The most beautiful natural sites to discover Russia

Literally meaning "Île aux Élans", this nature park, founded in 1983, covers 116 km2. You will be able to see the landscapes of the Moscow oblast, its famous Russian birches and, if you are lucky, the iconic elks that give the reserve its name. The Egersky site is home to the biological station which includes an arboretum and is the starting point for excusions about the diversity of Russian forests, the animal world of the region and the work of a forestry officer.

This name, of Finno-Ugric origin, means "swampy" because if the lake covers a very large area it is shallow. You can canoe at your leisure or fish for freshwater fish (there are sixteen species of freshwater fish sold at the Rostov market). The lake participates in the fortune of Rostov-le-Grand because its easily accessible bottom is full of loess: a very fertile silt which allows Rostov to be one of the great market gardening regions of Russia. The place is obviously more advisable in summer than in winter, transformed into an ice rink.

Forming the most southerly part of the Magadan region, the Koni peninsula belongs to the Magadansky Reserve where live, protected by law, bears, foxes, rare species of marmots and many other animals. During the spawning season (end June-August), Pacific salmon go back to Koni rivers. In coastal areas, seals are numerous, and the baleinoptères sometimes approaching the coast can be observed. Koni also retains interesting remains of human habitation of the stone age.

Kamchatka has over 150 thermal springs, the most abundant of which are in the Paratounka region. Ideal for a rest or treatment stay, the stations are located on the axis of the main Elisovo-Paratounka road, not far from Petropavlovsk, in the river valley of the same name.

Levoberejny Beach has been a popular place since Soviet times. There are sun loungers lined up along the river, free parking, many small and large cafes, volleyball courts and football pitches. The term "beach" may sound a little optimistic for what is actually a patch of greasy grass and freshwater sand, but it is after all thousands of kilometres away from the first wave of salt water. It is advisable to book a boat trip there: tickets can be purchased at the pier.

Of course, the attraction, well established, is a bit of a summer camp (dozens of UAZs follow and cross each other), but don't miss it: you'll be amazed! Usually, the tour is organized in six main stops, interspersed with a snack (fish soup-sandwich-tea). Here are a few explanations, as the drivers are not talkative. Stage 1: Kharantsy and its fabulous bay. Stage 2: Pichianka beach. Stage 3: Cape Khoboï, with a 1 hour break. You walk towards the cape and walk through its forest, covered with offerings; you quietly meet your group for lunch. Stage 4: Cape Shunte, or Cape of Lovers. Its two rocks represent a couple. In the background, you can see the Sviatoïe Noz peninsula (Nez-Sacré, in bouriate), in the distance, on the left, the archipelago of the Ushkani islands which shelters a colony of nerpas (excursions are proposed by boat). On your right, close by, Mount Juma, home of Baikal. Stage 5: Sagaan Khushun or Cape of Three Brothers, a white marble cap covered with reddish lichen. From there, you drive through a steppe with a relief, interspersed with larch forests, deserted hamlets and hordes of semi-wild horses. Stage 6: the mystical (and extraordinary) bronze sculpture of Dashi Namdakov The Guardian of Lake Baikal (famous Buryat artist born in 1952).In Buryatia, a large dead tree embodies the spirit of an ancestor. Inhabited, it is the object of offerings, prayers and rituals, especially if it is located at the top of a hill...

Officially preserved since 1988 over 239 km2, the area around the lake was not one of the favourite holiday resorts of the Tsars for several centuries for nothing. From the flat countryside dotted with small places of worship of great simplicity emanates a bucolic softness that really penetrates the soul of the travellers of ancient Rus'. One almost feels like staying a few more days to welcome the twilight on the banks of the lake.

