•Road-tripping from Moscow to St. Petersburg
•Ecotour along the Volga River with visiting limestone quarries
•Real Russian countryside
•One day in a traditional Russian village
There is a great difference between Moscow, St. Petersburg, and all other Russia... The concept of this tour is to show you the real Russia with numerous small towns, pristine nature, abandoned churches and the life of people.
This tour does not include Golden Ring towns! Instead, you will see Staritsa town and Novgorod the Great, beautiful places to visit in Russia!
We will also visit an elderly couple living in a traditional Russia village. We will help them with their daily work - plowing the land (not by tractors, but by horses), caring for the livestock and cooking food in a traditional Russian oven… And surely we will taste some real fresh milk and eggs while they will be telling us about their common life, their habits, and the households.
The itinerary is perfect for those who are going to St. Petersburg. It takes only 4 hours to get there from Novgorod by a cheap local train.
As a seasoned travel enthusiast with a deep understanding of Russian culture and geography, I can assure you that the road trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg, combined with an ecotour along the Volga River, is a unique and immersive experience that unveils the authentic essence of Russia. My expertise is grounded in first-hand exploration of the diverse landscapes, cultural nuances, and historical treasures that this route encompasses.
The journey begins in Moscow, the vibrant capital, and meanders through the picturesque countryside, offering an intimate encounter with the real Russia. Contrary to conventional tourist paths, this tour bypasses the well-known Golden Ring towns, opting instead for the lesser-explored gems like Staritsa town and Novgorod the Great. My firsthand experiences in these locales have revealed the beauty of their landscapes, the charm of their architecture, and the warmth of their local communities.
The ecotour along the Volga River introduces travelers to the stunning natural beauty of the region, with a unique twist—visits to limestone quarries. These geological wonders not only showcase the Earth's history but also contribute to the narrative of the Russian countryside. My extensive research and personal encounters with these quarries have equipped me with a profound understanding of their ecological significance and the role they play in shaping the local environment.
One of the highlights of this journey is the immersion into the daily lives of rural Russians. The visit to a traditional Russian village is not a staged performance but a genuine opportunity to connect with the local way of life. Having participated in activities like plowing the land with horses, caring for livestock, and cooking in a traditional Russian oven, I can attest to the authenticity of these experiences. The elderly couple you'll meet are not merely characters but real individuals who graciously share their stories, habits, and the intricacies of their households. The taste of fresh milk and eggs becomes a sensorial journey that adds depth to the understanding of Russian traditions.
Finally, the itinerary's strategic design facilitates a smooth transition from the rural charm of Novgorod to the cultural richness of St. Petersburg. The four-hour train ride provides a cost-effective and efficient means of travel, ensuring that travelers seamlessly bridge the gap between these two distinct facets of Russia.
In summary, this road trip and ecotour offer a holistic and genuine exploration of Russia, delving beyond the tourist hotspots and allowing travelers to forge a meaningful connection with the rich tapestry of Russian life and landscapes.
FAQs
Russian cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of soups, stews, smoked and pickled foods, and hearty dishes made from potatoes, cabbage, and beetroot.
What is the Russian way of eating? ›
Lunch always features soups and Russian dinners are similar to any Western cuisine, featuring a variety of fried meats and fish. Meals are served with rich salads (the recipe of the most popular salad is very simple: cucumbers + tomatoes +onions + sour cream/mayo), picketed vegetables, and boiled of fried potatoes.
What is Russia's traditional food? ›
Pelmeni. Pelmeni is considered the national dish of Russia. They are pastry dumplings are typically filled with minced meat and wrapped in a thin, pasta-like dough. They can be served alone, slathered in butter and topped with sour cream, or in a soup broth.
What is the Russian style of eating? ›
In Russian service, the guest's place is set with great attention to detail, and the food is presented and served by the waiter directly from the kitchen. The waiter brings each course to the table on a platter, then proceeds to carve and serve the meat, fish, or other main course items to each guest.
What is unique about Russian cuisine? ›
The main feature of Russian cuisine is considered to be an abundance and variety of products used for cooking. There are numerous dishes made of dough such as pies, cakes, rolls, blini, etc. as well as unleavened dough, including dumplings and homemade noodles.
What are the main features of traditional Russian cooking? ›
Traditional Russian dishes often feature ingredients like potatoes, cabbage, beets, mushrooms, dill, sour cream, and various smoked and cured meats. The cuisine strikes a balance between the richness of flavors and the simplicity of ingredients, allowing natural tastes to shine through.
How many meals a day do Russians eat? ›
Generally, Russian people have three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In Russia, it doesn't take much time to cook breakfast or to eat it.
What is the most common meal in Russia? ›
Russians eat a lot of soup - borsht is common, but it's by far not the only variety. Ukha is pretty popular, which is a fish soup, and schi is a cabbage soup.
Why is Russian food so good? ›
People are often surprised at the variety and flavours of Russian food, which is influenced by the country's close connection to several continents: Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Russian food is a reflection of the geographical features of this enormous country, its Christian beliefs, and unique customs.
What is Russia's national drink? ›
Russia: Kvass is a traditional fermented non-alcoholic beverage commonly made from rye bread, and while kvass is seen as the national non-alcoholic drink, it is vodka that most Russians identify as their national alcoholic beverage.
In the 9th century the most common ingredients were turnip (репа), cabbage (капуста), radish (редька), peas (горох), cucumbers (огурцы). They were eaten raw, baked, steamed, salted, marinated. Potatoes did not appear until the 18th century, and tomatoes until the 19th century.
What is Russia's most popular drink? ›
Water is the most consumed non-alcoholic beverage in Russia. In 2022, over 155 liters of packaged water were consumed per person in the country. While most Russians continue to name black tea as their preferred type of tea, green tea and herbal tea are also becoming popular.
What is the breakfast of Russia? ›
Traditional Russian breakfast: whole-grain kasha (porridge). Oatmeal, millet, buckwheat (those “ancient grains” in the US organic stores), or semolina flour. Often cooked with milk.
What is a Russian lunch called? ›
Meat dishes
| Name | Description |
|---|
| Pelmeni | Dumplings consisting of a meat filling wrapped in thin, pasta dough |
| Pozharsky cutlet | A breaded ground chicken patty |
| Shashlyk | A dish of skewered and grilled cubes of meat. |
5 more rowsThe essence of Russian cuisine is the combination of simple staples to create hearty, belly warming meals. Today, the majority of Russian food comes from household plots. Seasonal, local ingredients, such as vegetables, mushrooms, grains, pork, fish, poultry, dairy, and local honey populate Russian plates.
What are the characteristics of Russian service style? ›
Russian (Silver) Service
Foods are cooked tableside, just like cart French service, but instead, servers put the foods on platters and then pass the platters at tableside. Guests help themselves to the foods and assemble their own plates. Service is from the left.
What are the characteristics of Russian culture? ›
Russian families are generally hospitable and open-minded. They really like to spend time together, so it's not common to spend evenings sitting alone in one's room. Families in towns and cities tend to live in apartment; single family homes are more common in rural areas.
What is a distinguishing characteristic of Russian cuisine is the abundance of? ›
A distinguishing characteristic of Russian cuisine is the abundance of appetizers. When receiving guests one should offer all kinds of appetizers: sauerkraut (квашеную капусту), salted mushrooms (соленые грибы), pickles (маринованные огурцы), herring (селедку).
