Day 1 - ISTANBUL - St. PETERSBURG
Meeting at Istanbul Airport, International Terminal, Turkish Airlines counter at 05:00. After check-in and passport procedures, we depart for St. Petersburg at 08:15 on Turkish Airlines flight TK401. Arrival in St. Petersburg at 11:50 local time. We will have a free panoramic city tour of St. Petersburg, including; Moskovski Prospekt, Nevsky Prospekt Street, Strogonov Palace, Palace Square, Winter Palace, St Isaac Cathedral, Anichkov Palace and Bridge, and the Church of the 2nd Alexandr Kan. After the tour, transfer to our hotel, check-in and room assignment. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.
Day 2 - St. PETERSBURG (BOARDING THE SHIP)
After breakfast at the hotel and check-out procedures, those who wish can join an extra tour of the Hermitage Museum. One of the most important art museums in the world, the Hermitage consists of five buildings. This complex hosts an amazing collection developed over the years, housing the Winter Palace, which once served as the residence of Russian czars and czarinas, as well as the museum founded by Empress Catherine. After the museum visit, you can enjoy some free time in the city center and relax in the cafes on Nevsky Prospect. After meeting at the specified time, we transfer to our ship. After check-in and settling into cabins, an informative meeting will be held regarding the ports to be visited, sailing routes, and the working system of the level pools. The ship departs at 19:00. Evening "Welcome" cocktail to meet the Captain and ship's crew. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
Day 3 - MANDROGİ
After breakfast, you can participate in various activities on the ship or enjoy the beauty of the Volga River from the deck. Our ship arrives in Mandrogi at 13:30. Free time in Mandrogi, a picturesque village with colorful Russian wooden houses. Here you can take a walk in the greenery outdoors, visit the small zoo, beautiful souvenir shops within wooden buildings, and the souvenir workshops. There is also a small vodka museum here. (Entrance fee is applicable) The ship departs at 18:30. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery as we navigate through Russia's northern forests. Tonight you will be hosted at the Captain's Gala Dinner. Overnight stay on our ship.
Day 4 - KIJI
After breakfast, you can participate in onboard activities or enjoy the beauty of Lake Onega. After lunch, we arrive in Kiji at 14:00. This island, located above the 60th parallel in Lake Onega, is an open-air museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site. During our free walking tour of Kiji, we will see the wooden Transfiguration Church with 22 domes, resembling a fairy tale without the use of any nails, and learn about the village and island life in past eras. After the tour, we will have free time on the island. Then we will return to our ship, departing at 18:00. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
Day 5 - GORİTSİ / KİRİLOV
After breakfast, participate in various activities on the ship or enjoy the beauty of the Volga River from the deck. After lunch, we arrive in Goritsi. Known as a picturesque and tranquil village in Russia, Goritsi has a small harbor along the riverbank. You will explore the simplicity of this charming little village and discover the medieval atmosphere. This area is also an important center of early Christianity in Russia, reflecting the spiritual lives of many monasteries and monks. Upon arrival at this beautiful village located on the riverbank, we will travel 10 km by bus to visit the Kirilov town. After our visit to the monastery, we return to the village. We will have free time to explore the village and shop. At the specified time, we return to our ship, which will set sail. You can enjoy the views of the riverside as you sip your coffee on the upper deck. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.
Day 6 - MIŞKİN
This charming little town on the banks of the Volga River invites its visitors to a nostalgic Russian fairy tale where time flows slowly. Notable for its traditional wooden houses, stone streets, and warm atmosphere, Mışkin is also famous for its unique mouse museum. We will explore this town by foot, where mouse figures can be found at every corner. In the early afternoon, we will head to Moscow. After lunch, you can participate in activities on board or enjoy the beautiful views of the Volga River from the deck. Tonight you'll be hosted at the Captain's farewell dinner. Overnight stay on our ship.
