volga river cruise

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• Volga River Cruises

Our Best Volga River Cruises of 2022

Imagine visiting beautiful, ancient Russian cities as you cruise along the beautiful Volga River. Our cruises are the most relaxing and also the most budget friendly way to visit Russia. Some of our most popular Russian river cruises are listed below. Please click on the details to learn more or contact us for more information using the form at the bottom of the page.

This Volga cruise covers many cities. You will admire the vibrancy of Moscow, enjoy the quiet atmosphere of ancient Vladimir. You will visit Nizhny Novgorod, the old center of the Volga region as well as Kazan and Astrakhan which occupy the former territory of the Golden Horde.

• Route Moscow - Uglich - Yaroslavl - Kostoma - Nizhny Novgorod - Cheboksary - Kazan - Samara - Saratov - Volgograd - Astrakhan
• Languages English-speaking guide is guaranteed. Other languages are on request.
• Cruise Ship 4-star cruise ships: MS Nizhny Novgorod, MS Nikolay Chernyshevsky
• Group Tour This is a group tour. There will be other people in your group.

With this cruise, you will get a feeling for both the south-eastern Russia with its link to the Asia and the Orient and the European, imperial Russia. You will start your trip in Astrakhan and sail practically the whole length of the Volga River from the edge of the Caspian Sea to Moscow.

• Route Astrakhan - Volgograd - Saratov - Samara - Kazan - Cheboksary - Nizhny Novgorod - Kostroma - Yaroslavl - Uglich - Moscow

This Volga cruise starts in Moscow and goes all the way down the Volga river through ancient town of Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, the old center of the Volga region, as well as Kazan which occupies the former territory of the Golden Horde. The cruise finishes in Rostov-on-Don city.

• Route Moscow - Uglich - Yaroslavl - Kostoma - Nizhny Novgorod - Cheboksary - Kazan - Samara - Saratov - Volgograd - Rostov-on-Don
• Cruise Ship MS Korotkov

I LOVED THE CRUISE!!!!! It was amazing and I had the best time. The food/service/cabin were all great and the price was FANTASTIC!!!!! I have mentioned this to my sister and her husband and they are considering going next year. LOVED it. I don't have ONE complaint :). THANKS for an amazing experience.

Thank you for arranging such a wonderful trip for us. we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and found your services to be excellent. the connections and transfers were timely and professional and the apartment was a delight. Everything you said it would be.

Our Volga river cruises give you an excellent opportunity to visit a wide range of Russia’s different regions and to experience first-hand the link between European Russia with its imperial, old world atmosphere and the Asian part of Russia with its Eastern, oriental feel. Express to Russia offers plenty of Volga River cruise routes to fit any taste and budget: from our 8-day Moscow to Kazan cruise to the 20-day St. Petersburg to Rosov-on-Don cruise . Experience the vibrant city life and historical heritage of Moscow , enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of medieval Yaroslavl and delve into Russian village life in the beautiful towns of Kostroma and Uglich. On your all-inclusive Russian river cruise you will see Nizhny Novgorod , the stunning, historical center of the Volga region. The boat will dock at the Eastern cities of Kazan and Astrakhan that occupy the former territory of the Golden Horde . Every city visited on our Volga cruises is of historical significance and full of outstanding sights and monuments. This cruise will take you down practically the entire length of the Volga River and end at the Caspian Sea. This Volga river cruise will leave you with unforgettable memories and truly be a journey of a lifetime!

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

A russian land tour or a river cruise - which is better.

This decision completely depends on your preferred way of travelling. During the Russian river cruise you will not only visit the two largest cities of Russia, but also small towns and villages along the route and you will have a chance to participate in master classes, learn a little Russian language and dive into local Russian culture and hospitality. For those who prefer custom-made programs and more free time in the cities of their choice we recommend a land tour, both are excellent options. To find out more about the differences click here .

Do I need a visa for a Russian River Cruise?

If your citizenship is not on the list of countries with visa-free access to Russia, you will need a valid Russian visa. Please make sure to start the process in a timely manner, so as to avoid any last-minute pressure. More details on Russian Visas can be found here .

What currency and types of the payment are used on Russian river cruises?

The official currency in Russia is the Russian Ruble. You can either pay cash or use your credit card, we always recommend to have both. You can find more information about money and currency in Russia here .

Do you tip on river cruises?

Tips are not included in the cruise price and tipping is at your discretion. If you would like to tip the staff at the end of your cruise, or any local guides/bus drivers then please feel free to do so and bring a little extra cash to cover this. To find out more about tipping in Russia click here .

What type of food is served during on a Russian river cruise? What if I have dietary restrictions?

Russian river cruises include full board: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The meals consist of European and Russian cuisine. Breakfast and lunch on board are served buffet style. Depending on the ship, dinners are either served buffet style or with a special Chef's menu. In case you have any allergies or food restrictions, please provide your reservation specialist with this information, and we will pass the details on to the cruise company. You can learn more about Russian cuisine here .

