Asia Travel || Cambodia

COUNTRY AND TRAVEL INFORMATION OF CAMBODIA - ASIA TRAVEL Cambodia Travel Information Map of Cambodia Facts about Cambodia || Tour Packages || Food || Phnom Penh || Angkor Wat and Siemreap Angkor Wat - Angkor Thom || Currency || Climate || Geography || Langauges || Religion Angkor Wat - Bayon || How to reach || Visa FACTS ABOUT CAMBODIA The Kingdom of Cambodia is an independent country with a population of more than 7 million people. With a surface area of 181,035 sq. km and once a French colony, is the least known Indochinese country. Cambodia has a distinct geographical personality: it is a wide basin surrounded by highlands. In this basin the farmer has created a simple life - an original civilization and philosophy of mildness. After many years of war, people rediscovered the meaning of "PEACE" They started to rebuild and reconstruct in all fields. Cambodia is divided into 20 provinces and rich in resources, forests, rubber, gems, fish and has a big potential in tourism. FACTS ABOUT THE COUNTRY Khmers have called their country Kampuchea (usually rendered Kambuja), since the l6th century. The name is derived from the word kambu-ja, meaning those born of Kambu (a figure of Indian mythology), which was first used to refer to the people of Cambodia in the 10th century. The Portuguese Cambodia and French Cambodge from which the English name Cambodia is derived, are adaptations of " Kampuja". It was the Khmer Rouge who insisted that the outside world use the name Kampuchea. Changing the country's official English name back to Cambodia (which has been used by the US State Department all along) was intended as a symbolic move to distance the present government in Phnom Penh from the bitter connotations of the name Kampuchea, which westerners and overseas Khmer alike associate with the murderous Khmer Rouge regime. As a result of the United Nations sponsored and enforced election in May, 1993, the Kingdom of Cambodia is now safe to travel and tourism has once again become possible. Indeed, the country and Phnom Penh in partucular is undergoing something of a renaissance. Often overshadowed by the traumatic events of its recent past, Cambodia as home of the Khmer culture remains one of the most important and exotic countries in South East Asia. FOOD Cambodian food is closely related to the cuisines of neighbouring Thailand and Laos, and to a lesser extent, Vietnam, but there are some distinct local dishes. In the growing number of restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siemreap, you will find excellent Chinese and Vietnamese dishes but it is the local dishes which are often the best prepared and most interesting. Rice is the principal staple and and Battanbang Region is the country's rice bowl. Most Cambodian dishes are cooked in a wok known locally as a chnang khteak. PHNOM PENH The country's capital Phnom Penh is renowned for its beauty, particularly the area surrounding the Royal Palace where magificent Khmer towers share the boulevard with coloured French villas overlooking the banks of the Tonle Sap river. ANGKOR WAT AND SIEMREAP The glorious and world-famous Angkor Wat situates in Siemreap Province and is just a few kilometers from the town. One can reach Siemreap by taking daily direct flight from Phnom Penh. Temples of Angkor were built between 7th and 11th century when Khmer civilazation was at its height of its extraordinary creativity. Angkor Wat is the cultural home of the Khmer people and one of the ancient wonders of the world. Its magnificent architecture was the evidence of the Khmer's strong belief in religions - Hinduism and Buddhism. First discovered by Western archeologists in the late 19th century, the lost city of Angkor is just re-opening to the exploration to the modern civilization. ANGKOR WAT - ANGKOR THOM The fortified city of Angkor Thom, some 10 sq km in extent, was built in its present form by Angkor's greatest builder, Jayavarman 7 (reigned 1181 to 1201), who came to power just after the disastrous sacking by the Chams of the previous Khmer capital, is enclosed by a square wall eight metres high and 12 km in length and encircled by a moat 100 meters wide, said to have been inhabited by fierce crocodiles. The city has five monumental gates, one in the north, west and south walls and two in the east wall. The gates, which are 20 metres in