DAY 01 ISTANBUL – MOSCOW
Meeting at Istanbul Airport, International Departures Terminal, Turkish Airlines counter at 06:40. After baggage and passport procedures, departure for Moscow with Turkish Airlines flight TK417 at 09:40. Following arrival in Moscow at 13:35 local time, on our panoramic tour of Moscow we will see; Tverskaya Street, the Parliament Building, the Bolshoi Theatre, Lubyanka Square, the KGB Headquarters, St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, GUM Department Store, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, and the Parliament Building among the sights. Afterwards, transfer to our hotel and check-in. Overnight stay at our hotel after dinner.
DAY 02 MOSCOW – VOLGOGRAD (STALINGRAD)
After morning breakfast, transfer to the airport. Following our flight with local airlines, we arrive in Hero City Volgograd, which changed the course of the Second World War, and start our panoramic city tour departing from the airport. In our tour where we will feel the historical texture of the city known throughout history as Tsaritsyn, Stalingrad, and today Volgograd, we see the Central Embankment hosting the magnificent view of the Volga River as the zero point of the city, Fallen Fighters Square, the main square of the city full of historical memories, and the Eternal Flame in the square. Then, we visit Pavlov's House, which was heroically defended for 58 days during the Battle of Stalingrad and became a symbol of courage and resistance, and the ruins of Gerhardt Mill, a painful witness surviving from the early 20th century to the present day.
The most impressive point of the day will be Mamayev Kurgan, considered Russia's Main Hill. In this gigantic memorial complex dedicated to the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad that every visitor must see at least once in their lifetime, we will see the Hall of Military Glory and the majestic The Motherland Calls monument, considered one of the seven wonders of Russia and the symbol of the city. After watching the honor guard changing ceremony in the Hall of Military Glory, we explore the complex carrying the traces of the war in all details.
After our tour, return to the hotel and dinner after a short rest. Afterwards, overnight stay at our hotel.
DAY 03 VOLGOGRAD (EMBARKATION AND DEPARTURE OF THE SHIP)
After breakfast at the hotel, we proceed to the port with our luggage and board our ship waiting for us. After check-in procedures and cabin settlement, our ship departs. Then, at the briefing meeting to be held at the specified time; information will be given about the ports to be visited, the waterways to be crossed, and the working system of the lock pools. Towards evening, we are at the captain's welcome cocktail. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
DAY 04 SARATOV
After breakfast in the morning, our ship arrives in Saratov. Following our arrival in Saratov, founded as a fortress city on the right bank of the Volga River in 1590 and one of "Russia's hidden treasures" with a history of over 400 years, we start our panoramic city tour.
Our tour, where we will discover the historical merchant texture, cosmic heritage and modern face of the city today, will continue with a pleasant route starting from Museum Square, the oldest square, and extending to Gagarin Square, one of the youngest points of the city. On this occasion, we will have the opportunity to closely see the Cosmonauts Embankment, renovated against the unique view of the Volga River, and the newly opened Peter I Square. During our walk in the historical center, we will see the architectural symbols of the city such as the Stock Exchange Building, Radishchev Art Museum, and Opera & Ballet Theatre. Then, we take a pleasant walk on Pyotr Stolypin Street, known as "Saratov's Arbat" and the most lively spot of the city, which also houses the famous Conservatory building remarkable with its gothic style.
We make the grand finale of the day at Victory Park on Sokolov Mountain, the highest point of the city. Here, we visit the magnificent "Cranes" (Zhuravli) monument dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Great Patriotic War, which has become the symbol of Saratov, and photograph the magnificent city view with the Volga River stretching out beneath our feet. In addition, we will have the opportunity to see the open-air military equipment museum and the Alley of Heroes within the park. After our tour, return to the ship and lunch on board. In the afternoon, you can relax by watching the beautiful views of the Volga River from the deck or participate in on-board activities. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
DAY 05 SAMARA
After breakfast, you can participate in various activities on the ship and watch the beauties of the Volga River from the deck. After lunch, at 14:30 we arrive in Samara, located on the left bank of the Volga River. Samara was born with a fortress built here as an outpost in 1586. We start our panoramic city tour in this important city, known as Kuibyshev between 1935-1991 and undertaking the mission of being the reserve capital of the Soviet Union during World War II.