Kungur Cave is a system of karst (a kind of gypsum) caves stretching for 5.7 km of which only 1.5 km is open to the public. Be careful, you can only access the site with the approved guide proposed by the administration. Warm clothing should be worn, as the temperature in the cave does not rise above -2°C, even in summer. The Kungur Cave is the pearl of the Perm Region, known in Russia and all over the world. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The underground labyrinth has a total of 48 caves bearing the names of its explorers. The largest cave is the Geographers' Cave, which is 140 m long, 40 m wide and over 10 m high. In the entrance is the icing zone, formed over the years, where the temperature is always above 0°C. Here, stratiform ice, stalagmites, stalactites and crystals are preserved all year round and represent one of the peculiarities of this fantastic site. The annual temperature in the centre is 5 °C. The largest of the seventy underground lakes is the Bolshoié Lake with a mirror surface of 1,460 ^m2 and a maximum depth of 3 m.

Around the cave is the small village of Ermak, which was built as a result of the influx of tourists, with souvenir shops, a café, a park with wooden sculptures and a geological museum. Please note: Credit cards are not accepted at the cash desk and in the café.

The Bouriates take its precious mineral water, rich in trace elements, as well as the mud, which is also medicinal (joints, skin). Visitors swim here all summer long because the lake is shallow and the water is quite warm. Breathtaking natural beauty, between characteristic marshland landscapes and the Baikalian shoreline. You admire the still snow-covered peaks of the Bargouzine mountains. Very popular in summer, the lake will be all yours at the end of August.

This huge neo-Gothic-inspired park built between the 18th and 19th centuries is located on the grounds of the former estate of Baron von Nicolay. Of Strasbourg origin, scholar in the languages and literature of ancient Greece and Rome, the poet Ludwig von Nicolay (1737-1820) was the tutor and then private secretary of Paul I of Russia. With its necropolis-island with buildings of ancient inspiration, its romantic alleys winding along the Gulf of Finland, it offers possibilities for walks conducive to poetic dreams.

Orda Cave is the longest underwater gypsum cave in the world: it is about 5.1 km long, of which 4.8 km are underwater. Situated 130 km south-east of the Perm city on the outskirts of the village Orda (south-west) this place is a paradise for divers and speleologists who come from all over the world to study it. She is nicknamed the "white bride" because of the chalky colour of the gypsum rock. Although the rock system formed about 200 million years ago, exploration only began in the early 1990s at the initiative of a group of amateur speleologists. Its entrance is in the Kazakovskaya mountain on the banks of the Kungur river. The cave has a large number of underground galleries bearing the names of the cities of origin of the first explorers: Sverdlovsky, Chelyabinsky, Krasnoyarsky, Moskovsky... Today Orda cave is only accessible to professional or very experienced divers because of many difficulties such as the low water temperature (+4 °C). The Orda cave is one of the best equipped in the world: it has a safe staircase, electric lighting inside and a comfortable diving platform. To access it, it is best to contact the Underwater Speleology Center, in charge of its management, which will accompany you during your exploration. Go to the site to contact them by e-mail.

The Pribaikalsky National Park covers 418,000 hectares along the west coast of Lake Baikal, between the village of Kultuk and the Kheyrene River (it includes the island of Olkhon). The landscape is very varied and picturesque: cliffs, bays, creeks, caves, the largest of which are Aya (570 m long) and Metchta (250 m). Forests cover 70% of the territory and vary according to the altitude. Conifers (pine, larch and cedar) predominate, but deciduous trees such as birch and aspen can be found. You will observe very rare and protected species of plants, fungi and lichens. The mouth of the Angara River, which does not freeze in winter, is a unique wintering ground for water birds, of which there are up to 10,000 individuals. The area is subject to the influence of the enormous water mass of the lake: annual precipitation is very high, as is the humidity level. The average temperature in January is -18 °C, compared to 14 °C in July-August. Popular and much visited, the park is well-structured and preserved.

On the site (in Russian) you will find practical information, including how to apply for a permit. You also get various hiking routes, the list of refuges (equipped and heated) open to the public. To sleep there, you need to have reserved your bed. Finally, you will find the contact details of offices where you can get information and make enquiries (especially in Irkutsk and Listvianka).

