Russia vacation advice

“Lake Baikal is the pearl of Trans Siberian Railway. If someone wants to go off the beaten track when visiting the lake we recommend to get to it not from the west, getting off at nearby Irkutsk, but from the East, getting off in Ulan Ude. This is the capital of the Republic Buryatia, so native people to this region are Buryats, they are Buddhists and along with Russian they speak the Buryat language.”

“The same rules apply for Russian cities as they do for anywhere else in the world: keep your bags close by, particularly on public transport, and avoid areas with few or no people, especially after dark.”

“Buy some local honey or jam! Often they are sold at local markets. Also, Russia is famous for tea, so go for herbal teas, made with local herbs.”

“The wildlife and landscapes of the Russian Far East are like nowhere else on earth. This part of Russia was closed off to the rest of the world for many years and tourism is still very limited. A small ship is the perfect way to explore coastlines that would be otherwise inaccessible. This is a wilderness on a grand scale: uninhabited beaches where brown bears roam, gigantic Steller’s sea eagles cast a watchful eye, Arctic foxes play, many species of whales cruise and of course this is where polar bears reign supreme. The warmth of the local people you will meet will stay with you; whether they’re a salmon farmer on the Kamchatka coast, a Chukchi school kid eager to share their world with us or a park ranger at Wrangel Island who lets us into what it is like to live in polar bear country.”

“The temperature can be variable, so the key really is to make sure that you bring layers. A wet weather layer is essential to ensure that you keep warm and dry on landings and Zodiac cruises. While it is technically summer when trips run, temperatures can be cool. Generally earlier on in the season, in Kamchatka in May and June, there may still be low lying snow around. The maximum daytime temperature in the Kuril Islands in May and June is 16°C, Kamchatka is 10-14°C in July and August and in Chukotka it ranges between 7-14°C maximum.

The weather can be changeable and it can drop in the Arctic particularly, so it is a good idea to bring warm layers. Do bear in mind that the ship is heated to a comfortable 18-20°C inside so it’s good to make sure that you have a pair of jeans or track pants, a couple of T-shirts and a longer layer to wear over the top. It’s important to ensure that you have all the camera gear that you need including spare batteries, chargers and memory cards. A neck gator (wraparound scarf) is perfect for plugging any draughty gaps. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a lip balm will protect your skin.”

Russia is generally safe, but petty crime does happen in the larger cities. Organised gangs of pickpockets sometimes target tourists so take extra care in busy tourist areas and railway stations and don’t carry anything valuable with you. In St Petersburg, bogus police officers have harassed and robbed tourists. If you are stopped, always insist on seeing identification. Racially motivated attacks have happened, and anyone of Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent may attract unwanted attention in public places and should take care, particularly at night. Official looking taxis may actually be unlicensed, so beware of flagging one down. Ideally, get your hotel to order a taxi for you, or ask your vacation company for the telephone number of a reputable taxi company. Agree the fare before getting in. If you’re taking a sleeper train, store valuables in the container under the bed or seat and carry important items with you when leaving the sleeper carriage as it’s not usually possible to lock the door while you’re away. You must carry your original passport at all times – a copy isn’t enough. If you can’t show it when asked by an official, you’ll be fined. Look after it carefully though, especially around busy tourist and transport hubs. Homosexuality is legal in Russia, but not always tolerated, so same sex couples should be careful about public displays of affection. Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan are beginning to open up to tourists, and trips do run throughout these regions of the North Caucasus. Be aware that currently the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK is advising against all travel here, so be sure to discuss safety with your travel supplier and check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Russia page for up to date safety advice. Your vacation company can also offer advice on purchasing travel insurance for areas not recommended by the FCO, as different rules will apply.