Popular and noisy cities and resorts are not always appropriate, because there you can hardly escape from the hustle and bustle. Sometimes you want to be in a secluded place, relax as much as possible, be alone with yourself and nature. At the same time, do not sacrifice the usual comfort – live in hotels with all the amenities and good restaurants, and also be in touch with loved ones.
We have selected 10 places in Russia where you can relax away from prying eyes, enjoy beautiful nature and stay in cozy guest houses or modern hotels.
Kurtatinskoye Gorge
In the south of North Ossetia, you can relax in the Kurtatinsky (or Fiagdonsky) gorge, which stretches for more than 50 km. This is a real open-air museum, where historical and architectural monuments live side by side with wild nature. Numerous ridges and mountain tracts cross the valley of the stormy Fiagdon River. Walking in the fresh air can be combined with a visit to the highest mountain in Russia, the Alansky Holy Dormition Monastery, or a look into the almost abandoned village of Dzivgis with preserved mountain villages.
Where to stay: in the four-star hotel “Roza Vetrov” from 6,900 rubles per night* or in the four-star Forrest Terrace Hotel from 9,500 rubles per day*.
Lago-Naki Plateau
This place is famous for its endless expanses of alpine meadows and boxwood valleys, and hundreds of karst caves have formed in the mountains. The plateau is located on the border of two regions – the Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea. The foot of the mountains can be reached by car, but moving around the plateau is only allowed on foot. There are no sharp changes in altitude or dangerous gorges, so one-day routes to the highlands can be overcome without special physical training and even with children. Interesting natural places within the plateau are Rufabgo waterfalls, Big Azish Cave and Granite Canyon. Near the cave, locals sell mountain honey, herbal teas and cook homemade pancakes in the fresh air.
Where to stay: in the guest house “Terem by the River” from 6,200 rubles per night* or in the four-star hotel “Dynasty” from 7,500 rubles per day*.
Skerries of Lake Ladoga
The specially protected area is located in the Republic of Karelia, on the northwestern shore of Lake Ladoga. There are more than 600 small rocky islands here, which form a unique natural complex of lake skerries (small rocky islands between narrow straits). If in the summer season many tourists come here to swim and sunbathe, then in the fall the tourist flow is reduced significantly, and you can really be alone with nature. On a rented boat or boat, take a ride between the islands and take a closer look at the coastal skerries. The most famous attractions that are accessible to tourists without water transport are Mount Vahtimäki, part of the Ruskeala marble canyon, rift mountains with high cliffs and “ram’s foreheads” along the coastal cliffs.
Where to stay: in the three-star hotel “Point on the Map of Sortavala” from 8,700 rubles per night* or in the four-star hotel “Dacha Wintera” from 15,400 rubles per day*.
Lindulovskaya Grove
In the Leningrad region, just 70 km from St. Petersburg, there is a unique grove created by order of Peter I. This is a great place to escape from the bustle of the city and spend time in silence. Bonus: walks among relict forests. Here it seems that you have found yourself in a different reality – in the natural reserve there are practically no typical birches and spruces, there are many white-barked firs, Siberian larches, cedar pines and openwork thujas around. The grove will definitely appeal to those who enjoy walking in the fresh air and admiring nature. By the way, over several hundred years, the height of some trees in the grove reached 40 m, and the diameter of the trunks was more than half a meter. Many people associate Lindul Grove with scenes from the films “Harry Potter” and “The Chronicles of Narnia”, in which some scenes were filmed in tall, dense forests with narrow paths.
Where to stay:in the mini-hotel Le Chalet from 3,500 rubles per night* or in the four-star hotel “Kingdom-Kingdom” from 9,200 rubles per night*.
