Where to go in winter: 8 places in Russia that are worth seeing
Alexandra Savina
Most of us want to go to warm countries in winter. and escape from the cold and snow - but no less interesting to explore and native spaces. We have already talked about popular winter destinations like Karelia and good ski resorts in Russia and the near abroad. Now we offer not to be afraid of the cold and look at the not so obvious Russian cities and routes, where there are not only interesting sights, but also impressive nature.
Maykop
The capital of Adygea is a fairly young city, founded in the middle of the XIX century. There are few attractions in Maykop itself, but it is interesting to explore its picturesque surroundings, the easiest way to do this is by car. For example, it makes sense to look at the numerous waterfalls that freeze in winter (the most famous ones are located on the Rufabgo creek) and picturesque rocks - the Khadzhokh pillars. A small lake not far from Khadzhokh (the settlement of Kamennomostsky), formed on the site of an abandoned quarry, and a granite canyon stretching for four kilometers, deserves attention. It begins between the village of Khamyshka and the village of Dakhovskaya - in winter it looks no less impressive. If you have a little more time, you can visit the reserve named after H. G. Shaposhnikov - there are several beautiful tourist routes, through which you can see the mountain Fisht, the Black Sea and not only.
Hot key
A big plus of a trip to the Hot Key is the price: you can relax quite inexpensively, and in winter there is not a lot of people here. You can get to the city from Krasnodar by bus or train - at a cost it will be about the same, but the bus goes a little faster. Hot Key is suitable for lovers of a relaxing holiday. There are few sights here, but you can breathe enough fresh air and walk around: walk along the Thousand Pines Avenue (two kilometers of coniferous trees) leading to the Healing Park, climb the Salvation Rock (the locals nicknamed her Cockerel because it resembles a cockscomb ) and evaluate the view of the valley of the river Psekups, greenish due to hydrogen sulfide. You can also see the main attraction of the city - Danto Gorge: in the snow it is no less beautiful than in summer. True, in the cold season it is worth being careful: ice is possible and there is a risk of slipping. If Goryachy Klyuch gets bored, one can get to the cold Black Sea - the resort of Dzhubga is only fifty kilometers away from here.
Essentuki
Mineral Water resorts are becoming more popular - not least because of the course. Instead of Kislovodsk’s favorite tourist destination, you can choose Yessentuki: there are much fewer people in the winter, and it’s a good starting point - from here it’s convenient to travel to explore neighboring cities (Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk) - even by taxi (it will cost 300-500 rubles), although on the train (within a hundred rubles for half an hour of travel), at least in a rented car.
Local resorts are generally associated with spa treatment, but even if you are not a fan of mineral water (and in order to try them, you do not need to stay in a sanatorium - you can visit the famous Essentuki mud bath), there is something to do. Essentuki and nearby cities are good in the first place nature, which in snowy weather looks no less impressive than in summer. It is worth paying attention to the cable cars (there are such, for example, in Pyatigorsk and Kislovodsk), which work in the winter and where, unlike long walks, it is more difficult to freeze. You can try to get to Dombai, Elbrus or Cheget, but it is worth going early to catch a light day and take into account the weather conditions - they do not always have to travel. Because of the high humidity, the cold here is felt stronger, so take care of warm clothing in advance.
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod is a cozy ancient city. In addition to the mandatory tourist program (the Kremlin, the famous Strelka - the confluence of the Oka and Volga, monasteries, which are easy to reach along the embankment from the Kremlin), it makes sense to explore its surroundings. For example, a ride of three and a half kilometers, looking at the Volga, on the cable car to Bora - one of the regional centers of the Nizhny Novgorod region. In winter, it works as usual, the only negative is to wait in line for the cold, so count your strength. Other small towns of the region are worth seeing: Gorodets with old buildings, Arzamas with its old cathedrals (special attention should be paid to the impressive Resurrection), the village of Trinity with a beautiful church and an excellent view of the Vetluga River.
Lower Baskunchak
Lower Baskunchak is a tiny village in which there would be nothing remarkable if it were not for the famous Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Reserve. The easiest way to reach it is by train - trains to the station run from many cities, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg and Astrakhan. The reserve includes the mountain Big Bogd and part of the large salt lake Baskunchak. In the summer there are much more tourists (many purposefully come to sanatoria), and to go here in the winter is not the most obvious solution - but no less interesting. Swimming in the lake in winter will not work - but you can breathe the salty air and explore the landscapes.
You need to prepare for the trip in advance: in order to get to the protected area, you need to get a pass - it is made out on the spot (except for tourist groups of 15 people who need to contact the reserve for at least a week), but you should first specify the mode of operation especially on holidays. In addition, consider the weather conditions - in a strong sub-zero temperature to enjoy the trip will be difficult.
Elista
Elista is perhaps one of the most unusual directions in the European part of Russia: on the central square there is a bright Seven Days Pagoda, and the main attractions of the city are Buddhist temples (Kalmyk temples are called khuruls), the most famous and impressive among them is the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha. You should concentrate on them first of all - do not miss the Old Khurul, located in the suburb of Elista, and an unusual Arc de Triomphe.
In addition to Elista itself, it is worth looking separately at the famous ancient poplar, which stands in the middle of the steppe, not far from the village of Khar-Buluk - this is not only a local landmark, but also a shrine. Such a tree is rare for this area: it is over a hundred years old, it reaches a height of 15, and in a girth - 5 meters. Poplar is located on a hill with a beautiful view. When going on a trip in winter, take into account the peculiarities of the local climate - even small sub-zero temperatures are felt differently due to strong winds. Warm up is Kalmyk tea - spicy, with milk, butter and salt.
Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk is a city in which it is equally good to visit both in summer and in winter, and it’s worth exploring not only the sights but also the nature - there are many beautiful landscapes in and around the city. The Yenisei River that does not freeze in winter and the views from viewing platforms (one of the most popular is about twenty kilometers from the city, near the village of Sliznevo) deserve special attention. If you are traveling by car, it is worth dropping into neighboring Divnogorsk, located by the Sayan Mountains.
Another mandatory item of the Krasnoyarsk program is the Stolby reserve, one of the oldest in Russia, but well equipped and modern. It received its name because of several rocks of different heights - they are called "pillars". In order to get to the reserve, a special permit is not necessary, and you can reach it by bus or taxi. There are several routes of different difficulty levels that can take at least a full day (especially in winter, when the light period is much shorter), and an excellent cable car, which skiers and snowboarders love. In any case, count your strength: the Pillars have a large territory and you will have to walk a lot.
Altai
Altai is one of the most popular Russian destinations, and for good reason: there is something to see and do in summer and in more severe winter conditions. It is best to travel around it by car - but it is important to be a confident driver. Many of the sights of the republic are more interesting to watch in the winter - for example, a wildlife sanctuary on the ice-free Lake Svetly, where swans winter every year: there are special viewing platforms for bird watching. The Blue Lakes are beautiful too - three turquoise reservoirs appear only closer to the fall, when the level in the Katun River subsides and does not freeze throughout the winter, or the Geyser lake near the village of Aktash. There are also more "traditional" options for winter recreation - several ski resorts and camp sites.
Cover: Timur Zima