Russian Railways Train Cruise to The Caucasus
I am planning to travel on this train in late June to test the train and the route with a view to recommending it. There are 2 versions of the trip:
- The one listed here that has all excursions included
- Self guided and the option to buy tours en route.
If you have any questions let me know!
Hospitable Caucasus (7 days / 6 nights)
Route: Moscow – Novorossiysk – Kislovodsk – Essentuki – Pyatigorsk – Grozny – Derbent or Sulak canyon – Volgograd – Moscow
Day 1
Boarding to the train from 07:10.
07:35 am – departure of the tourist train from Moscow.
On the first day of the train from Moscow to Novorossiysk, meals are provided at tourists own expense.
Day 2. Novorossiysk
Breakfast at the train.
14:20 Arrival of the group to Novorossiysk, meeting with the guide and boarding to the bus. 14: 30 – 15:30 Meeting with the group and transfer to Abrau-Dyurso ~ 30 km.
Excursion program “150 sparkling years”.
The splendor and picturesqueness of Lake Abrau began to attract travelers back in the 19th century. But the real glory to this place was brought by champagne, which began to be produced here 150 years ago. Here, at the most visited winery in the world, historical objects are located in the middle of extraordinary nature and you can always not only find out how the champagne that conquered the whole country is born, but also actively spend time on the lake.The waters of the lake are deeply emerald in color and keep beautiful legends and unsolved secrets, which we will tell you about.
Visit to the Historical Complex with a guided tour and tasting of premium sparkling wines and new products. During a tour of the Russian wine house “Abrau-Dyurso”, we find ourselves in an amazing underground world, where the spirit of real champagne reigns and from the lips of professional champagne we learn about the intricacies of creating a classic sparkling wine. Here we will also taste 7 samples of classic sparkling wines specially produced for the anniversary of Abrau-Dyurso. We will be shown the legendary wine cellar, where rare wines of outstanding Abrau-Durso vintages are kept to this day.
Inspired by the history and culture of Russian winemaking, we will take a look at the Abrau-Dyurso brand store. Here we will find a complete collection of products of the Russian Wine House “Abrau-Dyurso” at prices from the manufacturer, branded products, local cheeses, as well as gifts and souvenirs.
Guided walk along Lake Abrau with a visit to the art park
With a guide, we will go for a walk along the shores of a crystal reservoir surrounded by a mountain range, the surroundings of which are often called the “Black Sea Switzerland”. You will stroll along the flowering promenade, visit an art park with conceptual sculptures.
Transfer to Novorossiysk.
Dinner at the city cafe.
19:37 – departure of the train from Novorossiysk.
Day 3 Caucasian Mineral Waters
Breakfast at the train.
10:04 Arrival to the railway station of Essentuki, boarding to the bus.
City tour. We will walk through the most famous and iconic places of the city, visit the source No. 17; Mud baths and Nikolaev’s baths. We will walk through the historical center of the city, take memorable photos on the theater square.
Transfer to Pyatigorsk.
Lunch near Pyatigorsk.
Excursion to the park “Flower garden”. This historic site is the heart of the city.
At the height is the most important sculpture symbolizing the city – an eagle clutching a snake in its claws.
Visiting a drinking pump room, tasting natural mineral water. Visit to Pyatigorsk Proval – a small lake of bright blue color in the thickness of the mountain range.
After the Failure, we will visit the place where M.Yu. Lermontov fought a duel.
Transfer to Kislovodsk.
Excursion to the park.
This is a great place for walking. Unsurpassed clean air combined with beautiful nature and unique mineral springs makes the park unique and turns it into a favorite vacation spot for both locals and city guests.
Visiting narzan sources.
Purchase of souvenirs.
The unusual singing fountain of Kislovodsk attracts attention by dancing not only with water, light and color, but also with fire!
19:50 Departure from the Kislovodsk railway station.
Day 4 Grozny and surroundings
Breakfast at the train.
09:33 Arrival of the train to Grozny. Meeting with guests on the platform of the Grozny railway station.
Transfer to the Argun Gorge (approximate travel time 1 hour 15 minutes).
Excursion to the Argun gorge. The old road leads up the stormy Chanty-Argun gorge. A part of the road has been carved out of the limestone rocks by generations of Chechens. The nature here is wild, untouched, preserved the features of primitiveness.
