Ecotourism has appeared relatively recently, but is rapidly gaining popularity. According to the TurStat agency, in 2016 more than 9 million people became closer to nature by visiting one of the natural national parks, reserves or nature reserves in Russia. It is expected that next year there will be even more of them - after all, 2017 has been declared the Year of Ecology in the Russian Federation. In the meantime, introduce top 10 most popular ecotourism places in Russia.
10. National Park "Lower Kama" (Tatarstan)
The reserve was created to preserve meadow and forest landscapes in the Republic of Tatarstan. The territory of the park embodies the best features of central Russia - a green plain, streaked with many rivers and streams, with forests and groves. One of the most popular hiking routes among tourists is a walk through places that Shishkin captured in his paintings, as well as a kayak trip along the Kama River.
9. National Park "Khvalynsky" (Saratov Region)
There is something to see in Khvalynsky - on the territory of the reserve there are many objects of cultural significance, ranging from ancient settlements to the ethnographic museum. In addition to excursion routes, you can live in the park in a separate cottage or guest house.
8. Specially protected natural area “Russian North” (Vologda Oblast)
The park has five unique natural sites, more than 50 lakes and numerous cultural monuments, revealing the rich past of the north of Russia. Visitors can go through 13 tourist routes, as well as stay for a longer time in tourist complexes and private pensions.
7. Nature Park "Kandry-Kul" (Bashkiria)
“Kandry-Kul” is one of the largest lakes in Bashkiria, popular among lovers of tourism and water recreation. In order to organize crowds of tourists and minimize damage to nature, the eponymous nature park was created. Money from visitors goes to refine and keep the park clean.
6. National Park "Shushensky Bor" (Krasnoyarsk Territory)
"Shushensky Bor" is rich in vegetation and living creatures - more than 800 species of plants (11 are listed in the Red Book), 270 species of birds, almost 60 species of mammals. Visitors are offered walking and car routes, for climbers - mountain trails, and for those wishing to relax from urban life for a longer period - places at the camp site and cottages.
5. National Park "Elbrus" (Kabardino-Balkaria)
One of the best ski resorts in Russia. The infrastructure there lags far behind not only foreign but also domestic analogues. But since tourists continue to go there, despite the difficulties, it means that skiing there is really amazing.
4. National Park “Curonian Spit” (Kaliningrad Oblast)
A narrow sandy strip separating the Curonian lagoon from the Baltic Sea and distinguished by its diversity and richness of landscapes. Although this nature park is the smallest, it is also one of the most visited by ecotourists from all over Russia - about 400,000 people rest there a year.
3. National park "Pribaikalsky" (Irkutsk region)
Only in this park you can admire the legendary Baikal seal, the only freshwater seal in the world. There are several routes of varying lengths and complexity, as well as the possibility of living at a camp site or in a cottage. You can still visit many cultural and archaeological sites, from ancient cave paintings to sacred shamans on the island of Olkhon.
2. Sochi Natural Park (Sochi)
Visitors are invited to go along more than 30 excursion routes and enjoy the unique nature, rich subtropical flora and many rivers and streams that make an unforgettable impression.
1. Elk Island (Moscow)
And the most popular destination for ecotourists was Elk Island - 7 million people visit it annually. Basically, these are, of course, residents of Moscow and the nearby cities of the Moscow Region (Korolev or Balashikha). Guests especially like the Elk Biostation, where you can see moose and feed them.
