Traditionally, the May holidays in Russia are associated with dacha holidays, cooking kebabs, and a long series of weekends. But what to do when you get a long-awaited break, if you want to see and try something completely new? The experts at Not Only Bears have selected five unconventional and interesting destinations for inspiring travel.
Note: good locations for accommodation during this period book very quickly! If you want to book a room, apartment or house at an adequate price, or have special requests (play area for children, barbecue, free parking, etc.), you should take care of booking in the middle of March.
Enjoy the beauty of Kondukov (aka Kondukov Quarries or Blue Lakes).
TULA REGION
Chances are, you've already seen photos of azure lakes framed by pine trees and mountain rifts. A few years ago, Konduki began to be visited by bloggers and photographers, whose pictures quickly spread around the web and made the quarries a popular place for family recreation. Lovers of "wild" recreation come here with tents, and lovers of comfort - reserve rooms in hotels nearby. The coastline boasts makeshift beaches, but civilization in the form of the usual kiosks with ice cream, cafes and towers with lifeguards on duty to Kondukovskie quarries have not yet reached.
There are no harmful industries near the lakes, so locals safely bathe in them and fish - they say you can catch perch, carp or pike here. Editorial "Not Only Bears" warns: in the absence of water quality analysis, bathing in the lakes is officially prohibited.
You can get to Kondukovskie quarries by car, navigating to the village Konduki or coordinates 53.847218, 38.386659.
How to get there?
If it is more convenient for you to travel by public transport, take "Lastochka" from Moscow to Tula, and from the Tula bus station to the terminal bus "Tula - Bogoroditsk". Bus service is regular, the interval is 40-60 minutes. Travel time: 1 hour and 20 minutes.
In Bogoroditsk, take a bus to the village of Konduki. This time you will have to spend about 40 minutes on the road, and then walk to the Romantsevsky mountains - it will take about half an hour.
To avoid an exhausting walk, call a cab from Bogoroditsk. The approximate cost of the trip will be 400 rubles.
Meet the bison in Yaroslavl.
Yaroslavl region
If you have already managed to visit Yaroslavl Kremlin buried in blooming lilacs, if you have walked along the embankment in the old city and checked the park at Strelka, be sure to visit the Yaroslavl zoo. Firstly, it occupies as much as 123 hectares (which is significantly more than the area of the zoo in Moscow). Secondly, it is considered one of the most popular zoological parks in Russia. Thirdly, the park is home to bison - majestic animals that have miraculously survived with a difficult fate.
By the mid-19th century bison had been completely wiped out by hunters in Western and Central Europe, and in the 1930s the International Bison Conservation Society had 80 stuffed animals, 120 skulls, and only 56 living members of the species.
In addition to the bison in Yaroslavl Zoo, which is more like a nature reserve due to its vast green area, there are bears, deer, alpacas, many reptiles and predators. There is a riding school, feeding shows, guided tours and quests. You can find the schedule of events and ticket prices, as well as look (if you are lucky) at the Amur tiger through the peephole of webcam on the zoo's official website.
Admire the carved terem in Talashkino.
Smolensk region
For the atmosphere of Russian estates of the XIX - XX centuries go to the Smolensk region. Talashkino is the property of the Tenishev family, made famous by Princess Maria Claudievna Tenisheva not only in the territory of the Russian Empire, but also far beyond its borders.
It is difficult to overestimate Maria Klavdievna's contribution to the development of Russian culture: under her reign the estate became a center of enlightenment, revival of traditional folk crafts and development of agriculture. As a famous art patroness, collector, artist and musician, the princess welcomed iconic cultural figures into her estate. Vrubel, Levitan, Koroviev, Serov, Repin, Stravinsky, Diaghilev, Benoit and Fyodor Chaliapin lived and worked in Talashkino. In addition, an agricultural school and a boarding school for orphaned children were organized here, and the princess herself traveled to Europe and successfully performed in Paris with a balalaika group.
The tragic events of the early 20th century were not without losses to the estate - some of the buildings were destroyed, and the Princess Tenisheva was forced to emigrate to France. Nevertheless, now there is a lot to see here. The landmark of Talashkino is considered a unique monument of Russian architecture - multicolored carved terem, based on folk tales. Being a school library and an embroidery workshop, it is actively used by tourists. Nearby stands the Temple of the Holy Spirit, in the design of which the mistress of the estate took part. The artistic decoration of the building was entrusted to Nikolai Konstantinovich Roerich himself, however, far from the canons of the Russian Orthodox Church, it was it that prevented the temple from being illuminated.
After listening to the tours, take a look around the territory. There are traditional for Russian manor houses gazebo and decorative bridge, the remains of the driveway and decorative ponds. A sense of serenity and a pleasant aftertaste of time travel are guaranteed.
Voyage! Voyage! Let's go on a cruise on the Golden Ring.
It's a tempting prospect to look at the architecture of Russia's Golden Ring cities from an unusual angle and enjoy a leisurely trip without heavy suitcases. Add to this three meals a day, sightseeing and the romance of being in a ship's cabin - just what you need to properly experience a mini-vacation. In the evenings you can watch the waves, dance in the disco or listen to live music - each liner offers its own entertainment program. As a rule, in the cost of the voucher some part of entertainment is included by default, and some options (excursions, animation for kids, cinema viewings, etc.) can be paid additionally. Cruises also differ in terms of themes: You can go on a fitness tour with group classes or a gastro tour with cooking classes.
Golden Ring cruises usually cover St. Petersburg, Tver, Plyos, Kalyazin, Tutaev, and the Great Golden Ring includes visits to the ports of Veliky Novgorod, Gus-Khrustalny, Bogolyubov, Myshkin and Murom.
Prices for the tours differ strikingly, as the duration of the voyage varies from 2 to 14 days. To plan a trip on favorable terms, you need to buy tickets in November - December, but no one canceled the "hot" tours. Look for them on the aggregator sites or official sites of carriers.
Climb the sacred mountain in the Astrakhan region.
ASTRAKHAN REGION
If you associate this area only with the boundless Astrakhan steppes (or don't associate it with anything but watermelons at all), give yourself a real treat: stop in Akhtubinsk and head to the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Reserve early in the morning. Your goal is Big Bogdo Mountain, which is about 300 million years old. The height of this unique natural object is only 150 meters, but the contrast between it and the kilometers of steppes around is enormous. Experienced travelers note that the protected landscapes are much like the landscapes of Nepal, and also, because of a certain topography, you can hear the "singing of the wind" here.
In May, the mountain is especially attractive for tourists: due to the weather conditions, the rock is colored terracotta. The climate in spring is mild and conducive to long walks. It is forbidden to climb to the top by oneself (a few years ago a population of Red Book lizards was discovered here), so there is a comfortable eco-trail with fences, viewing platforms and places to rest for visitors. From the top of the mountain you can admire the salt lake Baskunchak - it is believed that one of the most beautiful sunsets in Russia can be seen above it.
The Martian landscapes of the Great Bogdo have long attracted travelers, explorers and artists - in 1858 this area was visited by the author of "The Three Musketeers" Alexander Dumas-father. In addition, Kalmyk Buddhists revere the mountain as the sacred guardian of the souls of the dead, and every Kalmyk Buddhist should travel to it at least once.
Editor's note
Be sure to stock up on water, food and a garbage bag - the nearest grocery store is in the village of Nizhny Baskunchak.
If you want to get the most complete picture of the legends, flora and fauna of this area, be sure to take an excursion: the cost per ticket does not exceed 600 rubles (subject to the group).
Mandatory environmental fee at the entrance is about 200 rubles. For more information, please contact the staff of the reserve before your trip.
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