|
The Russian Cycle Touring Club organises excellent tours for international groups of cyclists, offering an opportunity to experience the 'real' Russia beyond the official one which visitors are usually shown. Russian visas are best obtained through an agent specializing in the former Soviet Union, like Brit Education + Travel in London.
(Click on the photos to enlarge them.)
2004 'Golden Ring' tour
This tour followed quiet roads along the Volga river to the north of Moscow. We cycled through huge birch forests, bought wild berries by the roadside and saw golden church domes in the villages we passed through. The cyrillic road signs were quickly mastered, but detailed maps were hard to find.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
We camped wild and swam in the clear, warm waters of the Volga. We also stayed with Russian hosts and enjoyed shopping in rural shops and eating in village cafes. Life is hard for most Russians, despite their 'superpower' past. |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
2008 'Silver Ring' tour
Our route followed part of the massive Volga-Baltic Waterway in the north-eastern part of Russia, a poorer region than that of our 2004 tour. The birch forests and flower meadows were a delight to cycle through, and we visited some of the wooden churches that had survived the Soviet period. We finished near St.Petersberg and were able to explore the cultural heritage of the surrounding area before returning to Moscow by train.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
© Chris Bell |