If you like outdoor activities, then a trip to the Urals is what you should definitely try. Here you are presented with great opportunities for active tourism, you will discover the world of amazing adventures and vivid impressions.
On a journey through these picturesque lands, you can go by car, ATVs and even a bicycle. Horse riding and hiking tours are also available. A climate favorable for outdoor activities, regardless of the time of year, will contribute to a rich holiday, which you will remember with pleasure for a long time.
Ural - rest for every taste
The land of lakes and rivers, as the Urals are often called, because of the huge number of reservoirs in its territory. Three and a half thousand rivers flow in the Chelyabinsk region alone. That is why one of the most popular sports here is rafting, which thousands of tourists come here to do every year. There are many routes for traveling by water, you can also go on an excursion to the waterfalls or caves of the Urals or go fishing in one of the most beautiful reservoirs.
In winter, the Urals are fabulously beautiful. At this time, you can take one of the sleigh tours, which are especially popular here. The journey will be along the picturesque mountain and forest paths, covered with brilliant snow, under the bright sun.
For those who prefer a relaxing holiday, there are many tourist centers where you will enjoy complete unity with nature away from the noise of big cities.
And if you want to go on a trip to the Urals, there is a wide selection of such tours.
Thus, if you decide to go to one of the most beautiful corners of the country, then you can choose a vacation that is right for you.
The most popular routes in the Urals
When traveling in the Urals, routes can be very different, depending on such factors:
- way of travel;
- the amount of time allotted for rest;
- financial opportunities;
- the most preferred type of vacation and other factors.
Among the most popular routes are the following natural sites:
- The Ural Mountains is a region, unique from the geographical point of view, where the border between Europe and Asia passes. At a distance exceeding two thousand kilometers, there are many monuments and memorials.
- Azov Mountain, considered one of the most mysterious places in the Sverdlovsk region. Legends about treasures hidden by robbers, the mysterious ghost of a girl in white, candle lights lit at night, and many other no less mysterious and interesting stories are associated with this place.
- Mountains High, Hedgehog, Shunut, Yuryev Kamen, each of which is unique in its own way.
- Lakes Ayatskoye, Abyssal, Asbestos Stone, Isetskoye, Moltaevo, Sandy, Tavatuy, Talkov Stone, Shchuchye.
- The Blue Mountains pass, which can be overcome on foot or by bicycle, and many other beautiful places.
The number of natural monuments and simply beautiful places in the Urals is so great that no matter how much time you take for a trip, there will always be corners that you will not have time to visit.
Drive around the Urals by car
For complete unity with nature and enjoy its miracles, you can go on a trip to the Urals by car. This method will make it possible to see all the wonders of the region, not limited to standard tours in which the hiking time is fixed. And if you have a motor home and a large supply of time, then such a trip will be an unforgettable adventure.
So, if you are planning a trip around the Urals by car, where to go is not the most important question, because every corner here is a unique miracle of nature.
One of the many options for traveling by car is the Ring in the Urals, which includes the following places:
- "Ice Fountain" (the village of Sibirka).
- Hydroelectric Power Station "Thresholds".
- Alpine lake Zyuratkul.
- Lake Turgoyak.
- Kapova cave.
- Arkaim.
- Hadelsch Falls.
You will begin your adventures in Ufa. The first point of the trip will be the "Ice Fountain" (Siberian), a magnificent natural monument, built by man. In 1976, drillers in search of iron ore accidentally stumbled upon a powerful underground river that broke out of a well. Workers tried to install a plug, but the force of the flow broke through it. A few years later, the well was still closed, and now it hits up like a fountain. In winter, it freezes and turns into a real miracle of nature. Especially spectacular "Ice Fountain" looks at night, when the purest snow plays with colorful highlights under the light of stars.
The Porogi hydroelectric power station, built by the Germans, is the only hydrotechnical structure in the world, which was erected by the method of laying from wild stone - sandstone. The hydroelectric power station supplies electricity to the village of the same name, as well as other settlements located nearby. Since 1993, the "Thresholds" are included in the list of monuments of international importance.
Turgoyak is a large lake with fresh water. It is surrounded by mountains and coniferous forests. Monument of nature with clear water, close in quality to Baikal.
Traveling by car in the Urals will be incomplete without visiting the famous caves. This route includes the Kapova Cave (Shulgan-Tash), which is the only one on the territory of Eastern Europe in which the samples of painting painted by the Stone Age are well preserved. All over the world, such an ancient cave painting has been preserved only in two countries: France and Spain. Only a small part of the vast territory of the cave was studied, scientists and cavers were able to walk only 1.5 km. Tourists are attracted here by the positive energy of the place, as well as the healing properties of cave water, air and clay.
Arkaim - a place that is sacred to many people from different religions, and even atheists. The summer solstice is special here. At this time, on Arkaim, you can see the communication of shamans with spirits, and the stones brought from here are considered talismans and are carefully stored.
