| Day |
Location |
Program |
ARR |
DEP |
| 1 |
Astrakhan |
Astrakhan arrival, embarkation, dinner and overnight. |
9:00 |
|
| 2 |
Astrakhan |
Enjoy you first city tour. Astrakhan is situated in the Volga Delta, rich in sturgeons and exotic plants. It was the capital of Astrakhan Khanate. The ruins of this medieval settlement were found by archaeologists 12 km upstream from the modern-day city.In 1556, the khanate was conquered by Ivan the Terrible, who had a new fortress built on a steep hill overlooking the Volga. In1569, Astrakhan was besieged by the Ottoman army, which had to retreat in disarray. A year later, the Sultan renounced his claims to Astrakhan, thus opening the entire Volga River to Russian traffic. In the 17 crntury, the city was developed as a Russian gate to the Orient. Many merchants from Armernia, Persia, and Khiva settled in the downtown, giving it a multinational and variegated character. Lunch and farewell dinner aboard. |
|
18:00 |
| 3 |
Cruising |
Breakfast aboard. Enjoy your first day of cruising. Onboard entertainment, lectures, movies, dancing. Lunch and dinner. |
|
|
| 4 |
Volgograd |
The new day brings you to the new city to explore. Volgograd originated with the foundation in 1589 of the fortress of Tsaritsyn at the confluence of the Tsaritsa and Volga Rivers. The fortress, which took its name from the local name Sary Su was established to defend the unstable southern border of Tsarist Russia and became the nucleus of a trading settlement. The city was the scene of heavy fighting during the Russian Civil War After its recapture, it was renamed Stalingrad (literally: "Stalin city") in 1925.Under Stalin, the city became heavily industrialized and was developed as a centre of heavy industry and trans-shipment by rail and river. During World war 2, the city of Stalingrad became the center of the Battle of Stalingrad as well as the pivotal turning point in the war against Germany. Visit the Mamaev Kurgan, a hill that saw some of the most intense fighting during the battle. Lunch and dinner on board |
9:00 |
13:00 |
| 5 |
Saratov |
Take the afternoon tour of Saratov City. The name Saratov may be conjectured to derive from theTurkic words Saryk Atov which means †|