The Altai Nature Reserve was established on 16 April 1932 to protect the exceptional nature of the golden Altai Mountains. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List since 1998, it covers an area of more than 881,000 hectares in the northeastern part of the Altai Republic (administrative territories of Turochak and Ulaanbaatar), of which 11,410 hectares lie on the right bank of Lake Teletskoye. The mountains are dotted with springs from which pure and refreshing water gushes forth. There are numerous streams, rivers and waterfalls (the highest - 60 m - is on the Tchoultcha River), high-altitude lakes (including the 10 km long Djulukul) and natural areas where a multitude of rare species thrive. It is also a popular place for botanists: the rich and diverse flora of the reserve includes more than 1,500 species of vascular plants, 111 species of fungi, 272 species of lichens. The most common trees are cedar, fir, larch, spruce, pine and birch. The virgin cedar forests are the pride of the reserve: 400-450 years old, they sometimes reach 180 cm in diameter.
Entrance to the reserve is free; only certain areas are accessible to the public, mostly around Teletskoe Lake. However, you must obtain a permit (at the reception desk). Several audioguide applications are available on the website.

After crossing the Katun bridge, you can walk three kilometres on the left side of the bridge to the crossroads where the signs indicate Beriozka (birch) and Ozero Aya (Lake Aya): 1 kilometre away, there is a beautiful lake surrounded by forest.

The blue pearl of the Altai is located in one of the three overhanging mountain hollows on the left bank of the Katoune, 280 meters above sea level and 75 meters above river level. Famous for its warm waters (25°C from mid-June), Lake Aya is a very popular holiday destination. There are several peat bogs (Russian-style leisure centres), equipped beaches, pedal boat and rowing boat rental points all around. In the centre of the lake, a small island with a romantic pavilion serves as a place to relax in the sun.

The lake also attracts many fishing enthusiasts: here you can catch perch, carassins, pike and even sterlets and monkfish. Lake Aya freezes over from November. When the ice is caught, in December-January, it is therefore possible to skate on the snow-cleared (and secured) areas. In order to protect the environment of the lake, the Aya Natural Park was delimited and classified in October 2003 by decision of the Altai Territorial Administration.

In the high summer and winter seasons (July-August; January-March) expect hordes of holidaymakers coming to enjoy the fresh air. This is one of the great holiday resorts of the Altai.

This rocky island is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the district of Chemal. And rightly so, since the place is breathtakingly beautiful. Located in the middle of the Katoune River, the island is connected to the shore by a suspended pedestrian bridge. An Orthodox wooden convent was built there, associated with the women's monastery of Notre-Dame-du-Signe de Barnaoul. It owes its name to the eponymous Greek island, known as the place of exile of the evangelist John, who wrote the Apocalypse there.

The largest lake in the Golden Mountains of the Altai, the second largest freshwater reserve in Russia after the Great Baikal, Teletskoy is located at 434 m above sea level, between the Korbou and Al-tyntou ridges where the Saïan and Saïliouguem mountains meet. With its 78 km long and 5 km wide, and an exceptional depth of 325 m (it is in the top 25 of the deepest lakes on the planet), its fresh and clear water allows you to see up to 14 m deep. In the Altaic language, Teletskoe means "golden lake". Its eastern bank is part of the Altai nature reserve inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. More than 70 rivers and numerous streams flow into this lake, the largest being the Chulychman. Only one river emerges from it: the Biya, in the north, becoming, after its confluence with the Katun, one of Russia's most important rivers, the Ob. It is one of the most popular destinations in the Altai. Every year, thousands of tourists come to discover this magnificent natural setting, an ideal playground for lovers of outdoor sports: rafting, diving or hiking in the mountains. Lazier travellers can rest assured that the surrounding and surprisingly varied mountain scenery is self-sufficient. You can laze around on its pebble beaches and take an occasional dip. If it is crowded, especially in the summer, Teletskoe Lake loses none of its magic. A place where it's nice to relax.

