How to plan a vacation with children in the Krasnodar region?

Children dream about a holiday in warm lands almost more than their parents, so adults simply have to figure out how to entertain the kids in the free weeks. Departure to foreign resorts is traditionally considered fashionable, but even within Russia you can have a good rest.

One of the best regions for this can be called Krasnodar Territory, located far in the south of the country, having access to both the warm Azov and Black Seas, and to the snow-capped peaks of the harsh Caucasus.

It should be noted that in the Krasnodar Territory, three types of tourism are in their own way developed at once, which are of interest to different categories of the population, but at the same time they may well be combined in one vacation. That is why in 2015 this region was recognized as the most attractive for tourists among all other regions, even ahead of St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Most of all tourists are attracted, of course, by the sea coast. It is here that most of the popular domestic resorts are familiar to everyone, but more about them will be slightly lower. The temperate climate prevails in the northern part of the coast - in the summer it is hot and dry here. The infrastructure here is not very bright - five-star hotels are not to be found, but tourists with a small holiday budget come here en masse, since prices are also relatively affordable.

You can come here with children, without them, or you can even send the kids to the camp without an adult escort - the same Yeisk on the Sea of ​​Azov is considered one of the main camp centers of the country. In the south of the region we see a completely different picture - the subtropical climate, which is uncharacteristic for Russia, with a warm Black Sea and an abundance of greenery automatically offers visitors chic hotels with an all-inclusive program, luxurious sandy beaches and a sea of ​​expensive attractions for every taste.

A fundamentally different type of recreation is offered by the Caucasus. The main peaks of this mountain range are not here, however, and here the mountains are by no means small. Mount Tsakhvoa, for example, reaches a height of 3345 meters above sea level. The crystal clear mountain air, as well as the picturesqueness of alpine meadows, steep cliffs and green valleys attract a large number of tourists who want to overcome hiking and equestrian routes in the mountains.

The third type of tourism could be called the general word “cultural”. The motley composition of the local population attracts the prospects of ethnographic excursions, and in fact a large number of peoples represented is also positively distinguished on the diversity of local cuisine. Many guests come just to see the southern cities, differing somewhat unusual architecture.

Although the Olympics in Sochi have long passed, the Olympic facilities built several years ago are still of particular interest to tourists.Again, this kind of tourism will be more interesting for teenagers than for kids, however, as an addition to the sea tour, such opportunities seem to be a weighty argument for choosing the Krasnodar Territory.

No vacation is enough to get to know the many-sided Krasnodar Territory, however, you need to start with something and for the most positive impression you should start with those places that are popular among Russians. Perhaps, each person could make his own list, we will give those cities that are very popular and suitable for families with children. Predictably seaside resorts will prevail here.

• Sochi - One of the main tourist centers across Russia, the blue dream of many Russians who are going on vacation. This 400-thousand city is called the southern, summer and resort capital of the country. Here is the international airport, one of the five largest in Russia (second only to Moscow and St. Petersburg) and the station, which receives trains from almost all parts of the country.

• Tuapse - This is the 60-thousand "gate" of the city of Sochi. Infrastructure is significantly inferior to the one that has a larger and famous neighbor, but then the demand for housing and prices are significantly lower. The climate here is still subtropical, but getting here by train is even easier than to Sochi, because the trains run the same, only you will have to go a hundred kilometers less. The nearest airport is the largest in the south of Russia, Sochi.

• Gelendzhik It is notable for its favorable conditions - due to the dry climate (as opposed to a humid climate in Tuapse and Sochi) and coastal winds, the summer heat is not so strongly felt here. The 75,000-strong city is famous not only for its pebble beaches, but also for the presence of cableways that make it possible to climb to the top of a nearby mountain range to appreciate the panorama from a height. The city has its own airport, which connects it mainly with the cities of the European part of the country, while the nearest railway stations are located in Novorossiysk and Krasnodar.
• Anapa - one of the main "children's" resorts of the Krasnodar Territory, since it offers a chic infrastructure for kids. The total length of sand and pebble beaches exceeds 50 kilometers, along them there are hundreds of sanatoriums and dispensaries. A few years ago, Anapa was recognized as the best balneological resort in the world, and in 2017 the second highest observation wheel in the country was opened here.

