Extreme, accessible to everyone

Today, extreme tourism is preferred mainly by lovers of active recreation with any level of physical fitness. This could be a long walk with climbing mountain peaks, deep-sea diving or a long parachute jump. Now let’s look at the main and most popular extreme tourism (sports) destinations in Russia.

Photo: Denys Nevozhai | Unsplash

Diving (immersion) is a recognized and popular type of extreme sport all over the world. This is not only sport, but also entertainment. Diving into the depths of the sea, you can get acquainted with its inhabitants, see beautiful landscapes, feel freedom and a state of weightlessness. For this sport, as for any extreme sport, you need to be in good physical shape. In Russia, divers can dive in the Black Sea, as well as on the coast of the Taman Peninsula. Ice diving has become especially popular in Russia. The idea is the same as with regular diving, the difference is in the landscape that can be seen underwater. When diving under the ice, you will not see colorful fish, stars or algae; here there are the most beautiful cold icy landscapes formed from ice by streams of water. You can go under the ice on lakes Valdai, Holy Lake or Lake Ladoga. Some divers also dive into the White Sea.

Water tamers will also enjoy surfing - riding on an oval board made of carbon fiber. A variation of surfing is windsurfing - riding on the same board, only with fins and a sail. On a board with a sail, with accompanying wind, you can reach speeds of up to 10-12 m/s. This completely extraordinary sport requires good reaction and coordination of movements, it develops endurance and challenges the elements. In Russia, surfing amateurs and professionals can test their strength in the Krasnodar region and take part in annual competitions in Yeisk. On almost all beaches you can go kitesurfing, the secret is that you don’t need a wave here, just the wind that will carry the kite attached to the board. Despite the relative ease of operation, kitesurfing gives no less impressions than regular windsurfing, which also allows you to feel the gliding and force of the wind.

Thrill-seekers can try water skiing, which guarantees a powerful adrenaline rush, but there is no need for professional training, just a good level of general physical fitness. For training you will need a life jacket, a wetsuit and, in fact, the skis themselves. We cling to the boat and go!

Fans of team water sports will be interested in rafting (river rafting), which is very popular today. Depending on your experience and physical fitness, specialists can suggest a route specifically for your level. Therefore, even children can practice this sport. For them, special places for rafting are proposed, with a minimum of obstacles and river flow speed. To carry out rafting, Russian athletes will have to go to the Tukinsky National Park on the Irkut River or to Altai to the Katun River. The complexity of the route is determined by the width and speed of the river flow, and rapids of varying complexity. In addition to special equipment, athletes will need sun protection, since rafting usually takes place in the summer under the very hot sun.

For tourists who prefer land-based types of active recreation, resorts and travel companies can offer a worthy alternative to the water types listed above. Equestrian tourism has a particularly positive effect on health, since the main routes for horseback riding take place in mountainous or steppe areas with the cleanest air. In Russia, horse tourism has a history of 30 years; the most popular resorts are located where local residents have long been involved in horse breeding: in Altai, Buryatia, Bashkiria, Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia and Chuvashia. On horseback riding trips, tourists will have to provide self-care and also care for the horses. This type of outdoor activity is not suitable for those who are not accustomed to field conditions.

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Long hikes can also be carried out without horses. Trekking or walking tourism is especially interesting for its simplicity and the opportunity to be an extreme tourist without any specific skills. However, this type also requires endurance and a certain level of physical fitness; here, as in any other sport and active tourism, there are its own masters, sports titles and categories, but this is for those who are especially enthusiastic. Trekking routes have varying degrees of difficulty; specialists in hiking clubs will help you choose a route based on your preferences and physical fitness. Hiking tours can be carried out across the plains, in the mountains or down into caves. Hiking in caves is accompanied by high humidity and poor lighting, which adds a sense of adventure to the hike, which is why cave descents are especially popular among young people.

Mountaineering is one of the most dangerous types of extreme tourism, which today is highly developed and has a well-organized infrastructure. Usually, the summer period is chosen for such hikes, but highly enthusiastic people can go climbing even in winter. Unlike trekking, where the goal is to cover distances, the goal of mountaineering is to conquer mountain peaks. Beginners prefer to go to mountains that have already been conquered by many travelers, as it is more reliable and safe. Gaining experience, climbers search for unconquered peaks and strive to become pioneers. A favorite place for Russian climbers is the Elbrus region in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, where the slopes are considered the most beautiful in Europe.

Alpine skiing and snowboarding can give “fast” adrenaline mainly to young tourist athletes. Mountain sports, which are still popular, are attracting more and more young people. Few people today haven’t gotten on a snowboard or tried on alpine skis. Skis give a unique feeling of speed and “crazy” descent. Special physical training is not required here, only dexterity and speed of reaction are required. In our country, snowboarding and alpine skiing can be done in Dombay. This is one of the most famous centers of mountain tourism in the Caucasus and Russia.

Finally, we got to the types of active tourism associated with the conquest of the air elements. Let’s talk about parachuting. Parachuting has several types, they depend on the purpose of the jump: precision landing, free fall while performing a set of figures, or performing figures with already opened parachutes. In the last two cases, the jumpers must work harmoniously as one team and have sufficient experience in jumping. You can make a parachute jump everywhere in our country.

Balloons are a very rare and very interesting type of tourism. Hot air balloon flights are already available to ordinary tourists at special festivals; they periodically take place at different points in Russia. The best place for hot air balloon flights is the Abinsk region of the Caucasus.

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to actively and usefully spend your vacation. It all depends on your imagination and, of course, financial capabilities. In any case, if you wish, you can choose the type of active recreation that suits you and conquer the mountain peaks, and maybe harness the great power of wind and water. The choice is yours!