The Usurysky Nature Reserve occupies mountainous terrain south of the Sikhoté-Alin Mountains, in the upper part of the Komarovka and Artiomovka river basins. Flora: hard juniper, ginseng, red pine and Japanese yew. The reserve has become a place for growing ginseng, the root of which is useful in pharmacy and cosmetics. Fauna: the Amur tiger, the East Siberian leopard, the tangerine and the black stork.

It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful natural and protected sites in the world. And it deserves it: accessing it can indeed be difficult, especially in wet weather (all-terrain vehicle). The cape "Giant" overlooks the Sea of Okhotsk, to the south-east of the island. You will be amazed by these arches and mineral columns sculpted by the wind and sea waves. The lucky ones will witness the spawning of wild salmon, which attracts many brown bears. A must-see.

Lakes Izmentchivoye and Tunya, two saltwater lakes of 12.9 km2 and 174 km2, are located in the Korsakov district, southeast of Sakhalin Island. They are ideal for bathing, fishing, bird watching at bird colonies resting on their shores, hiking and kayaking. Lake Izmentchivoye is also rich in marine sulphide mud, which has therapeutic virtues (skin and gynaecological diseases).

In the Kronotski Natural Park, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Caldeiras and Geysernaïa caldeiras form the largest Kamchatka geothermal zone. The pebble of the Ouzon volcano, measuring 9 km over 12 km, is the largest of the peninsula. It formed in the middle of the Pleistocene following several major eruptions that destroyed the cone over 3 000 m high. Ouzon is a kind of natural laboratory: many métallogènes minerals (arsenic, mercury, copper, zinc, etc.) were discovered in its groundwater flowing to the surface. As water cools, these minerals are deposited around the sources of ore.

This volcano distinguishes itself from its neighbours by its height: at 3 456 m, it is the highest volcano in the southern peninsula. The Koriakski has a conical shape, the slope angle of the slope reaches 15-20 ° at the foot and 35 ° in the upper part. It attracts many climbers and climbers. His complex and technical ascent unfortunately causes many accidents every year. For mountaineers who are experienced and duly accompanied by professional guides.

A natural reserve and biosphere with a unique fauna, flora and ecosystem in the world. The reserve includes the Geysers Valley and the Ouzon volcano.

It is one of Kamchatka'oldest and most active volcanoes, consisting of four fused stratovolcans. His last eruption took place in the 1960 s, but there are still some ground explosions. The climb of the volcano (2 323 m) takes about 7 hours and allows you to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding landscapes where fire and ice are constantly confronting each other. Steep walls of glaciers surround the crater and glittering under the rays of the sun.

The volcano Plosky Tolbaltchik (3 682 m), located 350 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamtchatski, is part of the Klioutchevskaïa volcanic group to the east of the peninsula and is located in the territory of the natural park of the Klioutchevskoï volcano, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The volcano is cut by two caldeiras: the first 3 kilometres in diameter was formed about 6 500 years ago in a powerful rash. It was formerly occupied by a small shield volcano and a glacier that formed a characteristic flat summit, hence the qualifier "plosky" (dish) attached to its name.

Inside the old pebble is a young pebble 400 meters high and 1,8 km in diameter created during the penultimate volcanic eruption of 1975-1976. This eruption ever changed the surrounding area of the volcano causing two ruptures (north and south), creating four scories cones and destroying all vegetation over 400 km ². The visit of the volcano, its cones and the "dead forest" allows to realize the magnitude of this phenomenal eruption.

