The way will come true: where to spend Christmas in an unusual way
Going to visit Santa Claus or the residence of Kysh Babai, to see the northern lights or whales - these are some of the many unusual tours that Russians can go on during the New Year vacations and Christmas. Izvestia was told about this in travel booking services. Depending on the destination , the cost of such a trip can range from 10 thousand to 50 thousand rubles. On where to go to remember the holidays for a long time - in the material "Izvestia".
The peak of cold and bathing in icy water
Russians can spend New Year vacations unusually in several regions of Russia, told "Izvestia" services for booking tickets and hotels. Among the popular destinations analysts single out Veliky Ustyug, Kostroma, Murmansk and Altai.
-This winter season offers travelers an incredible variety of impressions, - emphasized the product director of "Kupibilet" Andrey Maslak. - From fairy-tale Veliky Ustyug with the House of Santa Claus and the Path of fairy tales to cozy Kostroma, ideal for a weekend of rest within the "Golden Ring". For extreme lovers - Oymyakon, one of the coldest places on Earth with temperature, on some days -60 ° C, offers a unique experience. And the beauty of snow-covered Karelia and Petrozavodsk can be enjoyed in forest cottages or during active vacations.
Karelia
According to the data of online hotel and apartment booking service "Ostrovok", the demand for accommodation in Altai has significantly increased for the upcoming holidays - by 71% year-on-year. In addition to the familiar "skiing" and mountain climbing in the region there are also unusual formats - jeep tours through snow-covered mountains and valleys.
In 2024, the demand for recreation in Kabardino-Balkaria increased. Here you can try extreme snowmobile rides or climb Elbrus. For a gastronomic vacation tourists go to the Primorsky Krai. In addition to tastings, travelers visit zoos, where you can see Amur tigers, leopards and Himalayan bears.
Experts of "Tutu" note that unusual New Year holidays can be spent in the Murmansk region. To begin with the cemetery of ships in Teriberka - here are fishing boats abandoned by their owners in the 60s of XX century. Moreover, it is at this time that you can see the northern lights here.
"From the first time you may not succeed, but the impressions from what you see are worth it, - said there. - For unusual photos go to the "Snow Village" in Kirovsk. There sculptors create amazing structures out of snow and ice".
Ship graveyard, Teriberka
Fans of extreme sports this year will try a new entertainment - swimming in thermal protective suits in the Kola Bay, added in "Ostrovka".
In the Arkhangelsk region, the New Year can be celebrated in the county town of Velsk, among snow-covered forests and merchant houses, recommended in "Yandex Travels".
- The most unusual place in the region is the Pinezhsky Reserve: a landscape of karst relief, taiga and caves. In winter there is an ice kingdom there: stalactites and stalagmites made of ice grow, and the vaults are covered with snow crystals," they added. - The average cost of a night in a room for two in a local three-star hotel starts from Br4 thousand.
On average, tickets to Veliky Ustyug will cost Br10 thousand, to Kostroma about Br3 thousand, to Oymyakon - Br24-27 thousand, to Yaroslavl - Br4-7 thousand, and to Murmansk - from Br9 thousand to Br15 thousand.
Santa Claus Residence and Manpupuner
Ded Moroz can be seen in different parts of the country: Kysh Babai in Tatarstan, Finnish Joulupukki in Vyborg or the main Santa Claus of the country in Veliky Ustyug, experts reminded. But the Snow Maiden can be found in Kostroma. In the terem with the granddaughter of Santa Claus lives Domovoy, Domovikha and Cot Bayun. And there is also an Ice Room, where everything is made of ice from Kostroma lakes.
In Karelia on New Year holidays you can take a ride on a retro train - Ruskeala Express. Here you should see waterfalls, play with huskies and ride in a dog sled. There is also Santa Claus's fiefdom in the republic - here he is called Talvi Ukko. You can try unusual transportation on Kizhi Island - a hovercraft will take you there. And on the island itself you can admire wooden churches. And if you want privacy and tranquility, you can settle in a hut in the Karelian park Paanayarvi.