During our tour; we visit Revolution Square, which draws attention with the Monument to the Revolution and the old Regional Court building, and Chapaev Square, which houses the famous Chapaev Monument, M. Gorki Drama Theatre, and the Government House. Then, we see the gigantic Kuibyshev Square, one of the largest squares in Europe. One of the most pleasant moments of our city tour will take place at the observation deck in Slava (Victory) Square, which will reveal a magnificent panorama of the Volga River and the magnificent Zhiguli Mountains on the opposite bank.
After our tour, we return to our ship, bid farewell to Samara and depart. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
DAY 06 ULYANOVSK
Following breakfast on our ship in the morning, we arrive in Ulyanovsk at 08:00.
This is the city where Bolshevik Leader Lenin was born and lived with his family until his early youth. The name of the city, which was Simbirsk until 1924, was changed to Ulyanovsk in 1924 in honor of his family after Lenin's death.
In our bus and walking tour including panoramic and cultural discoveries, we will see the most important historical points located in the center of the city. Within the scope of this special tour shaped with the Red Route concept; we visit the Simbirsk Classical Gymnasium building where Lenin studied, the neighborhood where his childhood and youth years passed, the house where he was born, raised and lived with his family, and witness the interesting and inspiring lifestyle of the Ulyanovs, one of the enlightened and intellectual families of that period, at that time. After our tour, return to the ship and lunch on board. In our free time in the afternoon, we can explore the streets of the city and spend time in the cafes in the city center. We depart from Ulyanovsk at 19:00 in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
DAY 07 KAZAN
Morning breakfast on the ship and arrival at 08:00 in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan and the intersection point of East and West, Christianity and Islam with its thousand-year deep-rooted history. We start our comprehensive city tour in Kazan, one of the most beautiful cities in Russia. The city, which was the capital of the old Kazan Khanate and is positioned as one of the most visited tourism centers of Russia today, fascinates visitors with its beauty. During our tour: Tukay Square, the rooted Kazan Federal University, Freedom Square, City Hall, M. Gorki Literary Street, Al-Marjani Mosque, Old Tatar Settlement, and the traditionally designed Tugan Avilim complex are among the sights to be seen. The most special part of our city tour is the Kazan Kremlin, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. During our walk within the Kremlin walls, we closely examine the legendary Kul Sharif Mosque, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Presidential Palace of Tatarstan, and the Syuyumbike Tower, the leaning symbol of the city. Afterwards, we will have free time on Bauman Street, which is closed to traffic in the city. You can relax in the cafes here and shop in the stores.
Our lunch is on the ship. In your free time in the afternoon, you can continue to explore the city or relax on the ship. Departure of the ship after dinner. Overnight stay on our ship.
DAY 08 CHEBOKSARY
Following breakfast on our ship in the morning, we arrive in Cheboksary, the capital of the Chuvash Republic. Chuvash Turks are one of the main elements of Idil (Volga) Turks. Their origins are based on Suvar (Sabir, Sabar) Turks and they are the only surviving representatives of the Ogur Branch of Turkic Languages. We start our panoramic tour to discover this special city where Russian and Chuvash cultures are intertwined. In the city, known as the cultural capital of the Volga Region, we will see the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Philharmonic, Convent of the Holy Trinity, Military Glory Monument, the bay coast famous for its fountains, Red Square, and merchant Efremov Boulevard, one of the liveliest spots of the city. After lunch, our ship departs. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
DAY 09 NIZHNY NOVGOROD (GORKY) – MOSCOW – ISTANBUL
Following breakfast on the ship, we arrive in Nizhny Novgorod. After ship disembarkation procedures, we take our luggage and start to explore this city where Maxim Gorky was born and raised and which has an important place in his life, with our private vehicle. Nizhny Novgorod (named Gorky during the Soviet Union period) is Russia's third largest city and the capital of cities on the Volga. Located where the Oka and Volga Rivers meet, the foundation of this beautiful city dates back to the 1200s. Nizhny Novgorod, which is a very important junction point between the west and east, Siberia and Turkestan, is on Unesco's World Cultural Heritage list... During our trip, you can take a pleasant walk during your free time on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, which is closed to traffic, and relax in the cafes. After the tour, we depart for Moscow with our bus. (450 Km) Following our journey with breaks, upon arrival in Moscow, transfer to the airport and our flight to Istanbul will take place with THY's flight TK412 at 00:30 (May 13). Arrival in Istanbul at 04:30 and the end of our tour.
