Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Katarina · Just Starting Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 1

Hi everybody!
On our looong summer trip from Helsinki to Hong Kong (app. 3 months...) we guess we'll be in the need of some good hiking in between all the culturally ambitious city stays. Since we will basically be travelling on the Transsiberian, the hiking region should be more or less close to the route. The Ural Mountains as well as Lake Baikal got on our mind but hardly any guide book ever gives much advice on hiking.

Has anybody ever done it? What route did you take exactly? Do you recommend to bring a tent etc. (which we would rather not like to do for avoiding heavy luggage) or can we expect small homestays on the route? Would renting a tent at the location be an alternative? How's nature (e.g. very polluted or nice clean drinkable spring water)?

Thank you very, very much for your help!! We really appreciate every little piece of information we can get!
Dancing

Katarina

help · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:34 am Post subject:

The Lake's water, though drinkable, is poluted not from the factories around the lake but from the Selenga River which carries large amounts of Uranium taillings. Only local r affected though as i believe long term exposure is required for a negative effect on health. Very Happy

jameses · Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:25 am Post subject: Sayan mountains

We're intrigued by the description of the yoga camp in Arshan. It's two hours from the Trans-Siberian train line, and the write-up on this site says that they offer food, tents, etc. for a reasonable price. There is hiking and rivers, and even yoga and meditation if you'd like. We've posted a query above about how to make a reservation.