Russia is the largest country of the world which spreads through Europe and Asia for 10 time zones and envelops tundra, taiga, steppes and mountains. In spite of developed industry, here are kept huge spaces, which are practically untouched by human activities and are ideal for ecotourism.

Actually most of our outdoors tourist routes in Russia, including discovery, adventurous and sport ones, are laid in untouched wild nature. From the other side, Intourist is a strict adherent of principles of responsible and sustainable tourism such as minimal negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment, supporting the protection of natural areas etc. That is why we call ECOTOURS all our outdoors trips. It concerns even fishing and hunting because we strictly carry out norms and regulations developed by ecologists.

Intourist is the biggest incoming tour operator in Russia which is able to offer various ecotours for travelers with different interests and different levels of training. Depending on a kind of accommodations and the intensity of physical activities we distinguish discovery, adventure and extreme ecotours.

Discovery. This kind of active tours is oriented to viewing wildlife and natural wonders such as landscapes, minerals, plants, birds and animals or to visiting indigenous peoples with their traditional culture. Usual accommodations are hotels, pensions, stationary lodges or home stays. Physical activity is almost absent or restricted to short easy hiking or, to say, being a snowmobile driver or passenger. So these tours are well within the capability of any healthy individual leading a normal active life. Experienced guides, interpreters and a cook will make your journey pleasant.

Adventure. In adventure tours you are expected to prepare yourself for some portion of physical activity such as trekking, rafting, skiing etc. But it usually takes not more than 3-4 hours daily and is acceptable for any healthy person. Our experienced guides always try to tune the itinerary to physical conditions of a concrete tourist group. Adventure tours may include several nights in tents. You may be expected to erect your own tent or to help with camp chores under supervision of the guide. A cook or a guide prepares meals.

Extreme. These are tours for experienced people or for those who are going to test themselves. Tents are usual accommodations. Extreme tour may involve several consecutive days of 6-9 hours walking or, to say, rafting without a rest day and without possibility to shorten or change the way. Your way may lie at high altitudes with sufficient ascents and descents. Weather conditions may be worse than expected and you should be ready to the situation. Special technical skills in mountaineering or, to say, in rafting may be obligatory for some tours. In tours of higher grades of complexity you are supposed to make input to safety for your fellows and yourself. High level of physical fitness is strongly recommended for most of extreme tours. So our advice is to study a description of the concrete tour carefully and estimate your physical and technical possibilities critically. Local staff for extreme tours of lower grades of complexity is usually limited with 1-2 guides and an interpreter. So you have a real chance to participate all camp chores and even cooking on open fire under supervision of the guide. It gives you necessary experience of self-dependent field life for future extreme trips of higher grades of complexity. We provide all camping and safety equipment.

As to fishing and hunting tours, accommodations are like in discovery ones as a rule. But sometimes we use tents in fishing tours in order not to waste time returning from remote points. You deal with physical activity mainly in process of fishing and hunting itself. Experienced guides, interpreters and a cook accompany you.

Tailor made tours. We offer many various fixed tours to the most popular destinations. However, if you need something different in destinations, activities, itinerary, duration etc, we would be glad to arrange a tailor made program. Please call or write!