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

In these cabins, campsites, and hotels, you want to spend your vacation and forget about all your worries. And the best part is that all of them are located within Russia, so you can go on a trip right now.

Portable Camp «Forest and Sea»Where?Volga,170 km from Moscow, near KalyazinHow much per night?from 7,000 €per nightBest time to go?summerThe camp operates from May to SeptemberWHAT'S INTERESTING: The camp is located in a hard-to-reach area, on an island near Kalyazin. There are nine cozy tents where up to 20 people can stay at once.

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

Sometimes they organize open rides when you can rent a tent. Water transfer to Kalyazin is arranged, and various activities are organized for visitors. These rides are usually announced in advance on Instagram.

By the way, another portable camp is located on Altai—we already wrote about it in our article.

Country Hotel «Bolotov. Dacha»Where?Tula Region,by the Skniga RiverHow much per night?from 6,300 €Best time to go?anytime of the yearWHAT'S INTERESTING: The hotel allows you to stay for several days or just come for a walk or work without overnighting. The premises include a large house with a common living room, five Scandinavian-style cabins, and four guest houses by the pond. Each room has a name derived from plants that scientist Andrey Bolotov grew in his garden.

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

The hotel is always quiet, with a mini-library where anyone can take a book to their room. On the grounds, you can play games with a ball or frisbee, ride a boat or bicycle, play piano and guitar. In the evenings, movie screenings are held on the veranda, and there's a barbecue area nearby.

Another pleasant bonus: guests are served three meals a day, and the cost of food is determined by guests themselves. You can also come here with your dog.

Eco-Hotel «Emerald Forest»Where?Suburban areaClintsy DistrictHow much per night?from 8,500 €Best time to go?anytime of the 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 from a restaurant to a stable. There is also a spa, pool, and sauna.

Rooms are cozy: lots of wood and light. When designing the hotel, eco-style was emphasized: safe and hypoallergenic materials were chosen. Wooden walls were complemented 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 a horseback ride or visit a contact zoo, go to a safari park and ride a catamaran.

Guest Farm «Ples»Where?PlesHow much per night?from 7,000 €Best time to go?ANY TIME OF YEARWHAT'S INTERESTING: The farm is located in the historical part of the town near the riverbank and groves. Ples 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 zone on the premises, as well as a children's playground. You can take a walk in a catamaran, ride horses, or go fishing.

The rooms are designed in the style of a traditional Russian estate, and some even have tiled stoves. It's an ideal place for family holidays and traveling with pets — pet accommodation is allowed in the hotel.

Shanti Home CottageWhere?YagodnoyeLeningrad Region, one hour from St. PetersburgHow much per night?4,000 € on weekdaysand 6,000 € on weekendsBest time to go?anytime of the yearWHAT'S INTERESTING: Six two-story triangular shalohomes were built in the forest. Each cottage has a double bed and sofa, fully equipped kitchen and bathroom, and heated floors.

The shalos are located far from the city, so it's easy to meet forest inhabitants here — for example, deer. There is a sauna for 4–6 people with a panoramic view of the Vukha River, as well as a cedar outdoor bath near the cabins. One important point you'll definitely like — you can come here with your dog.