DME → AKX

Moscow Outskirts

Aerial views of the sprawling residential districts and forests of the Moscow Oblast immediately after departure.

Oka River

The winding path of the Oka River near Ryazan, often reflecting sunlight during early morning departures.

Zhiguli Mountains

Distinctive limestone hills that create the famous Samara Bend, offering the most vertical relief on the route.

Samara Bend

A massive U-shaped loop of the Volga River, visible as the aircraft cruises toward the Kazakh border.

Trans-Volga Steppe

The transition from lush Russian agricultural land to the more arid, expansive grasslands of the northern steppe.

Central Russian Uplands

A patchwork quilt of intensive agricultural fields and small rural settlements characteristic of the Lipetsk and Voronezh regions.

Saratov Reservoir

Glimpses of the massive widening of the Volga River to the south, looking like a series of interconnected lakes.

Ural River Basin

The rugged, semi-desert terrain appearing as you cross into Kazakhstan near the Mugodzhar Hills.

Aktobe Cityscape

On final approach, views of the industrial zones and the growing urban center of Aktobe.