11 of 20 largest cities of Russia, including Moscow, are located in the Volga's drainage basin... Take a lengthy Russian Volga River Cruise for a profound cultural experience! From $3,300
This is the grand Volga River Cruise that covers 90% of the superb Volga River. The cruise ship sails some of the Upper Volga, the Middle Volga, the Lower Volda and reaches the Volga River Delta most of the times - in case there is Astrakhan city in the itinerary. Our Russian river cruise ‘Great Mother Volga’ covers vast territories of the Central and the Southern Russia between Moscow and Rostov-on-Don. Some of these stunning Volga River cruises also stop at Russian ‘Caviar Capital’ Astrakhan, offering great opportunities to explore the Volga River Delta. The Volga is one of the greatest rivers in the world and is the longest one in Europe. The Volga River appears to be one of the fundamental cores of Russian culture: consciously and subconsciously this river is frequently perceived as a living being by Russians - that is why she is commonly addressed as ‘Great Mother Volga.’ Songs and legends personify Volga with the best human features an ideal Russian should match. She is identified with the Motherland, and she is a symbol of freedom, breadth and strength of the Russian Spirit. Nevertheless, the Volga Region is very multinational: Tatars, Bashkirs, Chuvashs, Mordovians, Udmurts, Mari, Ukrainians, Kazakhs, Armenians, Komi-Permyaks, Azerbaijanis, Germans, Cossacks and several other nationalities have their homeland there. Some of these people originate from the ancient states of the Golden Horde or the Volga Bulgaria. So, get ready to listen to exciting legends and informative stories while cruising the Great Mother Volga!
Russian cities that are normally visited on our 'Great Mother Volga' River Cruise: Moscow, Uglitch, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Plyos, Gorodets, Nizhny Novgorod, Cheboksary, Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Samara, Saratov, Volgograd (Stalingrad), Astrakhan, Rostov-on-Don. City sightseeing tours are included in every port - enjoy great cultural experience! Please, contact our Russian River Cruise Experts for information on the prices and on the actual itinerary of a Volga River Cruise of your Deams.
4 Our Best Volga River Cruises | 3 Voyages are rated 'Black Caviar Cruises'
Cruises 2022
Rostov-on-Don—Moscow
Departure
Days
Ship
Astrakhan—Moscow
Departure
Days
Ship
Moscow—Astrakhan
Departure
Days
Ship
Cruises 2021
Rostov-on-Don—Moscow
Departure
Days
Ship
Moscow—Rostov-on-Don
Departure
Days
Ship
Astrakhan—Moscow
Departure
Days
Ship
Moscow—Astrakhan
Departure
Days
Ship
Sightseeing
Volga-Don Canal
Volga-Don Canal is linking the lower Volga River with the Don River at their closest point in southwestern Russia. The canal runs for 101 km / 63 miles. There are 13 locks along its route, which drops 88 meters / 289 feet to the Volga and 44 meters / 144 feet to the Don. Three reservoirs - Karpovka, Bereslavka, and Varvarovka - occupy 45 km / 28 miles of its length. First attempts to connect the Volga and the Don rivers were taken back than in the 18th century by the first Russian Emperor Peter the Great. The actual construction of today's Volga-Don Canal began prior to the Second World War, which interrupted the process. Construction works continued from 1948 to 1952; navigation started on June 01, 1952. The canal and its facilities were built by about 900,000 workers. Upon completion, the Volga-Don Canal became an important link of the Unified Deep Water Transportation System of the European part of the USSR. The Unified Deep Water System of European Russia or UDWS is a system of inland waterways in Russia linking the White Sea (and the Arctic Ocean), the Baltic Sea (and the Atlantic Ocean), the Volga River, Moscow, the Caspian Sea and - via the Sea of Azov - the Black Sea (and the Atlantic Ocean).
Samara
Fortress of Samara was founded in 1586 at the confluence of the Volga River and the Samara River to protect Russia from the nomads and to ensure safety on waterways between cities of Kazan and Astrakhan. Just as many other ports on trade routes Samara has been developing rapidly. At the beginning of the 20th century it was already a well-developed city with flourishing trading, grain and flour milling industry. Back then Samara also took first place in wheat production. No wonder that famous local vodka “Rodnik” is still considered one of the best in Russia. Local food industry is also well known for its chocolate and famous “Zhigulevskoye” beer that is produced by original recipe since 1881. Samara boasts: picturesque embankment that is the longest one in Russia; Kuibyshev Square that is the largest one in Europe; the building of Samara Railway Station is the tallest one in Europe: its height is over 331 feet / 101 meters. The tower has an observation deck on top. Stalin’s secret bunker is among great variety of places of interest in Samara. This one is the most fortified bunker among those already taken off the security list. Its depth is comparable with a 12-story building; the bunker has air supplies for 115 people to leave for 5 days.