Rising at cock’s crow, an easy lifestyle, nature and fresh air – these are the intrinsic charms of agrotourism. Rural tourism or agrotourism is becoming more and more popular in Karelia, the Altai, the Leningrad region, the Kaliningrad region and some other regions of Russia. The visitors are offered the traditional Russian meals: honey, kvass, kasha (Russian porridge) and borsch made of organic food products. The tourists are happy to be engaged in farm activities ranging from picking berries and vegetables or feeding animals, getting acquainted with the traditions of a Russian village. During their vacation they are learning crafts and are engaged in lots of other farm activities: milking cows, weaving willow baskets, riding a horse or driving a field tractor.
The city dwellers wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life and longing for fresh air and rural quietness are happy to spend their vacation in rural farms located in the Kaliningrad region. The farmers invite their guests to take part in fishing or hunting adventures.
In Bashkiria, the landlords of the agrotourism sustained farm Boursian invite their guests to spend their vacation in a traditional Russian house with a lovely garden, banya (the traditional Russian bath) and a hayloft. They also arrange trips to Shulgantash Nature Reserve, horseback riding tours or tours on boats propelled by oars, gathering medicinal herbs, mushrooms and berries. While staying in Kutan, another Bashkir agritourism sustained farm, the tourists may taste honey from local bee yard, medovukha (a traditional Russian drink made from fermented honey and water), take part in fishing and hunting activities, bear´s paths hiking, or learn about beekeeping.
Another option is to visit three ancient villages: Romanovo, Nesterovo and Kiucher, which are located not far from Pereyaslavl-Zalesskiy (the Yaroslavl region), in the picturesque forest surroundings on the bank of the Roksha river. The visitors may participate in excursions with an overnight stop in Nikitskiy Monastery. In winter time they may have a New Year’s Eve party with a real New Year tree, banya and snow piles.
The city dwellers may also have an agritour in Volgograd region to spend their vacation in Nizhnegnutov farm yard located not far from the Tzimlyansk water reservoir and the Tzimlyanskiye peski natural park. The main tourist attraction of the park is a herd of wild horses grazing on the steppe grasslands.
In the Pskov region there is a village with a huge bath which may accommodate 30 people. The foreign tourists visit this place on their way from Saint-Petersburg to Moscow. The hostess will attend the guests during the traditional bath procedure and flap them with the special bath besoms. After the bath she will treat the visitors with the newly drawn milk and fresh curd (or farmer) cheese. This village is as popular with the tourists as the national museums.
Visit Russia to enjoy your holiday in a traditional Russian village!