Travel by motorboat. River cruises in Russia - nuances of choice Traveling along the river

Cruises are different: from hour skiing to river tram along the Moskva River before a two-week journey along the Volga and its tributaries. We give tips on when to travel through the deep water Russian rivers and lakes, what to see - and what to bring as a souvenir.

Capital cruise

Lydia Lipkina View from the walls of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin.

Sometimes river ring cruises become part of a longer itinerary Volga - Kama... Depending on the number of stops and excursions, the Moscow Around the World trip takes from 10 days to two weeks. Longer cruises with a trip to the upper reaches of the Kama require more time - about 20 days.

From afar for a long time ...

Chernysheva Victoria Volga in the vicinity of Ulyanovsk

However, motor ships are more often heading south, to the lower reaches of the Volga. Having reached Astrakhan or Rostov-on-Don, the ships turn around and return up the river to the capital. The period of such a voyage is considerable, from 19 to 22 days. However, it is not at all necessary to do it entirely: you can get off the ship at any stop, and you can return back by train or plane.

To the north!

Vagina Yulia Gennadevna On Lake Ladoga.

Cruise companies offer a variety of cruise programs. For example, a 12-day swim up to Northern capital and vice versa, you can diversify with excursions to the main attractions of the Russian North: Kirillo-Belozersky and Ferapontov monasteries, Valaam and Kizham.

Alexey Zavodskiy Monastery on the Bolshoy Solovetskoye Lake.

You can also get to the pearl from Moscow Of the White Sea – Solovetsky Monastery ... The first stages of this journey coincide with the route to St. Petersburg, but at the crossroads - Lake Onega - the ship does not enter the Svir River, but goes further, to the northern shore, where the entrance to the White Sea-Baltic Canal is located. Passing another chain of reservoirs (Matkoozero, Telekino, Vygozero), the cruise ship reaches the water area of ​​Belomorsk, which is located on the coast itself. Now only 65 kilometers (that is, of course, 35 nautical miles) separate it from the Solovetsky archipelago. The round trip usually takes 11-13 days.

If you happen to visit Arkhangelsk in the summer, do not miss the opportunity to climb up the Northern Dvina: this is a less popular route, and they walk along it only a couple of times a year - but that is its beauty.

Siberian cruises

Bykova Regina Vladimirovna Sunset on Olkhon

Cruises on Siberian rivers differ from the travels described above. For example, on the full-flowing Lena (unlike the Volga, and even from the Yenisei and Ob) there are no dams and hydroelectric power plants, so swimming along the Lena pillars, walking in the taiga and meeting the indigenous inhabitants of these regions will allow you to travel to the distant past of Siberia, which has not yet knew the European colonialists.

Tatiana Gasich Lena Pillars

Usually all cruises on Lena start at the port of Yakutsk. From here the ships either go north and reach the Laptev Sea, where the village of Tiksi is located, or rise against the current to the south, reaching the Lena Cheeks canyon. Both paths last about two weeks.

Travel across Yenisei are often included in the program of larger tours - for example, expeditions to the Putorana plateau. However, local travel agencies organize the actual cruises between Dudinka (the river "gate" of Norilsk), Yeniseisk and Krasnoyarsk.

Maxim Akulich Embankment in Krasnoyarsk.

In these cities and their environs there are many natural and man-made monuments: from the first house of Norilsk to the famous Krasnoyarsk pillars.

For those who are going to sail along Obi, you will need to arrive in Salekhard or Novosibirsk: ships go between these two cities.

Andrey Polyakov Two bridges across the Ob in Novosibirsk.

The cruise program usually includes excursions around Salekhard, Khanty-Mansiysk, Surgut and smaller settlements.

On what?

On board the ship you can find everything your heart desires - from a souvenir kiosk to a sauna and fitness equipment, but keep in mind that the number and range of services varies depending on the tour and the type of ticket.

Popov Nikolay Ivanovich Tver, embankment.

For the cruise, you can also charter a motor or sailing yacht, pleasure boat or catamaran. They are faster and more maneuverable, but in terms of comfort they are inferior to motor ships: there is less space here, there may be no latrine at all, and on large lakes in windy weather, a small vessel can get seasick. However, to someone, such a voyage will seem sweeter and more romantic than slow ships.

When?

What should you bring with you?

RIVER PAKHRA

The Pakhra River is located in the Moscow region, it is the right tributary of the Moskva River, its length is 135 kilometers. Before traveling by boat on the water, you need to carefully prepare everything, I described this in detail in the previous

Moscow river

For such travel lovers, for nature lovers like us, there is nothing brighter than traveling along the rivers in our native Moscow region. We, adventurers, have received them in full, there is no comparison with hiking and traveling by car. a large number of rivers

Beautiful places on the Pakhra river

And rivulets with such banks, almost like (figuratively speaking) in the Amazon basin. Here you can watch the wildlife. Here is a miracle of flora and fauna, all kinds of animals and birds strive for water in search of drink and coolness! And how many tents and cars with license plates from different regions are on the banks of this river?