height, are decorated on either side of the passageway with stone elephant trunks and crowned by four gargantuan faces of the bodhisatva Avalokitesvara. CURRENCY The unit is the RIELS. Riel demoninations are 100, 200 and 500. Exchange rates are subject to fluctuation. US$ are generally accepted thoughout the country. In Phnom Penh, some credit cards can be used and limited services and purchasing and cashing traveller cheques. CLIMATE Cambodia lies in a tropical zone between 10 and 14 degree of latitude north the equator. The temperature is fairly uniform throughout the year and averages 25 degree centigrade (77 degree fahrenheit). The relative humidity is higher at night and usually in excess of 90 percent, during the day the average humidity is 80 percent. GEOGRAPHY The Cambodia has an area of about 181,305 squares kilometres, bordered to the north by Thailand and Laos, to the east and the south by Vietnam, to the west by the gulf of Cambodia. LANGUAGES The Cambodian language is Khmer, which is inherited itself - and advanced in education with application of Indic languages Pali and Sangkrit from India. Some technical languages are borrowed from French. However, English is commonly communicated in hotels and business compounds at present days. RELIGION The majority of the people of Cambodia are followers of Thervada and Hinayana school of Buddhism which was introduced to Cambodia between the 13th and 14 centuries and was the state religion until 1975. ANGKOR WAT - BAYON The temples of Angkor Thom, is located in the city's geographic centre. The 50-tower temples is an awesome sight. At first glances, the complex seems a shapeless mass of stone. Suddenly, further scrutiny reveals a face, enigmatic and silent, watching with half-closed eyes. Soon, another face is made out, and another, and still yet another, until they are all round silent, heavy and impressive, staring from a primitive and remote time. Every visitors to Angkor Wat has to pay entrance fees. HOW TO REACH CAMBODIA & ANGKOR WAT There are direct flights to the capital of Phnom Penh from Bangkok, Hanoi, Hochiminh City, Hong Kong, Kuahlupur, Singapore and Vientiane. From Phnom Penh, one can take direct flights to Siemreap (Angkor), which are now operates on daily basis. Because of its vast architectures and plentiful of myths and informations, visiting of the great Angkor Wat with a knowlegable and well-trained guide is highly recommended and fun. You can enjoy traveling to Angkor Wat . CAMBODIA VISA A fifteen-day tourist visa can be obtained at US$ 20 upon arrival at Pochentong Airport. Visitors should bring along at least 4 photos, and sign the visa applications form upon arrival. Visa extensions are possible through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Office of Immigration. Asia Travel || Cambodia Page

Travel gift card today

Cheap flights from Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar and Regional Express Your postcode: Advanced search HTML Plain text Order a Harvey World Travel gift card today Australia New Zealand South Africa United Kingdom Search and book cheap flights. Compare and save on Qantas, Virgin Blue, Jetstar, Rex, International airfares, hotels and cars. From: Choose a City Adelaide Brisbane Canberra Darwin Gold Coast Hobart Launceston Melbourne - Avalon Melbourne - Tullamarine Perth Sydney ------------------ Adelaide Airlie Beach Albany Albury Alice Springs Armidale Avalon Ayers Rock Ayr Au Bairnsdale Ballina Bamaga Bankstown Bathurst Isl Bathurst Biloela Blackwater Borroloola Bourke Brewarrina Brisbane Broken Hill Broome Bunbury Bundaberg Burnie Busselton Cairns Canberra Carnarvon Casino Ceduna Cessnock Charleville Clermont Cloncurry Cobar Coffs Harbour Colac Collinsville Coober Pedy Cooinda Cooktown Cooma Coonabarabrn Coonamble Cowra Cudal Dalby Darwin Daydream Island Deniliquin Derby Devonport Dongara Dubbo Dunk Island Echuca Emerald Esperance Exmouth Gulf Forster Fremantle Geelong Geraldton Gladstone Glen Innes Gold Coast Goondiwindi Gove Grafton Griffith Gunnedah Gympie Hamilton Island Hayman Island Hervey Bay Hobart Horn Island Inverell Jabiru Kalgoorlie Karratha Katherine Kempsey King Island Kings Canyon Kingscote Kununurra Launceston Laverton Learmonth Leeton Leinster Leonora Lightning Ridge Lismore Long Island Longreach Lord Howe Island Mackay Maitland Margaret River Station Margaret River