Is it safe to take a Russian river cruises?

Yes, the cruise operating companies take full responsibility about for the safety of their guests, staff, and fleet. Before every season, the ships are thoroughly inspected. The staff is well trained for any emergency scenario. There is a doctor on each ship. The guests undertake a comprehensive briefing before any of the ships start the cruise.

Our travel brands include

Express to Russia

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Cruise Routes (Interactive Map)

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Russian River Cruises

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• Moscow — St. Petersburg
• Moscow — Astrakhan
• Astrakhan — St. Petersburg
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Lorem Ipsum

Moscow to Astrakhan

14 days – 13 nights

Collapse Full Itinerary

Airport transfer / Check-in

Volga dream experience:

City Tour / Moscow Metro/ Tretyakov Gallery

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Moscow Kremlin / Armory Museum 

Volga dream experience: Bread, Salt & Vodka Welcome Aboard Ceremony

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Town of Uglich / Church of St. Dmitri-on-the-Blood

Volga dream experience: Russian Cooking Class

Yaroslavl City Tour / Governor’s house 

Volga dream experience: Costumed Russian Tea Ceremony

Relaxing day of leisure / Onboard activities

Volga dream experience: An onboard presentation

City tour / XVIth-century Kremlin / Folk concert by a local children’s group

Volga dream experience: Russian Dinner with Vodka Tasting

City tour /  Kazan Kremlin / Concert of traditional Tatar music

Volga dream experience: Piano Concert – pieces by Tchaikovsky and Rakhmaninov

City tour / Space Museum /  Samara State Art Museum

Volga dream experience: Sun Deck Barbeque

City tour /  Radishev State Art Museum

Volga dream experience: -

Mamayev Hill / Battle of Stalingrad Panorama Museum

Concert in a local Conservatory

Volga dream experience: Concert in a local Conservatory

Tour to a fortress of Astrakhan

Volga dream experience: Farewell dinner

Check-out / Airport transfer

Meals: Breakfast

The rates are set for a cruising season. The price is not dependent on the month within a selected year

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All prices are per person based on double occupancy.

All rates are per person, based on double occupancy. Actual size of cabins can slightly differ within one category.

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Journey: Volga Dream

Price per person: not specified

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Volga River Cruise: Tsars Waterways of Russia

Duration 11 days

Price from USD $4,050 ? Currency Conversion Converted from USD based on the latest exchange rate. Final amount and payment will be in USD. Final conversion rate is determined by your bank.

Trip Style River Cruise

Time of year May - October

Home / Luxury Russia Tours / Volga River Cruise: Tsars Waterways of Russia

Dates & Prices

A Volga River Cruise is for those who seek something truly unique,  and yes, Russia has so much to offer... Experience Russia's rich history and cultural intrigue. enjoy the natural wonders of a vast continent.

The onion-domed buildings and gilded churches of Moscow and St. Petersburg are truly iconic – but if you delve deeper, you’ll encounter more history, heart and soul than you’d ever imagined. And as you cruise between two inspiring cultural capitals (Moscow and St Petersburg), you’ll notice something else that’s special: Russia’s unforgettable landscape. Glimpse ice-blue waterfalls, tiny islands floating in seemingly endless glassy lakes, and hauntingly beautiful sunken ruins surrounded by grand mountains.

Brand new for 2020 and the newest luxury ship in Russia,  5-star Mustai Karim has been specially designed to showcase Russia at its most authentic – because the true magic of Russia is that it’s unlike anywhere else in the world.

Volga River Cruise Highlights:

• Speciality cuisine: creative menus highlight the best of regional and world cuisine, with special consideration for all dietary requirements. Why not indulge in vodka, Champagne and caviar on the top deck?
• Exclusive excursions and entertainment: passing under the drawbridges in St. Petersburg, VIP museum openings, classical music concerts, immersive theatre, Russian tea ceremonies, cuisine tastings and cooking classes – every moment is delightfully unique.
• Wellness:  a spa haven onboard, plus yoga, pilates and other fitness classes.

Two incredible routes that will whisk you away on an adventure like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. See Moscow to St. Petersburg in a new light with expert local knowledge, experience the delights of authentic Russian culture and art, and marvel at the luxury to be found around every corner – before returning to relax onboard the Mustai Karim, where your every expectation is exceeded.

The second incredible route lets you discover St. Petersburg to Moscow. Exclusive tours, authentic experiences, exquisite Russian culture and art, and grandeur like you’ve never seen before – this time from North to South, with an additional stop in the village of Mandrogi.

Accomodation

St Petersburg / Moscow

Moscow / St Petersburg

5* MS Mustai Karim

River Cruise

Action rating ?

Type of tour

11 days / 10 nights

up to 329 passengers

Guaranteed departures

Day 1 St Petersburg

Welcome to St Petersburg! You will be met by a representative directly upon landing, and transferred to your 5* hotel in the city center. Relax after the flight or take a walk nearby to explore the cosy streets on your own.

