The best time to go to Russia is during the summer season, between June and August. Despite Russia’s immense size, most of the country experiences just two distinct seasons – winter and summer – which ensures that timing your trip to Russia is relatively straightforward. Travellers can cross vast stretches of tundra, observe polar bears walking on icecaps, sun themselves on the subtropical beaches of the Black Sea and ascend rolling sand dunes – all in the same country. There is usually a relatively short interchange between winter and summer, which in general are characterised by extremely low and extremely high temperatures. Summer offers the best opportunity for spotting wildlife in Russia’s Far East, with bears emerging from hibernation to share the land with moose, wolves and reindeer, while migrating birdlife fill the skies and the annual salmon run turns the rivers red.
Russia in January marks the coldest month of the year. Be prepared for winter storms affecting travel to and around Russia, by sticking to major cities such as Moscow, visitors can enjoy warming indoor activities whilst gazing at snow-sprinkled landscapes.
February is an excellent month for Siberian tiger tracking, although any time in late winter is good. Tracks are easily visible in the snow and tigers tend to wander further out of their usual terrain in search of food.
Winter remains strong in western Russia so expect the weather to be freezing with the odd snowy day. However, big attractions and cities will be quiet and accommodation will be on a reduced price.
April marks the beginning of the main tourist season in European Russia. Temperatures in Moscow begin to slowly rise and days remain relatively dry.
By May in St Petersburg, the Baltic winter disappears and spring is in full flow. By the end of the month, the famous White Nights begin.
Although it may be more difficult to spot Siberian tigers during the summer months, June is a wonderful month to visit southeast Russia, near the Chinese border, for general wildlife watching in Durminoskoye National Park, Sikhote Alyn and Tiger’s Call National Park.
July sees vibrant landscapes arising and most animals become visible in Wrangel Island. St Petersburg is also at its hottest but warm and wet summers welcome chilly drizzle.
August is when the Lake Baikal region is at its warmest. Averages for this month are around 14C.
September is the best month to visit Kamchatka. Brown bears are full from a summer feasting on berries and salmon, and can be seen sleeping in the warm autumn sun before beginning hibernation. Mountain sheep and reindeer can also be spotted grazing before the land turns to ice. Many migratory birds will also be seen preparing to leave.
Temperatures begin to plummet on the arrival of October.
Temperatures drop below freezing in December and don’t climb above 0°C until March. Neva Bay freezes in late November or early December and the ice doesn’t break up until the beginning of spring.
Russia in December is definitely cold. Although not the coldest month of the year, be prepared for plenty of snow and ice, as well as winter storms knocking at the door. Storms can also frequently disrupt travel to and within Russia, so keep your itinerary simple in December and stick to Moscow and/or St. Petersburg.
The earlier months of August and September are more autumnal and therefore any tiger sightings or tigers caught on camera traps are likely to be on a ‘tundra’ or forested background. This is a nice time for photography, with wonderful autumnal colours and lots of foraging animals around. These months see temperature highs of 15 ºC - 25 ºC (cooling more towards September), and a low of 0 ºC in the evenings.
If you wait until the latter months of November through to March then you are likely to be surrounded by snow. A truly picturesque environment with lines of birch trees, rolling hills and often waist deep powder. At this time, footprints in the snow make the wildlife easier to track and carries with it the highest probability of tiger sightings with the use of camera traps and video. The temperature is cold at this time, sometimes dropping as low as -35 ºC at night (December to February). The best time to see the tigers is in the snow, but this does mean it is cold and can be wet.
Embark on a safari with a difference and venture deep into the remote Durminskoye Reserve in Russia’s Far East, home to the endangered Siberian tiger. Alongside conservationist Alexander Batalov, you’ll track the big cats and set camera traps on a unique adventure that truly puts you on the front line of wildlife conservation.
Push the boundaries on this frontier small group journey to Kamchatka located in Russia’s Far East. The peninsula contains less than 200 miles of paved road in an area larger than Great Britain, which is just one indication of how truly wild and remote this region is.
Despite lying at similar latitudes to Great Britain, the Kamchatka Peninsula endures long, freezing winters due to the influence of cold sea currents and Arctic winds, leaving the land covered in snow from October to late May. The months between May and September offer the most comfortable temperatures, but Kamchatka’s sheer size means its climate can be variable depending on which particular area you visit. Kamchatka’s brown bears hibernate during the coldest months here, when temperatures can drop to as low as -25°C. Despite heading into their dens in November and emerging in March, the best time to see these magnificent beasts is in July, to coincide with the annual salmon run that occurs in streams and rivers the world over.
