Day 1 - ISTANBUL - St. PETERSBURG
Meet at Istanbul Airport, International Terminal, Turkish Airlines counter at 05:00. After check-in and passport procedures, depart for St. Petersburg on Turkish Airlines flight TK401 at 08:15. Arrival in St. Petersburg at 11:50 local time. Following this, we will have a complimentary panoramic city tour of St. Petersburg, where we will see the highlights including Moskovski Prospekt, Nevski Prospekt Street, Stroganov 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 for check-in and room distribution. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2 - St. PETERSBURG (EMBARKATION)
After breakfast at the hotel and check-out procedures, guests wishing to participate can join the optional Hermitage Museum tour. As one of the most important art museums in the world, the Hermitage consists of five buildings. This complex of buildings, which hosts the magnificent collection of the art museum founded by Empress Catherine and has evolved over the years, is considered one of the finest museums in the world. After the museum visit, enjoy free time in the city center, where you can savor the atmosphere in the cafes on Nevski Prospekt. After the designated meeting time, we will transfer to our ship. After check-in and settling into our cabins, there will be an informational meeting regarding the ports we will visit, the waterways we will navigate, and the operating system of the pool levels. The ship will depart at 19:00. In the evening, meet the captain and crew during the "Welcome" cocktail. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
Day 3 - VALAAM
After breakfast on the ship, we arrive at Valaam. Located north of Lake Ladoga, the Valaam archipelago is known for its nature and historical monasteries, featuring extraordinary beauty. During our walking tour of Valaam, we will explore the historical structures from the 14th century and the island's magnificent natural landscape. Valaam holds a significant place in Orthodox Christianity and has witnessed many historical events. We will learn about the history of the island and the region, along with its monasteries and religious centers. After the tour, we return to the ship and set sail.
Day 4 - MANDROGİ
After breakfast on the ship, we arrive at Mandrogi at 10:30. Mandrogi is a green village filled with colorful Russian wooden houses, where you will have free time. Here, you can enjoy a walk in the open air among the greenery, visit the mini zoo, beautiful souvenir shops located in wooden buildings, and craft workshops. There is also a small vodka museum here (entrance fee required). After lunch, we set sail. As the ship navigates through the northern forests of Russia, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Tonight, you will be hosted at the Captain's Gala Dinner. Overnight stay on our ship.
Day 5 - KİJİ
After breakfast, you can participate in onboard activities or enjoy the beauty of Lake Onega. After lunch, we arrive at Kiji at 17:00. Located above the 60th parallel within Lake Onega, this island is an open-air museum and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During our free Kiji walking tour, we will see the wooden Church of the Transfiguration, built without nails and appearing like a fairytale with its 22 domes, along with traditional wooden houses, and learn about past village and island life. After the tour, you will have free time on the island. Following this, we return to the ship and set sail at 20:30. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
Day 6 - GORİTSİ / KİRİLOV
After breakfast, you can participate in various onboard activities and enjoy the beauty of the Volga River from the deck. After lunch, we arrive at Goritsi. Known as a picturesque and tranquil village in Russia, Goritsi has a small port along the riverbank. You will discover the charm of this quaint village and explore the medieval atmosphere. This area is also an important center for early Christian history in Russia and reflects the spiritual lifestyle of many monasteries and monks. Upon arrival, we will drive 10 km by bus to visit the monastery in the town of Kirilov. After our visit, we will return to the village. There will be free time to explore the village and shop. At the designated time, we will return to the ship and set sail. On the ship’s upper deck, you can sip coffee while admiring the picturesque views along the riverbank. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
Day 7 - UGLİÇ
After breakfast, you can participate in onboard activities and enjoy the beauty of the Volga River from the upper deck. After lunch, our ship arrives at Ugliç. In this charming city on the banks of the Volga, we will take a free walking tour of Ugliç, where we will see the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in the Old Kremlin Square and the Church of St. Demetrius on the Blood, built at the site where Ivan the Terrible’s son Dimitri was killed at the age of 9. The ship departs at 18:00. This evening, you will be hosted at the Captain’s farewell dinner. Overnight stay on our ship.
Day 8 - MOSCOW
After breakfast, you will have time for preparations before disembarking from the ship. Around noon, our ship arrives in Moscow. After disembarking, we will have a panoramic city tour of Moscow, where we will see Leningrad Avenue, Triumph Palace (one of the tallest buildings in Europe), Tverskaya Avenue, the Parliament building, Bolshoi Theatre, Lubyanka Square, KGB Headquarters, St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, GUM Department Store, Christ the Savior Cathedral, and the Parliament Building. During the city tour, guests can join an optional Kremlin + 2 Cathedrals tour. Afterward, we will transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9 – MOSCOW
After breakfast at the hotel, we will check out and take our luggage as we leave the hotel. Those interested can join the optional Novodevichy, Metro + Arbat tour. After the tours, we will meet at the designated time to transfer to Moscow Airport by bus. After check-in and passport procedures, we will depart for Istanbul's New Airport on Turkish Airlines flight TK416 at 19:35. Arrival in Istanbul at 23:00 local time and the end of our tour.