Day 2 St Petersburg

After check-out from the hotel, we enjoy a city center tour by bus, including Peter and Paul Fortress, the burial place of the Romanov monarchs, Nevsky Prospect, with its endless fine shops, cafes, and museums, St.Isaak’s Cathedral, and Smolny Cathedral.

Lunch is followed by a tour of the richest art collection of the Hermitage Museum, before boarding your 5-star floating hotel, the Mustai Karim. After a brief check-in, you’ll meet the ship’s crew at a delightful cocktail reception – a relaxing way to begin your adventure after a day’s travel.

Day 3 St Petersburg

A truly unique experience awaits as you pass under the drawn bridges and navigate the canals of St. Petersburg – a privilege exclusive to the guests on this cruise. 

After lunch, we travel to the magnificent Peterhof Palace, where the ‘Russian Versailles’ sparkles with golden fountains.

Day 4 Valaam

Today we depart early for the Valaam Archipelago, a group of 50 islands in the north of Lake Lagoda, the largest lake in Europe. We’ll spend the rest of the day exploring inside the walls of the Central Monastery Complex, dominated by the majestic Cathedral of the Transfiguration. Get acquainted with one of the most scared Orthodox sites in Russia and the site of numerous clashes between the Russians and Swedes in their struggle for power during the 16th century.

Day 5 Mandrogi

Experience a taste of Russia’s traditional heritage in Mandrogi: a unique village built upon a history of craftsmanship. Visit a traditional Russian village with typical wooden houses, numerous crafts exhibitions. Learn about wood painting, intricate beadwork and weaving, blacksmithing, pottery and more. Then, you’ll be treated to a traditional midday Russian picnic (BBQ) – and even have the option to take a trip to a real Russian bathhouse (banya).

Day 6 Kizhi

Prepare to be amazed at the unique beauty of Kizhi Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the ornate Church of the Transfiguration, with 22 domes built entirely from wood with no single nail. Enjoy a concert “Music of Northern Village” in a beautiful setting.

Day 7 Goritsy

A tiny Russian community with a unique medieval atmosphere, Goritsy reveals a storied past within the famous Ferapontov Monastery. Marvel at paintings over 500 years old, and delve into the lives of the royals who lived there.

Day 8 Uglich

Today you’ll arrive in Uglich, an ancient town filled with brightly coloured architecture. Its Kremlin and the Church of St. Dmitry are particularly famous – the church’s fascinating history is tied to the life and death of Ivan the Terrible’s son. In the afternoon, relax as the sounds of Kovcheg Choir wash over you, then spend a special moment of time in a local family home.

Day 9 Moscow

Today we reach our final destination - Moscow, the glorious capital of Russia. After you disembark from Mustai Kariml, you will be transferred to your centrally located 5* hotel.

Enjoy free time for self-discovery before dinner with your fellow travellers in one of the most popular restaurants.

Day 10 Moscow

Discover Moscow’s sights through the eyes of a local: the Kremlin with its iconic red-built walls; Red Square, home to the dazzling domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Zaryadye Park with its impossible floating bridge. 

Day 11 Moscow

After breakfast, a comfortable transfer awaits you to take you directly to the airport for your flight back home or to your next destination. 

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5* luxury river cruise ship accommodation

5* hotel accommodation in St Petersburg and Moscow

Full board catering (three meals per day) while onboard the cruise ship, several meals while in Moscow and St Petersburg

All excursions according to the itinerary with professional English-speaking guides

Onboard entertainment including Russian language course and Russian songs lessons, live music concerts, etc

Lectures by a guest speaker

Russian visa support document

Travel insurance

Arrival and departure airport transfers

Russian visa and visa fees.  Russian visa can be arranged by 56th Parallel for an additional cost (for Australian citizens only). Apply for concierge visa service  here .

Optional excursions

St Petersburg / Moscow to Moscow / St Petersburg

*Price is "from" per person, based on twin share/double accommodation in the Upper Deck Standard Suite.

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Why travel to Russia with 56th Parallel?

Destination Specialists

Our team offers over 18 years of experience travelling and planning travel in Russia. Delivering outstanding travel experiences in Russia’s capitals and in some of the most stunning & remote locations takes experience, special access and the right connections. We make sure that all the fine details are handled perfectly so you can enjoy your Russia travel experience.

Group & Private Tours

The choice to join a small group on a guaranteed departure or chose to travel on your own dates with your own mates. Each destination we travel to in Russia offers an option between private tours and small group tours. Please note: on our adventure tours in remote destinations, we mostly run group tours to keep the cost down.

Bonded & Licensed

56th Parallel is a fully licensed, insured and accredited travel provider.

From USD $4,050

Day 1: St Petersburg

Day 2: st petersburg, day 3: st petersburg, day 4: valaam, day 5: mandrogi, day 6: kizhi, day 7: goritsy, day 8: uglich, day 9: moscow, day 10: moscow, day 11: moscow, not included, start planning your tour.

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