Rosturism welcomes English-speaking Internet stars from different media platforms to participate in an annual adventure called “Backpack Bloggers.” The project is geared at promoting active tourism in Russia through modern digital platforms. In 2015, bloggers hiked through the mountains of Crimea, and in 2016, another expedition was sent to the Republic of Adygea.

This time, the organizers are ready to show the best of Siberia on a 12-day trip which will start on July 4. First, the group of bloggers will visit the city of Tyumen, which is officially recognized as the place where Russians are happiest, according to various surveys. In addition, this is where the legendary Grigori Rasputin was born in 1869. “Now, Tyumen is a city where history lives side by side with modern innovations,” reads the announcement.

Birds fly over the Yenisei River in Taiga district outside the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Taiga landscape in East Siberia

The next highlight of the adventure is a five-day backpack trip through the Siberian taiga, where the team will try out rafting, tracking and cycling. The evening program includes swimming in a river, singing songs next to a bonfire and, of course, sleeping in tents.

The fishing industry of Abalak Znamensky Monastery in the village of Abalak

The final destination is the ancient city of Tobolsk: back to living in comfort. This is where the participants will stay for a couple of days and join the “Summer in the Tobolsk Kremlin” music festival. This year, the highlight of the festival is an open-air performance of “Siberia,” a 1903 opera drama by Umberto Giordano, at the Kremlin, the project organizers noted.

A view of St. Sofia Assumption Cathedral situated on the territory of the Tobolsk Kremlin

Participants will be “armed to the teeth:” Besides a unique experience, they will be provided with a visa, tickets, equipment, accommodations and meals during the entire trip. The “Backpack Bloggers” organizers also promise to ensure safety and offer a helping hand if any hardships arise.

In their turn, bloggers should spread the word about their amazing adventure to their followers on social platforms like Youtube, Instagram, WordPress etc.

The Tobolsk Kremlin

To participate, volunteers are required to write a sort of motivational letter, explaining why the organizers should invite them : email to dvoeialoe@gmail.com.The contest between bloggers will last until June 18; several days after that, the organizers will announce the winners. The best reports will be published on the national tourist portal, Russia Travel.

How about a … voyage around the world …

for 15,000 …. “Redefine epic by joining a leg of this voyage around the world on a traditional tall ship. This fantastic adventure begins and ends in Nova Scotia, Canada with stops in the Cook Islands, Indonesia and South Africa. Share the work and the accomplishments with 40 fellow crew who’ll become like family after a few months at sea. This unique voyage requires commitment and a true spirit of adventure from all who are selected. This is a voyage for learning. You’ll learn about life at sea, the ways of a ship, about people in communities different than yours, and, of course, about yourself. Your primary aim is to cross each great ocean under canvas and gain sailing skills along the way. You’ll be responsible for steering, rigging, sail making, chart work, splicing, small boat handling, and navigation. “

Coming up: More of the unusual, the offbeat, and the downright amazing in traveling.

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