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‘And Quiet Flows the Don’ History Tour


This 7-day tour includes a city tour of the former Cossack capital, a trip to the Azov State Archaeology Museum and fortress, a visit to the birthplace of Anton Chekhov, and a wine tasting experience.
Overview
Follow in the footsteps of the Don Cossacks starting in their former capital of Starocherkassk. Uncover more about the lives of the Don Cossack people beyond the stories with this 7-day cultural history tour. If you are looking for the best Cossack history tour that takes in plenty of the historical sites and more, then this is the perfect choice for you. This tour includes a city tour of the former Cossack capital, a trip to the Azov State Archaeology Museum and fortress, a visit to the birthplace of Anton Chekhov, and a wine tasting experience.
City tour of Rostov-on-Don and Starocherkassk
Exploring the Ataman Palace and the Don Cossack History Museum
Sea cruise around Azov and Taganrog Bay
Traditional Cossack-style lunch
Visit to the Army cathedral and Ataman Efremov compound in Starocherkassk
Visit to the Azov Archaeology Museum and Fortress overlooking the River Don
Wine tasting at Vedernikov Winery Estate
Itinerary


Rostov-On-Don
A popular port city situated 20 miles from the Sea of Azov, and north of the Caucasus. Rostov-on-Don is home to various landmarks including the Temple of the Holy Trinity, the Rostov Regional Museum of Fine Arts and the Maxim Gorky Academic Drama Theater. It is best known for the Cathedral of Virgin’s Nativity, designed in the late 19th century by Konstantin Thon. It was also a host city of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Day 1
Arrival in Rostov-on-Don
Welcome to Rostov! After arriving at Platov Airport, your driver will meet you outside the arrivals terminal and take you to your hotel in Rostov-on-Don.
After checking in you will have some free time to settle in and explore the city, visit a restaurant for an evening meal or relax in your hotel.
Arrival Transfer
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Day 2
Walk around Rostov-on-Don
Your first day will kick off with a city tour of Rostov-on-Don. You will visit the popular Bolshaya Sadovaya Street known for being the best place to go shopping in the city, the magnificent Cathedral of the Nativity, and the central market filled to the brim with aromas, spices and seasonal fruit and vegetables.
After a late lunch, you will head out on a Don River cruise experience where you will get plenty of opportunities to take photos of the city. The river cruise will end outside your hotel leaving you the rest of the evening to explore the city yourself or rest at your hotel.
Breakfast & Lunch
City Tour
Bolshaya Sadovaya Street
Cathedral of the Nativity
Central market
Don River
River cruise
Scenic Surrounds
Free Time
Travel to


Starocherkassk
Starocherkassk is a rural area in Aksaysky District of Rostov Oblast, Russia, situated near to the Don River. The area has a long history dating back to the 16th century and is best known as the centre of Don Cossack culture and politics for nearly 200 years, and the capital of the Don Host Oblast. It is now known for its unique heritage and cultural sites including the 19th century Resurrection Cathedral.
Day 3
Tour of the Don Cossack capital of Starocherkassk
Wake up to an early breakfast before meeting your guide in the hotel lobby. Your driver will pick you up from the hotel at around 9:00am before taking you to the ex-Cossack capital of Starocherkassk where you will begin your tour.
The rest of your morning will be spent on a city tour of Starocherkassk exploring many of the most famous sites including the army cathedral, the Ataman Efremov compound, and the Peter and Paul Church. You will stop for lunch around 13:00pm before being picked up by your driver for a short 30-minute drive north to Novocherkassk where you will visit the splendid Ataman Palace and the Don Cossack History Museum.
After an action-packed day you will head back to your hotel in Rostov-on-Don for around 18:00pm where you will get the rest of the evening for your own free time.
Breakfast & Lunch
Transfer
City Tour
Ataman Efremov Compound
Sts. Peter and Paul Church
Ataman Palace
Museum of history of Don Cossacks
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Day 4
Wine tasting at Vedernikov Winery Estate
After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby where your driver will pick you up and take you to your next destination, the Vedernikov Winery Estate. The drive will take approximately 3 hours and you should arrive at the estate around 12:00pm. On arrival, you will be able to stretch your legs on a tour with the winemaker who will guide you through this magnificent winery, its vineyards and tell you more about the history of the land. You will even get to taste some of the award-winning wines for yourself!
After a late lunch overlooking the River Don, you will have some free time to explore the estate before heading back to your hotel in Rostov.
Breakfast & Lunch
Vedernikov Winery Estate
Scenic Surrounds
Wine tasting
Cultural Immersive Experience
Expert Guide
Prominent Landscape
Travel to


Taganrog
Taganrog is a large port city in South West Russia at Taganrog Bay in the Sea of Azov. The city is best known as the birthplace of the famous Russian playwright, Anton Chekhov, and features a museum dedicated to his life and family artifacts. The city remains a beacon of local culture with various museums, parks and palaces including the Taganrog Museum of Art which includes many works from the Old Russian Masters.
Day 5
Taganrog city tour
After having breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your guide in the lobby before being picked up by your driver for the 2-hour journey to Taganrog. Your day will start with a city tour of Taganrog where you will visit a series of famous houses including Alexander I, Tchaikovsky, and the birth house of Anton Chekhov.
After lunch, you will be taken back to the hotel in Rostov-on-Don where you will have some more free time.
Breakfast & Lunch
Transfer
City Tour
Birth house of Anton Chekhov
Scenic Surrounds
Azov Sea
Taganrog Bay
Prominent Landscape
Travel to