Maroochydore Maryborough Meekathara Melbourne Merimbula Middlemount Mildura Monto Moorabbin Moree Moruya Mount Gambier Mount Hotham Mount Isa Mount Magnet Mount Newman Mudgee Narrabri Narrandera Newcastle Noosa Norfolk Island Norseman Nowra Nullarbor Nyngan Olympic Dam Orange Orpheus Island Paraburdoo Parkes Perth Port Augusta Port Douglas Port Hedland Port Lincoln Port Pirie Portland Proserpine Pt Macquarie Queenstown Quilpie Quirindi Renmark Rockhampton Roma Rottnest Sale Scone Shepparton Shute Hrb Singleton South Molle St George St Helens Stanthorpe Strahan Swan Hill Sydney Tamworth Taree Tennant Creek Thangool Thursday Island Tocumwal Tom Price Toowoomba Townsville Traralgon Useless Loop Wagga Wagga Walgett Wangaratta Warrnambool Warwick Wee Waa Weipa Welshpool Whyalla Windorah Wollongong Wyndham Yandicoogina Young To: Depart: Number of Passengers: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Adult Children (2-11) Infants (<2) Return: Trip Type: Return Oneway Advanced Search Multi-stop Trips CAIRNS From $185.00 Experience Queensland with the best holidays around. NOOSA From $405.00 Experience Queensland with the best holidays around. SUNSHINE COAST From $311.00 Experience Queensland with the best holidays around. TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND From $1,050.00 Experience Queensland with the best holidays around. WHITSUNDAYS From $284.00 Experience Queensland with the best holidays around. WHITSUNDAYS From $688.00 Experience Queensland with the best holidays around. 14 day Gems of the Baltic FLy/Cruise From $6,099.00 Holland America Line Alaska - Small Ship Cruising Book early and save up to $840* per couple. Alaska and Canada From $6,942.00 Fly cruise on Norwegian Wind Imperial Waterways From $2,450.00 Sail between St. Petersburg and Moscow Sitemap | Credits | Disclaimer | Terms of Use | Bookings Terms & Conditions | Deposit & Payment Terms | Privacy | Security | Unsubscribe ©2005 - Harvey World Travel, all rights reserved

Family Vacation Packages: Inclusive

Family Vacation Packages: Inclusive Family Vacations: Family Adventure Vacation: Family Tours & Cruise Experts Family Vacation Packages: Inclusive Family Vacations: Family Adventure Vacation Experts Site Index Family Vacation, Travel, Cruises and Tours Guide Virtuoso, Luxury Family Travel, Vacations and Cruise Specialists Call 1-800 330 8820 to book your Luxury vacation, tour or cruise Family Tour Vacations Luxury Family Tour Vacations Family Vacations, Grandparent Travel Luxury Europe Family Tours Luxury South America Family Tours Luxury Australia & New Zealand Family Tours Luxury Asia Family Tours Luxury Africa Family Safaris Luxury North America Family Tours Caribbean All Inclusive Family Resorts Villas Sandals Jamaica All Inclusive Family Resorts Super Club Jamaica All Inclusive Family Resorts Beaches All Inclusive Family Resorts Barbados Luxury Golf Villas Cap Juluca, Anguilla Island Malliouhana Hotel: Anguilla Island Mustique Family Luxury Villas Necker Island Villa Musha Cay: Great Exuma, Bahamas Nevis Island Luxury Family Vacation Peter Island Family Vacation Little Dix Bay, British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands Family Vacations Guana Island The Bitter End Yacht Club Jumby Bay Luxury Tortola Family Vacations Cove Castles Anguilla Island CuisinArt Villas Anguilla Island Sonesta Beach Villas, Anguilla Cambridge Beaches Cottages Bermuda Half Moon Golf, Tennis and Beach Club, Montego Bay Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Montego Bay, Rose Hall Half Moon Royal Villas Family Vacation Packages, Family Reunions, Enjoyable Family Get-together's, Inclusive Family Vacations, Family Adventure Vacations We have all inclusive family vacations , family vacation homes , family cruises , family villa vacations , family reunion specialists, family wedding and honeymoon coordinators , family adventure travel too. 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Reviews of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor Unbiased reviews of hotels, resorts and vacations Sign in • Sign up Find Hotels Travelers Trust City: Check-in: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Check-out: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Price level: Adults: 1 2 3 4 More options Currency: U.S. Dollar Euro British Pound Canadian Dollar Australian Dollar Swiss Franc Real reviews from real travelers. Like you. The largest site for unbiased travel reviews gives you the real story about hotels, attractions and restaurants around the world. Stories, secrets and special places from people just like you. Search, travel, then share your own experiences. 