FACES OF EURASIA: VOLGOGRAD AND ELISTA

Tour program

• Day 1

  HELLO, VOLGOGRAD!

  Arrival and transfer to the hotel.

• Day 2

  DISCOVER VOLGOGRAD

  Breakfast. 10.00 Panoramic tour of Volgograd (duration approx. 3h) The excursion is devoted to the most interesting events in the history of Volgograd, which you will learn about by visiting the city's landmarks. You will see the Church of St. John the Baptist, the place where the city was founded, and learn about the first stone building in Tsaritsyn (original name of Volgograd) and the circumstances behind the city’s name. You will visit the picturesque Volga embankment and hear how the peasant riots were reflected in the history of Volgograd. An important part of the tour is the history of the Battle of Stalingrad. You will visit the Square of the Fallen Fighters, see the legendary Pavlov House and Gerhardt's mill and learn to differentiate between these well-known buildings similar in appearance. Free time for lunch. 14.00 Excursion to Mamayev Kurgan, a memorial complex "To the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad" (duration approx. 2h) The Battle of Stalingrad is remembered as one of the bloodiest and fiercest battles of World War II. The battle pitted the Nazi army against the Soviet army and took place between August 1942 and February 1943. During those 6 months, according to several historians, almost two million soldiers lost their lives. During the excursion you will learn about the history behind the creation of the memorial complex "To the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad" in Mamayev Kurgan, the history of the Battle of Stalingrad itself, how the fierce fight for Russia’s key military stronghold unfolded, and how this most famous monument of the country’s valor - "The Motherland" - was created. Here, at the foot of the grandiose sculpture, which is one of the 7 wonders of Russia, a magnificent panoramic view of the heroic city of Volgograd opens up. At the end of the excursion you will have the opportunity to visit the Temple of All Saints and light a candle in memory of the defenders who perished in that battle. Free time in the evening.

  

  

  

  

• Day 3

  WELCOME TO ELISTA!

  Breakfast. Visit to Elista (duration approx. 13h). Today you will visit Elista, the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Kalmykia, situated in the heart of the local steppes. The Republic of Kalmykia is the only Buddhist region in Europe with its own traditions and customs, which must be honored and respected. For example, when entering the khurul (Buddha temple), it is necessary to remove your shoes, and it is also forbidden to turn your back to the Buddha. Important note: on this trip you will need to bring the following: passport, cap or scarf, socks to enter the temple. 7:30 Departure from Volgograd. 9:30 Entry into the Republic of Kalmykia. Be sure to take pictures with the saigas, symbols of Kalmykia. 12:00 Arrival in Elista. On our sightseeing tour of the city you will see the monument to the soldiers of the 28th Army, "Golden Horseman", "Dzhangar", central khurul (Buddha temple), take a walk around the temple "the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha", and listen to a fascinating historical narrative weaved together by our knowledgeable guide about Buddhism, Kalmyk customs and traditions. The main Buddhist temple in Kalmykia, the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha, was built in 2006. In front of the central staircase leading to the temple there is a statue of the White Elder with a staff in his hands. He is the owner of all land, the patron of fertility and longevity. Between the two parts of the staircase is a waterfall, a symbol of life. Around the temple there are statues of Southeast Asian Buddhist preachers. Inside the temple, in the centre of the altar, stands a huge statue of Buddha, made of metal and covered with a thin layer of gold. The left and right sides of the altar are decorated with figures of numerous gods and demigods. Near the right side of the altar, in a glass case, is a robe of the Dalai Lama the XIVth. In the basement of the temple is a museum of the history of Buddhism. 14:00 Free time for lunch. 15:00 Visit to the Memorial "Exodus and Return", the complex dedicated to the victims of state repression under Stalin, which chronicles the deportation of Kalmyks to Siberia at the end of 1943 and their return to the homeland in 1955-56. Next up is The City of Chess. The 33rd World Chess Olympiad was held here from 26 September to 13 October 1998. The real jewel of the city is the Chess Palace, which has hosted a number of distinguished guests from Steven Segal to Vladimir Putin. 16:00 Free time in the center of Elista. 17:00 Departure to Volgograd. 21:30 Arrival in Volgograd.

  

  

  

  

• Day 4

  VOLGA-DON

  Breakfast. 10.00 Volga-Don Canal and Staraya Sarepta (duration 4h approx.) We offer you a trip to the southern part of the city. You will visit the reserve-museum "Old Sarepta", founded on the site of the German religious community, see the old houses and feel as if you were transported to 18th century Germany. You will learn about the contribution of the Sarepta colony to the history of the town, why travelers called it "the pearl of the Kalmyk steppes" and how it is connected to the first mustard factory in Russia. The complex covers an area of 7.1 hectares and includes 27 buildings, of which 23 are federal monuments of the 18th and 19th centuries, permanent historical and ethnographic exhibitions, temporary exhibitions of artists, photographers and masters of applied arts. You will then reach the Volga-Don Canal. The Volga-Don Canal connects the rivers of Volga and Don at the place of their maximum convergence near Volgograd. The first documented attempt to connect the Volga and the Don dates back to the second half of the 16th century. In 1569, the Turkish Sultan Selim II, famous for his Astrakhan military campaign, ordered 22,000 of his soldiers to build a canal connecting the Volga and the Don. But after a month, the Turks withdrew. Over the centuries, several attempts have been made to relaunch the project, but for various reasons they have been unsuccessful. The construction of the Volga-Don canal began in February 1948 and lasted just 4.5 years, a marvelously short time in world of hydraulic engineering. To create a construction workforce in 1949, the authorities recruited workers from all over the country. German and Soviet prisoners of war were also involved in the construction. The observation deck of the 57-metre high Lenin monument offers a beautiful view of the Volga River, also serving as the entrance to a part of one of the largest navigable canals in the world. Free afternoon.

  

  

  

  

• Day 5

  TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE

  Breakfast. 12.00 Check out from the hotel and transfer according to the previously confirmed time of departure.