Our Team 
Our Tour Experts 
Heroes and Heroines Cities of Contrast
Cruise between the two contrasting cities of Moscow and St Petersburg, ‘the heart and the head’ of Mother Russia.
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![Amy Waters snow biking]()
Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
River Cruise from Moscow to St Petersburg
Gently cruise the beautiful scenery of the Volga River aboard the Volga Dream. It is possible to see so much more of Russia on a river cruise. Uncover the treasures of Moscow and St Petersburg as well as taking in far less visited traditional towns, hamlets, lakes and islands of the Golden Ring.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
1
2The Golden Ring
Explore in a small group, with guided excursions to the historic and traditional towns and hamlets of the Golden Ring.
3The Volga Dream
A hassle-free way to travel, the Volga Dream is one of the smallest and most comfortable ships cruising the Volga River.
4Russian Since 1989
Our roots lie in Russia which is where it all began for us. As such, we have a wealth of knowledge and passion for this vast country.
Why we like it
By making use of the numerous waterways of the area, you can cruise seamlessly and gently through the beautiful countryside enjoying a comprehensive programme of guided excursions, and the camaraderie of a smaller vessel. This is a ‘tried and tested’ suggestion that takes any of the hassles or worry out of a visit to Russia. After all, we should know, Russia was where we started all that time ago in 1989!
Days 1-4
Moscow
Day 5
Uglich
Day 6
Yaroslavl
Day 7
Goritsy
Day 8
Kizhi Island
Day 9
Svir River
Days 10-13
St Petersburg
Days 1-4
Moscow
Russia’s largest city and it’s capital, Moscow is a modern metropolis with a medieval core.
Day 5
Uglich
Explore the ancient churches and monasteries of this traditional Russian town.
Day 6
Yaroslavl
250km north-east of Moscow, Yaroslavl is a quiet old town that was founded in 1010 and is one of the oldest cities in central Russia.
Day 7
Goritsy
In the tiny settlement of Goritsy, visit the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, founded in 1397 it is home to one of the best collections of Russian icons in the world.
Day 8
Kizhi Island
Kizhi, home to a collection of charming wooden houses and windmills plus the ancient Transfiguration Church which was famously built-in 1714 without using a single nail.
Day 9
Svir River
Before arriving in St Petersburg cruise the 139-mile-long Svir River, a peaceful and picturesque stretch of water.
Days 10-13
St Petersburg
Extolled by many great Russian poets and artists, St Petersburg was the capital of Russia before the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and is today regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Modern Moscow
The city of Moscow is the focal point of modern Russia and everything that it has come to represent. It is a city where history unfolds around every corner, whether in the shape of the magnificent golden-domed cathedrals or the historic and instantly-recognisable Kremlin. Enjoy an orientation tour to the Red Square, the GUM department store, now full of designer shops rather than Russian goods but with stunning architecture, St Basil’s Cathedral and the Novodevichi Cemetery home to the tombs of Russian authors, musicians and poets, as well as famous political leaders and scientists. There is plenty of time to also explore at leisure.
Cruise the Russian Waterways
Spend five days exploring The Golden Ring aboard the Volga Dream, one of the smallest ships cruising the river with just 100 passengers. Traverse lakes, canals and numerous locks that wind through ancient cities lying north-west of Moscow and by virtue of its ancient monuments, monasteries and the wealth of folk art, golden.
Explore the church of St. Dmitri and attend a choral concert at St. John’s Church in the trading town of Uglich. In Yaroslavl, the Spassky Monastery plays host to the Transfiguration of the Saviour and the Church of Elijah the Prophet boasts marvellous mosaic work. In the tiny settlement of Goritsy, visit the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, founded in 1397 and home to one of the world’s best collections of Russian icons. Do not miss the riverside hamlets and wooden houses found on the islands of Lake Onega.
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The splendour of St Petersburg from the Neva River
Cruise the Svir River, a picturesque stretch of water, and visit the village of Mandrogi to learn about traditional crafts, before arriving in St Petersburg where you disembark aside the Neva River. Once the capital of Russia and extolled by many great poets and artists, the city is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world. Enjoy the art collection at The Hermitage, The Faberge Museum and the beautiful cathedrals of the city, not forgetting some of the finest palaces in the world located a short distance away.
The Volga Dream River Cruise
The Volga Dream is a family-owned and operated vessel with a delightfully relaxed atmosphere. It has a high level of service, comfortable cabins, 60 crew members to look after you, and small group sizes for shore excursions.
Volga Dream offers three slightly different cruise programmes – Gold, Platinum or Imperial. The difference between the three is the sightseeing inclusions. The Platinum includes luxury add-ons, and the Imperial consists of some excursions not normally available to the general public. This holiday idea is based on the Gold cruise programme. Please ask us for more details.
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Jewels of St Petersburg Tour
Join Katya Galitzine to explore a very different side of St Petersburg on the Jewels of St Petersburg Tour departing 26th February 2020. Absorb the splendour of the Tsars with a focus on some of the jewels and treasures of pre-Revolutionary Russia. Accompanied by Princess Katya Galitzine, this tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the highlights of St Petersburg and gain a personal insight into the countries fascinating history through the Galitzine family experiences. Katya’s expertise and insight will open doors and your eyes to a very different side of St Petersburg.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. A curiosity of the world and of you, and your passions. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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