Day 01: Sydney – Guangzhou  
Depart to Guangzhou, China in the morning on China Southern Airlines and arrive in the evening. You will be met and transferred to hotel for the night in Guangzhou.
 
Day 02: Guangzhou – Moscow (B)
You are at leisure until transfer to airport for your flight to Moscow in the afternoon and arrive in Moscow in the evening. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to cruise.
Accommodation: On board.
 
Day 03: Moscow (B.L.D) 
Moscow is Russia's largest city, it's political and economic capital. Through bribes, diplomacy and coercion, Moscow overcame its two rival principalities to become Russia's first city. Moscow's role was briefly challenged when Tsar Peter the Great moved the capital to his new city Saint Petersburg, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Today is dedicated to exploring Red Square, Leningradskaya and Tverskaya streets, Novodevichiy Convent (exterior), KGB (exterior), GUM and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (exterior). You may also like to take part in the optional excursions like Moscow by night & Metro. 
Accommodation:  On board
 
Day 04: Moscow (B.L.D)
Today is very special, as we will go inside the Kremlin - the ancient castle built to withstand the Mongol hordes. Throughout history, the Kremlin has been the centre of political power in Russia and it remains a symbolic political centre even today. It is the official site of the inauguration ceremony of the Russian President. The Kremlin is a living museum of Russia's history. This historical treasure has been so well preserved that it seems that you are travelling back in time. You will see the most interesting places in the Kremlin as you follow our professional guide in the steps of some of the world's greatest leaders and its most terrible dictators. Afterwards there will be optional excursions on offer which may include the National folk show 'Kostroma.'
Accommodation:  On board
 
Day 05: Uglich (B.L.D)
Uglich is a small town located on the Volga River. It is most famous for the tragic events that took place in 1591, when the 10 year old  Prince Dimitry, the last heir to the thrown of the ancient Ruyrik Dynasty, was killed here. Historians now agree that he was killed by Boris Godunov, adviser to Dimitry, who wanted the throne to himself. Dimitry's death plunged Russia into decades of political turmoil known as the Time of Trouble.
You will discover the town on a walking tour with a visit to the Kremlin, Transfiguration Cathedral, and the church of Saint Dimitry on the Blood.
Accommodation:  On board
 
Day 06: Yaroslavl (B.L.D)
By today's standards Yaroslavl is small, but its place in Russia's history and culture cannot be underestimated. Before it was annihilated by the Mongols it was Russia's largest city, its economic, political, cultural and scientific centre. It was rebuilt shortly after but was once again burnt to the ground. While the Mongols had been preoccupied with Yaroslavl, Moscow was able to harness enough power to overthrow the 'Mongol yoke.' You will explore this town on the Volga River by bus with stops in Nikolas Wonderworker, Governor's Art Gallery, and church of the Prophet Elijah. You will also have free time to explore the local market.
Accommodation:  On board
 
Day 07: Goritsy (B.L.D)
Goritzy is famous for the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery (1937). This monastery's strong walls and bastions were used by some nobles as a safe house during the Time of Trouble. The Polish Armies stormed it, but never succeeded capturing it. Unfortunately, the monastery was not successful in repelling the attacks of other invaders four centuries later. The Bolsheviks closed the monastery in the early 20th century and sent its monks to the prison camps. On your walking tour around the small town you will go inside the local Monastery of Saint Cyril on the White Lake, an exceptional Museum of icons.
Accommodation:  On board
 
Day 08: Kizhi (B.L.D)
Kizhi-Island Kizhi is the name of a unique island located on Lake Onega. In the centre of the island stands the amazing Transfiguration Church. This wooden church and its 22 domes are said to be built without a single nail. In fact, originally, the Transfiguration Church was located in another place. The Bolsheviks, who had little, if no, respect for religion, had some respect for its architectural value. So they decided to move this unique church as far from the major cities and people as possible, to distant Kizhi Island. You will devote this day on the island to the open-air museum of wooden architecture.
Accommodation: On board
 
Day 09: Mandrogui (B.L.D)
Mandrogi is the name of a small village that has no architectural wonders, giant castles or churches. You will however discover the unique style and architecture of the northern tribes that have occupied these lands for centuries.
Here among the beautiful landscapes of this peaceful place we will have a picnic ashore with a Russian famous shashlik (meat kebab) made on the grill. You will have free time to stroll around the town and buy some souvenirs, before returning to the ship. Whilst cruising on board the ship, you will experience live music concerts, a Russian language course, Russian song lessons, dancing music in bars nightly and the Captain's bridge tour.   
Accommodation:  On board
 