The smallest volcano of the three was once a shield volcano whose foot was 30 km in diameter. Its central part disintegrated to form an oval pebble of 9 km over 14 km, with many craters from where the lava appeared on the surface. Today it represents a chain of stratovolcans amount of one single caldeira. The almost complete absence of vegetation and life on the slopes of the volcano is reminiscent of lunar landscapes. This is due to a fairly high volcanic activity. From time to time, the volcano thus emits columns of steam and gas at a height of 3 kilometres. The ascent of the Gorely volcano takes about 8 hours and allows to observe strange sculptures of hardened lava, slag fields and craters sometimes filled with hot water.

On the right, the ruins of a luxury hotel built and destroyed in the aftermath of a fire in 1989 (allegedly started by a disgruntled fisherman who laid his hut on the foundations). Next, the starting point of the trail leading to the top of the Markov. You come to one of the most beautiful beaches of the lake. Pebbled, wild and battered by the surf. The roar of the waves and the driftwood will remind you of the ocean. Between shore and forest, you are alone in the world!

The Khakassky Reserve, which covers an area of nearly 270,000 ha, has been established as a natural park and is a leading Siberian and world-class nature sanctuary. Extremely varied with its pure water lakes, majestic mountains and steppe areas. There are many opportunities for hiking, excursions and wildlife observation. They are organized from the park's information centre in Abakan. An eco-museum (100 RUB, from 9am to 4pm)

The Ivanovsky Lakes are located in the mountainous taiga of the Ordzhonikidze district, near the village of Priiskovy. They are distinguished by their depth (up to 140 m, at heights of 1,000 to 1,240 m), the purity of their water and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. A site, certainly protected, very popular with locals summer and winter. Ask at the tourist office in Abakan to find out about entry requirements (presentation of a permit, etc.). A must-see.

This reserve (biosphere status since 1986), is located between the Bargouzine Mountains, whose summit reaches a height of 2,841 m, and Lake Baikal. It covers 374,322 ha along the northern half of the south-eastern coast, between Ust-Barguzin (260 km north of Ulan Oude) and Nizhneangarsk (northeast tip of Baikal). It is a beautiful mountainous country crossed by 14 rivers, whose clear and fast waters form powerful waterfalls. Its many mountain lakes and glaciers make this region truly enchanting. The administrative and scientific centre is located in Davcha, a small village on Lake Baikal, 450 km north of Ulan Oude. It can be reached by road, helicopter, boat or hydrofoil from Irkutsk or Ulan Oude. Here, the summers are short and quite cool. August is the hottest month; February is the coldest. The average annual temperature is -4°C.

Founded in 1916, the reserve's mission was to protect and study the precious and endangered sable of Bargouzine. Thanks to the activities of zoologists and forest rangers, the population has increased considerably. Access to the reserve is strictly regulated; some of it is strictly prohibited to the public. You can enter it through excursions organized by professionals. Contact the tourist agencies in Irkutsk and Ulan Oude, who will offer you a programme with a French-speaking guide if necessary.

Petrozavodsk lends itself very well to strolling and you can walk for hours on the lake shore and in the many parks. The shores of Lake Onega are a favourite place for locals and are often very lively, both in summer and winter. You can soak your feet on the small beach in front of the Karelia Hotel, walk or bike along the arranged front while sipping a local kvas or berry juice, or listen to improvised sonatas played on the public piano under a kiosk. It is also from there that one takes the boat to Kiji.

A quarter of an hour from the centre, this lake overlooks Murmansk and offers a superb panorama of the city and the port. In the park near the lake you will see a memorial and a gigantic concrete statue of a soldier of the Second World War; it is called "Alyosha" and it watches over Murmansk. The walk between the rocks from the main road to the statue is not to be missed, to soak up a bit of arctic nature even while staying in town!

Following the Kouznetsov Street, we arrive at Pereslavl-Zalesski beach. In summer, you can stay here on the lake Plescheevo. Another beach at the exit of Pereslavl, not far from the museum of the boat of Pierre the Great.