Shish kebab on Pakhra

Whether you are taking a long walk for three to four days or just one day off, water tourism will take you to the world of inimitable nature, branches of trees from one side of the river reach branches of the other side of the river and they form a kind of tent above us. We glided through the water in the shade of trees, the water was pleasant

Now the launch and drove ...

cool, and the air was chirping birds and we looked at different underwater inhabitants, here we swam, we did not turn on all the time, often swam on the oars and listened to the silence and buzzing of bees ...

Again the Pakhra river

What beautiful hills overgrown with forests on the banks of the Pakhra River, what bizarre limestone formations were discovered and developed here in the 15th and 16th centuries, limestone was taken from here for construction, hence the name of Moscow - "Moscow - white stone". beautiful river with a folding table, folding chairs and cook buckwheat with stew over a fire in a cauldron! The Moscow region is rich in navigable rivers, you can take a river cruise on a motor ship, but we enjoyed traveling on a motor boat best of all!

Six-person French tent

A significant part coastline the Pakhra rivers are so thick that you can't even go ashore and swim! There are beach spots or a place for a fisherman to get ashore. To travel along this river, we always choose its mouth and begin to move against the current.

Of course, for study trips, areas of calm waters are most suitable, where you can leisurely view interesting objects and shoot them with a camcorder or camera, or you can watch them through twenty-fold binoculars.

We travel only in summer and only during daylight hours. abnormal zones... At Dubrovits, Pakhra merges with the gum river, the width of the river here is a maximum of 50 meters, here good fishing: there are pike, crucian carp, large bream, perches, ideals and ashes ...

This is the area where the kite of prey lives, it settles on tall trees by the river ... When traveling by motorboat, you need to stock up on sunscreen, mosquito cream and a wide-brimmed hat. Observing nature in the floodplain of the Pakhra River requires patience, keen eyesight, well-timed timing and good luck! Rivers have always played an important role in our ancestors, they have always served as transport arteries, dams were built on them, water worked for a person, turned the wheels of mills.

She served and still serves as a source of food. Today, rivers in the Moscow region have become an excellent resource for ecotourism. We rowed and with the help climbed up the river to the roll (about six kilometers), there are no rapids like on the rivers of Siberia, Far East, Karelia, but here there is silence, the calmness of a flat river. Rafting on this river is devoid of extreme, there is calmness and again calmness. Experience convinced me that I need to take change clothes with me, I should have comfortable sports shoes on my feet, jewelry from the body is necessary take off.

You need to take a tent, a sleeping bag and a tourist's rug for everyone, we definitely take a first aid kit with us, in case of rain, you need to have a plastic wrap on the motor boat. Be sure to take a gas burner with a set of gas cylinders on every trip.

How many times on a motor boat have we collided at full speed with half-flooded trees, "drowned" trees sticking out of the water, branches of trees, but God has mercy, we did not suffer accidents and for 9 years we have not glued a pkhv boat even once!

We also had an unpleasant incident with the motor! I could not restrain him, slipped while carrying him from the motor boat to the shore, I stumbled and the motor was in the water! The instructions say that in this case you need to contact the service center, the motor cannot be restored on the spot, but I disassembled it, dried it, lubricated it, reassembled it, it worked like new!

What fine fellows the Japanese are making and assembling Tohatsu motors! The motor has been serving me for 9 years and works like a clock!

Moscow is a river near the village of Ostrov

Travel across lakes and rivers in motor boats powered by Tohatsu motors!

Kolyma river

Yuri Prokofiev dedicated this trip along the Kolyma River to the memory of the victims of political repression in the 30-50s. So amazing, harsh, and at the same time, extremely beautiful edge was revealed to its inhabitants in those painful years. Walking along the river today is not at all the same as living in these parts before, during the Gulag, but at the same time, such a bold, free trip to wildlife Kolyma north, without vouchers, guides, various comfortable hotels - deserves the highest respect from me! I think you, too, dear readers!