Days 10 – 11: St. Petersburg (B.L.D)
St Petersburg is Russia's cultural and historical treasure, one of the world's most beautiful cities. It is known as Venice of the north, thanks to its numerous canals and hundreds of bridges. It can rightly be called a living museum - so many of its buildings are a part of Russia's history. These two days there will be a bus city tour to Smolny convent, Tavrichesky Palace, Summer Garden, Palace embankment, Winter Palace, buildings of exchange and Nevsky Prospect. There is a walking tour of St Peter and Paul's Fortress. Also included is a visit to the Winter Palace, which is home to the Hermitage Museum - the largest collection of Russian art in the world. The Hermitage originally started as the private art collection of Catherine The Great. The art works are displayed in numerous halls, many of which are works of art in themselves. You may like to take part in an optional excursion to a Russian Folk Show, or a Rivers & Canals tour at night. 
Accommodation: On board
 
Day 12: St Petersburg
Today is at leisure to explore St Petersburg. You may wish to take the optional excursions on offer to Pushkin (Catherine Palace and Park) or Peterhof (lower park only). 
Tonight there will be a presentation of the crew and the staff, followed by dinner.
Accommodation:  On board
 
Day 13: St Petersburg – Moscow – Guangzhou (B)
You are at leisure until transfer out to airport for your flight to Moscow where you will be met and taken to visit Kolomenskoe Museum, which is an open air museum including examples of Russian wooden architecture of the 17 – 18th centuries. After that, you are transferred to airport for your flight to Guangzhou, China to connect your flight back to Australia. Fly overnight.
 
Day 14: Guangzhou (L)
Arrive at Guangzhou in the morning. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to a local restaurant to have lunch. After lunch, you will have orientation city tour before transfer to hotel for the night.
 
Day 15: Guangzhou – Australia (B)
You are at leisure today for last minute shopping or do exploration of Guangzhou city on your own in the morning. In the afternoon you are transferred to airport for your flight homeward to Australia and fly overnight.
 
Day 16: Australia
Arrive in Australia in the morning. Your unforgettable Russia Waterways tour ends.
 
Tour Dates: 20 May – 04 June, 24 June – 09 July, 22 July – 06 August, 26 August – 10, 16 September – 01 October 2014
 
Tour Price:
Departures on 26 August & 16 September: $4,180.00 per person, twin share
Departures on 20 May, 24 June, 22 July: $4,280 per person, twin share
Single supplement: $1,050
 
Tour price includes:
1. Air fares with China Southern Airlines from Sydney & Melbourne into Moscow and out of Moscow via Guangzhou. (PS: For Melbourne passengers, China Southern Airlines flies out in the evening and arrives in the following morning. Therefore only day use hotel with breakfast is provided)
2. Airport tax and fuel surcharge (currently $590, subject to change). 
3. A 12-day river cruise between Moscow and St. Petersburg including all port taxes in a twin shared cabin of Main Deck on the cruise ship.  
4. Four-star hotel in China. 
5. All transfer and transport. 
6. All on-shore excursions as indicated in the itinerary. 
7. Meals as mentioned in the itinerary. 
8. Services of local tour guides.
9. Russia domestic flight.
 
Tour price excludes:
1. Travel insurance.
2. Russia visa fee (currently $120, subject to change).
3. Tips to guides and drivers.
4. Personal expenses.
5. Any services or meals not mentioned in the itinerary. 
 
PS: From 01^st August 2013, passport holders of 45 countries including Australia, UK, USA and so on may transit Guangzhou for up to 72 hours without a visa when flying into and out of Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. Please note conditions for this visa exemption apply. Please contact us for details to decide whether your entry visa to Guangzhou, China can be exempted.
 
Introduction of cruise ships used for our departures:
Georgy Chicherin: 20 May & 22 July
Konstantin Simonov: 24 June, 26 August & 16 September
 
Both Motorships «Konstantin Simonov» and «Goergy Chicherin» are comfortable
four-deck vessels (type 302). Built in Germany in 1984, refurbished in 2011, the motorships  are equipped with modern navigational facilities and exceeds the speed of 26 km per hour (around 17 MpH).
• Length –129 m
• Width – 16,7 m
• Draught – 2,9 m
• Passenger capacity – 280
(quad cabins for double accommodation).
 
Accommodation:
2 suites
10 singles
128 twins
14 quads (2 upper and 2 lower berths)
All cabins are equipped with private facilities, wardrobe, radio, refrigerator and air conditioning. There is a large scenic window in each cabin (except lower deck).
 
Vessel features:
• Restaurant
• Bar- restaurant
• 2 bars
• Solarium
• Sauna
• Medical room
• Souvenir store
• Conference hall
• Ironing room