Russia's Southern Steppe: Land of Cossacks, Kalmyks & Caviar
Discover the southern Russian steppe, an unfamiliar region spiced with a spirited array of independent cultures, including
freedom-loving Cossacks and descendents of the Golden Horde. Explore Volgograd's massive memorial before learning about the food of kings - caviar - in historic Astrakhan on the Volga
River Delta. Visit Buddhist Elista, land of the formerly nomadic Kalmyk people (and home of Chess City); Rostov-on-Don, ancestral home of the Don Cossacks; Krasnodar, headquarters of the Kuban Cossacks; and the balmy Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Days 1-2: Volgograd
Begin in Volgograd, known during WWII as Stalingrad.
Here one of the most important battles of the war was fought, at unprecedented
human cost. Visit the immense Mother Russia monument on Mamaev Kurgan, the
high ground where much of the fighting took place.
Days 3-4: Astrakhan
Travel overland to Astrakhan, Russia's 17th century "Window on the East" guarding the rich Volga River Delta. Sample local cuise at a dastarkhan demonstration and learn about the modern Caspian caviar industry, cultivated sustainably at sturgeon farms.
Days 5-7: Elista
Head inland to Elista. Populated by Kalmyk people, remnants
of the Golden Horde, Elista boasts the largest Buddhist temple in Europe, visited
regularly by the Dalai Lama; futuristic Chess City, built amidst scandal for the 1998
international Chess Olympiad; and a breeding reserve for the critically endangered
Saiga Antelope, a hump-nosed, spindly-legged, but very valuable creature.
Days 8-11: Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar
Continue west to two major
Cossack centers. In Rostov-on-Don, tour the former island capital of the Don
Cossacks and in Krasnodar, learn about the exploits of the Kuban Cossacks.
Enjoy dinner with a family in a private home in Krasnodar.
Days 12-14: Sochi
Trace the lush Black Sea coastline to Sochi, "Russian
Riviera" resort and 2014 Olympics site. Admire the subtropical Botanical
Garden and enjoy a tasting of local teas at a tea plantation.
Trip Details
| Length of Trip: |
14 Days |
| Departures in 2012: |
1 |
| Dates: |
August 18-31, 2012 |
 |
| Land Tour Cost: |
|
| 4-16 travelers |
$5,995 |
| Single Supplement |
$1,095 |
| |
| No Hidden Costs! |
|
MIR Signature Experiences
- Learn about modern caviar production in
Astrakhan, center of the exclusive Caspian
fishery
- In Buddhist Elista, enjoy tea on the steppe at
a reserve for the critically endangered Saiga
Antelope
- Attend a cultural performance of Don
Cossacks in Rostov-on-Don
Map - Click to Enlarge
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| Days 1-2: |
Volgograd |
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| Day 3: |
Volgograd, drive to Astrakhan |
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| Days 4: |
Astrakhan |
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| Day 5: |
Astrakhan, drive to Elista |
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| Day 6-7: |
Elista |
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| Day 8: |
Elista, drive to Rostov-on-Don |
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| Day 9: |
Rostov-on-Don, day trip to Starocherkassk and Novocherkass |
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| Day 10: |
Rostov-on-Don, drive to Krasnodar |
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| Day 11: |
Krasnodar |
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| Day 12: |
Krasnodar, drive to Sochi |
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| Day 13-14: |
Sochi |
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Suggested Extensions
Spend more time in Southern Russia, combine this tour with Classic Western Russia: Moscow, Novgorod & St. Petersburg or spend time elswhere in Russia. Contact us for details.
Some images on this page courtesy Maria Antonova, Saga Voyages
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