The large national park extends around the Przhevalskoye resort, named after the great Polish-Russian explorer and naturalist Nikolai Przewalski, born near Smolensk in 1839. It is a haven where you can go for long walks and camp by the lakes or in the forest. It is about 60 kilometres north of Smolensk. To get there, it is best to ask at the tourist office in Smolensk, as some agencies organize excursions.

Especially if you come from the north and Rostov, you can see the first beaches on the Black Sea. The center of the centre is sometimes a bit dirty, but when you get away from the city, you find beautiful pebble beaches, especially after the tip of love (Mys Liubvi).

Proval, in Russian, literally means... "crevice". It's a kind of natural tunnel that leads to a small underground lake of sulphurous blue water... beware of the smell! The place is very curious even if the "lake" (actually the size of a pond) is a bit dirty. In front of the entrance stands a bronze statue representing the mythical Ostap Bender, a character from the book adapted by Leoni Gaïdaï Les Douze Chaises, a classic of Soviet cinema. Russian tourists are systematically photographed in front of it.

The starting point of the cable car is on Boulevard Gagarine, a little higher than Le Proval (see below). For the ascent on foot, the path starts behind the Pyatigorsk Narzan Sanatorium, also located on Gagarin Boulevard. From the top, on a very clear day, you can see the Caucasus Mountains with Mount Elbrus. The Mashuk is not very high and can be climbed easily, it is a must do. For the most intrepid, you can descend by paragliding (spring and summer). Professionals accompany you and jump with you.

The park is especially noteworthy for its Lermontov gallery, built at the beginning of the century, which offers a beautiful Art Nouveau architecture that intertwines floral scrolls with the fine wooden panels typical of the "kourort" towns of the late 19th century. The result is absolutely striking. Formerly a place for tasting mineral water, it is now a concert hall. Around the gallery, a very pleasant park allows you to rest, the real dolce vita à la russe.

This large 60-hectare park is reminiscent of the Kislovodsk park, although to a much lesser extent. The entrance is just below the station. Walking through the park, one comes across beautifully decorated wrought-iron kiosks from the 19th century, colonnades, statues, healing water fountains, and bathing establishments. There is even a tasting gallery where you can taste the various waters, both carbonated and non-carbonated, whose springs are located in the park.

Overlooked by Mount Maloe Sedlo, this immense park contains forest roads and circuits marked out with bollards for the use of sanatorium clients. You can climb to the top by cable car. A café (Maloe Sedlo) serving chachliks and mulled wine offers a splendid view of the Caucasus chain. On the way down, admire the planted paths and beautiful flowerbeds, including the "Valley of Roses". Typical of the chic water cities of that time!

You can easily visit the city and the seaside park in 3 or 4 hours, during a pleasant walk between the pedestrian streets and the park's alleys. Leave the central square (October Square where the post is located) and go back to Kourortny Boulevard. After crossing UL. Vokzalnaya on your right, the establishment of the Narzan bath, built in 1903, in an oriental style that its architect learned during a stay in India. Continuing the "boulevard", always on the right, as a response to the baths of Narzan bath, the Oktiabrskyi baths. Architecture is this time constructivist style, the building being built in the 1930 s. At the end of Kourortnyi Boulevard, we enter the park and Narzan Gallery (open daily from 7 a. m. to 9 a. m., from 11 a. m. to 2 p. m. and from 4 p. m. to 7 p. m., free entrance). This mid-nineteenth century building is well preserved. Inside, you can taste the different mineral waters that flow in the region and bear the generic name of "Narzan". You can buy a cup for a few rubles and move from fountains to fountains. Their taste is generally bad, but all Russians will tell you that this is excellent for health. Leaving the gallery, this is the beginning of the park. Going full is (even though it's not always easy to locate), you arrive in front of an eagle sculpture, which is the symbol of KMV, mineral waters of the Caucasus. A little further away, the cable car allows you to dominate the park and the city.

