5* M/S LAVRINENKOV AND THE MAGNIFICENT VOLGA RIVER WHITE NIGHTS - (9 NIGHTS - 11 DAYS) - 2026
Day 1 ISTANBUL - St. PETERSBURG
Meet at Istanbul Airport, Departures Terminal, Turkish Airlines counter at 05:00. After check-in and passport procedures, flight TK401 with Turkish Airlines departs at 08:15 heading to St. Petersburg. Arrival in St. Petersburg at 11:50 local time and then we will organize a free panoramic city tour including; Moskovski Prospekt, Nevsky Prospekt street, Strogonoff Palace, Palace Square, Winter Palace, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Anichkov Palace and Bridge, and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. After the tour, transfer to our hotel, check-in, and room allocation. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 St. PETERSBURG
After breakfast at the hotel, those who wish can join a full-day optional tour from our hotel. Today, we will visit two important towns near St. Petersburg. First, we will go to Pushkin, formerly called Tsarskoye Selo, where we will visit Catherine Palace. Famous for its Amber Room, this palace is considered one of the most beautiful summer palaces of the Tsar's era. After our visit here, we will head towards Peterhof, located on the Baltic Sea coast. The Summer Palace built during Tsar Peter I's reign is famous for its magnificent gardens. The complex’s fountains, sculptures, and monuments are particularly striking. After exploring the gardens, we return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in St. Petersburg.
Day 3 St. PETERSBURG (BOAT TRIP)
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, those who wish can join an optional Hermitage Museum tour departing from the hotel. One of the world's most significant art museums, Hermitage consists of five buildings. It was once the residence of Russian Tsars and Tsarinas, and includes the Winter Palace and the magnificent collection opened by Empress Catherine The museum complex is considered one of the world’s top museums. After the museum tour, enjoy some free time in the city center and relax in cafes on Nevsky Prospect. At the designated time, we will meet and transfer to our ship. After a welcome cocktail with the captain, our ship departs. Dinner and overnight on the ship.
Day 4 Valaam
Morning breakfast on the ship before arriving at Valaam. Located on the north of Lake Ladoga, Europe's largest lake, Valaam island group is known for its natural beauty and historic monasteries. During our walk on Valaam, the largest island, we will explore historical structures from the 14th century and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the island. Valaam holds great significance for Orthodox Christianity. We will learn about the island’s history, monasteries, and religious centers with relevant information. After the tour, return to the ship and depart.
Day 5 Mandroghi
Morning breakfast on the ship and arrival at Mandroghi at 10:30. A colorful village with wooden Russian houses and lush greenery, Mandroghi offers free time for exploration. You can enjoy a walk among the greenery, visit the small petting zoo, and explore souvenir shops and workshops in charming wooden buildings. There is also a small vodka museum here (entrance fee applicable). After lunch, the ship departs. Enjoy the beautiful scenery as the ship sails through the northern forests of Russia. Tonight, you will be treated to the Captain’s Gala Dinner. Overnight on the ship.
Day 6 Kiji
After breakfast, you can participate in onboard activities and enjoy views of Lake Onega’s beauty. After lunch, at 17:00, we arrive at Kiji. Situated in Lake Onega, above the 60th parallel north, this island is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an open-air museum. During our free walking tour, we will see the fairy-tale-like, 22-domed, wooden Church of the Transfiguration, built without nails, and the traditional wooden Russian village houses, learning about ancient village and island life. After the tour, free time on the island. Later, we return to the ship and depart at 20:30. Dinner and overnight on the ship.
Day 7 GORITSY / KIRILLOV
After breakfast, you can participate in various onboard activities and enjoy the views of the Volga River from the deck. After lunch, arrive at Goritsy. Known as a picturesque and peaceful village along the river, Goritsy has a small harbor and is rich in medieval atmosphere. It is also an important center of early Christianity in Russia, featuring many monasteries and spiritual sites. During the visit, we will travel 10 km by bus to Kirillov. After visiting the monastery, return to the village. You will have free time to explore and shop. At the designated time, return to the ship and depart. Enjoy the river views from the upper deck while sipping coffee. Dinner and overnight onboard.
Day 8 Uglitch
Morning on the ship with onboard activities and enjoying the views of the Volga River from the upper deck. After lunch, we arrive at Uglitch. This charming town on the Volga has a small port. During our free walking tour, see the Transfiguration Cathedral in the Old Kremlin Square and the Dimitri Church built on the site where Dimitri, Ivan the Terrible’s son, died at age 9. At 18:00, the ship departs. Tonight, you will be hosted at the Captain’s Farewell Dinner. Overnight on the ship.
Day 9 MOSCOW
Morning, after breakfast, time to prepare for disembarkation. Around noon, the ship arrives in Moscow. After disembarking, a panoramic city tour of Moscow is performed including: Leningrad Prospect, Triumph Palace (one of the tallest buildings in Europe), Tverskaya Street, the Parliament building, Bolshoi Theatre, Lubyanka Square, KGB headquarters, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, GUM Shopping Center, Christ the Savior Cathedral, and the State Duma building. The city tour continues, and you may join an optional extra tour of the Kremlin + 2 cathedrals. Then, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10 MOSCOW
After breakfast at the hotel, check-out procedures are performed, and luggage is packed. For those interested, optional tours to Novodevichy Convent, Metro, and Arbat Street are available. After the tours, meet at the designated time and transfer to Moscow Airport by bus.