Arshan, a rural settlement in Buryatia, organizes a variety of Christmas tours in winter, offering guests to explore the mountain peaks. Thesettlement is located right next to the Sayan Mountains, a mountain system that stretches all the way to Mongolia. The Kyngara River has waterfalls that freeze in winter, and the extinct Chersky Volcano sleeps near the resort. There are two Buddhist datsans in the village: Bodhidharma and Dechen Ravzhalin. They are open for free visits and excursions.
Ded Moroz's residence in Veliky Ustyug
In Komi there are special rocks - weathering columns as high as a 15-storey house. This place is called the Manpupuner Plateau. You can fly there by helicopter, and you can also visit the reserve "Yugyd va" and see boreal forests. In Komi, ghost settlements around Vorkuta are also impressive.
In Yakutsk there is a sub-mountain ice museum - "The Kingdom of Permafrost". There tourists get acquainted with the "lord of cold" Chyskhaan, can take part in traditional rituals, see frozen animals from the ice age and have a drink in a bar with dishes made of ice.
You can take a walk near the Lena Pillars - these are bizarrely shaped rocks 200-300 meters high. They stretch along the Lena River for dozens of kilometers. There are no other such rock formations in Russia. And if you want to prolong your New Year mood - come to the festival "Pole of Cold" in March. People ride dog sledges, catch redfish with a net according to Yakut custom, cook stroganina and venison and teach national dances. And you can warm up in Nakhot - hot mineral springs six hours from the city. The average cost of a night in a room for two people in a local three-star hotel is from 5.3 thousand rubles.
Whale photo-hunting and sports tourism
Another popular pastime is vail-watching, or watching whales in their natural habitat, said Milena Morozova, an expert of the Nature and People Foundation, an employee of the Institute for Problems of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, head of the project for the conservation of the bowhead whale in the Sea of Okhotsk.
- The time of observation depends on the species of animal, method and place," she explained. - When planning observations in the whales' natural habitat, one should always keep in mind the unpredictability of nature. Despite known migration routes, places of their congregations and behavioral patterns, at any moment something can interfere with the observations: bad weather and the impossibility to reach the whales by land or sea, or the absence of the animals themselves.
The whales' movements, she said, are influenced by many factors that cannot be predicted. These can be natural factors, such as weather, currents, or the movement of food items (fish or krill). They can also be anthropogenic - observers may have disturbed the whales, and noise from industrial facilities and ships may have disturbed the mammals.
Regardless of the place of observation, it is necessary to follow the rules of behavior that have been developed by marine mammal specialists, emphasized Milena Morozova. And also remember the principle of precautionary approach - if safety of any actions for a particular animal and population is not proved, it is necessary to avoid these actions.
- The main rules for whale watching are as follows: if you see a whale, slow down the speed of the ship," she said.- Large whales travel at speeds of no more than 10 kilometers per hour, but if the animal is frightened, it can change its trajectory, speed and direction unpredictably. It is good to have time and distance to maneuver. Keep a distance of at least 50-100 m from a single animal and at least 300 m for a group of animals. Observe the behavior of the animals you see.
Also, do not cross the whales' path, keep to the side and maintain the necessary distance.
- Observation will be successful if the animals feel safe. Do not chase whales. Prolonged exposure increases the animals' stress level, which can negatively affect their vital well-being," the expert emphasized. - Remember personal safety! Whales are strong animals, and even if they seem harmless to you, do not try to pet or touch them.
Another area that began to grow actively was sports tourism. Thus, according to the results of the study "Ostrovka", every sixth tourist at least once in 2024 went on a trip to Russia or abroad to support their favorite athletes or teams at competitions. Experts believe that in the coming years the interest in this type of tourism will continue to grow.