- Economy class flight ticket between Istanbul Airport – Moscow / St. Petersburg – Istanbul Airport with THY.
- Full board cabin accommodation on the 5-star Alexandra ship (Full board service starts with dinner on the day of embarkation and ends with breakfast on the day of disembarkation)
- 1 night half board accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Moscow.
- 1 night half board accommodation in a 4-star hotel in St. Petersburg.
- Panoramic City Tour of Moscow (Half day)
- Panoramic City Tour of St. Petersburg (Half day)
- Tours at the ports of call along the river route.
- Airport transfers as specified in the program.
- Professional Turkish guiding service.
- Luggage handling service on the ship.
- Welcome cocktail and Captain's Gala Dinner on the ship.
- Tea and coffee service at all meals on the ship.
- Concerts, shows, cultural lessons, and activities on the ship (Russian language lesson, Russian songs lesson, Russian dances lesson, Russian cuisine, Russian folk arts, the history and making of costumes and wooden souvenirs)
- Cruise staff service fee (Per person: 80 Euros) is collected at the airport.
- Tips for local guides and drivers (Per person: 70 Euros) are collected at the airport.
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and bottled water on the ship.
- Tours not specified in the program.
- Travel health and cancellation insurance (We recommend that our guests get travel health insurance to avoid being at a disadvantage in the event of a health-related cancellation.)
- Visa Fee: Visa is required for Russian ordinary (standard) passports. It is required to obtain an ONLINE ELECTRONIC VISA for participation in the Volga Tour. The visa fee is per person (100 Euros) and no visa is required for green passports. Regardless of passport type, a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the end of the tour, undamaged in any way, with no tearing in the seams is required for entry into Russia.
- International departure tax.
- The company will not be responsible for any changes to the times and dates made by the airline or train company.
- The ship, airline, and train company reserves the right to make these changes.
- The operating days and hours of the museums and sites mentioned in the program may vary.
- Documents related to the trip and airplane tickets are sent to guests 48 hours before the trip. Participants are responsible for reading and checking these tickets and the information contained in them.
- Due to river water level changes, port conditions, weather conditions, and unforeseen circumstances, the shipping company has the right to make changes to the program. Accordingly, the ports of visit and arrival and departure times at the ports may vary depending on river traffic.
- Passengers who are not present at the designated airport or the port where the ship will dock at the times specified by our agency, do not complete check-in and boarding procedures on time, or complete these procedures on time but are unable to board the plane or ship are not the responsibility of our agency. All costs related to new round-trip flight tickets or transportation to the port they can reach, as well as transfers in the destination area, due to missing the flight or ship are the responsibility of the passengers.
- Information about the departure times of the ships from the port is announced or communicated through information boards on the ship. Guests are required to follow this information. In the event of missing the departure of the ship, all costs for continuing the trip by boarding the ship from a different port or returning home will be the responsibility of the passenger. There is no refund for the tour fee if the trip is cut short.
- For international trips, it is mandatory to have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the trip's end date and legally acceptable. Passenger passports must not be damaged/worn/torn and must have empty visa pages. Passengers are obliged to fulfill the legal requirements necessary for entry into the visited countries. In case of failure to comply with these rules, passengers are personally responsible for any damages resulting from being denied boarding at airports.
- Passengers participating in the tour are responsible for their personal belongings, bags, and suitcases, and our agency is not responsible for items that are forgotten/lost/stolen. In the event that forgotten items are found, the costs incurred while delivering them to the country and/or individual shall be borne by the owner of the item.
- Accommodation on the ship is all-inclusive, starting with dinner on the first day and ending with breakfast on the last day.
- In Russia, museums, ancient sites, and major squares and arteries of cities can be closed by the state without prior notice. In this case, the right to change or cancel scheduled tours (city tour, extra tour) is at the discretion of the ship management and the guide. This situation is unforeseen.
- Extra tour buses are for guests who have participated in the extra tour only, and guests who do not participate in the tours cannot use these buses.
- The programs and days of the tours and extra tours in Moscow and St. Petersburg may change based on museums and ancient sites. Some tours may be conducted in combination.
Cancellation Conditions
There is a right to cancel without penalty up to 90 days prior to the trip date (the right to cancel without penalty up to 90 days before the trip date applies only to the ship portion. Airline ticket deductions will be reflected additionally).
A fee of 50% will be charged for cancellations between 89 and 60 days.
A fee of 80% will be charged for cancellations between 59 and 45 days.
A fee of 100% will be charged for cancellations between 44 days and the day of the trip.