Volgograd and Elista Tour4 Days | Volgograd, Elista

A morning flight to Volgograd (970 km, 1 h 50 min). Arrive in Volgograd at 12:10 and meet your driver and guide for a sightseeing tour of this legendary city on the Volga River. Previously known as Stalingrad, this was the location of one of the most pivotal (and deadliest) battles of World War II and was heavily bombed in the war. Starting at the Central Embankment, you’ll see the staircase that represents the ‘gate’ from the Volga River to the city, before visiting the Alley of Heroes and the Square of Fallen Heroes. After admiring the majestic buildings of the renovated city, continue to the Mamayev Kurgan Memorial Complex “To the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad”. Visit the church of All Saints, opened for the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, see the majestic Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky, and watch the changing of the guard at the Pantheon of Glory. Finally, transfer to the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4 hours
During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Boat trip along the Volga River.

After breakfast, meet your guide for a tour of other Volgograd highlights. See the Church of Nikita the Confessor (1782-1795) in Staraya Otrada, the Volga-Don Shipping Canal, and the Staraya Sarepta Museum-Reserve, a unique architectural ensemble in the Saxon Baroque style, a piece of Europe in Volgograd. Nowadays, as in the 18th century, an organ sounds in the reserve’s main building, the German Church, and the museum contains authentic household items of the German colonists. The tour ends at the Battle of Stalingrad Panorama Museum, which hosts an impressive 360-degree panoramic mural depicting the famous battle. In addition to the famous panorama, you’ll see various museum exhibits, the Hall of Triumph, the legendary house of Sergeant Yakov Pavlov, and the ruins of the mill that was destroyed in the battle. Finally, visit the open-air “Weapon of Victory” exhibition to see military equipment from World War II. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Boat trip along the Volga River;
Organ concert in the German Church (20 min).

After an early breakfast, drive to Elista (300 km, 4 hours). Elista, the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia, is the centre of Russian Buddhism and offers the opportunity to experience Asian culture, people, and cuisine in Europe. Start your guided city tour at the Golden Horseman monument to the hero of the Kalmyk epic, “Dzhangar”. Continue to the Chess Palace City to visit the Chess Palace where the 33rd World Chess Olympiad was held, see the small wooden Church of St. George the Victorious, and see some of the houses built for the players. Then visit the “Exodus and Return” Memorial Complex dedicated to the victims of Stalinist repressions. An undoubted highlight of your visit to Elista will be visiting The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni, one of the largest Buddhist temples in Europe. Afterwards, visit Lenin Square, where you’ll see other monuments to the city’s Buddhist culture, including the Golden Gate, the Seven-Tier “Pagoda of Seven Days”, and the “Three Lotus” fountain. End the tour with a walk along the Alley of Heroes, where the names of Kalmykia natives awarded the titles “Hero of the Soviet Union” and “Hero of the Russian Federation” are carved on the steles. Finally, return to Volgograd, arriving in the late evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport. End of the Volgograd and Elista Tour.