is certainly a highlight of the cruise. The pride of Kostroma is the museum at the former Ipatyevsky Monastery founded in the 14th century by the Zemov family, the forbearers of the Godunov family. The crypt of the monastery became the Godunov burial vault. Kostroma is only one of a few Russian cities retaining the classical layout of the 18th/19th centuries, with streets and boulevards fanning out like the spokes of a wheel from a central square. Of special interest will be a visit to the outdoor museum village Berengevka.
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| Day 7 |
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Arrival in Nizhny Novgorod. Enjoy a general city tour as well as a tour of the Kremlin by bus .
Nizhny Novgorod: Founded in 1221, this city was a famous meeting place, where people from the Orient, Siberia and Turkistan came to barter and trade. Formerly named Gorki, it was home to political exiles and therefore closed to outsiders for many years. The city has only recently opened its doors for visitors, where many well preserved memorials from the 13th and 14th centuries are found. Tourists will find the ancient Kremlin cathedrals, convents and the palace of the early ruling family especially interesting.
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| Day 8 |
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Arrival in Cheboksary. A city tour will occupy you throughout the day.
Cheboksary: Cheboksary is a city in central European part of Russia, the capital of Chuvash Republic. The city settled on the right bank of the Volga River, in the distance of almost 700 km from Moscow. The first mentioning about the city dates by 1469. Cheboksary used to be the fortress of the Moscow state, it was known as a large trading city of the Volga region. Today it is one of the leading industrial and cultural centers of the Russian Federation.
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| Day 9 |
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Arrival in Kazan. A city tour and a tour of the Kremlin are scheduled.
Kazan: This is the capital of the Republic of Tartarstan which is often called the "Pearl of the Central Volga Region." Numerous masterpieces of architecture - the unique "Leaning Tower of Princess Suumbike" - an analog of the Pisa Tower, the Kremlin, Moslem Mosques and minarets make this city a special attraction for tourists.
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| Day 10 |
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Arrival in Simbirsk/ Ulyanovsk. General city tour and a tour of the Lenin museum.
Simbirsk: Simbirsk (Ulyanovsk - 1924-1999) is situated on the banks of the rivers Volga and Sviyaga. It´s a transport junction, a river port and has an airport. Lenin was born here on April, 10 (22), 1870 and spent all his childhood in Simbirsk. On May 9, 1924 the city was called Ulyanovsk after Lenin. Ulyanovsk is a city of deep theater traditions. The first public theatre was opened here in the 1790´s; the building of the theatre was constructed in the 1840´s. There is a drama theatre, philharmonic society with a concert hall, a puppet theatre, an art museum and a museum of the city´s local history.
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| Day 11 |
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Arrival in Samara. A city tour will occupy you throughout the day.
Samara: Founded in the 16th century, Samara is today an important industrial and cultural center of this Russian region. Formerly known as Kuibyshev, the city played a big role in the Peasant Uprising of 1670 under Stepan Razin and again in 1773 under Yemelin Pugachev. Recently Stalin´s bunker was discovered here and opened to the public.
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| Day 12 |
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Arrival in Saratov. The day´s activities include a city tour.
Saratov: A beautiful city surrounded by outlying villages, Saratov was settled by Germans in the 18th and 19th centuries. Chernyshevsky, the famous Russian writer and democrat was born here and Yuriy Gagarinm the world´s first cosmonaut was a member of the Saratov Flying Club.
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| Day 13 |
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Arrival in Volgograd. Experience the city on a comprehensive city tour and explore the Mamaev Kurgan.
Volgograd. : Stretching along the Volga River for 43 miles is Volgograd. This thriving center was built as a living monument to the valor and courage of the defenders of Stalingrad during World War II, whose steadfastness created a major turning point in the war.
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| Day 14 |
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Relax as the boat sails during the day along the Volga River.
