Great Mother Volga - m/s "Russ"

Astrakhan, Volgograd, Saratov, Samara, Kazan, Cheboksary, Nizhniy Novgorod, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Uglich, Moscow

Day 1 Astrakhan
Transfer from the airport

Day 2 Astrakhan
The largest river and sea port in the Volga-Caspian basin, Astrakhan is spread over 11 islands linked together by bridges. Founded in the 13th century by the Tatars, it is now a multinational city inhabited by the Russians (70% of population), Kalmyks, Tatars, Kirghizes and Cossacks. The bus city tour will include a visit to the 16th-century Kremlin grounds (Assumption and Trinity cathedrals). Beyond the city, the Volga River splits up into 800 arms that flow into the Caspian Sea some 100 km (60 miles) away, where the waters shelter pikes, belugas and sturgeons.

Day 3 On board
Spend your day on board enjoying spectacular view, entertainment and Russian cuisine.

Day 4 Volgograd
First called Tsaritsyn, then renamed to Stalingrad and eventually Volgograd, the city has a unique geographic location on the crossroads of land and waterways linking together Europe and Asia. It was established in the 16th century to defend the strategic point where the Volga and Don rivers meet. Volgograd acquired its fame during World War II at the time of the Battle of Stalingrad (winter of 1942) which was the turning point for the Russian resistance to Hitler, and for the war as a whole. The Battle of Stalingrad lasted for almost a year, the best German troops were deployed but the heroic defence of the city enabled the Russian army to destroy the enemy, the loss from which the Germans never recovered. Mamayev ?ill, the site of the battle's fiercest fighting is now a memorial dominated by a 70-m (239-ft) statue of Russia the Motherland wielding a sword. The names of the soldiers who fell in combat are inscribed the walls, while Schumann's Traumerei plays over and over again. Soldiers stand as guards of honour in front of the eternal flame. You'll be moved when you visit the memorial and see the diorama depicting the ferocious battle.

Day 5 Saratov
In ancient times the site was the northmost colony of Greek Empire. In 1590 Ivan the Terrible founded Saratov on the ruins of the ancient city. Saratov was home to a large population of Germans during 19th century. During World War II they were relocated to Siberia and Kazakhstan. Saratov is a birthplace of Yuri Gagarin, the world's first cosmonaut. Among the landmarks is the the 17th-century Trinity Cathedral, built in Moscow baroque style.

Day 6 Samara
The city was founded in 1586 as a fortress to guard Russian lands against relentless nomadic forays. During World War II plants and factories from the frontline areas were evacuated to samara (called Kuibyshev at that time), thus laying the foundation to the national military industry. Today Samara provides a blend of antiquity and modern times. Visitors marvel at its ravishing embankment with parks and sculptures. Samara is home to the once famous brewery and one of today's most popular chocolate brands. Beautiful Orthodox churches create a wonderful ensemble with a Lutheran church and Roman Catholic basilica.

Day 7 Kazan
The capital of the Tatar Autonomous Republic (Tatarstan) is often called the “Pearl of the Central Volga Region”. Founded in the 13th century by the Mongols, who at that time occupied Russia, it served as the seat of the mighty Golden Horde or “Tatar” Empire. Presently, it is the city of one million (half Russian, half Tatar) with a unique blend of the Muslim and Christian cultures. Kazan is the birthplace of the Russian opera singer Fyodor Chaliapin and of the great ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev.

Day 8 Cheboksary
Cheboksary is a commercial city located on the Volga River famous for the church bells manufactured here and used by many Russian churches.

Day 9 Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhniy Novgorod (formerly known as Gorkiy) lies at the confluence of the Oka and the Volga Rivers. Until recently it was a closed city, best known to foreigners as the place of exile of the Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov - famous physicist, dissident and human rights activist. Founded in 1221, it is the 5th largest city of Russia, surpassed only by Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg and Novosibirsk. Nizhny Novgorod is a large river port, trade and cultural centre. Although it dates back to the 13th century, the majority of its most interesting sights are from later periods. The foremost among these is the city’s great Kremlin, built during the 16th century.

Day 10 Kostroma and Yaroslavl
Continue to Kostroma - ancient town of the Golden Ring on the left bank of the Volga River. At the confluence of the Kostroma and Volga Rivers rise the white stone walls and golden cupolas of the Ipatievsky Monastery housing a unique open-air museum of wooden architecture. The exibition consists of churches, old houses, barns, water and windmills, and small bathhouses villages in the Kostroma Region. Of special interest is the Church of the Synaxis of the Virgin from the village of Kholm and the Church of the Transfiguration.

Arrive this morning in Yaroslavl, another Golden Ring city. The city was founded in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise. Sightseeing tour will include Ilya the Prophet church, the former Governor's House (Art Gallery) and shopping at the local market.

Day 11 Uglich
Uglich is one of the oldest Russian towns, one of the Golden Ring cities dating back to the 10th century. During the tour you’ll visit the magnificent five domed Transfiguration Cathedral and Church of Czarevich Dmitry on the Blood – build to commemorate the most famous event in the town's history – a mysterious death of the 7-year old Czarevich Dmitry, the last scion of Dimitriy Rurik dynasty. Return to the ship, departure, dinner on board entertainment'

Day 12 Moscow
City tour by bus will take you to the most famous areas in Moscow within the boundaries of the Garden Ring and the Boulevard Ring. You will drive by Kremlin, Red Square and Kitay Gorod area, Tverskaya, Arbat and Zamoskvorechje areas. The overview will include famous landmarks like Red Square and Kremlin, Novodevichy Convent, Luzhniki, the White House, area along Moskva River and other notable landmarks.

Day 13 Moscow
Today you will get aaquainted with the Red Square and Kremlin area. This is where you will see the famous St. Basil's Cathedral, Mausoleum, Historical Museum and GUM store. Inside Kremlin the main landmarks are three Cathedrals of the Assumption, Annunciation and Archangel, dated back to the 15-16th centuries, Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Tsar Bell, Tsar Cannon, Hall of Facets and Terem Place.

Your next tour is to the Tretyakov Gallery located in one of the oldest parts of Moscow Zamoskvorechje, not far from the Red Square. The Tretyakov Gallery is a national treasury which houses the largest and most distinguished collection of Russian art in the world.The gallery was named after Russian enterpreneur Pavel Tretyakov, who donated his house, where the Gallery is still located, surrounding buildings and almost 2000 works of Russian art from his own private collection to the city of Moscow at the end of the 19th century.The collection grew overtime and now features over 100,000 Russian works from medieval icons, including the ones by famous Andrey Rublev, to early 20th century.

Day 14 Moscow
Transfer to the airport