3,000,000+ unbiased reviews and opinions you can trust Updated every minute, every day by real travelers "Been there, done that" inside information The best deals for your travel dates Search for: Featured Destinations Boston California Cancun Chicago Florida Las Vegas London Maui New York City Orlando Paris Rome Toronto select destination -United States ---- Africa -Botswana -Egypt -Kenya -Mauritius -Morocco -Namibia -Seychelles -South Africa -Tanzania -Tunisia -Zimbabwe ---- Asia -Bhutan -Cambodia -China -India -Indonesia -Japan -Laos -Malaysia -Myanmar -Nepal -Philippines -Singapore -Sri Lanka -Taiwan -Thailand -Vietnam ---- -Canada ---- Caribbean -Antigua -Aruba -Bahamas -Barbados -Bermuda -Bonaire -British Virgin Islands -Cayman Islands -Curacao -Dominica -Dominican Republic -Grenada -Jamaica -Martinique -Puerto Rico -St. Lucia -St. Maarten/St. Martin -Tobago -Trinidad -Turks and Caicos -U.S. Virgin Islands ---- Central America -Belize -Costa Rica -Guatemala -Panama ---- Europe -Andorra -Austria -Belgium -Czech Republic -Denmark -Finland -France -Germany -Greece -Iceland -Ireland -Italy -Luxembourg -Malta -Monaco -Norway -Portugal -Russia -Spain -Sweden -Switzerland -The Netherlands -Turkey -United Kingdom ---- -Mexico ---- Middle East -Israel -Jordan -Saudi Arabia -United Arab Emirates ---- South America -Argentina -Brazil -Chile -Ecuador -Peru -Uruguay -Venezuela ---- South Pacific -American Samoa -Australia -Cook Islands -Federated States of Micronesia -Fiji -French Polynesia -Guam -Kiribati -New Caledonia -New Zealand -Palau -Papua New Guinea -Samoa -Solomon Islands -Tonga -Tuvalu -Vanuatu ---- United States Top Beach Destinations Acapulco Aruba Australia Bahamas Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cancun Dominican Republic Hawaii Jamaica Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Share Your Photos, Get Free Prints Receive $20 in free prints from Shutterfly® when you post 10 travel photos on TripAdvisor. See offer details . TripAdvisor Forums and Reviews Have a travel question? Ask fellow travelers in the TripAdvisor forums . Share your opinion — write a review . Plan a Trip to Europe Austria Belgium France Germany Greece Ireland Italy Portugal Spain Switzerland The Netherlands United Kingdom More Places: United States • Canada • Caribbean • Mexico • Africa • Asia • Central America • Europe • Middle East • South America • South Pacific Editors' Picks: Vacations and Great Escapes Family vacations Golf vacations Beach vacations Los Angeles London San Francisco Hotels in popular destinations Amsterdam hotels Atlanta hotels Atlantic City hotels Barcelona hotels Boston hotels California hotels Cancun hotels Chicago hotels Dallas hotels Daytona Beach hotels Disneyland - Anaheim hotels Disneyworld - Orlando hotels Dominican Republic hotels Dublin hotels Florence hotels Florida hotels Hawaii hotels Italy hotels Key West hotels Las Vegas hotels London hotels Los Angeles hotels Maui hotels Miami hotels Montreal hotels Myrtle Beach hotels New Orleans hotels New York City hotels Palm Springs hotels Paris hotels Philadelphia hotels Phoenix hotels Puerto Rico hotels Puerto Vallarta hotels Punta Cana hotels Reno hotels Rome hotels San Antonio hotels San Diego hotels San Francisco hotels Seattle hotels Sydney hotels Toronto hotels Vancouver hotels Venice hotels Virginia Beach hotels Washington DC hotels About TripAdvisor TripAdvisor provides recommendations for hotels, resorts, inns, vacations, travel packages, vacation packages, travel guides and lots more. Recommendations for hotels, resorts, inns, vacations, travel packages, travel guides and lots more! Visit TripAdvisor in another language: About Us | Membership | Site Map | Consumer Electronics Info | Become an Affiliate | Top Cities | Hotel Reservations | Hotel Deals | TripAdvisor Gear © 2005 TripAdvisor, Inc. All rights reserved. TripAdvisor Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . * TripAdvisor, Inc. is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site... ( more ) TripAdvisor, Inc. is not responsible for content on external web sites.