We will stop at the Nikhaloevskiye waterfalls. Climbing up the valley of a small river flowing into the Argun, just 100 meters from the road, you can admire the most beautiful cascade of waterfalls. The jets of water break off along the suspended rocks twenty meters high.
After enjoying the mountain scenery, we will return to the capital of the Republic.
We will have lunch in a city restaurant with a master class on cooking national pies – chepalgash – the finest, tender and very tasty!
Sightseeing bus and walking tour of the city. Grozny is a phoenix city, revived from the ashes of such a distant war. Fortress Groznaya was erected at the beginning of the 19th century.
We will climb one of the towers of the Grozny-City high-rise complex. From the observation deck of one of the towers of the complex, from a bird’s eye view, the city is visible at a glance.
Acquaintance with the city will be incomplete without the legendary “Heart of Chechnya” mosque.
Transfer to the railway station in Gudermes.
17:12 – departure from the railway station of Gudermes to Makhachkala.
Arrival in Makhachkala at 21:30 / night on the train /
Day 5. Panoramas of Dagestan.
There are two programs for tourists to choose from:
Option 1 – Sulak canyon.
06:10 Early departure from Makhachkala to the Sulak Canyon.
Transfer to the Chirkei reservoir – the largest reservoir of the North Caucasus.
From the observation deck of the Chirkei reservoir tourists will see fantastic view. We recommend that guests plan and take panoramic photos.
You will see the real “sea in the mountains”. This is truly one of the most beautiful reservoirs in Dagestan, formed on the Sulak River as a result of the construction of the Chirkei hydroelectric power station.
We will offer our guests aromatic hot tea and a miracle – Dagestan pies, so that the meeting with the region is aromatic and hot!
Transfer to the Sulak canyon. Arrival at the observation deck.
The Sulak River Canyon is impressive even in photographs, although no photograph can convey the sensations when you stand on the edge of an abyss and feel how breathtaking.
It is not surprising, because this is one of the deepest canyons in the world – its depth is 1920 meters! It is also deeper than Colorado’s famous Grand Canyon.
Transfer to the Glavryba trout farm. Here you can relax, enjoy one more time with the beautiful view and taste freshly caught trout.
12:00 Lunch at the trout farm.
Transfer to Sarikum. On the way to Makhachkala (subject to free time) we will make another stop to visit one of the wonders of Dagestan. The dune Sarykum is separated from the Central Asian deserts by 300 kilometers of the Caspian Sea. How did he end up on this side, so far from the great sands? Scientists still have not solved this riddle, but we have the opportunity to touch the real desert. We suggest you take a walk, make a memorable photo session and go to Makhachkala.
Transfer to the train station.
16:03
Departure of the train from Makhachkala
Option 2 – visiting Derbent.
Breakfast at the train.
08:35 Meeting with guide at the Derbent railway station and boarding to the bus.
08:50 – Transfer to the citadel of Naryn-Kala
Derbent is a glorious and oldest city in Russia. Its main attraction is the Naryn-Kala citadel.
Excursion to the citadel of Naryn-Kala. It is an ancient fortress in the high part of Derbent, connected to the Caspian Sea by double walls designed to block the Caspian gates to Persia. The sea part of the wall goes 500 meters into the sea, thus blocking the entrance to the harbor. Naryn-Kala is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
11:30 Lunch at the city cafe.
12:50 Transfer to the train.
The train departs at 13:20.
Day 6. Volgograd
Breakfast at the train.
08:50 – arrival of the train to Volgograd.
Meeting with the group at the railway station, boarding to the bus.
Excursion: “Mamayev Kurgan is the memory of the people; Mamayev Kurgan is the pride of the country!”
Visit to the monument – the ensemble “Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad” on Mamayev Kurgan.
11:30 – Walk along the Volga on the boat “Moscow”. From the board of the boat, under the splash of the Volga wave, you will admire the unique architectural ensemble of the ceremonial historical center of the city, the picturesque expanses of the Volga shores will open to you.
Lunch at the city cafe.
Transfer to the train station.
14:50 – train departure.
On the way from Volgograd to Moscow, meals on the train at tourists own expense.
Day 7
16:53 Arrival of the train to Moscow at the Kievsky station.
