Archive for the ‘Travel Tips Russia’ Category

A Ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway

Posted in Russia, Travel Tips Russia | by admin
May 11th, 2010

The Longest Railway in the World

Stretching from the Sea of Japan across Mongolia, China and into the heart of Russia, the Trans-Siberian Railway has provided a mysterious backdrop for numerous creative works and transported untold millions of people across the Eurasian land mas through some of the most scenic areas in the world.

Covering a total of 9,259 kilometers, the railway has attracted great fame as the longest in the world.

Exploring Russia

Traveling through Russia alone in this immense broad-track train line will take a staggering seven days of nearly incessant chugging down the tracks. A typical journey begins at the historic Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal in Moscow and travels through some of the greatest rural and urban areas of the country. With careful planning, it is possible to arrange extended stopovers in some of the best towns and villages lining the railway route.

Trans-Siberian Villages

The railway takes passengers through several historic towns and past important landmarks that symbolise important parts of Russia’s great past.

Yaroslavl, one of the oldest cities in all of Russia, is known for being home to hundreds of centuries-old churches that were built by great patrons of the arts.

Continuing along the journey brings the train through Krasnoyarsk, where the immense taiga — Russian forest — begins and the steppes recede. Deep into Siberia, the city of Ulan Ude showcases a rich Buddhist tradition, once repressed under Stalin but now experiencing a great resurgence.

Dividing the Journey

As noted above, planning the stops along the journey is an important part of the Trans-Siberian Railway experience. While some people have no trouble with spending a full week on a train moving at forty miles per hour without more than brief stops at station platforms, others have more time and a greater desire to explore the beautiful Russian countryside and experience the rich cultural landscapes of Russian society.

Some passengers divide their travels into two or more parts, making stops along the way, exploring Russia for the entirety of their one month Russian visa stay.

While this method may be more costly than a single train journey, passengers have the chance to enjoy their trip across Russia, using the train only in individual overnight jaunts.

The Best Places to Go Fishing in Russia

Posted in Russia, Travel Tips Russia | by admin
March 10th, 2010

If you are looking for an exciting, exotic destination to take a fishing holiday, you might want to consider visiting Russia. While it may not be the first location you think of to do some fishing, Russia has a number of bodies of water suitable for getting some great fishing done. Below are some of our favourite spots in the country to go fishing:

Volga River

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The Volga is the longest river in Europe. It passes through more than half of the largest cities in Russia, including Moscow. Many consider the Volga to be Russia’s national river. Pike, perch, burbot/eelpout, and catfish can be caught in the Volga near the capital. Some fish have been caught here that weigh over 100 kilos!

Volga Delta

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In addition to the river itself, there is some fantastic fishing to be had in the delta of the Volga. All of the above fish can be found in the Volga delta, as well as tench, zander and asp.

Lake Baikal

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Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake on the planet, and second only the Caspian Sea overall. Hucho taimen, grayling, and many other types of fish are found in the lake, but many come seeking the Omul whitefish, which is only found at Lake Baikal.

Kamchatka Peninsula

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If you are looking to catch Pacific salmon, then look no further than the Kamchatka peninsula, on the eastern side of the country. The variety of salmon available here make it a suitable spot for both the amateur and professional fisherman. King salmon, pink salmon, cherry salmon, and over a dozen other varieties of salmon spawn in the rivers here.

Caucasus Region

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The Caucasus region in south Russia near the Georgian border is an out of the way experience for the true outdoors enthusiast. The area is famous for its brown trout availability. On a good day, dozens of trout can be caught in the waterways in the region.

With such a large and diverse geographic area, you are almost certain to find the perfect fishing holiday waiting for you somewhere in Russia. The next time you plan an international fishing vacation, give Russia a look. It will be an experience you definitely will not soon forget!

Top 10 Sights to See in St. Petersburg

Posted in Travel Tips Russia | by admin
May 8th, 2009

1. The Peter and Paul Fortress
This is the original citadel and oldest landmark of St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great in 1703. It is located on Hare Island on the north bank of the Neva River. It was a garrison built for protection from an attack by Swedish forces and has been also used as a prison for political prisoners.

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2. Peter and Paul Cathedral

The Cathedral is within the Peter and Paul Fortress and like the fortress built under Peter the Great, from 1713 to 1733. Its 404 foot high tower is topped with a golden angel holding a cross that is an iconic symbol of St. Petersburg. The Cathedral holds regular religious services and is the final resting place for the remains of almost all of Russia’s Emperors and Empresses.

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3. Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
The ‘Blood” in the name if the church refers to Alexander II who was assassinated on the site, next to Griboedov Canal, in 1881 by anarchists. His son, Alexander III built the church as a memorial to his father with construction beginning in 1883. The architecture stands out from the rest of St. Petersburg as it is built in a medieval Russian style, with its interior walls and ceilings entirely covered with intricate mosaics.

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4. The Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange
This building now houses the Central Naval Museum, the oldest Russian museum and the world’s largest naval museum.

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5. Kazan Cathedral
This Cathedral is located on the Nevsky Prospekt. It is modeled after St Peters Basilica in Rome and is the site of the first political demonstration in Russia. During communist times it was used as the pro-Marxist “Museum of History of Religion and Atheism”.

