Luxury Cruise - Along the Volga: Rostov - Volgograd - Nizhny Novgorod - Moscow - 13 Days (CR-62)

We begin our journey in Rostov-on-Don, where our reliable driver will be awaiting your arrival ready to transfer you to our comfortable ship.

Present day Rostov-on-Don has a history dating back to December 15th, 1749. On that date, a customs house was created to manage trade with Turkey. These days, following the construction of the Volga-Don Shipping Canal, the city serves as a port for no fewer than five seas: the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, the Caspian Sea, the White Sea and the Baltic Sea.

We will visit one of the oldest Cossack settlements on the banks of the Don river. The village was founded in XVII century by the Cossack military chief Smaga Chershensky. You will enjoy the home environment of Cossack life as it was hundreds years ago.

Today we will visit the museum of the history of the construction of the canal, which connects the Volga and the Don. The museum also has many exhibits that will introduce to you the life of the Cossacks of this region.

Volgograd is what's termed a "Hero City", an accolade reserved for only a handful of places. This was the place once known as Tsaritsyn and then, most famously, Stalingrad. As Stalingrad, it endured a 200 day battle during World War Two during which it was shelled relentlessly by the Nazis, causing immense suffering and loss of life on both sides. We'll explore the present-day city on a guided tour.

A couple of hundred years so, you'd have heard German being spoken here in Saratov. The Volga Germans as they were known settled here and had autonomous status. However, this was not to last. At the outbreak of hostilities in World War Two, they were exiled by the Soviet authorities to Kazakhstan and to Siberia. Most didn't return. After the war, Saratov became a closed city, a major military manufacturing base, meaning it was closed to visitors. Fortunately, this is no longer the case and we can visit to learn more about this city, the home of Yuri Gagarin, first man in space.

Like Saratov, Samara's defense industry focus meant it too was a closed city for years. It was known as Kuybyshev, named for the Bolshevik leader Valerion Kuybyshev. The city held great status during the Second World War as it was allotted the role of alternative capital, ready to takeover the reins from Moscow which, it was feared, would fall to the Germans.

Kazan is one of the richest Russian cities in terms of cultural heritage and to understand why we need to look to the past. Founded by the Mongols, later the seat of the Golden Horde and later still the capital of the Khanate of Kazan, eventually the city fell to Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century. These days, its blend of Russian and Tatar culture, Muslim and Christian religion, makes this an intriguing place to tour. We'll explore the city's impressive Kremlin before returning to the ship.

We reach the Chuvash republic today and enjoy a city tour in historic Cheboksary. The fortress dates from 1555 but the place remained a sleepy backwater until the coming of the railway in 1939. During our visit you will enjoy a number of ancient churches and monasteries (among them Vvedensky cathedral (1657) and Saint-Trinity monastery (1566), as well as a view of a lovely bay beautifully situated in the middle of the city which has become a very popular gathering place for local residents.

Nizhny Novgorod, located in an excellent position commanding views of both the Volga and Oka rivers, is Russia's fifth largest city after its illustrious siblings Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. It has an interesting Kremlin which we shall visit. You'll also see the promenade known as Pokrovka which is popular with both locals and tourists alike.

Today's port of call is charming Yaroslavl. An important port with a history dating back to the eleventh century, there are a number of exciting historic buildings to explore. These include the 13th century Spassky Monastery complex and several beautiful 17th century cathedrals. We'll visit the Church of the Prophet Elijah as well as the city's other cultural highlights as we go ashore.

Despite its name, this town is anything but ugly and in fact provides us with one of the most beautiful views in this river cruise itinerary. You'll see the town's skyline dominated by the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St John's Church as we approach. Our guided tour will let us see them close up, as well as the Kremlin where the seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible lived in exile in the 16th century.

It's time to disembark and so our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the ship entrance ready to transfer you safely to the airport.

Upon request, we can extend your stay in Moscow and arrange a sightseeing program.