Azov
Azov is a historic town situated in Rostov Oblast near to the Don River and the Sea of Azov from which its name derives. The area has strong links with military history throughout the ages and is particularly prevalent during the 15th to 17th centuries during the wars between the Don Cossacks and Ottoman Turks. It was the seat of its own government for 7 years, before declining in importance in favour of neighbouring Rostov-on-Don.
Day 6
Visit to the Azov State Archaeology Museum
The penultimate day of your Don Cossack experience! After breakfast your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby before you set off on the hour journey to Azov.
After arriving in Azov, you will visit the State Archaeology museum home to a whole host of spectacular finds from the area, before heading to the site of the Azov fortress overlooking the River Don.
After lunch you will head back to Rostov for a final evening to do some last-minute sightseeing or souvenir shopping.
Breakfast & Lunch
Azov State Archaeology Museum
Cultural Immersive Experience
Azov fortress
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Free Time
Day 7
Departure from Rostov-on-Don
Enjoy a leisurely morning breakfast in your hotel before your 12:00pm check out. Your driver will meet you outside your hotel at the time agreed and take you to your scheduled departure point (Rostov airport or railway station).
Breakfast
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Departure Transfer
Where you can stay
A hotel can be the make or break of any experience, and we understand that choosing the right hotel is important to our travellers. Check out our range of hotels ahead of time, and learn more about our standard 3-star options and the luxury 5-star upgrades that are available in the destinations you will be visiting.
Please note that the selection of hotels included here are examples of where you may stay on your tour, we will pick the best option for you based on your travel requirements.
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Dates & Rates
Please select the amount of travellers in your group and language requirement of your guide.
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*This tour’s total cost is an estimate, based on travel costs prior to tickets being released. The price is subject to fluctation of up to 10%.† Based on 2 people sharing a twin room.
More information
What’s included
Accommodation as part of the tour
Airport / Railway Station Transfers
All tours are COVID-19 secure and offer flexible booking options. Visit our Covid-19 information page to find out more
Breakfast and lunch
English, German or French speaking guide
Entrance fees to museums, attractions and parks
Other food and drink (as specified in the tour itinerary)
Russian Tourist Visa Invitation
Transport (as specified in the tour itinerary)
What’s not included
Dinner
International train / plane tickets
Personal costs (souvenirs, additional snacks etc)
Tips for drivers/guides/in restaurants
Travel / medical insurance
Visa processing
Travel Tips
All travellers are asked to check the vaccination requirements before travel. Visit our Vaccines and Health page to find out more
Any dietary or allergy requirements will need to be disclosed before the start of the tour
Carrying a water bottle with you is recommended
Medication should always be taken with you and kept on your person
Please ensure that you keep any personal documents and valuables on your person at all times
WIFI will be available at most of the hotels, although mobile coverage may vary in rural areas
Your local guides will recommend stops where you can go souvenir shopping during your tour
Special notes
There are no special notes for this tour
Suggested reading
Enrich your travel experience with our list of top recommended books from specialist travel guides to compelling novels. Whether you are looking for something to pass the time on the train, or want to get to grips with the local history, reading is essential to turning your trip into a fully-fledged experience.
Russia: Lonely Planet
The ultimate guidebook to Russia that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Russia is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to this vast country from how to get around, the best places to eat in its most popular cities, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights, currency and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as the Moscow Kremlin, Lake Baikal and the Romanov sites, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
And Quiet Flows the Don
A Russian classic written by epic novel writer, Mikhail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov, And Quiet flows the Don is considered one of the most significant literary works in the 20th century. This incredible tale of war and revolution, follows the turbulent lives of the Don Cossack people, in particular, that of Gregor Melekhov, who struggles to be with the woman he loves as his country is torn apart. This literary masterpiece is considered a damning testament to a nation embroiled in conflict and what can come from it.
Chekov: Stories of Our Time
The ultimate collection of stories from the prolific Russian short-story writer, Anton Chekov, Chekov: Stories of our time offers a glimpse into the masterful hand of Chekov and how he captures humanity in all its complexity. Chekov is known to have written nearly 1000 stories, covering a breadth of human consciousness from wisdom and virtue to the wider world of politics and economy. Often hailed as the greatest short story writer of all time, Chekov have a profound effect on the literary world which can still be seen today.
Extras & Upgrades
Extras
Sorry, we currently do not have any extras readily available for this tour. However, if you are interested in customising your travel experience, please contact our Sales team at travel@realrussia.co.uk for assistance.
Upgrades
Enhance your travel experience with one of our available tour upgrades. Whether you are looking to go first class on the train or swap your standard hotel for a luxury 5-star option, our Sales team are on-hand to help. Simply, let us know when booking your tour and we can arrange this for you.
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