Saint-Petersburg- Mandrogi – Kizhi – Goritsy –Uglich – Moscow – Yaroslavl – Kostroma - Nizhny Novgorod - Cheboksary- Kazan – Samara – Saratov - Volgograd – Rostov-on-Don

Moscow Spend three unforgettable days in the capital of Russia and admire numerous treasures of its history and present days and enjoy its beauty!
Saint-Petersburg created by Peter the Great to rival Venice, its 101 islands, 66 canals, and hundreds of bridges have secured its reputation as the most beautiful city in the country. While your ship is docked in port, you’ll enjoy daily sightseeing tours. You will see the Nevsky prospect’s shops, cafes and theatres, and you will tour the impressive St.Isaac’s, the city’s large cathedral, now a museum of elaborate icons and artworks. We will spend time in the world famous hermitage Museum, formerly the Winter Palace, home of the last six czars. A treasure trove of three million exhibits, its 320 halls display DaVincis, Rembrandts, Titians, Micheleangelos, French impressionists and North American artists.
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 a most attractive city on the Don River.
Mandrogi. Green Stop.. In the village there are some structures built according to the Russian fine traditions of wooden architecture. Village dwellers meet the quests and organize something special for them. There is a museum of Russian Vodka where tourists can get acquainted with the history of Russian vodka industry ( payment on the spot). Remeslennays Sloboda, walking in the picturesque woods.
Kizhi Via the Volga/Baltic canal, our cruise takes us to the tiny island of Kizhi, located at the northern end of lake Onega. Renowned for its open-air Museum of Architecture assembled from various areas of the country and restored to form a glimpse of the past.
Goritsy is a tiny settlement seven kilometers from the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. Visit what remains of the Nunnery of the resurrection on the banks of the Sheksna River in Goritsy, within a quarter of a mile of where the ship stop, will be interesting for any tourist with a real interest in Russian history
Uglich Founded in 1148, Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in old Russia. The view of the town as it is approached 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 in the Kremlin at 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.
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 Elijah the Prophet, situated in the town’s central square. The frescoes on the walls and vaulting inside the church constitute a veritable museum of old Russian paintings.
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 Zernov family, the forebearers of the Godunovs. The crypt of the Monastery became the Godunov burial vault. Kostroma is the only Russian city 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

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 later home of political exiles and therefore closed to outsiders for many years.
Nizhny Novgorod has only recently opened its doors for visitors, where many well preserved memorials from the 13th and 14th centuries are found. Of special interest is the ancient Kremlin cathedrals, convents and the palace of the early ruling family.
Cheboksary is the capital of Chuvashia. It is situated on the right bank of the Volga. It is a port has a railway, a carway and an airport. The population of the town is 444 thousand people.
Cheboksary has been known since 1469. Since 1555 it has been a fortress of the Moscow state. In 1611-1612 the citizens took part in the home guard of Minin and Pozharsky. At the end of 17th and 18th centuries Cheboksary was a large trading city of Povolzhiya. Then it became a new industrial and cultural centre.
Kazan Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan 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, magnificent Orthodox churches and cathedrals make this city a special attraction for the tourists
Simbirsk The birthplace of Vladimir Uljanov, known in the world as Lenin. The city was a Soviet shrine for almost 70 years. The Lenin Memorial Complex includes the house in which he was born and other buildings associated with his life.
Samara Founded in the 16th century Samara is today an important industrial
and cultural center of the region. Formerly known as Kuibyshev, the city played a big role in the Peasant Uprising of 1670 under Styepan Razin and again in 1773 under Yemelin Pugachev. Recently Stalin’s bunker was discovered here and opened to the public.
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 Gagarin, the world’s first cosmonaut was a member of the Saratov Flying Club
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 of the war.