When we talk about Russian beach holidays, we most often remember the Black Sea coast. And this year, increased interest in the destination is expected, because many tourists are not yet ready to spend their summer holidays in other countries.
If you don’t want to share your place in the sun and race to a free sunbed, then it’s better to go to other shores. Here are seven more Russian seas, besides the Black Sea, where you can spend your summer vacation.
Azov Sea
This quiet big water is more like a lake. The Sea of Azov is the shallowest in the world, its depth does not exceed 14 meters. The bottom is sandy, so the water is opaque already at a level of three meters. In some places, the entrance to the sea is so smooth, and the sand spits are so long, that it seems as if people have learned to walk on water.
The estuaries with healing mud are responsible for healing here. These are small freshwater bays formed as a result of the flooding of river valleys with sea water.
One of the most popular resorts on the coast is Yeysk. You can also live in cozy Taganrog. The cliffs of the fishing village of Bogudonia are reminiscent of Scandinavian landscapes. From the observation decks you can see the port. The city has a beach where swimming is allowed.
There are few guest houses and hotels on the coast. But tourists are not lost and arrange a tour of the beaches with overnight stays in tents.
The shallow Azov Sea cools quickly, so the beach season is only three summer months.
How to get there
You can go from Moscow to Yeisk by train. Ticket prices start from 2800 rubles per person one way.
Caspian Sea
The very warm southern direction will be appreciated by fishing lovers. The Akhtuba River in the Astrakhan region is known as one of the coolest places in Russia. True, the other side of the fishing attractiveness is the high swampiness of the marine coastal zone. Swimming here is uncomfortable, but in the Volga delta you can see lotus blooms, rare for our country.
People also go diving, surfing, and ride catamarans and airplanes here. Interest in the Astrakhan destination among vacationers is growing. Therefore, housing of varying levels of comfort is being built on the coast: from camp sites to luxury hotels.
There are no equipped places for swimming in the Caspian Sea in the Astrakhan region. Therefore, we go to the Republic of Dagestan for salty waters and bright sand. The city beaches of Makhachkala, Kaspiysk and Izberbash are more attractive: the sea warms up quickly, a light breeze blows, and the coastal area is kept clean. In Derbent, you can diversify your holiday with excursions, visiting the ancient citadel of Naryn-Kala. And there’s nothing to say about local Caucasian hospitality. Evening meat delicacies and wine are the way to a sun-weary heart.
And in this southern sea live Caspian seals – an endangered species listed in the Red Book. It is not easy to meet these animals. It is known that one of the colonies lives on Seal Island.
How to get there
You can fly to Makhachkala by plane. Ticket prices start from 4000 rubles per person one way.
Shantar Sea
Perhaps this option is the most exotic. Few people will find it on the map without a hint. The Shantar archipelago opens from the Sea of Okhotsk to the harsh waters. And they don’t come here to swim at all. The main joy of a tourist is whales. They can be observed from steep cliffs on the coast or from the deck of a ship.
Tourists “pay” for these moments by camping in tents on mossy stones. It is impossible to explain what the weather is like on the coast. During the day she changes her mood several times, sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the fog and stumble upon bears. Harsh conditions dictate the rules: people travel to the Shantar Islands in organized groups. The tourist season is only in August. At other times, strong winds blow here, and the Shantar Sea itself quickly freezes and the ice remains for eight months.
How to get there
You need to fly to Khabarovsk by plane. Ticket prices start from 13,000 rubles per person one way. Next, we recommend renting a car.
Baltic Sea
The swimming season in the cold northern sea is very short – water above +22 occurs in late July – early August. However, lovers of sedate health resorts breathe Baltic air at any time of the year. One of the most famous resorts is Svetlogorsk in the Kaliningrad region. Here vacationers harden themselves and look for amber grains of sand in the surf line. And the Curonian Spit with its “dancing” trees, intricately curved by the wind, is a hit in various selections of the most beautiful places on Earth.
The Leningrad region also has access to the Baltic. True, formally the local resorts are located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. Komarovo, Repino, Lisiy Nos – these names please the ears of lovers of sandy beaches with the shade of coniferous trees. While walking through the pine forests, inhaling the resin-smelling air, you want to stay here for at least a week until the second one.
How to get there
Take a plane to Kaliningrad. Ticket prices start from 3,000 rubles per person one way. Next, we recommend renting a car.
Sea of Japan
The warm sea in the Far East is already Asian exotica. Lonely rocks with bushes, climbing greenery, turquoise water, white lighthouses – such landscapes are familiar to those who have been to Thailand. Amur tigers, Far Eastern leopards and other Red Book animals live in protected areas.
The underwater world, although it cannot boast of bright tropical fish, is full of other inhabitants – starfish, urchins and mollusks. Dishes made from them are well-known local specialties.
The largest city on the coast is Vladivostok. This is the main base of the Russian Pacific Fleet. And there is something for ship lovers to see here.
White and black, urban and wild – the surrounding beaches are not alike. For example, the unusual “Glass” is covered with pebbles mixed with pieces of glass rolled in by the sea. They, like a kaleidoscope, shimmer in the sun with different colors. And the Mumiy Troll group named their music album in honor of the popular sandy beach “Shamora”.
The swimming season on the Sea of Japan is also non-standard: it begins in July and ends in October.
How to get there
Fly to Vladivostok. Ticket prices start from 13,600 rubles per person one way. Next, we recommend renting a car.
White Sea
The North Sea is not for swimming. Although in July the water warms up to 20 ℃ and local residents enjoy spending fine days near the water. Once upon a time there was a tradition of setting up special wooden baths in huts on the shore to warm up after water procedures. The local coast is characterized by gray rocks and black stones, characteristic of Karelian nature, with rare slender pine trees. The tides in the White Sea are so powerful that for several hours the sandy beaches literally emerge from the sea foam.
The northern waters are home to many animals and birds. For example, not far from Beluga Island you can watch beluga whales in their natural habitat.
The Lands of the White Sea is a story of courage, bravery and perseverance. They are inextricably linked with mysticism and Orthodoxy. The Solovetsky Islands are known because of the monastery of the same name, which often served as a place of exile. The island of Kiy is associated with the name of Patriarch Nikon, who escaped from a storm here. And the Kizhi wooden architecture reserve is the calling card of the Russian North.
The interest of tourists ensured the development of the region’s infrastructure. So tent holidays can now be replaced by accommodation at camp sites and small hotels.
How to get there
You need to go to Arkhangelsk by plane. Ticket prices start from 3,300 rubles per person one way. Next, we recommend renting a car.
Barents Sea
Another cold sea for lovers of extreme recreation. Here you can see colonies of many northern birds and watch the migration of whales. Walruses and seals rest on the rocky beaches. And tourists get to spend the night in ship cabins or in tents on mossy rocks. The water temperature of the Barents Sea, even in summer, does not exceed +15-17 ℃.
Experienced divers come to observe the underwater fauna of this sea. And those who travel with them in company are consoled by gastronomic delights: fresh crabs and other seafood from local waters.
A trip to the Arctic islands requires tourists to be well physically and financially prepared. But there are also more accessible places on the Barents Sea. B Murmansk is located one of the largest ports in the Arctic Circle. And in the village of Teriberka, where the film “Leviathan” was filmed, you can stand “at the edge of the earth.”
How to get there
Take a plane to Murmansk. Ticket prices start from 3,500 rubles per person one way.