Extending over 50 ha, the park offers, in the centre of the city, an area of calm and freshness but also of attractions, games, sleigh rides and sports activities. There are cafés, a video games room, the Cosmos sports stadium, the ski jumping and the oldest railway in the country, which still operates in the park's territory for the greatest joy of children.

The complex includes a landscaped park of almost 200 hectares near the Alexander Palace, with elegantly curved ponds, a huge forest plot (the former animal reserve where the Tsar hunted at ^{XVIIIe siècle}), the new garden, on a regular plan, the territory of the Chinese village and finally the orangeries. All of this is especially interesting for long walks, especially during "sleepless nights". The people of St. Petersburg also like to go there with their families on weekends. It was in this park that Pushkin walked during his studies and discovered romantic melancholy.

The white tower:the white fortress, which looks like a knight's castle, is surrounded by four knights: an Englishman, a Frenchman, a German and a Russian, the first three representing the Allied States of the time. It was built by Emperor Nicholas I for his children - the great princes Alexander (the future Alexander II), Constantine, Nicholas and Michael. It was here that the young heirs received their general education and practiced their physical and military exercises. From here one can reach the observation point of the tower (only for a few people at a time) with a view of Tsarskoye Selo.

Museum of the First World War: the history of this unique museum in Russia is more than 100 years old. Completely renovated in 2011, it is a modern center dedicated to the Great War. The museum was inaugurated as a "War Chamber" in 1913 to display relics, weapons and souvenirs of the great victories of the Russian armies. After the First World War and the Revolution, the place was renamed and reassigned. It was affected during the Second World War by suffering many thefts and degradations of the Nazi occupiers during the terrible siege of St. Petersburg. Its collections were gradually reconstituted and the building renovated, so it reopened its doors in 2011.

The Chinese Theatre was built in 1778 according to the project of Antonio Rinaldi in the Far Eastern style popular at the time. The first Opera Theatre built in stone in Russia is now in ruins and awaits its turn to be rebuilt.

The chapel finally reopened in 2018 after restoration work. Built in the image of a Gothic chapel, it had been degraded by time. The building consists of two square towers connected by a vault, one of the two towers remained "semi-destroyed".

The zoological garden of St. Petersburg has been installed since 1865 in this small portion of Alexandrovski Park along the Kronwerski River. Its occupants are 1,500, with giraffes being the great pride of this zoo and polar bears. Indeed, they rarely reproduce in captivity, but the St. Petersburg Zoo managed to give birth to 16 small (December 1, 2015). It became such a brand that a beautiful polar bear now adorns the zoo logo. The institution is constantly seeking sponsors and patrons to ensure infrastructure development and improve animal welfare. To do this, the Guardianship Program allows donations and sponsorship of an animal. An excellent opportunity to do a good job for one or other of these animals, such as a small raccoon or a Steller Pygargue (majestic bird of prey from the Bering Sea, living up to 50 years old and whose couples remain faithful all their lives), depending on your means and your desires!

Set in 1830 on two natural terraces, it features a centuries-old promenade of oak trees, to which the Pierre fir competes. In the spring, the Rossignol song competes with the children's cries, which engage in echoes under the stone arch of the park.

A beautiful park, located on this northern island of St. Petersburg, with rides for children, boats and catamarans, mini zoo, tennis and badminton courts. Costumed balls are organised frequently for tourist groups and individual visitors. You can rent ski in winter for a small dip in its aisles. Also in this park, the palace (s.) offers a beautiful collection of decorative and applied art.

Created in 1945 on 115 ha of Krestovskiy Island, it is one of the largest green spaces in St. Petersburg. It is situated on a historically heavy site as it was used as a gigantic crematory furnace to burn the bodies of thousands of victims of the Leningrad blockade. It contains 4 bridges and the brand new Gazprom Arena, which was inaugurated for the 2018 World Cup. Today it is one of the most high-tech stadiums in the world and its construction will have cost more than a billion dollars.

