List of the most interesting places to go in Russia by car. My experience and routes for future trips.
I am a big fan of auto travel. It's funny, but until the age of 25 I was not interested in cars at all. Even in a driving school, I went to get a license exclusively for a motorcycle, but how good it is that they still persuaded me to train on a car along the way. And then one day I got fired up with ideas to go by car to the mountains, bought a car for this trip, felt the buzz - and away we go. Now every year I go to autotrip and have already traveled half the country. In this post I will tell you about the best places to travel in Russia by car. Go!
North Caucasus
The Caucasus is my greatest love! I have already traveled here twice and have visited all the republics. Stunning beauty, unthinkable variety of natural, historical and cultural attractions. The Bermamyt plateau, the Elbrus region, the vicinity of Arkhyz, Lago-Naki, the ancient fortresses of North Ossetia and Ingushetia, the incredible landscapes of Dagestan - you can't list everything.
The region is quite densely populated, there are many cities and towns, so civilization is always close by. By the way, a car trip across the North Caucasus can be successfully combined with a trip to Georgia by car - people who have been there leave rave reviews.
Next time I plan to go by my car to the Transcaucasia: Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Mountain Altai
The trip by car to Gorny Altai was my second trip by car in Russia. In a month and a half, our team drove the entire famous Chuysky tract to the very border of Mongolia.
The landscapes of Gorny Altai are striking in their diversity: dense taiga, steppes scorched by the sun, snow-capped mountains and even practically deserts, reminiscent of Afghanistan rather than Russia. What else? Archaeological monuments of ancient civilizations, rock paintings, shamanistic culture, places of power and even sources with radioactive water. Altai is considered the most intimate place in Russia. People who have been here believe that a trip to Altai can change a person's life, strengthen morally, spiritually and physically.
Remember! There is the Altai Territory (a rather boring and touristy place), and there is the Altai Republic. All the most interesting in the second region - it is there that there are real mountains and majestic landscapes, and not rest with a beer by the river. The most interesting part of Altai begins approximately after the village of Ongudai.
I am convinced that Gorny Altai is worth a trip at least once. Mongolia can also be included in the travel itinerary (entry for Russians is visa-free). Our notes will help you plan your trip.
Crimea
Such a small peninsula, and so many sights and beautiful places! Everything else - an excellent climate, sea, good beaches for every taste, many routes for hiking, a fairly well-developed (if compared with the same Altai Mountains) infrastructure. Having a car allows you to save a lot on excursions in Crimea and relax in pleasant wild places without crowds of tourists.
I have been to Crimea many times already, and recently I went there by car with a group of friends. In two weeks we traveled around the entire peninsula - the program turned out to be very rich. Do you also want? Read my reports and guides.
Krasnodar region
The Black Sea coast is the most popular place in Russia where people travel by car. I have already traveled to 35 resorts of the Krasnodar Territory in my personal car: I drove them all from Yeisk to Sochi. And all in order to make the best travel guides to the resorts of our south. I was pleased with the trips. Despite all the pop and stereotypes about our southern resorts, there are really a lot of cool places there. You just need to choose the right time and place of rest, then you will like it.
It is very easy to get to the resorts of the Krasnodar Territory: the proximity of the region to Moscow and most large cities, good roads, developed infrastructure, a huge selection of resorts for every taste. That's just the drivers in the Kuban are reckless and poorly comply with traffic rules, but this can be survived.
Baikal
An interesting fact: I was born and raised in Transbaikalia, but I have not yet visited this lake! This is an annoying omission - one day I will definitely correct it.
Of course, a trip to a camp site in Listvyanka cannot be considered a trip to Lake Baikal. Baikal must be seen from all sides. And visit Olkhon, see the mouth of the Selenga, visit nature reserves, and see mountains in the north and south. On the mind, you need to go to Baikal both in summer and in winter - so you will see two different lakes.
The land of lakes, dense forests, fairy tales and harsh northern nature. Kizhi, Valaam, Ladoga skerries, the mystical mountain Vottovaara, thousands of rock paintings - there are many interesting things in Karelia. In addition, there is a rich program for outdoor enthusiasts: rafting, ATVs, jeep tours, skiing trips, hunting, fishing and much more. You can go on vacation to Karelia both in summer and in winter.
We drove here in our car last summer and visited all the most interesting places. Even though there are no such crazy beauties in Karelia as in the Caucasus or Altai, this land is still pleasant and picturesque. It is worth going to the republic for peace - local landscapes create just such a mood.