Day 11 MOSCOW - ISTANBUL
Check-in and passport procedures, then Turkish Airlines flight TK410 departs at 01:10 to Istanbul New Airport. Arrival in Istanbul at 05:10 local time, and end of the tour.
TK 401 26JUN ISTLED 0810 1155
TK 410 06JUL VKOIST 0110 0510
- Our company will not be responsible for schedule and date changes made by the ship, airline, or train companies.
- The ship, airline, and train companies reserve the right to make these changes.
- The operating days and hours of the museums and archaeological sites specified in the program are subject to change.
- Travel documents and airline tickets are provided to guests 48 hours before the trip. Participants are responsible for reading and verifying these tickets and the information contained therein.
- Due to water levels, port conditions, weather, and unforeseen circumstances, the ship company reserves the right to alter the program. Accordingly, the ports to be visited, as well as arrival and departure times, may vary depending on river traffic.
- The participation of a guest in the tour depends on being present at the specified airport or port where the ship is docked at the specified times. Guests who do not check-in or board on time, or who miss their flights or ships despite completing check-in and boarding procedures on time, are not the responsibility of our agency. Those who miss their flight or ship are responsible for additional costs such as new tickets or transportation to the port of arrival, as well as transfers in the region.
- Ship departure times are announced via announcements or info boards onboard. Guests are responsible for following this information. In case of missing the ship, guests must make arrangements to board from a different port or to continue the trip, and must bear all related costs. No refunds are made for interrupted trips.
- For trips abroad, a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity from the end of the trip is mandatory. Passports must not be damaged, torn, or worn, and must have at least one blank visa page. Travelers are responsible for fulfilling all legal requirements for entry into the destination countries. Failure to comply with these rules may result in denial of boarding at airports, and travelers are responsible for any damages arising from this.
- Personal belongings, bags, and suitcases of participants are their own responsibility; our agency is not responsible for forgotten, lost, or stolen items. In case of finding forgotten items, any costs related to their return or delivery to the owner are borne by the owner.
- Onboard, full-board accommodation begins with dinner on the first day and ends with breakfast on the last day.
- In Russia, museums, archaeological sites, and city main squares and arteries may be closed without prior notice by the government. In such cases, planned tours (city tours, additional tours) are subject to change or cancellation at the discretion of the ship management and guide, and this situation cannot be predicted in advance.
- Shuttle buses for extra tours are exclusively for guests participating in those tours. Guests not participating in the extra tours cannot use these buses.
- The program and dates for tours and additional excursions in Moscow and St. Petersburg may vary depending on the museums and archaeological sites; some tours may be combined.
Cancellation Conditions:
Cancellations made up to 90 days before the departure date are free of charge (this applies only to the ship component; airline ticket penalties will be applied separately).
Cancellations between 89 and 60 days prior: 50% penalty.
Cancellations between 59 and 45 days prior: 80% penalty.
Cancellations made 44 days prior to the tour or on the tour day: 100% penalty.
What's Included
- Economy class airfare between THY Istanbul Airport – Moscow / St. Petersburg – Istanbul Airport.
- Full-board cabin accommodation on the 5* Lavrinenkov ship (Full-board service begins with dinner on the embarkation day and ends with breakfast on the disembarkation day).
- 1 night stay in Moscow at a 4-star hotel with half-board service.
- 1 night stay in St. Petersburg at a 4-star hotel with half-board service.
- Panoramic Moscow City Tour (Half-day)
- Panoramic St. Petersburg City Tour (Half-day)
- City tours at the ports visited along the river route.
- Transfers between airports and hotels as specified in the program.
- Professional Turkish-speaking guide service.
- Luggage handling service on the ship.
- Welcome cocktail onboard and Captain's Gala Dinner.
- Tea and coffee service during all meals on the ship.
- Concerts, shows, cultural lessons, and activities on the ship (including Russian language lessons, Russian songs, Russian dances, Russian cuisine, Russian folk arts, costumes, and the story and production of wooden souvenirs).
Not Included
- Guest personnel transportation fee (Per person: 80 Euros) will be collected at the airport.
- Tips for local guides and drivers (Per person: 70 Euros) will be collected at the airport.
- Alcoholic, non-alcoholic beverages, and bottled water on the cruise.
- Tours not specified in the program.
- Travel health and cancellation insurance (We recommend our guests to purchase travel health insurance to avoid any issues in case of health-related cancellations.)
- Visa fee: Russia applies a visa to ordinary (normal) passports. An ONLINE ELECTRONIC VISA must be obtained to participate in the Volga Tour. The visa fee is 100 Euros per person. No visa is required for green passports. Regardless of passport type, a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the tour and in excellent condition, without any tears or damage, is required for entry into Russia.
- Foreign exit fee.
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