Discover Eastern Europe: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus

According to the experts opinion in the nearest future the Western European tourists flood to the Eastern Europe will be increasing. They say Eastern Europe will only win attracting tourists from other directions. For the latest time Egypt and Turkey which are traditionally very popular among western Europeans, underwent tourists’ activity decrease.

Eastern Europe popularity growth was caused by budget airlines activation, which can help to cross almost the whole Europe for only a hundred of euro. Land tours to Eastern Europe are very popular.

What everybody should remember traveling to Russia:
• In common talk you may keep to any topic –personal affairs, success and children’s talents, professional questions. Political and philosophical aspects provoke the greatest interest. Still probably you should not to be very indelicate.
• Russians are great patriots so you should try to be tactful when discussing relevant topics so not to offend anyone.
• Russians’ sensorial perception is base on the war relationship necessity. The most tiresome thing for them is daily routine, monotony. All that for “ordinary’ Europeans is the symbol of calmness, stability may cause depression and sadness in Russians.

They do not like perfunctory smiles. Though appreciate Americans’ and Japanese’ ability to smile in any situation, Admire the French amiability Russians do not like to follow their example.
Probably American manner – to keep smile – will not always valued in the same manner.

• Do not confuse if a person will shake your had too intensively, clap you on the shoulder approving your actions.
Being carried away by the talk the Russians may break the conventionally taken distance between people talking (35-40sm) and come a bit closer. This means they are interested in you and do not want to miss any details of the discussion. Sometimes they may touch the interlocutor by the hand which shows respect and frankness.

• Remember such a regularity the more intimate relations with a person you have the less “Chinese formality” there will be. Do not take Russian openness and sincerity for the lack of manners.
• The Russians as well as other eastern peoples do have a great respect to the elderly and can hardly accept western “tendency” to send their parents to the old people’s home.
• Russian people have specific notion of democracy and treat it in a rather pragmatic way. Social problems settlement is more important for them than any personal rights and interests. Unlimited power does not mean the absence of democracy but is the way to strengthen it.
• The Russians have also their own interpretation of freedom – this is more the opportunity to live according their desires than political rights realization.

(Russia tourism ratios)

You may find lots of articles about active kinds of rest: mountaineering, rafting and other ways to get the biggest thrill. The notion “what” is clear but “where” is still a bit vague. The Southern Ural sounds rather exotic and attractive. The superb nature is its distinguished feature: magnificent mountains, sweeping rivers mouthing in the numerous lakes, diverse plants and animal life. Mysterious caves penetrate the mountains with unsurpassed and supernatural labyrinths which are an indelible part of any package tour. The noticeable thing is that there are pictures of different animals on the walls of the caves left thousands of years ago by ancient people.

Many tourists all over the world make pilgrimage to miraculous mineral outflows. 

There are lots of national parks in the mountain forest zone protected by the state. Natural resources make the Southern Urals the most proper place for eco- and active tourism.

The most popular package tours

Horse tours and rivers floating and their mixed types including hiking are the most expended kinds of tours in the Southern Urals. However it’s much more pleasant to climb the mountain on the horse than cover the same distances on foot. The Urals horses are the result of steppe and forest broods intermixture, they possess extreme stamina.
Moreover they seem to be really clever and reserved. The horse tourism in the Southern Urals has a long and profound history due to the local traditions – the horse is the nation symbol here.

Taking in account the tourist’s skills local agencies may offer either short the programs including riding trainings or several-days long trips. Such trips is the peerless possibility to cross several natural zones: greenwoods, evergreen forests – to inhale the fragrant of the herbs which are the base for the well-known local drink, to admire picturesque landscapes.

Another way to “conquer” mountain picks is a bike tour. Usually such tours as well as horse tours have some sort of auto support which provides tourists the opportunity to enjoy speed and natural beauty to full extent.

Mountain rivers flowing down from the very mountain tops form odd and fantastic grots and caves, waterfalls. Their transparent water attracts many tourists which decide on the river tours.
There are two main types of river tours – the first one requires no special skills and experience and the second one is organized for professionals. The specific colouring is added by folk bands, national music instruments, local cuisine.

There are special tours for children and teens to entertain them and to improve their health at the same time. All these shows the unavoidable development of tourism in Russia.