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Ship MS Volga Dream: Astrakhan - Moscow, River Cruise 05 Oct 2011 - 18 Oct 2011
Route description:
This voyage starts from ancient Astrakhan situated where the Volga flows into the Caspian Sea and heads north stopping off in dozens of fascinating places, ancient capitals and modern cities.
Itinerary
| Day 1 | Arrival to Astrakhan  Your personal driver will meet you at the airport (he will be
holding a sign with your name on it) and take you to your ship.
There is no evening program, as you will probably want to get some
rest. You will be served dinner in the ship's restaurant after
which you can relax in the bar or get some sleep.Your tour manager will help you arrange a flight from Moscow to Astrakhan. Prices will vary from $150 to $250 per person |
| Day 2 | Astrakhan  Astrakhan is located where the mighty the Volga meets the Caspian Sea, on the trade route from India to Persia. Astrakhan was the capital of Khazaria and then of the Golden Horde (the Mongols). Moscow took Astrakhan in 1556 and ruled it ever since. Today, you will tour the city including its Kremlin and cathedrals, designed on the Baroque style. The city also features a monument to Peter the Great, who constructeda shipyard here for his aggressions against Persia.
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| Day 3 | Akhtuba  This day you will mostly spend on board. Crew have prepared an entertaining program for you. At the afternoon we will sail on Akhtuba river. Don't forget to charge your camera. |
| Day 4 | Volgograd  Volgograd (former Stalingrad) is famous for the battle that
unfolded here during the World War II. German forces attempted to
cut off the Russian armies and their industrial production from
their fuel supplies. To that end, they needed to take Stalingrad,
situated on the western bank of the Volga River. Hitler sent his
best armies and generals, including famous marshal Von Paulus to
command the siege. The Battle of Stalingrad lasted for almost one
year. The heroic defense of the city enabled the Russian army to
prepare a counter attack and to surround the invading forces. This
was a serious loss from which Hitler forces were never able to
fully recover. This was not the victory for the allies yet, but it
was in Stalingrad that the tide of war turned against the Germans.
Volgograd has a giant memorial Rodina Mat (Motherland)
commemorating those who fought and died here.You explore the city by bus and visit the infamous Mamayev Mound |
| Day 5 | Saratov  Samara has long been Russia's diplomatic and economic link to the East. The growing bread trade in 19th-20th centuries turned this city into an important economic center in Russia. In World War II many of military factories were moved to Samara. The soviet leaders were even planning to move Russia's capital here had Moscow fallen to the German hands. Today, Samara is the third largest metropolitan area in Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg and an important industrial center.During you city tour you will get to see the local Art Gallery |
| Day 6 | Samara  Samara has long been Russia's link to the East. The growing bread trade in 19th-20th centuries turned this city into an important economic center and during World War II many of military factories were moved from western parts of the country to Samara. The soviet leaders even had a contingency plan to move Russia's capital to Samara had Moscow fallen to the German hands. Today, Samara is the third largest metropolitan area in Russia after Moscow and St. Petersburg and an important industrial center. |
| Day 7 | Kazan .jpg) Kazan was the capital of Tatars, the allies of Mongols. Ivan the
Terrible conquered Kazan in 1552 and forced its Muslim ruler to
convert to Christianity. Ivan remodeled Kazan's castle to the
Russian style and built St. Basil's Cathedral on the Red Square of
Moscow in the celebration of his victory. It is interesting that
St. Basil's domes, all nine of them, correspond to the number of
days that the siege of Kazan lasted.You will have bus city tour and visit Kremlin grounds |
| Day 8 | Nizhniy Novgorod  Nizhny Novgorod was one of the newly founded towns that escaped Mongol devastation on account of its insignificance. The city, similarly to Moscow and Tver, attracted refugees from other cities pillaged by the Mongols and expanded rapidly during the period of the "Mongol yoke" that lasted for a little over 100 years. Moscovy incorporated the city in 1392 and soon thereafter the Tatars of Kazan burnt it down (1408). It took over one century to construct an enormous redbrick castle here which was soon of use when the Tatars tried to burn it again in 1520 and 1536. Today, just like 500 years ago, Nizhniy is one of the main commercial centers of Russia.You will have bus city tour and will go inside of local Kremlin |
| Day 9 | Sailing  This day you will spend on the board of the ship, enjoying a great panoramic views offered by Volga. |
| Day 10 | Yaroslavl  By today standards Yaroslavl is small, but its place in Russia's
history and culture cannot be underestimated. Before it was
annihilated by the Mongols it was Russia's largest city, its
economic, political, cultural and scientific center. It was rebuilt
shortly after but was once again burnt to the ground. While the
Mongols had been preoccupied with Yaroslavl, Moscow was able to
harness enough power to overthrow the "Mongol yoke."During the Polish occupation of Moscow in the early 17th century, it was Yaroslavl once again that became the center of the national resistance to the occupation. During your bus city tour you will visit:
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| Day 11 | Uglich  Uglich is a small town located on the Volga River. Uglich was the
best-defended fortress of Moscovy and it was burnt on number of
occasions by Lithuanians, Tatars, and even the grand prince of
Tver, the city which rivaled Moscow.Uglich is most famous for the tragic events that took place in 1591 when the 10-year old prince Dimitry, the last heir to the throne of the ancient Ruyrik dynasty, was killed here (as historians now agree, by Boris Godunov, advisor to Dimitry, who wanted the throne for himself). Dimitry's death plunged Russia into decades of political turmoil known as Time of Trouble. You will discover the town on a walking tour with visit to the Kremlin and church of St. Dmitry on the blood |
| Day 12 | Moscow .jpg) This day is very special, as we will go inside the Kremlin - the ancient castle built to withstand the Mongol hordes. Throughout history, the Kremlin has been the center of political power in Russia and it remains a symbolic political center even today, as the official site of the inauguration ceremony of the Russian president (they don't actually live or work here).The Kremlin is a living museum of Russia's history. Its inside wasn't built overnight, rather various rulers added new pieces over time (and some, like Napoleon, plundered from it). This cultural and historical treasure has been so well preserved that it seems that you are traveling in time. You will see the most interesting places in the Kremlin as you follow our professional guide in the steps of some of the world's greatest leaders and its most terrible dictators. Later, your guide will take you to the famed Armory Museum, including its vast collection of Imperial Russian artwork. You will have the opportunity to see the Kremlin’s unique and intimate collection of Imperial Faberge Easter Eggs. Also in the Armory are many of the most important Imperial thrones and crowns, including the most historic, Cap of Monomachus.
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| Day 13 | Moscow  Moscow is Russia's largest city, its political and economic capital. The town of Moscow was the center of Moscovy - a small principality that unified the Russian lands against the Mongols in the late 14th century and has ruled Russia ever since. As the Mongols burnt major cities across Russia, refugees fled to smaller principalities like Moscow, Tver and Nizhny Novgorod. Through bribes, diplomacy and coercion, Moscow overcame its two rivals to become "Russia's first city." Moscow's role was briefly challenged when Tsar Peter the Great moved Russia's capital to his new city, St Petersburg, on the shores of the Baltic Sea.This day you will explore Red Square, the most famous square in the world located in the very heart of Moscow next to the Kremlin. Red Square together with the surrounding buildings is the most well known symbol of Russia. You will have a whole afternoon to explore this amazing place. You will have a lunch in one of the Moscow restaurants.
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| Day 14 | Departure from Moscow  Your incredible voyage in time is coming to an end. It is time to say farewell to this unique and beautiful country. It is time to say good-bye to your new friends. It is time to go home with a stock of fantastic experiences and unforgettable memories.Your driver will take you to the airport. |
