île Olkhon Vacations

If there is one place you should explore in the immense territory of Russia, it is Lake Baikal. A land of conquests, marked by trouble and history, a land soaked in Shamanism, where you feel sucked in by the translucent water of the lake. It's called the "pearl of Siberia" for good reason. Lake Baikal is an endless source of fascination for the travellers who go to see it.

The largest lake in Europe and the second-largest in Russia offers fantastic Nordic scenery, made up of rocky coastlines and both dense and sparse coniferous forests. With its strong, although Nordic, light, its natural areas of great serenity and an absence of urban areas on its shores, despite the proximity of St. Petersburg, Lake Ladoga is an enchanting setting.

With its subtropical climate, beaches  and beautiful mountain landscapes, the Black Sea coastline is perfect for a coastal trip in an exotic setting. With its datchas and dynamism, Sochi is the Black Sea resort par excellence along the Russian Riviera, though it's so close to the Krasnaïa Poliana ski resorts; other people perhaps prefer Adler which is frequented by a less affluent crowd.

Alongside the Louvre or the British Museum, the Saint Petersburg Hermitage Museum is amongst the best in the world. A sumptuous neo-classical palace built on the command of Peter the Great, it holds an impressive collection of paintings. Playing host to some of the most beautiful works of European art, this must see is likely to keep you there for days and days.