1. Cinematographic tourism
This type of travel is popular with fans of films, TV series and cult TV shows. Tourists come to the places where they were filmed and take pictures against the backdrop of architectural objects that they saw on the screen. Or they simply spend time in locations familiar from a movie or TV series.
The most popular Russian film cities are St. Petersburg and Moscow. In the city on the Neva, for example, the cult “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, “Brother”, and many modern TV series were filmed. You can book, for example, a tour of the filming locations of the latter. Or find thematic videos, of which there are many on the Internet, and see the city yourself from the same angles as the film’s cameramen.
In St. Petersburg, you can, just walking around the city center, suddenly find yourself on an impromptu film set. Lenfilm is still actively working now, so there is a chance to see people in costumes of past eras, cameramen and lighting crews on the embankment or at the intersection of old streets. Also a film studio offers various thematic excursions around the film studio and even make-up master classes.
There are many similar options in Moscow too. For example, you can go on a tour of the film studio where your favorite films were filmed. Or visit filming pavilions at Mosfilm and see legendary costumes, as well as visit places that became the backdrop for iconic films.
A novice film tourist can only find out more about where and how their favorite film was filmed or where a popular show is currently being created. And then come to get to know these places better.
2. Dark tourism
Fans of such tourism are interested in locations that are reminiscent of dark times and difficult events of the past. These may be places where man-made or environmental disasters once occurred. Or maybe mysterious and tragic events. Thus, in Yekaterinburg and other Ural cities, hikes to the Dyatlov Pass are organized every year.
Some are interested in industrial ruins and catacombs. They can be found in many modern cities. When visiting such locations, it is important to remember safety precautions.
Many people want to visit the North, where the Gulag camps were located in the first half of the last century. Such travelers can go to the Magadan region – there are many ruins of old barracks, and in the village of Yagodnoye there is a museum “Kolyma camps”. It also makes sense to go to the Solovetsky Islands and visit the local museum-reserve. He has expositiondedicated to the “special purpose camps” that were once located there.
Beginning dark tourists can also go to an old cemetery or an abandoned necropolis. Thus, in Moscow there are excursions to the Vagankovskoye and Novodevichy cemeteries. And in St. Petersburg you can visit the necropolis of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Or visit the Yusupov Palace – there is expositiondedicated to the murder of Grigory Rasputin, which took place in the dining room of this luxurious building.
3. Gastro and alcohol tourism
You can combine this type of tourism with a regular vacation. But some people specifically go on a trip to try unusual and not yet familiar dishes. To become a gastrotourist, all you need to do is carefully study the selections of interesting cafes and restaurants and read reviews from visitors about dishes and drinks. And plan a trip where the main impressions will be breakfast, lunch and dinner. Well, in between, you can take a walk around a city that is familiar or new to you.
Gastro tourism is possible in almost any region. There are many selections on the Internet for food lovers, which contain cafes from Moscow and St. Petersburg, Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod. Moreover, you can find places where the food is surprisingly tasty not only in big cities. Well, if you don’t want to eat in a cafe, you can make a list of interesting gastronomic master classes and regularly try dishes prepared by yourself.
The alcohol tourist builds a program to visit wineries and breweries that interest him. Or bars that serve interesting and unusual drinks. A good option for wine lovers is a trip to Abrau-Durso, where still and sparkling wines and spirits are produced. You can choose one of several excursions around the Wine House, and then go to a tasting of locally produced alcohol.
But you don’t have to go far from home. In any city there are likely to be bars that serve delicious cocktails or craft breweries.
4. Astrotourism
No, we have not lost the first letter in the word “gastrotourism”. We are talking about travel, the main goal of which is observing the starry sky.
So that the light of big cities does not interfere with seeing the stars and planets, you need to move away from large populated areas. Or better yet, climb the mountains. Therefore, those who want to look at the sky prefer to go, for example, to the Caucasus. Local travel companies organize astro tours – information about them can be found on the Internet.
Astronomical campings are also organized in Altai, where you can admire the most beautiful mountain landscapes during the day and study the stars at night.
5. Ecotourism
This type of travel is also possible in any region. The main thing for ecotourists is to spend at least a few days away from city noise and dust. A trend in recent years: while on vacation, you should give up not only mobile communications, but also other benefits of civilization. For example, from electricity, cars and processed foods.
The ideal option for such a vacation is to live in a tent in the forest or on the shore of a fresh reservoir. You can go to the village or to eco-camping. During your vacation, it is advisable not to use fuel-burning electric generators, gas burners, or synthetic detergents. And cook food over a fire or in a wood-burning stove, and without using industrial means to ignite the fire. And of course, carefully remove waste.
During such a rest you can perfectly restore strength and energy. And also get to know wild nature and observe its inhabitants from a safe distance.
5. Tracking
Trekking is walking over long distances lasting several days. It is suitable for sports and endurance people. As a rule, tourists move along pre-developed and repeatedly tested routes.
Beginners should plan a hike on flat terrain and spend 3-4 days on the road. Experienced tourists can go to the mountains. There are popular trekking routes in the Urals and the Caucasus, Altai, Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Kola Peninsula.
Take note 🧐
6. Horse tourism
This is another type of eco-tourism that is gaining popularity. In addition to good physical fitness, travelers should be able to stay in the saddle. But this condition is not always necessary. Many organizers of horse riding tours also provide training for beginner riders. It all starts with getting to know the horse, and then beginners are taught how to saddle a horse correctly and take their first short rides on horseback.
Travel agencies from Bashkiria, Adygea, Altai, Stavropol Territory, Karachay-Cherkessia, and Dagestan are waiting for lovers of mountain horseback riding. Experienced riders can choose excursions for a weekend or a couple of weeks, and there are routes of varying difficulty levels.
7. Spiritual tourism
These are trips to monasteries, acquaintance with temples and other sacred objects of various religions. Believing pilgrims often go on such trips.
But there are also secular tourists in monasteries and churches. They strive to learn history better, get acquainted with traditions that are new to them, hear legends and parables – in general, plunge into another, unusual world. Many people want to think about important things. Clarify fundamental views on life and your place in the world. Evaluate your relationships with yourself and others. Such tourists believe that the silence of monasteries and the beauty of temples calms the mind, gives rise to deep thoughts and helps to draw important conclusions.
Among those who want to see Orthodox shrines, the islands of Valaam, Kizhi and Solovki, and the monasteries of the cities of the Golden Ring are popular. Buddhists and those interested in this religion often visit the Ivolginsky datsan, located near Ulan-Ude. Muslims from all countries strive to Mecca, a city in Saudi Arabia.
8. Jailoo tourism
This is eco-tourism with an Asian flavor. The trend, which is gaining popularity today, first appeared in Kyrgyzstan.
Jailoo – summer pastures. They became tourist attractions at the end of the last century. Travelers from Russia and European countries came there, to the foothills of the Pamirs and Tien Shan. They wanted to live in traditional yurts with shepherds. The guests ate flatbread, kumis and lamb, slept on thick felt bedding – but there was amazing nature, clean air and silence all around.
Now jailloo tours have become traditional. Tour operators in Kyrgyzstan invite guests to different regions of the republic. This type of travel is also developing in Kazakhstan. In Russia, you can go to Yakutia and live a little in a reindeer herders’ village.
Tell us what types of unusual holidays you like.
Where else to go for impressions 🛤🚘🏕