Once a haven of nature and peace off the coast of Vladivostok (Empress Eugenie Archipelago, Gulf of Peter the Great), Russkiy Island served until the end of the 20th century as a large military station protecting the Russian border from Japanese invasions. In Soviet times, as a closed territory, it was home to several naval training/training units. Then, in 1992, four soldiers on duty, forgotten by their officers, died of hunger there (one of the biggest military scandals after the USSR). The military installations were destroyed.
Charming and forested, Russkiy Island is one of Vladivostok's favourite summer resorts. It is also home to the former gigantic business complex, built to host the 2012 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Forum) summit at high speed. A building whose faults have been denounced time and time again... After the forum, the decision was taken to convert it into a "Federal University of the Far East" and to develop the island's tourism potential. Since then, it has been inviting travellers to laze on its beaches and explore its forests. In 2016, Russia's largest aquarium, the Oceanarium, was inaugurated there. Also since 2012, the island is connected to the continent by the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It will always be interesting to borrow the structure, at least to photograph it. Its tricolour stays are in the colours of the Russian flag.

The tour of the old Circum-Baikal railway by train is a collective excursion. It lasts a long day (about 10 hours) and is organised from Irkutsk (the trips are included in the ticket). If you have large luggage, charge an extra 250 RUB per piece). This is an excellent option if you are short of time, as you pass through several points of interest on the Baikalian coast.

First you reach Slioudianka (by bus or train, about 2h30). From there, after visiting the station, you climb into a steam railway convoy (Soviet period locomotive) or matanya type (a modern regional train). Direction Port-Baïkal, i. e. some 90 km on the old Circum-Baïkal railway line. The train stops at several stations, with a guided tour and exit at the station (you are walking around): in particular at the village of Angasolka, at the Kirkirei complex (one of the most difficult parts of the circumbaïkalien construction site), at Ulanovo station. During this trip, which lasts about 5 hours, you can eat. You will be offered the option to purchase the tour (breakfast 350 RUB, lunch 800 RUB, dinner 700 RUB). Arrival at Port-Baïkal station scheduled around 6:30 pm: after a short visit of the station and its surroundings, you board for Listvianka by ferry (summer) or hovercraft (winter). Disembarkation at the seaside resort around 8pm, quick visit, then departure for Irkutsk (by bus, about 1 hour drive).

The reservoir of the Novosibirsk power plant, inaugurated in 1959. The old historical centre of Berdsk was sunk there. The Ob Sea is a favourite resting place for city dwellers: you can relax on the beach or go kytesurfing. Every year, in mid-July, an amateur sailing regatta is held here. Restaurants and hotels. From Novosibirsk: by train (Obskoye More station / Обское Море), marchrutka 332, 321 and bus 576 via the Rechnoy Vokzal metro (red line).

Today's village, with a population of less than 100 inhabitants, was once an important fishing port. The traces of the old installations have disappeared. If Kharantsy is the first stop on the great northern tour in UAZ, it is quite possible to get there by bike (or on foot. Be careful, the road is long). You will find several accommodations: campsites (with yurts) and guesthouses. Up there, expect a 360-degree heavenly landscape, on a land peeled by the sun and wind. You can explore the coast by bike or on foot, go down to the water's edge, unpack your picnic, enjoy an unlimited space. You can also try to discover the shamano-Buddhist oratory hidden in the forest... Opposite is the small island of Kharantsy. It is very popular in winter for its superb ice cascade (accessible by boat in summer). Also, several scenes from the film In the Forests of Siberia were shot there. Continuing north towards the village of Ulan Khushin (Улан Хушин), you can admire an extraterrestrial landscape, strange shaped trees on a sandy perimeter and wild thyme fields as far as the eye can see. Be careful, uneven track and increased difficulty. It is here that Pribaïkalsky National Park opens, recognizable by its forest checkpoint: it is perfectly authorized to enter it alone, subject to paying the entrance fee (300 RUB per day and per person). Entry by vehicle is only possible if the vehicle is off-road.