From Moscow Region to Sri Lanka. Experts told us where and how to spend summer-2023

The time of warmth, sunshine and relaxation is just around the corner, which means it’s time to plan a vacation. There are many options for trips: from the Moscow region to Sri Lanka, from exotic to city vacations. Let’s find out what you want to get from your trip, and together with experts let’s choose a place.

Alexey Yakovlev

head of marketing agency SEM Complex

Summer is the perfect time for a vacation. Many people wait for it to have a rest, to be alone with nature and to be energized for new labor achievements. When choosing a place, you should start from what you want to do and how much money you are ready to spend.

How to spend a summer vacation?

Beach vacation

One of the most popular options. No fuss and problems, around only seagulls and the noise of the sea. A few weeks on the shore will allow you to relax, tan and enjoy nature.

Russia has many beautiful beaches, the most popular places on the list are Sochi, Crimea and Anapa. Abroad, however, tourists most often choose Bali, Maldives, Thailand or Greece.

For those who want to experience something new and radically different from the usual rhythm of life, there are tours to Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and Peru. The trip will be a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the local culture, cuisine and nature, to see how people live in another corner of the planet.

Cruises

Fresh wind, incredible views along the coast, different cities or countries – all this will give you a trip on the water. In Russia, routes on the Volga, Neva, Moscow River are popular. And outside our country, the most popular are cruises on the Mediterranean, Caribbean Sea and Alaska.

Traveling by cities

If you want to learn more about culture, history and architecture, this type of vacation is definitely for you. Here you can explore the secrets and features of buildings, streets and squares.

St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan, Suzdal, and Vologda are great choices for this kind of traveling in Russia. Paris, Rome, Barcelona, London and New York are often visited abroad, in which case you are immersed in a completely unfamiliar atmosphere and culture.

Festivals

Summer is a favorite time for events that attract tourists from all over the world. And the main reason for this is the consistently good weather. Open exhibitions, festivals of music, art, cooking and much more. There’s something for everyone. Locations are scattered all over the world map, in different cities and countries.

Ecological tourism

This is a way not only to enjoy nature, but also to take care of it. In Russia, such tours are held in national and natural parks, as well as in nature reserves. Abroad, ecological tours to the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon, Alaska and Africa are popular.

Active vacation

Hiking, water sports, paragliding, canoeing and more. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of spending time actively.

You can escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the clean air and beautiful views at popular ski resorts or in the Caucasus Mountains, where, among other things, you can have a health-improving vacation. Pyatigorsk and Kislovodsk are among the most popular health resorts.

Another way to spend an active vacation will be a bicycle tour. In Russia often go to the Crimea, the “Golden Ring” around Moscow or the Kola Peninsula. Abroad, trips to France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands are popular.

Where to go this summer?

Overseas destinations

Head of Product Marketing of the travel service “Kupibilet”

Summer is a traditional vacation season. Firstly, it becomes unbearably stuffy in big cities and everyone tries to go traveling. Secondly, it’s the middle of the working year, which means it’s a great time to relax and reboot.

When you have decided on the type of vacation, it is worth thinking about the choice of place. Of course, it is influenced by a huge number of factors. It is also necessary to be guided by the rules of entry into a particular country. Therefore, Israel, Egypt, Thailand, UAE, Dominica and Sri Lanka remain popular. Despite all the difficulties with issuing Schengen visas, people are going to Spain and Italy.

Turkey

So far for summer dates on ticket sales is standardly leading Turkey – the most popular destination for Russians in recent years. A great opportunity to combine beach vacation with exciting excursions to historical places – Cappadocia with its underground cities, Pamukkale health resort with springs and ancient ruins, the port city of Kash and Istanbul itself, of course.

Armenia

For those for whom the sea is not so important in summer vacation, Armenia will be an interesting option. Mountains, history, gastronomy – all this attracts tourists from Russia. Much of the interest in the country is fueled by word of mouth. Over the past year, quite a lot of people moved from Russia to Armenia, who have now settled down, studied Yerevan and warmly recommend to their friends and relatives to visit this country.

Abkhazia

For those who find the prices in the resorts of Krasnodar Krai overpriced, the doors of houses and hotels in the resorts of Abkhazia open. The republic has been popular with tourists since Soviet times. Gastronomy, trips to mountain lakes, Orthodox shrines and beach vacations are decisive factors for choosing this direction. A huge plus will be the opportunity to pay in Russian rubles.

Because of the availability, many people plan to visit neighboring countries – Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan. In these directions it is still possible to find round-trip tickets for 20-40 thousand rubles. And there are options for recreation for every taste – from natural parks, valleys and mountain peaks to unique ancient cities with original culture and cuisine.

Russian destinations

co-founder of glamping “Under the Sky”

The attention of tourists was attracted by the native expanses. It turned out that many people discovered beautiful places they had never paid attention to before. Russians found for themselves the Altai Mountains, the Caucasus, Karelia, Baikal and many other regions.

Moscow region

Sometimes it is possible not to go far away. Moscow with agglomerations is the largest Russian megalopolis, which lacks the only thing – the sea. Muscovites are looking for recreation on various bodies of water near the city. The nearest are the cascades of the Pestovsky, Ikshinsky and Pyalovsky reservoirs. And where there is water, of course, and water entertainment – sapboards, kayaks, boats and boats for walkers and fishermen. In addition, there are all sorts of glamping sites, country hotels, sanatoriums in the region. They are already seeing high utilization for the upcoming season.

Caucasus

A new attractive direction of domestic tourism. It is difficult to single out one region. Both Stavropol Territory with its group of resorts “Caucasian Mineral Waters” consisting of Pyatigorsk, Zheleznovodsk, Lermontov, Essentuki and Kislovodsk, and Dagestan and North Ossetia have gained popularity. Some people go for treatment, while others go to enjoy the magnificent mountain views. In recent years, many people have fallen in love with trekking routes, which allow them to find unity with nature.

Krasnodar region

The pearl of summer vacation was and remains the resorts of the Krasnodar region – Sochi with its surroundings, Gelendzhik, Anapa. Tourist here will be able to find both the sea, and the sun, and fruits. Another issue is that the cost grows every year. But the region does not become less popular. And this year these places will be the most popular among Russian tourists.

Baikal

Lake Baikal, rightfully considered one of the most picturesque places in Russia, is an undoubted point of attraction. Infrastructure is actively developing on the shore, around the lake there are parks and reserves for various hikes. The Irkutsk region can boast the opportunity to fish or raft on kayaks. The purest air, Baikal thermal springs and herbal collections deserve special attention.

Have you figured out how you want to relax and chosen a place? Then pack your bags, book tickets and go straight to summer.