Russia is a country that few people have toured, or even flown to at all, but all that is changing quite rapidly. Statistics from the Russian consulate in South Africa, for example, show a dramatic increase in tourists to Russia, a country that almost no-one can visit without a visa. Those who have taken a tour through the former Soviet Union are rewarded with a colourful display of culture, hospitality and a treasure of new experiences.
The entire country of Russia is massive – stretching practically around half the globe. It borders with Poland and the USA, Japan and India, to name a few. Most of Russia is definitely not a tourist destination at all, and the western side and urban areas are most often visited. In recent times, more business people as well as vacation tourists have both started visiting Russia.
Russia in Russian is written as Россия, but you won’t have to learn the Cyrillic alphabet to make it through Siberia. While an increasing number of Russians now speak English, your best bet is to hire a translator or interpreter for parts of your tour or even the full duration of your stay. This is of course if your budget allows for it, but bear in mind that these English-speaking tour guides have more exciting
places to show you than the local maps and brochures.
One particularly hidden fact about Russians is their hospitality. While Western culture displays Russians as rough and gruff, most are very kind and are in fact quite excited to meet foreigners and tourists alike. You would do well to find ways to enter the Russian culture through its people, something that can be done by hiring a tour guide (at least for a day) and travelling a little off the beaten path.
MilesAway is the absolute leader in tours and trips to Russia. We have Russian speaking tour agents, guides and contacts throughout the entire country. The flights we book often go to Moscow, St Petersburg and other cities all over Russia, and we send both business and private travelers. In fact, many conferences are held in Russia and our clients often include a large number of delegates. We have even set up meetings for clients with industry partners to cover any possible language barrier. For tourists, our tours cover all types of people and all ages. We offer all of Russian coach, bus, train and Russian cruise tours.
If you have a sense of adventure and wish to visit Russia, or have a business engagement coming up soon, book it through MilesAway. Enquire with us and we’ll reply on the same day. Na zdorovie! Cheers!