Vacations for introverts in Russia. 5 destinations for those who are tired of society

Pro-Vision resident, Vinogradov.story community author

“Sometimes you need to be alone with yourself. To be as far away from the hustle and bustle and stress of big cities as possible. To feel yourself hundreds of kilometers away from the nearest “civilization”. Fortunately, there are quite a few places in Russia where you can enjoy solitude. I have collected some of them in an introverted selection”.

Putorana Plateau, Krasnoyarsk Territory

Occupying an area comparable to the British Isles, the Putorana lava plateau remains almost the most sparsely populated place on the planet. It is also one of the most fascinating and attractive. The plateau is called “the country of rivers, lakes and canyons”, over which low clouds descend. In Evenki Putorana is translated as “covered with clouds”.

Not so long ago it was possible to get here only as part of geological groups and scientific expeditions. Today there are several secluded tourist centers on Putorana, where tourists are taken by helicopter from Norilsk. A real severe exotic far from civilization.

Svalbard archipelago

Spitsbergen or Svalbard is a polar archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, where there is a special environmental regime, and the permanent population is only about three thousand people. Most of them are compactly concentrated in Norway’s Longyear and Russia’s Barentsburg.

But don’t let the presence of other people embarrass you: it is not safe to be on the archipelago alone – there is a risk of meeting a polar bear or getting lost in the snowy desert. And there are plenty of them on Svalbard.

In addition to the stunning Arctic nature, under favorable conditions you can see the abandoned Soviet settlements Grumant and Pyramid. And at night – admiringly watch the flashes of northern lights illuminating the pristine polar sky. Those who appreciate the north for the opportunity of privacy, should hurry up: in the near future direct visa-free tours to the island from Moscow may be launched.

Terem in Astashovo, Kostroma region

Astashovo is an option for those who want to escape from the crowd, but are not ready to leave for the radical north or east. The forest terem is not so far from the capital, in Kostroma province, but you will have to look for it in the local forests.

However, as a reward the guests of Astashovo will get comfort, color and grace of a traditional Russian manor, a chance to join folk crafts, flood a rustic bathhouse and taste dishes from a Russian oven. There are only 12 rooms in the terem, which excludes crowding and chaos. And in the surrounding forests there is every chance to stay alone with nature – and with yourself.

Ladoga Skerries, Karelia

The poetic word “skerries” has nothing to do with low vocabulary – it is the Swedish word for archipelagos consisting of small rocky islands. Ladoga skerries are scattered on the lake of the same name, not far from the town of Sortavala, but despite the proximity of a major tourist center, it is easy to stay alone here – just look for a “free” island and pitch a tent.

Dawns and sunsets are a very special time on the skerries: you can’t expect such a riot of colors from the reserved Karelian nature. And waking up to the sound of waves is a special, absolutely unique pleasure.

Petrovsky Lighthouse, Astrakhan Oblast

Lighthouses built on inaccessible cliffs, remote capes and rocks in the open sea have become romanticized symbols of loneliness. And some of them, due to circumstances, have acquired cult status – like the Petrovsky Lighthouse in the Astrakhan region.

Once it guided ships along the Caspian Sea, but over time the water went away, but the stone tower remained. And today it stands in the middle of the steppe, 30 kilometers from the coast. The Petrovsky Lighthouse is one of the rare cases in Russia when you can climb the tower without special permission. However, you can’t see the water even from the observation deck. But you can see the endless steppe, blown by all winds.