Part 1. The way to the Kolyma

At 6:15, I arrived at Lena station, checked in my luggage in the luggage compartment, sat in the waiting room until 8:00, and rushed to the city of Ust-Kut in search of good luck, which they wished me a lot at home. At first, she avoided me in every possible way, I ran around the docks and control rooms, but, of course, no one needed me there. There was a ship on the right bank under loading, and I was advised to go and talk to the captain, but he pretended that we were not on the way, and I did not insist. The ship was sailing to Lensk, and thank God that I did not get on it, although I was ready to board any ship sailing in the direction of Yakutsk, even if with transfers. But the world is not without good people, they advised to contact Lensky's electronic warfare river shipping company to the director Petchik P.E., he was imbued with my idea to go through the Kolyma and put up a bowing cross and promised to help. He told me where to go and who else to turn to. I went to the director of the LORP Golovin GD, but he could not help me in any way. I ran to the station to find out if my raft had come (I sent it to Ust-Kut by a freight train). Near the station I met the owner of the house, where I lived for 10 days last year, while waiting for the raft. She gave the go-ahead for accommodation this time too. I went there to pick up the key to the house - her son was there at that time. They called from the luggage compartment of the station, said that the raft had come and it must be picked up urgently, otherwise they would have to pay 1,500 rubles. for storage for 1 day, and then there will be even more. He took the key and ran to P.E. Petchik. - to say that nothing was cut off for me in LORP. He immediately called - and I seemed to be in a fairy tale: a separate room in the Parus Hotel, moreover, is free, which is very important for me, there is not enough money for the trip to Kolyma.

After spending the night at the hotel, in the morning I arrived at the station to pick up my trunks from the storage room and the raft. P.E. Petchik called. and told me to wait with all my things at the station, and they would take me where I needed to go. I received a raft, paying 1,500 rubles for storage, a car soon drove up, and we arrived at the electronic warfare, and then Petchik P.E. took me with all my belongings to the ship, where, with the consent of the captain, I settled. After spending the night on board, early in the morning I went to church, defended the service and received a blessing from Father Pavel for the trip to Kolyma. This day was the feast of the Ascension of the Lord.

We are standing at the loading. On May 25, he asked the captain for leave, went to church to pray and light candles for health - Masha and Lyova are in the hospital. On May 28, they hooked up another barge and weighed anchor for about 16 hours. I'm finally on my way. May 29, 30, 31, June 1, 2, 3 - we go along the Lena River to Yakutsk. Last year I walked along the Lena on a raft from Ust-Kut to Tiksi - the river is almost my own. On June 4, we came to Moksogolov and stood up for unloading.

Way to Kolyma, Ust-Kut - Yakutsk by barge

Cruise along the Lena River on a barge

They unloaded the barge and went to Yakutsk. At 16:00 I was dropped ashore, spent the night on the shore next to the road on the rise to Nizhny Bestyakh.

The way to Kolyma along the Kolyma - Nizhny Bestyakh highway

In the morning a kind person was found, took me with all the belongings to the village of Nizhny Bestyakh. In the village, I loaded the raft and equipment onto the roof of the UAZ-ik, and drove 400 km in the rain along a bumpy road so as not to be late for the Aldan crossing. We arrived on time, but a bummer: KAMAZ got stuck near the ferry and had to spend the night at the crossing.

In the morning, with a fight, we took a place on the ferry and crossed the Aldan. Misha took me to the exit from the village of Khandyga and dropped me off at an abandoned traffic police post. Voted all day, but all the cars flew past, not slowing down. In the evening, KAMAZ stopped and took me to the village of Teply Klyuch, where I put up a tent and spent the night. Celebrated the wedding anniversary. At night, dogs ran around the tent and some drunken rag wanted to see what was inside the tent.

Overnight in Teplyi Klyuch

It started raining in the night and continued all day. Trampled the road, voted, but to no avail, all cars go to the limit loaded. Several people approached, including the police, asked where I was coming from, where and why. A group of children with educators passed - a children's summer camp, we got to know each other. The woman said that she would talk to her husband about taking me away from Teplyi Klyuch in the direction of Ust-Nera. At 17:00 he came for me, plunged, drove in after his wife and drove along the Kolyma highway. We drove through the mountains, the beauty is indescribable and terrible at the same time. The Kolyma track on this section from Teplyi Klyuch and further is so beautiful that it takes your breath away, but horrible incidents constantly occur on it, and it is literally built on human bones. Stepan works as a foreman, maintains a section of the road 300 km away and knows everything about it. His wife is a philologist, teacher of English language at school, an absolutely wonderful woman in all respects. They are Yakuts. They took them as far as possible for them and dropped them off near the Khandyga River. All around the mountains, and the noise of the river not far from the parking lot.

Road to Kolyma, Yakutia

Beauty of Yakutia

Stepan with his wife

Set up camp near the road. I wrote "Ust-Nera" on the cover of my bag so that passers-by could see where I needed to go. I'm on duty as soon as I hear the sound of the engine. I prayed for the people who gave their lives to build this road. Stepan said that the places are bearish, and if the clubfoot comes, so that I would not be surprised. Gave a can of condensed milk, says: "Give it to him, and while he is eating it, tear the claws if you can." So I gathered firewood and smoked the fire all night, slept like a beast, with open eyes and ears.

