Extreme for beginners
Sakhalin is beautiful in any season, and winter, which is quite mild and snowy, is no exception. Guests of the island region are traditionally attracted by the famous ski resort “Mountain Air” and snowmobile travel. Only this, as a rule, is for prepared tourists. But recently a route was opened on the island, suitable even for beginners. Besides, from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk the drive to the starting camp is nothing – about an hour. Transfers can be arranged for a fee.
The one-day excursion, which lasts approximately 2.5 hours, is called “Five Lakes”. In the vicinity of the village of Okhotsk, Korsakov region, there is a group of small reservoirs, which the locals call “teplyaki”. These are Khvalisekoye, Khazarskoye, Tunaicha, Russkoye and Donetskoye lakes. In winter, it’s great to ride snowmobiles there, enjoying the view of the ice surface, snow-covered forest and clean air. The length of the route is about 25 kilometers.
– As a rule, people come to us who have never driven a snowmobile. On our route you can even relax a little. Yes, there are ups and downs, and part of the path goes through the forest. But this is a very pleasant trip for those who have no experience,” said Sergei Vasilenko, a representative of the Sakhalin travel company.
The route, launched last winter, has already been tested by more than 300 people. These are both local residents and guests of the island region from Primorye, Amur region, Khabarovsk and Kamchatka territories. The group is accompanied by a guide on a powerful snowmobile, who will ensure safety and come to the rescue in difficult situations.
– This is a route for those who want to get away from everyday life and enjoy the beauty of winter Sakhalin nature. Pleasant fatigue and emotions will be a reward at the finish line, the travel agency clarified.
The cost of renting a snowmobile is 7 thousand rubles for two people (driver and passenger). A transfer from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (optional) will cost about five thousand.
In the footsteps of a fish owl
The south of the Far East is the habitat of the rarest and one of the largest eagle owls – the fish eagle. Even seeing his traces is a great success. They cannot be confused with anything – they look like the letter “K”, and are the size of an adult’s hand. You can go in search of birds in the Norsky Nature Reserve, located in the Amur region. Tours are organized there.
Tourists are taken to the Amur nature reserve on a snow and swamp-going vehicle. Photo: TIC of the Amur region
– New Year’s holidays in the reserve are an opportunity to plunge into a world where pristine silence reigns. You can feel the greatness of the Amur taiga there,” says Daria Ulko, deputy director of the TIC of the Amur region.
And even a transfer to the reserve will be a separate adventure. First, you will have to travel by car, then transfer to a snow and swamp-going vehicle and travel along the BAM highway backup, as well as icy winter roads. These roads offer stunning views of the winter taiga. The destination of the trip is the northernmost cordon of the Nor Meun Nature Reserve. Here, half a thousand kilometers from Blagoveshchensk, nature reveals itself in all its beauty.
Two days of walking along ecological trails will allow you to enjoy snowy landscapes and get a chance to meet wild boars, roe deer and wapiti. And if you are very lucky, then a fish owl. A real gift will be a meeting with a miracle of nature – lakes called Kruglyaki. They are absolutely identical in shape and size, which raises many questions about their origin. Legends say that they arose after the fall of a meteorite or due to the intervention of extraterrestrial civilizations. Residents claim that one lake is inhabited exclusively by pikes, and the other by crucian carp. The depth of the reservoirs reaches eight meters, which is unusual for the Amur region.
A trip to Meun also means the crackling of wood in the stove, the aroma of camp food, hot taiga tea and a sauna. Mobile phones and the Internet are not needed here – there is no connection with the outside world. Only sounds of the forest, favorite books, pleasant company. They say this is the ideal place to recharge your personal energy for the coming year. The cost of the tour is 18 thousand rubles.
In the vicinity of Magadan there is a camp of reindeer herders, where excursions are organized. Photo: TIC of the Magadan region
Meeting the Reindeer
Tourist routes to protected areas of the Magadan region, as a rule, are not cheap. But if you find yourself in this harsh region in winter, don’t miss the chance to take advantage of the “And the deer are better!” excursion. For just 1,800 rubles you will be taken from the center of Magadan to your place and back.
– The small indigenous inhabitants of the North preserve and support the traditions of their ancestors. Reindeer husbandry for an outside observer is an interesting and unique business, but for workers of reindeer herding brigades it is an everyday occurrence. The excursion will provide an opportunity to visit a camp of nomadic reindeer herders,” said TIC specialist Snezhana Kostyuk of the Magadan Region.
The excursion is an immersion into the world and traditions of the Evens and Koryaks. Guests will be treated to a Kolyma treat, a story about the life and beliefs of the peoples of the North, as well as taiga tea prepared in a yaranga over a fire. The drink is based on northern fireweed tea and dwarf cedar cones.
One of the highlights of the program is the national game “How to lasso a deer.” The even guide will show you how the reindeer herder’s main tool, the lasso, works, and how to correctly throw it onto the animal’s horns. Here you can take part in national northern games, try on an ethnic costume, and take pictures with deer by the fire.
Source: rg.ru