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6. Bronze Horseman
Situated in Senate Square, the Bronze Horseman is a statue of Peter the Great, sitting on his horse that is trampling a serpent, his arm reaching out to the Neva River. Constructed from 1770-1782 under orders of Catherine the Great, the statue has survived World War II and revolutions, and inspired the famous poem of the same name by Pushkin.

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7. Saint Petersburg Mosque
The mosque was opened in downtown St Petersburg 1913, at which time it was the largest in Europe. Its striking features include a dome and two minarets covered in light blue mosaics and a façade decorated with sayings from the Koran rendered in Arabian calligraphy.

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8. Winter Palace
From 1732 until 1917 the Winter Palace was the official residence of Russia’s Tsars. It was stormed in 1917 in one of the most important acts of the Russian revolution. The huge scale reflects the might of the Russian Empire at the time, with almost 2,000 windows and 1,500 rooms. Today it is part of a complex housing the Hermitage Museum.

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9. Palace Square & Alexander Column
Palace Square is the central city square of St. Petersburg and the location of many important historical events including Bloody Sunday in 1905 and the October Revolution of 1917. The square features the Alexander Column, a 155 ft, 8 inches tall monument of a single column of red granite topped with a statue of an angel holding a cross. It is a memorial to Emperor Alexander who ruled Russia from 1801 to 1825 and who oversaw victory over Napoleon’s France.

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10. Marble Palace
The neoclassical Marble Palace, located between Palace Quay and the Field of Mars, is notable for its construction of 32 different shades of marble. The palace currently holds permanent exhibits of the Russian State Museum.

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St. Petersburg - Customer Tips

Posted in Travel Tips Russia | by Erik
May 5th, 2009

We had a wonderful city break in St. Petersburg.  All the arrangements went smoothly, and the sun shone everyday making the golden domes and pastel-washed buildings really beautiful.  We had pre-booked a city sightseeing tour for our first morning, and a guided tour/overview of the Hermitage on the second morning.  Our guide, Julie, was excellent – knowledgeable and friendly, and our driver was pleasant and skilled in the ways of the St. Petersburg traffic.  He always managed to find a good place to stop to look at the sights and take photos. 

Julie recommended a lovely restaurant, where we had all our meals, because the staff were so welcoming, tried so hard with their English; and where we wanted to try as much as we could from the extensive, delicious and very reasonably priced menu.  We thoroughly recommend this restaurant.  It is called ‘Teplo’ which I think means ‘Warmth’.  Address:  45 Bolshaya Morskaya Str. (Tel: 5701974; www.v-teple.ru)

We were staying at the Hotel Herzen House in the same street, so it was also very convenient to get to.

The Herzen House Hotel was very comfortable and the staff pleasant and helpful.  The outside was initially off-putting, because it was covered with green material, presumably while work was being carried out on the fabric of the building; but once inside, we found our room had everything we needed.  The under floor heating in the bathroom was wonderful, and the bed very restful. 

We would thoroughly recommend Baltic Travel Company to anyone interested in travelling to that part of the world.  We would now love either to go to another Baltic country with them or to return to St. Petersburg, though next time we would base ourselves in a different part of the city so that we could explore another area on foot and make fresh discoveries.

Angela Warr

28 April 2009

Russian Rouble Devaluation Means Good Value For Money

Posted in Travel Tips Russia | by Erik
April 2nd, 2009

Over the past few years the price of hotels and restaurants in Russia soared.  As the price of oil soared, Russians became richer and consumer spending reached dizzying heights.  This was particularly noticeable in Moscow and St. Petersburg.  Moscow became one of the World’s most expensive cities.  Four star hotels could charge over €300 per night and travelling during the peak season of May - June was even more expensive.
With the price of oil slumping and their economy shrinking, the Russian’s have devalued the rouble by over 33% since the summer.  We are finally beginning to see the cheaper rouble reflected in hotel and restaurant prices.
While the British pound has lost significant value against the Euro and US Dollar, it has retained its strength against the rouble.  Holidays to Russia offer a good value for money relative to Euro and US Dollar based countries.  Hotel prices may still seem quite high, but once you are there, you’ll find your pound will go further than in Western Europe.

Russian Rouble Devaluation Means Good Value For Money

Posted in Russia, Travel Tips Russia | by Erik
March 17th, 2009

St. Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg, Russia

Over the past few years the price of hotels and restaurants in Russia soared.  As the price of oil soared, Russians became richer and consumer spending reached dizzying heights.  This was particularly noticeable in Moscow and St. Petersburg.  Moscow became one of the World’s most expensive cities.  Four star hotels could charge over €300 per night and travelling during the peak season of May - June was even more expensive. 

With the price of oil slumping and their economy shrinking, the Russian’s have devalued the rouble by over 33% since the summer.  We are finally beginning to see the cheaper rouble reflected in hotel and restaurant prices. 

While the British pound has lost significant value against the Euro and US Dollar, it has retained its strength against the rouble.  Holidays to Russia offer a good value for money relative to Euro and US Dollar based countries.  Hotel prices may still seem quite high, but once you are there, you’ll find your pound will go further than in Western Europe.