Cruise - Along the Volga: Astrakhan - Moscow 14 Days (CR-33)

On arrival, our driver will be waiting to collect you to take you to the ship where you'll be welcomed with a social cocktail reception.

Astrakhan, situated about 100km from the Caspian Sea and the closest gateway to the Volga Delta, dates from the 13th century. Once the capital of the Astrakhan Khanate, it fell to Ivan the Terrible who destroyed this Tatar city and rebuilt it as the modern city of Astrakhan. Historically an important trading centre for Eurasian trade, its economy today is based around sturgeon and the production of caviar. We'll enjoy a guided visit to its Kremlin as part of our shore excursion.

Today, sit back and relax as we cruise past the scenery en-route to Volgograd or participate in the on board entertainment provided by the friendly crew.

Once Tsaritsyn and later Stalingrad, the city of Volgograd's name reflects its heroism during World War Two. A fierce 200 day battle besieging the city became a pivotal turning point for the war on the Russian Front. Estimates put the number of casualties on both sides at between one and two million. The ruined city was awarded the honour of Hero City in 1945 and renamed after Russia's most important river. We'll make a guided visit to Mamaev Kurgan and the statue of The Motherland Calls.

The name Saratov is thought to have originated from "Sary Tau" which means yellow mountain in the Tatar language, a reference to the sandy hills around the city. Once the home to the Volga Germans, exiled to Siberia in the war, it became a closed city during the Soviet era as a consequence of its role in military aircraft manufacturing. The city was also the home of the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, and a vital part of the Soviet space programme.

Samara dates from the 14th century and is one of the largest cities in Russia. Renamed Kuybyshev in honour of the Bolshevik leader Valerian Kuybyshev in 1935, it was chosen to be the capital of the USSR during the Second World War. Once it became clear that Moscow wouldn't fall to the Nazis, government functions were transferred back. Kuybyshev became an important city for the defence industry and like Saratov, a closed city during Soviet times. We'll visit its art gallery as part of our organised tour.

The boat docks in Kazan today, the capital of the Tatarstan republic. Founded in the 13th century by the Mongols, it served as the seat of the mighty Golden Horde. Later, it became the capital of the powerful Khanate of Kazan before falling to Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century. This chequered history results in present day Kazan being a curious mix of Muslim and Christian cultures. Its Kremlin makes for a fascinating excursion.

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.

Colloquially known as Nizhny, the fifth largest city in Russia is today's destination. It occupies a commanding position with views of both the Volga and the Oka Rivers. We'll tour its ancient Kremlin and take a stroll along the pleasant pedestrian promenade before reboarding the ship.

Historic Kostroma is located where the Kostroma River joins the Volga, part of the famous Golden Ring around Moscow. It's the site of the Ipatievskiy Monastery where we will visit today, founded in the latter part of the 18th Century. We'll also go and see its interesting open air museum featuring myriad forms of wooden architecture from windmills to bath houses, churches to watermills brought from around the region.

Later we reach the port of Yaroslavl, strung out along both banks of the Volga. It takes its name from its founder, Prince Yaroslav the Wise who based himself here in the 11th Century. An undisputed highlight of the city is its 13th Century Spassky Monastery. Hosting several cathedrals, a rotunda and the remains of an ancient trading centre, this is a fascinating complex to explore. Our tour takes in the Church of the Prophet Elijah and many other cultural highlights.

The approach to Uglich from the Volga River is one of the most beautiful we'll see on this cruise. Founded in 1148, this pretty provincial town is dominated by the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John's Church. We'll also visit the Kremlin, amongst the oldest buildings in town and the place where the seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible lived in exile in the 16th century.

Today we reach the Russian capital, a city of leafy boulevards and majestic squares, its streets and gardens bisected by the Moscow River with towering granite embankments. Our bus tour takes us to a variety of sites including the Sparrow Hills observation platform, the Bolshoi Theatre and of course iconic Red Square, the setting for the colourful domes of the glorious St Basil's Cathedral.

There's too much to see in Moscow to be able to fit it all into just one day, so we continue our sightseeing today. We return to Red Square where alongside St Basil's you'll find GUM department store and Lenin's Mausoleum. In the Kremlin, we admire the beautiful Orthodox cathedrals. You could also delve inside the Armoury Museum (optional excursion) which houses the treasures of the Tsars. We will also visit the Tretyakov Gallery to admire the magnificent collection of russian paintings.

Our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the ship ready for your airport transfer.