Russia Travel Guide, climate:

Russia Travel Guide - Information and Advice Russia Travel Guide Information and Advice 'A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma' Churchill St Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide Russia Map | Russia Pictures Russia Travel Guide, climate: Best: May, June, Sept, Oct. July/August can be wet . Worst: Nov-March [winter is long, dark and extremely cold with short days, but the snow scenes will be stunning. Early Spring is muddy, slushy and falling icicles kill! ] Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights: Moscow or St Petersburg are excellent for a wild and wooly underwear weekend. Recommended: 2 weeks to take in Moscow, St Petersburg and some of the surrounding towns - such as the Golden Ring - and countryside. The Trans-Siberian Railway to Irkutsk [Lake Baikal] will require at least 5 days. Main Russia Festivals Guide : 25 Dec- 5 Jan, Russian Winter is celebrated with traditional activities such as music, dance, sleigh rides, folk shows. New Year's Eve tends to be a family/friends occasion, so not wildly exciting. late Feb-early March, Goodbye Russian Winter, as above. Easter Sunday, Moscow, procession and service in stunning Kolomenskoe [Orthodox] church. April/May, Moscow Music Spring Festival , classical music. May 9, Victory Day Parade, Moscow. A stirring military procession. June, the White Nights arts festival is St Petersburg's liveliest event. April/May, St Petersburg Music Spring Festival , classical music. For some precise dates, more suggestions and information see: Colourful Festivals or European Festivals Activities Guide: The country is spacious - to say the least - and outdoor activities are popular but facilities and safety measures can be primitive so get specialist advice before undertaking anything halfway dangerous. Hiking: There is no shortage of excellent trekking terrain, just a shortage of marked trails or maps, so extracting information from locals regularly is essential, and as a consequence a few words of the language are vital. Either that or get a good guide. Lake Baikal [see Russia travel favourites, right], the Elbrus area of the Caucasus, west Ural Mountains and Altay Mountains are prime targets. Check the travel safety situation . White Water rafting: The Katun River in the Altay Republic, Vladisvostok and Kamchatka. Climbing: The Elbrus area of the Caucasus are superb but get specialist advice before arriving in Russia, safety aspects included . Cycling: roads are often in bad shape, cars and drivers even worse shape, but bike travel can still be rewarding, with care, a tough bike and essential spares. Local hospitality is tremendous. Canoeing: rivers can be heavily polluted so inland water travel is difficult to recommend, though the Volga River delta is supposed to be alive and delightful, while the coasts up north offer prospects of isolated adventure. Boat cruises: either on posh tourist boats or cheap, dilapidated Russian craft. The main highway is the Volga River and boats go to/from Moscow, Novgorod, Volgograd and many other attractive cities. Volgograd to Rostov-Don is supposed to be the most interesting section. June-September only. Fishing: mostly salmon out east e.g. from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Skiing: Cross country skiing is traditionally more popular than down-hill skiing; snowboarding is becoming increasingly popular and heli-skiing is available and remarkably good value. There are more than a hundred ski areas, many of which need modernisation, though some resorts in the Caucasus Mountains offer good facilities and comfortable accommodation. For instance, Cheget in the Baksan Valley offers challenging runs, including the longest of 2.5 km; or Mount Elbus - Europe's highest peak at 5,642m [1,8513 ft] - hosts one of Russia's largest resorts, Prielbrusye. There are at least 20 ski slopes within 50 miles of Moscow and some can even be reached by metro! Ice Skating: Possibly the country's most popular pastime with frozen lakes and outdoor rinks all over during the long winter and even indoor rinks open in the summer. Inexpensive and very cheerful. Banya bathing: this Russian style sauna is a good way to experience authentic Russian social life, particularly if you are a graduate of an old British public school where extreme heat, cold and beatings were a way of life. There are banyas everywhere, ranging from appallingly dilapidated to highly polished. The Trans-Siberian Railway This week long, non-stop 10,000km [6,000mls] or so ride travels from Moscow to either: - Vladivostok on Russia's Pacific coast. - via Mongolia to Beijing. - via Manchuria and Harbin to Beijing. This is reputedly one of the world's great train journeys but does not necessarily deliver a comfortable or fascinating experience for everyone. Downside: - there are no showers, except for a few lucky 1st class travelers. - conditions will be cramped. - dining car food will be abysmal. - the scenery is mainly dull, tending towards endless forests and grassy plains, interspersed with the occasional log cabin, log village or vast lake. The train stops for 10 minutes a few times a day, leaving no time to explore, just time to aquire emergency supplies from the platform. - As