I got up at 3 am and immediately went to work. Two cars passed until 8 am, not mine. It started raining and I had to go to the tent. When the rain stopped, I climbed out of the tent onto the road. Five cars passed: all rushed by without slowing down - and this greatly surprised me. There is a man on the Kolyma highway and almost jumps out onto the road, risking his life. I think if I lay down beside the road or on it, I would just go around without stopping. In our time, the law of the North is dead, this is a fact. By the evening, nevertheless, a normal man was found, stopped, asked if he needed help. Apparently, Nikola the Pleasant intervened. I explained everything, and he understood everything, took me on board. The name of a good man is Farid, I rode with him to Susuman, but they warned me there, and I myself realized that there could be serious problems if I start from Susuman. There was ice on the Kolyma reservoir. So we drove on to Debin. Farid took nothing for the road; apparently, he drove into my position.

The nature of Yakutia

All about river cruises in Russia: travel routes, rivers, tours and prices from the best cruise tour operators.

• Tours for May
• Last Minute Tours

Almost lost after the 1917 revolution, the special spirit and flavor of river cruises began to revive again in shipping, and along with them, the popularity of this type of recreation, praised by the classics of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, is reviving. And indeed - where else to feel how “wide my native land” is, if not on the deck of a cruise ship, slowly cutting through the water surface?

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River cruises gaining popularity not only due to nostalgia for pre-revolutionary times. Firstly, this is one of the few types of recreation that does not require time-consuming travel, because it is "travel" in itself: your vacation begins at the moment of departure and ends upon arrival at your destination, and you manage to visit many places without " falling out »days of vacation for moving in trains or buses. Secondly, your hotel travels with you, and you can return from an excursion to your cabin at any time if you are tired or feel unwell. Thirdly, modern motor ships equipped with everything you need: most of the cabins are equipped with conveniences, there are restaurants, bars, video rooms, billiard tables, karaoke and even swimming pools, so if you wish, you can spend the whole cruise on the ship without ever going ashore.

However, those who are not happy with such a prospect will not be disappointed either: almost all river cruises involve a rich excursion program, "green parking" with picnics under open air and other entertainments, and if the weather is favorable - then with swimming.

Routes and features

River crises last from 2 to 20 days, depending on the route. As for the routes, the most popular are a variety of cruises along the Volga, Kama and Don (the duration depends on the number of stops and saturation excursion program), as well as sightseeing and religious tours of the northern directions (Valaam, Kizhi, Solovki) - and numerous hybrids of these two species.

So, cruises in northern directions traditionally go from St. Petersburg (this is both cheaper and faster - you can meet in 2 days off), and travel along the Volga to the south usually begins in Moscow. At the same time, routes of the type "Moscow - St. Petersburg - Moscow" are gaining popularity, usually lasting from 6 to 11 days and uniting part of the Volga and northern directions. The main excursion points are usually Valaam and Kizhi.

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Cruise prices

The cost of the cruise usually includes: accommodation and bedding (usually the price is indicated for one person, and not for the cabin - keep this in mind), 2 or 3 meals a day (due to the rich program, the ship cannot stop for every meal of the passengers, but there is every day in the restaurant à la carte is still expensive), excursions according to the program, guide services and entertainment on board the ship.

Those who are determined not to take additional excursions should think over their leisure time for their free time, because a tourist finds himself alone (or in the company of the same tourists) in a city that is most often completely unfamiliar to him. It makes sense to learn about locality bigger and outline the circle of objects that you would like, and most importantly, you will have time to visit before the boat departs.

The subtleties of choosing a cruise

There are a few more nuances worth discussing.

First, health insurance. Russian tourists, having resigned themselves and realizing the need for medical insurance abroad, when traveling in Russia they rely exclusively on compulsory medical insurance and maybe, which do not always save. For almost all cruises, medical insurance is offered on a voluntary basis, and it makes sense to take advantage of it: you can get it right at the travel agency's office, it’s a penny in relation to the cost of any cruise, and the soul will be calm.

Secondly, one should carefully consider the choice of not only the route, but also the ship. On the website of almost every tourist and every shipping company there is quite complete information about a particular ship, including the year of launching and reconstructions. This opportunity should not be neglected. In addition, for your own peace of mind, you can ask the captain to show all the permitting documents before boarding.

It is worth learning more about the ship, not only for safety reasons, but also in order to understand the reason for the price difference. So, one and the same five-day tour "St. Petersburg - Valaam-Svirstroy - Kizhi - Petrozavodsk - Mandrogi - St. more expensive by about one and a half to two times. Part of this money is spent on additional points of the excursion program, but still - why is there such a big difference? Having opened information about the ships, we learn that the "expensive" motor ship was recently restored, it is larger, more comfortable, all its rooms are equipped not only with a bathroom, but also with a refrigerator, and there is much more entertainment on board. And here you can already make a conscious choice: what we sacrifice - money or comfort.

Prices on the page are for November 2019.