Stage 3: Istanbul to Astrakhan

5 to 18 April 2008

Over the Carpathian mountains

Crossing the Carpathian mountains is one of the absolute climaxes of this stage, subsequently leading us on through the endless expanses of the Ukraine and Russia to the Caspian Sea. As well as the fascinating impressions left by nature, historic sites also await us, where events of global significance such as the Battle of Stalingrad took place.

Minimum number of participants

8 people

Price of journey per person excluding flight(s):

3,699 EUR


A summary of the stage

The Istanbul-Astrakhan stage

Day 1

Individual arrival in Istanbul, organizational matters/vehicle instruction, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Istanbul

Day 2

Sightseeing in Istanbul, incl. the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque), the Great Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Istanbul

Day 3

Stage for the day: Istanbul – Burgas (290 km), cross the continental border from Asia to Europe at the Bosphorus, cross the border from Turkey to Bulgaria and camp overnight near Burgas

Day 4

Stage for the day: Burgas – Constanta (300 km), cross the border from Bulgaria to Rumania, travel along the Black Sea Coast, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Constanta

Day 5

Stage for the day: Constanta – Bucharest (230 km), sightseeing in Bucharest, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Bucharest

Day 6

Stage for the day: Bucharest – Cluj-Napoca (440 km), travel through Transylvania, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Cluj-Napoca

Day 7

Stage for the day: Cluj-Napoca – Kamjanec-Podolski (480 km), travel through mountain passes in the Carpathians, cross the border from Rumania into the Ukraine and visit the forts in Kamjanec-Podolski, camp overnight near Kamjanec-Podolski

Day 8

Stage for the day: Kamjanec-Podolski – Kiev (400 km), afternoon/evening meal and overnight in hotel in Kiev

Day 9

Stage for the day: Kiev – Dnipropetrovsk (370 km), travel along the Kremenchutske and the Duiprodzezhynske reservoirs, camp overnight outside Dnipropetrovsk

Day 10

Stage for the day: Dnipropetrovsk – Donezk (480 km), off-road driving through Eastern Ukraine, camp overnight near Donezk

Day 11

Stage for the day: Donezk – Volgograd (480 km), cross the border from Ukraine into Russia, visit the "Battle of Stalingrad" memorial in Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad), dinner together and overnight in hotel in Volgograd

Day 12

Stage for the day: Volgograd – Astrakhan (430 km), travel along the Volga on gravel tracks, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Astrakhan

Day 13

Visit the Kremlin in Astrakhan, sightseeing, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Astrakhan

Day 14

Individual departures from Astrakhan

Impressions of the stage: