If You Don't Have a Country House: 5 Atmospheric Places for Nature Retreats

In these cabins, campsites, and hotels, you'll want to spend your vacation and forget all your worries. And the best part is that they're all located within Russia, so you can set off on a journey right now.

Camper Site «Forest and Sea»Where?Volga,170 km from Moscow, near KalyazinHow much per night?from 7,000 ₽per nightWhen is the best time to go?in summerThe camp operates from May through SeptemberWHAT'S INTERESTING: The camp is located in a hard-to-reach area on an island near Kalyazin. There are nine cozy tents, each accommodating up to 20 people at once.

The camp also features a dining hall, a tent living room with a shared recreation area, and even an open-air cinema. You can easily cook your own meals — there's a fire zone provided for this purpose. Among the amenities are a warm shower, hammocks, and swings on trees.

Sometimes open trips are organized, during which guests can rent a tent. Water transport to Kalyazin is arranged, and various activities for visitors are held. These trips are usually announced in advance on Instagram.

By the way, there's another tent camp located on the Altai, and we've already written about it in our article.

Country Hotel «Bolotov. Dacha»Where?Tula Region,by the Skniga RiverHow much per night?from 6,300 ₽When is the best time to go?anytime of yearWHAT'S INTERESTING: You can stay at the hotel for several days, come for a walk, or work without overnighting. The property includes a large house with a common living room, five Scandinavian-style cabins, and four guest houses by the pond. Each room is named after plants that scientist Andrei Bolotov cultivated in his garden.

In simple but cozy rooms, you won't find TVs, but comfortable beds and chairs where you can rest well. And there's a beautiful view from the windows.

The hotel is always quiet, with a mini-library where everyone can take a book to their room. The grounds offer games with a ball and frisbee, boat rides and bicycle tours, piano and guitar performances. Evening film screenings are held on the veranda, and there’s a barbecue area nearby.

Another pleasant bonus: meals are served three times daily, and guests decide the cost of food themselves. You can also bring your dog.

Eco-Hotel «Emerald Forest»Where?Suburban areaKlin DistrictHow much per night?from 8,500 ₽When is the best time to go?anytime of yearWHAT'S INTERESTING: On a 220-hectare forest park, there are cottages with verandas and guest houses, as well as a whole complex of buildings ranging from a restaurant to a stable. A spa, pool, and sauna are also available.

The rooms are cozy: lots of wood and natural light. The hotel was designed with eco-style in mind: safe and hypoallergenic materials were chosen. Wooden walls are adorned with landscape paintings. The view from the windows opens onto a pine forest and an emerald lake.

Here you can relax on a sandy beach, go fishing, take horseback rides or visit a contact zoo, go to a safari park, or ride a catamaran.

Guest Farm «Ples»Where?PlesHow much per night?from 7,000 ₽When is the best time to go?ANY TIME OF YEARWHAT'S INTERESTING: The farm is located in the historical part of the city near the embankment and groves. Plесsky architects and artists reconstructed a building from the 1950s to recreate the atmosphere of a classic Russian estate — and they succeeded.

There are gazebos and a barbecue area, as well as a children's playground. You can take a boat tour, ride horses, or go fishing here.

The rooms are styled in the spirit of a traditional Russian estate, and some even feature tiled stoves. It’s an ideal spot for family holidays with pets — animals are allowed in the hotel.

Shalé Shanti HomeWhere?YagodnoyeLeningrad Region, one hour from St. PetersburgHow much per night?4,000 ₽ on weekdaysand 6,000 ₽ on weekendsWhen is the best time to go?anytime of yearWHAT'S INTERESTING: Six two-level triangular shalés were built in the forest. Each shalé features a double bed, sofa, fully equipped kitchen, and bathrooms, as well as heated floors.

The shalés are far from the city, so it's easy to encounter forest dwellers here — for example, deer. Near the shalés is a sauna for 4–6 people with a panoramic view of the Vukha River, and a cedar outdoor bath. One important thing you’ll surely like — dogs are welcome here.