Viking River Cruises

Waterways of the Czars

Itinerary Overview

Explore the natural highways of Russia with a trip down the imperial rivers and lakes of Russia. The development of numerous man-made canals now makes it possible to travel great distances from the remote forests of Kareliya and Red Square in Moscow, to historic St. Petersburg. On your journey through historic Russia, you’ll see the grand monuments and opulent palaces of the Czars. And you’ll have time to browse the extraordinary collection of art in the Hermitage Museum, and enjoy world-class theatrical performances in St. Petersburg and Moscow. As you travel through the breathtaking countryside, you’ll see fortified monasteries, beautiful cathedrals and quaint villages—all from the comfort of your Viking River Cruises ship.

What's Included

• 10- or 11-night cruise with river-view, outside cabin onboard deluxe Viking Pakhomov, Viking Kirov or Viking Surkov
• 11 tours with private, English-speaking guides: Moscow/Red Square, GUM and Metro/Moscow Circus/Kremlin & Armory; Uglich;Yaroslavl; Goritzy; Kizhi; St. Petersburg/Pushkin/evening performance/Peter & Paul Fortress/Hermitage
• All meals: 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 10 dinners
• Private motorcoach for all coach excursions
• Welcome Cocktail & Farewell Dinner
• Old World Highlights: Port lectures by your knowledgeable Cruise Manager, traditional samovar demonstration and tea tasting,lecture on cultural history of the Czars and Russian architecture
• Individual port guides for on-your-own exploring
• Onboard currency exchange services
• All port charges included

Ship

Detailed Itinerary

Russia's second largest city, St. Petersburg has been called the "Venice of the North" for its many islands, canals and bridges. An industrial and cultural center, it is one of the most harmonious and splendid cities in Europe and one of Russia's most beautiful. The historic area of St. Petersburg is filled with many monuments and cathedrals. Among these is the renowned Hermitage Museum, filled with more than three million exhibits from noted artists DaVinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo and others. The museum is located in the Winter Palace, home of the last six czars. Other highlights of the city include St. Isaac's Cathedral, and Peter and Paul Fortress. Visitors will also want to spend time in the Nevsky Prospect, a key shopping district lined with stores, cafes and theaters.

Cruise from Lake Onega to Lake Ladoga along the narrow, 139-mile majestic Svir River, also called the "Blue Route." Europe's largest lake, Lake Ladoga spans nearly 7,000 square miles and is home to 700 islands. Surrounded by natural beauty, high, craggy hills highlight the lake's northern shore while the southern shore is lined with low, sandy beaches.

Situated at the north end of Lake Onega, Kizhi Island is home to the famed Open Air Museum of Architecture. Dozens of buildings including wooden houses, windmills and two 18th century wooden churches portray the region's unusual and visionary architecture. Kizhi's most famous building is the three-tiered, fairytale-like Transfiguration Church, dating from 1714. With its 22 domes, it rivals the splendor of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. Within the same walled compound, see the 1862 octagonal bell tower and the Church of Intercession, built in 1764 without the use of a single nail.

Completed in 1964 and replacing the antiquated Mariinskaya Canal, the Volta-Baltic Waterway is a system of rivers and canals that link the Volga River with the Baltic Sea. Spanning 229 miles and including seven locks, the Waterway starts in Rybinsk and follows along the Svir and Neva Rivers, emptying into the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea in St. Petersburg. Goritzy - Scenic cruising

The little village of Goritzy lies at the river Scheksna and is a starting point for an examination of the Kirillo-Belozerskij cloister.

The cloister was named after the monk Kyrill, whom at the age of 60 left Moscow and went north. At the bank of the white lake are two little churches. Soon pilgrims followed his example. The Moscovite czars supported it with financial donations. Under Ivan IV "the terrible" emerged a fort wall which is measures 11 meters high and 7 meters thick. It was transformed in 1968 into a museum.

Stretching for 18 miles along both banks of the Volga amidst a region of forests, Yaroslavl was founded in 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev. During the next several centuries, Yaroslavl prospered as a trading port and textile-manufacturing center. Many buildings and architectural monuments of Yaroslavl's colorful past highlight the city including the Governor's Palace, the magnificent 13th-century Spassky Monastery, a group of majestic 17th century cathedrals, and the Church of Elijah the Prophet situated in the central square. The artistry inside the church, including the frescoes on the walls and ornate vaulting create a museum-like atmosphere.

Founded in 1148 along the Volga River, Uglich is a magnificent city to behold from the river. Its many colorful churches and cathedrals blanket the horizon, making Uglich one of Russia's most adored cities. The magnificent Church of St. Demetrius on the Blood was built on the site where the body of nine-year-old Ivan the Terrible's son, Dimitry, was found under mysterious circumstances. Other architectural monuments include the Kremlin Palace, Cathedral of the Resurrection, and St. John's Church.

Founded in 1147, the capital of Russia lies in the shallow valley of the Moskva River, a tributary of the Volga. Visitors should be sure to see the Kremlin with its crenellated red brick walls surrounding many towers, cathedrals and palaces. Tour magnificent Red Square and admire the Byzantine splendor of brightly colored St. Basil's Cathedral. Built in the 1550s, each of the building's amazing domes differs in design and color. Other famous sites include the pedestrian shopping street Arbat, the Armory Palace and its priceless collection of royal treasures including jewels, crowns, thrones and the czars' royal armor, and the world-renowned Moscow Circus.

Cost of This Itinerary

The least expensive cabin costs:
$200 per person per night in low season and
$236 pp pn in high season

The most expensive stateroom costs:
$490 per person per night in low season and
$527 pp pn in high season