The Volga River. is the longest river in Europe, about 2,300 miles (3,700 km) and the principal waterway of Russia. It it hard to over-estimate the role of this majestic river in the life of Russian people - no wonder it is often called Mother Volga. Starting from a spring on the marshy Valdai Hills, in the heart of Russia, proceeding through hundreds of picturesque lakes, the river carries its waters through the whole central part of the country to the south and runs into the Caspian Sea, forming a huge delta of 800 branches and channels. Changes of season make it more attractive and provide vivid contrasts in snowy winter, bright wild flowers and foliage in spring, shady woodlands in summer and vivid colors in autumn.
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| Day 15 |
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Arrival in Astrakhan and a city tour.
Astrakhan: is situated on the islands in the delta of the Volga river. The greatest part of its territory lies below the spring flood levels of the Volga, so dams were built in many places to protect the city. There are more than 30 bridges in the city. In ancient times Astrakhan was called "The venice of Asia".
Throughout history, the city has had an important role in trade with Central Asia and became the home of the Caspian Fleet and a center of shipbuilding. The fishing industry is one of the main sources of Astrakhan´s wealth. Among the many valuable types of fish, the most famous is the beluga sturgeon, world famous black caviar.
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| Day 16 |
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Relax as the boat sails during the day along the Volga River.
The Volga River. is the longest river in Europe, about 2,300 miles (3,700 km) and the principal waterway of Russia. It it hard to over-estimate the role of this majestic river in the life of Russian people - no wonder it is often called Mother Volga. Starting from a spring on the marshy Valdai Hills, in the heart of Russia, proceeding through hundreds of picturesque lakes, the river carries its waters through the whole central part of the country to the south and runs into the Caspian Sea, forming a huge delta of 800 branches and channels. Changes of season make it more attractive and provide vivid contrasts in snowy winter, bright wild flowers and foliage in spring, shady woodlands in summer and vivid colors in autumn.
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| Day 17 |
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Arrival in Volgograd. Optional tour to the “Rossoshki” military memorial.
Volgograd: Stretching along the Volga River for 43 miles is Volgograd. This thriving regional center (and one of Russia’s largest cities) was rebuilt as a living monument to the valor and courage of the defenders of Stalingrad during World War II, whose steadfastness created a major turning point in the war.
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| Day 18 |
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Relax as the boat sails during the day along the Volga River and Don River.
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Arrival in Starocherkassk. Enjoy a general city tour and visit the Kossak museum.
Starocherkassk: Stanitsa Starocherkasskaya, former Cherkess city, from 1644 till 1805 year it was a capital of Don Cossaks. Voskresensky cathedral with lofty bell tower (XVIII), and Ataman´s palace reminds us of those times. Starocherkassk remembers stands of Zaporozsky Cossacks when they helped Ivan Grozny to conquer Astrakhan. On the historical square of the stanitsa gathered Cossacks circles Stepan Razin. In different times Starocherkassk was visited by Peter the Great and Alexander Suvorov, Emelian Pugachov and Condraty Bulavin, Alexander Pushkin and Vasily Surikov.
Kostroma: One of the loveliest cities of the Golden Ring, Kostroma is certainly a highlight of the cruise. The pride of Kostroma is the museum at the former Ipatyevsky Monastery founded in the 14th century by the Zemov family, the forbearers of the Godunov family. The crypt of the monastery became the Godunov burial vault. Kostroma is only one of a few Russian cities retaining the classical layout of the 18th/19th centuries, with streets and boulevards fanning out like the spokes of a wheel from a central square. Of special interest will be a visit to the outdoor museum village Berengevka.
Arrival in Rostov-on-Don. Treat yourself to another city tour.
Rostov-on-Don: The southernmost part of Russia´s Steppes was an 18th century Cossack outpost and trading center. Today this "Gateway to the Caucasus" leads to the Ukraine and is an industrial and agricultural center. Its magnificent parks and beaches, theaters and museums, and unusual botanical gardens with vast collections of rare and beautiful plants make Rostov an exceptionally attractive city on the Don River.
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| Day 20 |
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Rostov-on-Don. Your journey ends here.
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Cruise Ship M/S NOVIKOV-PRIBOY Click here to learn more about this cruise ship
Departure Dates:
| M/S NOVIKOV-PRIBOY | | 2008-09-19 - 2008-10-08 |
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Prices:
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