Day 7 - MOSCOW
After breakfast, we will have time for preparations before disembarking. Our ship arrives in Moscow around noon. After disembarking, we will take a panoramic city tour of Moscow, which will include; Leningrad Avenue, Triumph Palace, one of Europe's tallest buildings, Tverskaya Street, the Parliament Building, the Bolshoi Theatre, Lubyanka Square, KGB Headquarters, St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, GUM Shopping Center, Christ the Savior Cathedral, and the Council Building. During the city tour, those who wish can join the Extra Kremlin + 2 Cathedrals tour. Afterwards, we will transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 8 - MOSCOW
After breakfast at the hotel, we will check out and collect our luggage before leaving the hotel. Those who wish can join the Extra Novodevichy, Metro + Arbat tour. After our tours, we will meet at the specified time and transfer to Moscow Airport by bus. After check-in and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul 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 from THY between Istanbul Airport - Moscow / St Petersburg - Istanbul Airport
- Full board cabin accommodation on the 5* Alexandra cruise ship (full board service begins with dinner on the day of boarding and ends with breakfast on the day of disembarkation)
- 1 night half board accommodation at a 4* hotel in Moscow
- 1 night half board accommodation at a 4* hotel in St Petersburg
- Panoramic city tour of Moscow (half day)
- Panoramic city tour of St Petersburg (half day)
- Tours at the ports 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 events on the ship (Russian language class, Russian songs class, Russian dances class, Russian cuisine, information about the history and making of Russian folk arts, costumes, and wooden souvenirs)
- Porter service fee (80 Euros per person) is collected at the airport
- Tips for local guides and drivers (70 Euros per person) are collected at the airport
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and bottled water on the ship
- Tours not mentioned in the program
- Travel health and cancellation insurance (we recommend our guests obtain travel health insurance to avoid any inconvenience in the event of a health-related cancellation)
- Visa fee applies to regular passports from Russia; an electronic visa must be obtained for participation in the Volga Tour. Visa fee is 100 Euros per person. 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 and is undamaged, with no tears or openings in the seams, is required for entry to Russia
- Exit fee for traveling abroad
- The cruise line is not responsible for any changes in the schedule and dates made by the airline or train company
- The cruise line, airline, and train company reserve the right to make these changes
- The working days and hours of the museums and archaeological sites indicated in the program may vary
- Travel documents and plane tickets will be sent to guests 48 hours before the trip Participants are obliged to read and check these tickets and the information provided
- Due to changes in river water levels, port conditions, weather conditions, and unforeseen situations, the cruise company has the right to make changes to the program Accordingly, the ports to be visited, arrival, and departure times 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, who do not complete check-in and boarding procedures on time, or who complete these procedures on time but cannot board the plane or ship are not the responsibility of our agency Any new plane tickets or transportation costs to the port where they can reach the ship and transfer costs in the area to be visited that may arise for passengers who miss the flight or ship are their own responsibility
- Information regarding the departure times of the ships from the port is announced inside the ship or displayed on information boards Guests are responsible for following this information In the event of missing the ship's departure, all costs incurred for continuing the trip by boarding from a different port or for returning due to interrupting the trip are the responsibility of the passenger No refunds for the tour fee will be made in the event of interruption of the trip
- For international trips, it is mandatory to have a passport that is legally valid for at least 6 months from the date of the end of the trip Passengers' passports must be undamaged, not worn or torn, and must have a blank visa page Passengers are required to fulfill the legal obligations necessary for entering the countries to be visited Passengers are personally responsible for any damages arising from their refusal to comply with these rules resulting in them not being allowed to board at the airports
- The personal belongings, bags, and suitcases of the passengers participating in the tour are their own responsibility, and our agency is not responsible for forgotten, lost, or stolen items If forgotten items are found, the expenses incurred during their transfer to the country or person belong to the owner of the item
- Full board accommodation on the ship starts with dinner on the first day and ends with breakfast on the last day
- In Russia, museums, archaeological sites, and main squares and arteries of cities may be closed by the government without prior notice In such cases, the city tour planned in the tours may be canceled, altered or changed, at the discretion of the ship management and the guide This situation is unforeseeable
- Extra tour buses are only for guests who have participated in the extra tour, and guests who do not participate in the tours cannot use these buses
- Tours and extra tours in Moscow and St. Petersburg may vary depending on the museums and archaeological sites Some tours may be conducted as combined tours