a consequence, life on the train is paramount, and this depends on various factors coming together. Is your car attendant cordial? Are your fellow passengers interesting? Does anyone snore? Do you mind living off fairly basic food for six days? Can you happily stare out of a dirty window looking at birch trees for hours on end? Is TV an integral part of your life? Do you have a good selection of books with you? Do you like vodka? And so on... Upside: - you can arrange to take a stop over at key points en route, for example attractive Irkutsk [see Russia travel favourites, right] and nearby huge, mountain-hemmed Lake Baikal. Siberian timber buildings are often charming, colourfully decorated and carved. - due to the fame of the train and the number of serious travellers on it there will almost always be someone interesting you can find to chat to for days , though a good companion and a monster picnic hamper [loaded with - you've guessed - vodka] would be a useful starting point. - if you are actually going east/west for a purpose - such as for work in Japan or China - you will be saving the air fare. Train Survival hints: - don't drink the tap water. A samovar [hot water pot] in each carriage supplies sterile water. - clean your window to improve views and photos. - stand well clear when flushing the toilet , it can backfire if the train travels at speed. - learn a few key Russian phrases to charm your surly attendants. - take lots of vodka with you . You can buy some snacks, fruit, cigarettes etc during 15 minute stops at stations, but no alcohol, and you will be doing a lot of socialising! Russia Travel Star Guide: Monuments **** Shopping and souvenirs *** Walkability *** Food Quality and Variety *** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value *** Beaches black sea Wildlife * Landscape *** Local People **** Architecture **** Safety ** Nightlife and Clubbing ***** Health Problems ** Museums ***** Why Travel to Russia? This vast and diverse country, occupying the top chunk of a continent all the way from Poland to Japan - and a big chunk of world history too - demands travel attention. The architecture is both glorious and hideous, the history is monstrous, the art is sensational and the people can be touchingly friendly . Absurd Fabergé eggs? Extraordinary onion domes? Caviar crepe? Yes, please. A hard day's White Night in St Petersburg? Slamming vodka with your taxi driver? Da! Big , brutal, beautiful and intriguing, Russia is an enigma that's got to be sampled by any serious traveller. Downside: - Accommodation is hardly cheap if comfort is an issue, though plenty of budget options are available. - Hygiene can be a problem. - Officials are often unpleasantly boorish . - Crime and corruption in the cities requires an ever-open eye . - Despite the size of the country, internal flights are unreliable and Russian airlines have the world's worst safety record. Some Russia tra vel favourites: 1] ***Moscow, a diverse and interesting city with masses of history, action and must-see spectacles, though not on the same planet as St Petersburg for elegance. See Moscow Travel Guide . 2] ***St Petersburg , one of the world's most beautiful cities, with many splendid buildings and museums, including the spectacular Hermitage, with a sophisticated service industry. See St Petersburg Travel Guide . 3] ***Novgorod, 190 km [118mls] south of St Petersburg , an important political and artistic centre from the 9th century and still holds a wide and varied collection of magnificent structures including Russia's oldest cathedral, frescoes galore, and plenty of glorious oddities. 4]***The Golden Ring,a few hours travel northeast of Moscow, are a collection of attractive historic towns dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. These can be visited on day trips, but better, hire a car or join a boat with a guide and take your time to enjoy: ***Suzdal , the most important town in the Golden Ring, Suzdal used be a political and religious centre and has more than fifty quaint and well-preserved old structures. About 210km [131 mls] from Moscow. It is a major tourist attraction, yet still retains an enchanting, pre-Soviet atmosphere. **Vladimir is famed for its Golden Gate and two splendid cathedrals. About 180km [112 mls] from Moscow. **Rostov. This quiet, rustic town offers the usual churches but also a lovely lake and spectacular kremlin. **Yaroslavl is much bigger than other towns in the Ring but totally crammed with gorgeous churches, if you haven't seen enough. 250kms [156mls] from Moscow. 5] **Irkutsk , the 'Paris of Siberia', is a long way from anywhere except Mongolia, but is on the Trans-Siberian train route [see more info left] and well worth a stop-off. The city is mostly charming, with considerable Chinese influence and some magnificent architecture, including typically elaborate Siberian 'gingerbread' houses. Another of Irkutsk's attractions is the proximity to lovely, 636km [398mls] long Lake Baikal where hiking, biking, horse trekking, fishing and boating are big time. The north end is the most beautiful and isolated. Listvyanka village is a popular place to stay for tourists. 