ALL TOURS INCLUDED - SOUTHERN VOLGA WITH MS ALEXANDRA - FROM VOLGOGRAD TO NIZHNY NOVGOROD - THY (04.05.2027)

DAY 1 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. Upon arrival in Moscow at 13:35 local time, our panoramic city tour of Moscow will include: Tverskaya Street, the Parliament Building, Bolshoi Theatre, Lubyanka Square, KGB Headquarters, St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, GUM Department Store, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, and the Parliament Building. Afterwards, transfer to our hotel and check-in. Overnight stay at our hotel after dinner.

DAY 2 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 World War II, and start our panoramic city tour departing from the airport. Throughout history known as Tsaritsyn, Stalingrad, and today Volgograd, we will feel the historical texture of the city as we visit the Central Embankment hosting the magnificent view of the Volga River as the zero point of the city, Fallen Fighters Square, the city's main square full of historical memories, and the Eternal Flame located there. Afterwards, we visit Pavlov House, defended heroically for 58 days during the Battle of Stalingrad and becoming 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 highlight of the day will be Mamayev Kurgan, considered Russia's Main Height. In this massive monument complex dedicated to the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad, which every visitor should 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 changing of the guard ceremony of the honor platoon in the Hall of Military Glory, we explore the complex bearing the traces of the war in every detail.

After our tour, we return to the hotel, have a short rest, and then dinner. Afterwards, overnight stay at our hotel.

DAY 3 VOLGOGRAD (EMBARKATION AND SHIP DEPARTURE)

After morning breakfast at the hotel, we head to the port with our luggage and board our ship waiting for us. After check-in and cabin placement, our ship departs. Later, at the briefing meeting to be held at the specified time, information will be given about the ports to be visited, waterways to be traversed, and the operating system of the lock systems. Towards evening, we attend the captain's welcome cocktail. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.

DAY 4 SARATOV

After morning breakfast, our ship arrives in Saratov. Upon our arrival in Saratov, founded as a fortress city in 1590 on the right bank of the Volga River with a history of over 400 years and considered one of "Russia's hidden treasures," we begin our panoramic city tour.

Our tour, where we will discover the city's historical merchant texture, cosmic heritage, and modern face 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 renewed Cosmonauts Embankment 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 the Opera & Ballet Theatre. Afterwards, we take a pleasant walk on Pyotr Stolypin Street, known as "Saratov's Arbat" and the most vibrant spot of the city, which also houses the famous Conservatory building remarkable for 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 beneath our feet. We will also 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 enjoying the beautiful views of the Volga River from the deck or participate in onboard activities. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.

DAY 5 SAMARA

After breakfast, you can participate in various activities on the ship and watch the beauties of the Volga River from the deck. Following lunch, we arrive at Samara, located on the left bank of the Volga River, at 14:30. Samara was born with a fortress built here as an outpost in 1586. We begin 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, notable for the Monument to the Revolution and the old Regional Court building, and Chapaev Square, housing the famous Chapaev Monument, M. Gorki Drama Theatre, and the Government House. Afterwards, we see 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 terrace in Slava (Victory) Square, which will reveal a tremendous panorama of the Volga River and the magnificent Zhiguli Mountains on the opposite bank.

Following our tour, we return to our ship, say goodbye to Samara, and depart. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.

DAY 6 ULYANOVSK

After morning breakfast on our ship, 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 honor of his family after Lenin's death in 1924.

During our bus and walking tour including panoramic and cultural discoveries, we will see the most important historical spots 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 he spent his childhood and youth, and the house where he was born, grew up, and lived with his family, witnessing the interesting and inspiring lifestyle of the Ulyanovs, one of the enlightened and intellectual families of the period, at that time. After our tour, return to the ship and lunch on board. During free time in the afternoon, we can explore the streets of the city and spend time in cafes in the city center. We depart from Ulyanovsk at 19:00 in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.

DAY 7 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 Russia's most beautiful cities. The city, which was the capital of the old Kazan Khanate and is positioned today as one of Russia's most visited tourism centers, enchants visitors with its beauty. During our tour: Tukay Square, the rooted Kazan Federal University, Freedom Square, City Hall, M. Gorki Literature Street, Al-Marjani Mosque, Old Tatar Settlement, and the traditional-style Tugan Avilim complex are among the places to see. The most special part of our city tour is the Kazan Kremlin, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During our walk inside the Kremlin walls, we closely examine the legendary Kul Sharif Mosque, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Presidential Palace of Tatarstan, and the leaning Soyembika Tower, the symbol of the city. Afterwards, we will have free time on Bauman Street, the pedestrian-only street of the city. You can relax in the cafes here and shop in the stores.

Our lunch is on the ship. During free time in the afternoon, you can continue exploring the city or rest on the ship. Departure of the ship after dinner. Overnight stay on our ship.

DAY 8 CHEBOKSARY

After morning breakfast on our ship, 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 living representatives of the Ogur Branch of Turkic Languages reaching today. We start our panoramic tour to discover this special city where Russian and Chuvash cultures intertwine. In the city, known as the cultural capital of the Volga Region, we will see the Opera and Ballet Theatre, Philharmonic, Holy Trinity Monastery, Monument of Military Glory, the gulf coast famous for its fountains, Red Square, and merchant Efremov Boulevard, one of the most vibrant spots of the city. Our ship departs after lunch. Dinner and overnight stay on our ship.

DAY 9 NIZHNY NOVGOROD (GORKY) – MOSCOW – ISTANBUL

After breakfast on the ship, we arrive in Nizhny Novgorod. After disembarkation procedures, we take our luggage and start exploring this city where Maxim Gorky was born, raised, and which holds 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 the cities on the Volga. Founded in the 1200s, this beautiful city is located at the confluence of the Oka and Volga Rivers. Nizhny Novgorod, a very important crossroads between the west and east, Siberia and Turkistan, is on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list... During our tour, we can take a pleasant walk during our free time on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, the pedestrian-only street of the city, and relax in the cafes. After the tour, we depart for Moscow by 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 Turkish Airlines flight TK412 at 00:30 (May 13). Arrival in Istanbul at 04:30 and end of our tour.