About Russia

You will not grasp her with your mind
Or cover with a common label,
For Russia is one of a kind –
Believe in her, if you are able...

Feodor Tutchev 

Russia
Russia is the biggest country in the world. It occupies 11.5% of the world territory and its area is equal to 17 mln sq. km, which is somewhat smaller, for instance, than the area of Canada - the second largest country in the world (9.97 mln sq. km), and that of Australia (about 7.68 mln sq. km). The territory of Russia spreads for ten thousand kilometers from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Sea of Japan in the east. It covers eleven time zones.
The capital of Russia is Moscow. St. Petersburg is also a very important administrative, business and cultural center of Russia and that is why it is often called the second or the Northern capital of Russia. There are more than one thousand cities and towns in Russia. The largest cities, with the population of more than one million people, are as follows: Moscow (more than ten mln people), St. Petersburg (about 4.7 mln people), Nizhniy Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Omsk, Tcheliabinsk, Kazan, Perm, Ufa, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd.

Russia is the Democratic Federative Republic with the presidential government and two-chamber parliament consisting of the State Duma and the Federation Council. The head of state is elected once in four years. In the year of 2008, Dmitry Medvedev was elected as the President of the Russian Federation. Prime Minister heads the Government. At present, it is Vladimir Putin who heads the Government.

Time
There are 11 time zones in Russia. The difference between Greenwich Mean Time and the time in some Russian cities is:
Moscow and St.Petersburg: +3
Khabarovsk and the Far East: +10
Air and railway tickets indicate the time of departure and arrival by local time.
Summer daylight saving time is effective on most of the territory of Russia.

National Holidays and Festivals in Russia

New Year January 1-2
Russian Orthodox Christmas January 7
Day of Defender of Motherland February 23
Women’s Day March 8
Spring and Labor Day May 1-2
Victory Day May 9
Independence Day June 12
Constitution Day December 12
National Accord Day November 7



Currency Regulations
The Russian monetary unit is the rouble. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency allowed to be brought into Russia. However, all money brought into the country (including traveller’s checks) must be declared upon entering the country. In Russia, tourists can exchange any amount of hard currency for roubles at any of the following locations: authorized Russian banks, Intourist exchange offices or foreign currency offices located in major hotels, international airports and sea ports.
Exchange rates between the rouble and hard currencies are set by authorized Russian banks within Russia and by authorized banks within each of the independent republics. It is prohibited to take roubles out of Russia.
All major credit cards are accepted in Russia including American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard/Mastercard, Visa International and others.

Shopping
The best stores for shopping in Moscow are the GUM State Department Store on Red Square, Detsky Mir (Children’s World), Passazh Shopping Center on Petrovka Street and recently opened Manezh Shopping Center on The Manezh square. Such traditional Russian souvenirs as matryoshka dolls, Palekh boxes and shawls can be bought in numerous shops on Arbat street and Izmailovo Park. All payments are made in roubles.
Working hours for food stores are from 8-9 a.m. to 8-9 pm, for department stores – from 10-11 a.m. to 7-8 p.m.
Most department stores are closed on Sundays.

Russian Cuisine
Russian food is famous for its meat dishes, ukha (fish soup), shchi (cabbage soup), pokhlyobka (thick broth), okroshka (cold vegetable soup), bliny (pancakes) with sour cream or caviar, cabbage pie, and beef a la Stroganoff. Siberia is known for its pelmeni (dumplings). Tea with lemon is the traditional Russian beverage.
Entertainment
Theater, concerts, folklore performances, circus can be visited by tourists in big cities. Also numerous restaurants, bars, casinos and night clubs are also available.
Mail and Telephone Services
The tariff for postal services and international and local telephone service on the territory of Russia is in roubles. Major hotels have post office facilities. Automatic dial telephone service is available in most areas of Russia. Tourists can dial directly from their room phone or from special pay phones in the lobby.
Insurance
It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before departing for Russia and the CIS or to buy insurance from a CIS insurance company.
Health care and Medical Services
Currently, there are no medical restrictions for entry into Russia. More detailed information is available in local health offices.
First aid is provided free of charge if the tourist does not require a doctor or hospitalization.
In an emergency, the unused part of the cost of the tour will be used to pay any hospital bills. If the cost of the stay in hospital exceeds the unused part of the tour, then the tourist is responsible for the remainder of the bill.
Handicapped
Mentally or physically handicapped persons are welcome to travel in Russia if accompanied by a person to cater for them.
Electric Current
The electric current in Russia is 220V. European type plugs are required.

Transport
The Metro is the most comfortable and fastest public transportation within a city. The fare for metro journey irrespective of distance in any city is flat. In Moscow passengers buy special travel cards for one, two or more trips in the vestibule of the metro station, put in a turnsstile and pass through when the light turns green.
Tickets are required for bus, trolleybus and train journeys.
One ticket must be validated for each journey. It is best to purchase tickets prior to boarding, but they can also be purchased directly from the driver once you are on board.
If you need to get a taxi you can either order it at your hotel or hail in the street. Taxis are normally yellow with chekers.
Green light indicates availability of the taxi.