The three-cascade Hadelsch waterfall, with a total height of up to 15 meters, is a magnificent sight. Here you can find jasper and jasper, ornamental stones that are known throughout the world.
A trip around the ring ends at the starting point, in Ufa.
If your choice was traveling around the Urals by car, the routes can be very different. Each place is unique and worth a visit.
ATVs - the best transport for traveling in the Urals
Of course, driving on a smooth asphalt road is nice, but more and more people are inclined to travel on the road. The ideal vehicle for this kind of trips is an ATV that will take you to the most inaccessible places, giving you an unforgettable experience.
There are many options for such trips. One of them is a trip on ATVs in the Urals along the route Yekaterinburg - Jurma - Yekaterinburg with stops in Verkhnyaya Sysert, Arakul Shihan and Mount Egoza.
This method is the best for the feeling of complete unity with nature, relaxation from the benefits of civilization and enjoying the speed and picturesque views. The rock massif Arakul Shihan more than two hundred kilometers long consists of many cliffs of the most bizarre shapes that have been standing here since the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Mount Egoza is one of the most picturesque and highest. On an ATV you can climb it only in the summer, in winter it is only possible on the ski lift.
To see so many peaks with breathtaking panoramas, to make a quick transition from the Middle Urals to the South, enjoying forest roads and deliciously clean air - all this can be done on a quad bike in the shortest possible time.
Biking in the Urals
For lovers of active ecotourism, the ideal way is to travel around the Urals by bicycle. Of course, this way you will not be able to get to the most inaccessible places and wade off-road with a breeze. However, excellent physical shape, a lot of positive emotions and beautiful places that you can slowly explore - all this is guaranteed to you.
Many bicycle tours are organized in the Urals, but you can go on a trip yourself.
The most popular cycling route in the Urals passes through the territory of the Bashkiria National Park, which borders the Shulgan-Tash Nature Reserve. In the latter, real bees are guarded, so during the journey you can try the most environmentally friendly honey.
Hiking in the Urals
Despite the abundance of means of transport on which you can go on a trip to the Urals, hiking continues to be popular. The advantage of this method of movement is the introduction into the environment of the territory on which you are traveling. In addition, hiking is a great way to stay fit and to visit unique places that are rarely described in guidebooks. Among the popular hiking routes in the Urals:
- Vishersky reserve.
- The stone city.
- The commemorated (Kolchimsky) monument.
- Plateau Kvarkush.
- Reserved tours to Basegi and other no less interesting places.
You can go camping as part of a tourist group or a group of friends, but in the latter case, you should carefully consider the route and prepare the necessary equipment.
Horse tours in the Urals
Horse tourism continues to be very popular in the Urals. Various ecotours offer trips to places that have preserved the pristine beauty of nature, and the small villages encountered along the way only enhance the overall impression of a trip to the past.
Tour programs are varied. Tourists are invited to take a walk to the headwaters of the Ural rivers, ride through forests and mountains with clean air, and also visit many natural monuments. Horse tours are what the Urals have always been proud of. Traveling, photos from which you will bring home, will be remembered for a long time.
Rafting in the Urals
The mountain rivers of the Urals are great for boating. Rafting on the river can be done for everyone, regardless of the level of training, as various programs are provided. The difference between local rafting in amazing nature - majestic cliffs surround the rivers along which descents are organized, create unsurpassed beauty. Here, as a rule, water tourism is multi-day in nature and is suitable for families. Alloy routes pass along the rivers:
- White;
- Yurazan;
- Chusovaya;
- Big Inzer;
- Lemeza.
Each of them has its own fans who come here from year to year to enjoy water tourism.
Ski holidays in the Urals
As in any mountains, in the Urals there is an opportunity to ski. There are tracks for both true professionals and beginners to master this sport. More than 50 ski centers with a total length of 200 km function here. Most of them are in Bashkortostan, Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk regions. The longest runs can be found in ski centers such as Abzakovo, Zavyalikha and Adzhigardak.
You can go on a real ski trip along the snowy slopes of the Urals, the natural beauty of which will not leave you indifferent.
Horse-drawn sleigh journey through the Urals
On a trip to the Urals, you can go on a sleigh that is harnessed by horses. Such tours are especially popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Frosty air and bright sun, under which pure snow sparkles, are what awaits you on such a trip. Horse-riding tours go through natural monuments and through mountain passes, from which picturesque panoramas open.
When is it better to go to the Urals
It is traditionally believed that the best time for hiking is the period from early July to early September. This gap is most favorable in terms of weather conditions, and hence the routes that you will follow.
If you are planning a winter vacation, then from the beginning of November to the end of March you can enjoy all the delights of skiing and tobogganing.
Regardless of whether you go on a trip to the Urals by car, ATV, bicycle or prefer hiking, the impressions of visiting this region will be unforgettable.