Russia, despite being an incredible country to backpack through and the largest in the world, often sees fewer tourists due to the challenging visa process. Fortunately, we managed to get our visa in Shanghai without any hassles and are thrilled we made the effort!
Our experience in Russia surpassed all our expectations. We had imagined unfriendly, serious people, a landscape dominated by metal structures, and an abundance of vodka. While vodka was indeed plentiful, the people were incredibly welcoming, and most buildings in Siberia were actually made from wood, not cold steel.
The food was delicious, the outdoors were breathtaking, and the hostels were some of the best we’ve encountered. The scenery blew us away. Even though we only had eight days in this vast country, we were pleased with our decision to explore the Siberian region along the Trans-Siberian Train route. We definitely want to return to visit cities and sights we missed, especially the stunning cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow, which offer endless attractions!
During our trip, we traveled by train, bus, marshuka, old Soviet vans, tram, and boat. Russia’s various modes of transportation added an exciting element to our journey.
We learned about the strong Russian Orthodox faith as we admired beautiful cathedrals. We sunbathed, swam, and hiked around an island in Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake. Borscht, sausage, potatoes, smoked braided cheese, and fish became our staple foods, and we developed a new appreciation for dill-flavored dishes.
We camped on a beach, stayed in pristine dorm rooms, and enjoyed a quaint wooden private room in Siberia. We even experienced a traditional Russian banya, thrashing ourselves with birch branches and eucalyptus leaves before sweating out toxins in the sauna—an experience we highly recommend.
We enjoyed a cultural show featuring traditional instruments and songs and made many new friends over numerous shots of vodka. We also discovered that Russians chase their vodka shots with food like cucumbers, apples, bread, and smoked cheese, making them smarter drinkers than us. Eating while drinking heavily makes so much sense.
Although we didn’t speak Russian (beyond a few basic words) and the Russians we met didn’t speak English, we found that charades and hand gestures worked wonders!
After an amazing eight days filled with experiences that defied our stereotypes of Russia, we moved on to Kazakhstan. Instead of taking another train, we boarded an overnight bus from Omsk to Astana. While trains are usually more comfortable, the bus was 50% cheaper, so we braced ourselves for the 15-hour journey and bid farewell to Russia.
Have you ever been to Russia? What was your experience like? Share your thoughts below!