SHORT REGIONS’ INFO

Moscow
Moscow is one of the most beautiful cities of the world with a rich history and traditions. Moscow is famous for the magnificent Kremlin, narrow side streets, fanciful churches, winding embankments, and austere mansions with lions on the gates…

The Golden Ring of Russia

"The Golden Ring of Russia" is a touring route linking the ancient Russian cities and towns. The tour gives a unique opportunity to experience ancient Russian architecture from the XI - XIV centuries. Amidst these handsome structures are a variety of museums displaying fine arts as well as indigenous hand-crafted art, all of which are offset by a breathtaking countryside.



St. Petersburg
Being the capital of Russian Empire for 200 years, St. Petersburg has connected Russia and Europe during its history. Today the interests of world politics, business and culture meet on the banks of the Neva river.
St. Petersburg is the only megapolis in the world which was included in the UNESCO List of the World cultural legacy as the monument of architecture and culture, city construction and landscape art of the 18-19th centuries. European and world cultures are reflected in its more than 4000 ensembles and monuments, in 250 museums, 50 theatres, 80 art galleries.

Altai
The name "Altai" (or "Altay") comes from Mongolian "Altan", which means "golden". The Altai mountains are truly one of the nature’s most marvelous gems, amazing by its diversity and beauty. Altai is a land where myths and legends are incarnated into reality. It’s one of those rare corners on the Earth where Nature decided to show everything it was capable of.

Baikal
Lake Baikal is the pearl of Siberia. It’s the deepest, purest and oldest lake in the world! The Baikal is considered to be about 25 million years old.
It is known, that Lake Baikal differs with its original peculiarities from other world’s freshwater lakes. It is the deepest (more than 1642 m) continental water-body on the Planet and contains 23,600 km2 of water or about 20% of the Earth’s unfrozen surface freshwaters. The bottom of the lake is 1182 m bellow the level of the world ocean.
Traditional cuisine, songs in Buryat, homely atmosphere, surpassing beauty of the Baikal and pure air will make Your trip unforgettable. You will surely want to come back here again!

Great Sayan Ring
For the most of people Siberia remains a mysterious and inaccessible land. The main reason is a lack of information. Travel on the Great Sayan Ring will raise the veil of the mystery, and everything you see will remain in your memory for a long time. You will learn how Siberians lived in past centuries as well as present day. You will feel the hospitality of local people and realize the richness of their cultural traditions. Moreover you will touch the origins of religions - from the Orthodox Church to Shamanism.

Kamchatka
Between the misty forests of Siberia and the turbulent waters of the Great Pacific Ocean lies this majestic land, nature’s hidden kingdom. This 1,250 km long peninsular is a land of geysers and hot springs, erupting volcanoes and remote mountain valleys covered by lush vegetation. With a population ratio as dense as one person per 2 km2 it is an adventure traveler’s and explorer’s dream. Russia’s far eastern frontier Kamchatka is now slowly revealing its bountiful natural treasures after being entirely closed to foreign visitors throughout the Soviet rule. Trek into the unexplored wilderness, climb challenging volcanoes, compete with brown bears in salmon fishing, dive into distant blue forests in search of abandoned gold mines, experience lunar-like landscapes of frozen lava fields and cruise the waters of the ocean. Kamchatka will leave you breathless!


Elbrus
From time immemorial the majestic Elbrus attracts many people. Locals named it Mangitau - the mount of thousand mount heights. As an extinct volcano, it is built up from granits, gneisses and volcano rocks - tuffs and diabases. Western Summit is 5642 m height and Eastern Summit is 5626. Mainly the slopes of Elbrus under 4000 m are gentle and become steep higher, up to 35 degrees in average. It provides a great opportunity for climbing in Russia.
The temperature change during a day is pretty high in valleys - 19-20 C. The humidity is about 67-70%. Usually weather below 3000 m is calm and it is very windy up the hills (sometime the wind reaches 15 m/s at the "Prijut Of 11").

Karelia

Karelia... An astonishing land of blue lakes, rapid rivers, evergreen pine- and fir-trees, severe rocks. Karelia attracts travellers with its unique, exclusive sights, rich cultural and historical heritage, traditional old wooden villages and rural life, beautiful nature with good opportunities for adventure-lovers, rare birds and animals.
Karelia deserves a separate visit but even a short 2-3-day tour will add a flavour into the exploration of Russia.


Kola Peninsula
Russian Lapland is an amazing land where two absolutely different culture cross – the one of the Kola Lapps, primeval hunters and deer farmers and the other of the Russian coast-dwellers that came from Novgorod. We offer you a chance to feel the spirit of its land not through museum showcases but through real feelings gained holding a steering wheel of an all-wheel drive car.

Solovki

Thousands of people visit this place annually to see the wonderful historical, architectural and hydro - technical monuments, to be surrounded by the atmosphere of the past, to get under the spell of though touching nature.

Far East
Primorye is located in the southeastern part of Russia. The legend says: while distributing treasures among different lands, God forgot about Primorye. When he remembered, he threw it the leftovers out of his sack. Primorye is a place where the north meets the south, where the great continent of Eurasia faces the Pacific Ocean. It is a land of varied and rich nature, with long littoral areas, which gave this region its name, wet plains in the west, and vast tracts of Taiga wilderness covering most of its territory. It is a place with surprising and mysterious natural contradictions: here lowlands adjoin volcanic plateaus, rich woods meet stone deserts, and high-mountains lakes adjoin sea gulfs with exotic landscapes and desert islands.