Kola Peninsula
In the very north of the peninsula, off the coast of the Barents Sea, there is the village of Teriberka with amazing Arctic landscapes. The nature here is unusual – beyond the Arctic Circle you will not find tall trees and dense green thickets, only small areas of bushes and open rocks. But the endless shores of the Arctic Ocean are within walking distance. Beyond that there is only endless ice and the North Pole. One of the main natural attractions of the village is the “Dragon Eggs” beach. The petrified “eggs” are smooth and slippery, it is not easy to move on them, but it is in this place that you can fully admire the northern lights.
Where to stay: at the recreation center “45th Prichal” from 2,500 rubles per night* or at the Arctic brewery hotel from 4,300 rubles per day*.
Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve
The protected natural ecozone is located on the left bank of the Oka River, 150 km from Moscow near Serpukhov. The pride and main value of this place is the preserved population of shaggy bison. In addition, here you can see other animals from the Red Book, for example, eagle owls, lynxes and cranes. The reserve is equipped with eco-trails and observation platforms, the highest is at a height of 8 meters, and it offers a wonderful view of the forest.
Where to stay: at the Petrukhino Club hotel from 4,000 rubles per night* or at the three-star Palisade hotel from 4,000 rubles per night* .
Lake Turgoyak
In the Southern Urals in the Chelyabinsk region there is one of the cleanest freshwater lakes in Russia – Turgoyak. It is very picturesque here: blue transparent water, beaches, dense pine forest and rocky shores. Local recreation centers organize individual excursions and entertainment – ATV riding, yachting, cycling tours and fishing. There are about 10 islands on the lake itself. The most interesting of them is Vera, where ancient dolmens and religious buildings were discovered.
Where to stay: at the Cote d’Azur hotel from 5,800 rubles per night* or at the guest house “Chalet Turgoyak” from 7,800 rubles per night*.
Khakassky Nature Reserve
To travel back several thousand years, you don’t have to go to crowded museums. In the Khakass Nature Reserve, near the banks of the Yenisei, interesting sites of ancient people have been preserved, the inspection of which can be easily combined with walks in the forest. Valuable artifacts of the past are hidden in the mountains and river valleys, far from civilization. For example, in the Chests tract on the rocks you can see petroglyphs and ancient human cave paintings, sundials and even the oldest observatory in Siberia, from where our ancestors watched the starry sky thousands of years ago. The nature in the reserve will surprise even the most demanding tourist – mountain ranges, taiga, endless steppes and Lake Itkul. You can also walk along the famous “Stairway to Heaven”, which has almost 1000 steps.
Where to stay: in the three-star hotel “Khakassia” from 4,200 rubles per night* or in the four-star hotel “Asia” from 5,800 rubles in day*.
Gorny Altai
There are many beautiful natural places that are definitely worth visiting – Teletskoye and Karakol lakes, Mount Belukha, the Ukok plateau and protected areas, for example, the Altai and Katunsky reserves. Altai is also home to one of the most beautiful highways in Russia – the Chuysky Tract. In addition to the breathtaking landscapes, tourists have a chance to see the rare irbis (snow leopard). In the middle of the Chui steppe there is the Red Gorge mountain range, which is popularly called Altai Mars. In the early morning and evening, atmospheric photographs are obtained here, and on a dry day, at the bottom of a dried up ancient sea, you can even find the remains of ancient mollusks and whole shells.
Where to stay: in the four-star Altai Palace hotel from 9,300 rubles per night* or in the first five-star hotel in Siberia, Cosmos Collection Altay Resort from 14,200 rubles per day*.
Khvalynsky National Park
In the Saratov region on the Volga Upland there is a huge territory of the Khvalynsky National Park. Visitors can walk through the forested lands and observe protected animals. On the way there are badgers, minks, beavers, forest ferrets and even roe deer. Ecological trails run along springs, the slopes of the Khvalynsky Mountains and river valleys. At the local open-air cage you can hand-feed a deer, ride horses and visit the Forest Museum.
Where to stay: at the Khvalyn hotel from 4,100 rubles per night* or at the Serebryaniy Wek hotel from 2,600 rubles per night*.
*Prices valid at time of publication.
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