6] ***Cruising the Volga River via some superb old towns like Kazan [ancient Tatar city], Shiryaeva and Ulyanovsk [Lenin's birthplace]. See Boat cruises, left. 7]**Black Sea, Sochi. This is a Russian beach resort town with a warm climate and sophisticated health spas [sanatoria], with beaches and tennis courts, scenically situated at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. 8] ** Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains is a pretty, pleasant city except perhaps for Tsar Nick II and his family who met their end here and the USA's U2 spy pilot who was shot down in the area. The place offers excellent architecture, museums, entertainment and access to the Urals for varied activities. Cuisine Guide: You can eat well and inexpensively nowadays, especially in cafés and fast food places in the cities. Do choose places that look clean and are busy , poor hygiene could result in intestinal blowout. Moscow and St Petersburg in particular have seen an astronomical growth in cafés, bars and restaurants, including classic Chinese, Japanese and Italian offerings, western fast food chains and traditional Russian cuisine . Russian food tends to be rich and on the heavy side in winter , such as meaty dumplings, meaty cabbage rolls, cabbage soup with sour cream, and the national icons - borscht [beetroot soup], blinis [pancakes] and caviar, while lighter foods like superb soups and salads are around in the summer . Avoid eating shellfish except in St Petersburg and street ice cream anywhere. Drinks: We all know the varied pleasures of vodka, particularly drunk chilled and in one gulp, but Russia also does a fine line in local beers with lively flavours, good champagne, not such good wine , passable tea and effective coffee. Russians love to press drinks on foreigners so prepare your excuses now. Or practice chugging. Accommodation guide: You are supposed to have a place booked in order to get a tourist visa . There's a wide range of accommodation from luxury hotels at silly prices to cheapish hostels at around $20 pn, but it's important to book well ahead for the June-September season. Private home stays are widespread , giving the tourist relatively good value rooms and a close look at real Russian life. The downside is that the place may be out of the way, the bed lumpy and the morning-after breakfast provider in-your-face during your recovery time. Camping is fine in many places though - as usual - check with locals before bedding down. Organised camping sites are rare and usually open mid-June to mid-September. Russia Tours Tour operators offering travel to Russia can be found in our listings here: Russia Tours For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Map of Europe Travel Safety: Travel to Chechenya and the north Caucasus is not recommended; check the Foreign Office site or tour operators for up-to-date warnings. Otherwise stay on the regular tourist routes. Don't flash your cash! Pickpocketing and bag filching may occur on crowded public transport while hotel rooms are by no means thief-proof. Lock everything into your bags before leaving the room and use a safe deposit if there is one. Take care with taxis. Don't get in if there is anyone other than the driver inside, and don't necessarily trust the driver. See Safety page. Travel Health: Do not drink Russian tap water , not even for cleaning your teeth. Check you are up to date with all jabs, and consider including vaccinations for diptheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B. A flu jab is also useful if you plan to travel to Russia in spring or autumn when the bugs are rampant. Foreigners usually prefer to be treated at private clinics, which are very costly. Get Insurance! Costs: Russia can be good value if you don't mind slightly crude accommodation and eat/drink at local establishments rather than typical tourist places. Change money for roubles only at official exchanges or banks. Cash is easier to change than travellers cheques. Tipping: About 10% to taxi drivers and 10-15% to waiters in restaurants. Electricity : Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Internet: There are masses of reasonably priced web cafés in bigger cities. Local travel: The big cities have good metro and bus services at low prices . Locals enjoy life as illegal taxi drivers for extra cash. Beware though, some are pure evil, others wonderful, hospitable guides. Hitch-hiking is common for Russians but not advisable for tourists . Intercity travel: Trains connecting Moscow to St Petersburg are common, efficient and inexpensive . The Aurora day train takes 6 hours, the evening train 4 hours. Passenger boats are common between cities - tho' slow - including Moscow to St Pete. For exploring the countryside around big cities consider car hire, with or without a driver/guide. It's not expensive and very convenient. International travel: Moscow and St Petersburg are both easy to reach from many European cities by fast, efficient trains and buses ; other Russia cities are more difficult to access directly. Language: Some locals speak English, French, or German but ability to recognise the Cyrillic alphabet and a few words of Russian would really help your experience along. Visas: All visitors need a visa which needs a hotel/hostel booking . 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