Russia

Russia has an air of mystery fuelled by vast, snow-covered plains and cities with extraordinary flair like St. Petersburg and Moscow. Few tourists have discovered the largest country in the world,

but those who have will tell you about amazing adventures and lasting memories.

For a sense of history you should not miss the Golden Ring of old cities in the north-east. Lots of historic buildings have been preserved for centuries, allowing you to experience Russian history and culture with old forts and Russian Orthodox churches and cathedrals.
The Golden Ring’s cities of Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, and Uglich attract millions of visitors mainly from within Russia, but also from abroad. You can best reach this unique collection of historic towns by taking a rental car up the M8 highway from Moscow.

Another worthy travel destination is the Altai Mountains where daredevils will find all sorts of adventures. The mountain range, situated in South Siberia, has numerous hiking trails and rivers well-suited for rafting, making for a fun few days with Mother Nature.

The Black Sea is a stark contrast to the mountains, albeit a beautiful one. From Moscow this is a 1200 mile trip following the M4 highway south. The trip is long, but you get a good impression of true Russian lifestyle.
The Black Sea coast is a very popular Russian holiday destination. The beach resort of Sochi is the main tourist hub, crowded during summer and winter months, as the close-by mountains offer some of the best ski slopes around. Sochi will host the Olympic Games in winter 2014.

No visitor to Russia will be able to avoid Moscow and St. Petersburg, even if they tried. The two are linked by the M10 highway, and taking the car is probably the most convenient way to see both.
Moscow makes it onto the itinerary simply by being the country’s capital. The magnificent Kremlin with is long red walls, the fabulous Red Square and much more will leave the visitor impressed by this unique city.

St. Petersburg is no less attractive than Moscow. The former capital is home to one of the most famous museums in the world: the Hermitage. Russia’s legendary tsar Peter the Great is buried in the cathedral inside the Peter and Paul Fort along many famous state leaders. You get the most out of this city, named after St. Peter, not the tsar, during the summer months when the sun only goes down for a few hours every night.