Siberia, info, tips, anything wanted! (information about traveling to Siberia, Russia - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

	The Russian Meeting Place: A place to meet people and talk about all things Russian... International Discussions about Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Travel, Music, Russian News, Ukrainian culture, Belarusian Dating, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kiev and other intelligent topics about life in the former Soviet Union.

Pages: 1

Siberia, info, tips, anything wanted! (information about traveling to Siberia, Russia
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: hypnobear

Hi!

I've always had a fascination with the idea of travelling to Siberia. In reality I know very little about the place (apart from the "big and cold" basics!)

Is anyone able to tell me anything about siberia? I want to go travelling soon and would love to put Russia on the list.

Posted by: Kalexandra

Hi, My husband is from Nothern Siberia so I asked him for any info that might help you. He says first you need to decide what part of Siberia you want to travel to (as you know it's huge) The Southern part of Siberia actually doesn't have the cold temperatures like Northern Siberia. Igor is from way up North, above the artic circle from a town called Norilsk, and there the temperatures get unbelievably cold. (unfortunately, they recently closed this town to foreigners) Since they are above the arctic circle they also have polar days and nights: in summer the whole day is light and winter it's the opposite, the sun only comes out for a few hours. You should plan the timing of your trip around the activites you like to do. At the end of August, the nature is really beautiful because all the trees are red and golden. In Summer there is alot of fishing, and mushroom and berry gathering, but TONS of mosquitos. Igor advises you to go in March if you want to see all the snow because it's not SUPER cold, but there are alot of beautiful snowfalls. Also in the middle of Spring it's nice to go skiing in the forests because the sun is super bright, but there is still tons of snow. Hope some of this helps....Kate

Posted by: hypnobear

Thanks for that, every little bit helps (and thank Igor).... the snowfalls sound amazing and not like anything that we would get here in New Zealand!

I like the idea of sun, snow and nature. But I can see that more research is in order (^_^) !

Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks for the interesting information,
Kalexandra... I'm happy to hear from you... I hope that your wedding went well

Hypnobear..... Welcome to the RMP forums...

I actually rode a train (the Trans-Siberian Express) through Siberia, from Mongolia to Irkutsk, Russia, as well as from Mogilev, Belarus ALL THE WAY back to Mongolia through Siberia.... (Sometime, I will write a thread about my train trip and travelling through Siberia...

But, I wanted to give you some thought about Siberia based upon my experience...

People seemed very friendly in Siberia (as I think most small town and rural people are), and Siberia is VERY beautiful in the summer, with many pine forests and wild animals...

Lake Baikal, which is the deepest and oldest fresh water lake in the world, and that holds one fifth of the world's fresh water, is a wonderful place to visit (I heard and read about it, but did not visit it myself because of time)....

I would suggest riding a train across Russia to Siberia, which costs roughly between $150 to $225 one way.

If you want a peaceful visit to Russia where you will meet all kinds of interesting and genuine Russian people, then Siberia would be a wonderful place to visit.

Welcome again to the Russian Meeting Place forums.

Khashyar

Posted by: rtking

From Kalexandra's description, all I can say is this: Bring electric underwear! It sounds REALLY cold!

Seriously, it sounds really fascinating! If you go, Hypnobear, take some pics for us!

Bob K.

Posted by: hypnobear

I think I will wear electric everything, rtking!

Although I recently read though that though the winters are VERY cold the summers are really hot....
I think that is one of the things that appeals to me about siberia - the extremes of it.

Definitly write a thread about your travels Khashyar! And thanks for the tip about train travel.

Posted by: andrei

Im Siberian, so I can tell you at least SOMETHING.

The best places to visit are situated in the South, of course, where temperatures are not lethal.

Start from Tobolsk, it has the only Siberian Kremlin and lots of other sightseeings.

Next is Omsk, thats where Im from. Beautiful architecture of 18th and 19th century, lots (I mean LOTS) of birchtrees all around, really tasty local beer and a bear or elk hunting is what we can offer you.

Novosibirsk is an industrial city, here you can get an idea what is a Siberian NYC like. They have a huge lake there too, called the Ob Sea. The Ob is the biggest river of Western Siberia.

Then go down to Mountainous Altay. You can ride horses, climb mountains, bathe in ice-clean lakes and waterfalls, raft down fast floods.

Next should be Krasnoyarsk. There you can watch the brilliant taiga forests and the rocks without bothering yourself by flying up North.

And I think you can finish in Irkutsk region and see the lake Baikal. It's yet my own dream to go there and see that imperial beauty.

I could also advise to go to Kamchatka (a Russian analog of Iceland), but thats Far East, and the trains dont go there. Take a plane and prepare for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONg flight. ))))

Beware that Siberians never bother themselves by learning English. No road signs in English either. So get yourself a good guide. I could guide you through Omsk Region but I dont think I have a place 4 u to stay. ((

peace bye