• Yeisk - perhaps the most economical center of beach tourism in the Krasnodar Territory, since it is located far to the north, in a temperate zone on the shore of the Sea of ​​Azov. In Soviet times, the city was considered the center of children's tourism in a huge country, because the sea here has - it is shallow and very calm. Since then, there remained a large number of holiday homes and summer camps, and there is a fairly well-developed entertainment infrastructure. In the summer season, you can get here directly by train from St. Petersburg and Moscow.

• Hot key - the only city in our list, not at all located on the sea. This is a major balneological center, famous all over Russia for its thermal and mineral waters.It is worth visiting it for the sake of amazing mountains, approaching the city from the south - there are enough beautiful caves and waterfalls, rocks and suspension bridges that you definitely need to see.

In addition to all the above, many people come to rest in smaller settlements, for example, the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka and the village of Sennaya are best known.

Going to rest in the Krasnodar Territory is a must, but first you should select your destination. To simplify the selection, you can give some simple and logical tips.

• If you want to get to the best resort and do not experience a lack of money, go to Sochi. The tourist opportunities of this city are not for nothing praised by millions of tourists - it is fabulously beautiful here, and the service is at the appropriate level. If you are planning to travel with small children, the choice in favor of Sochi is also obvious because it is easy to fly here by plane, and additional transfers will not be needed.

• For a trip with kids, in principle, you should choose those cities where you can fly with a minimum number of transfers. These include those in which there is a local airport; this is not only Sochi, but also Gelendzhik and Anapa. If you want to relax in the mountains, feel free to choose Hot Key, it is located just 50 kilometers from Krasnodar with its airport, or focus on small settlements in the vicinity of Sochi.
• The traditional centers of "children's" tourism are Anapa and Yeisk. - there and the slope of the seabed is suitable for children and the corresponding infrastructure is complete. The latter is also good at the lowest prices with an abundance of children's and family recreation centers, while Yeisk collects excellent reviews thanks to the developed infrastructure of attractions.

Infrastructure accommodation in the Krasnodar Territory is capable of receiving millions of guests annually, so it is not surprising that there is housing of all classes and levels. It is placed, of course, uneven, and offers the most diverse conditions.

• Expensive hotels with included in the cost of food, as well as its own entertainment infrastructure such as swimming pools or children's animation are located mainly in Sochi and its immediate surroundings. Some institutions directly position themselves as family - this is very convenient, but, to admit, painfully hits the pocket.
• Resorts and motels presented in all tourist areas of the Krasnodar Territory - on the coasts of two seas and in the mountains, as well as from all major sources of mineral waters. This is a relatively inexpensive type of accommodation, but with a small child it will be much more difficult here - there are usually no special amenities, unless the recreation center is designed specifically for guests with kids.

• Guest houses and rooms, offered by locals in the private sector of any of the local resorts, is a way to stay cheap, but without any related services. Payment will concern only the roof over your head and basic amenities such as electricity and running water, but you will have to cook on your own, which, however, will also save money. Since the presence of a child places special requirements for housing, it is desirable to discuss this issue in advance, although there should not be any special problems with the student.
• Tent camps are scattered along the Black Sea coastand in some of them it is not even necessary to have a tent with you - they will give it right on the spot. For money, this option is almost free, but the amenities here are minimal at all - almost at the level of hippies. This option is suitable only for families with adolescents, and even then you should first ask the child if he wants to rest in such conditions.

If adults go to the sea for the sake of the sea itself, then the kids definitely need some kind of entertainment - at least water attractions.If in the mountains it is difficult to entertain children in addition, then a great number of attractions, observation wheels, water parks and dolphinariums, not to mention single water slides and bananas, are scattered along practically the entire coast of the Krasnodar Territory.

Naturally, the leader in the placement of all this infrastructure is Sochi, which in principle is able to leave far behind all other competitors, even together.

Entertainment for children can be provided and not attractions. At sea, it will be interesting for children to ride on a yacht, especially since there are quite a lot of them in the Black Sea. Horses will be interesting to kids both at sea and in the mountains, and if the child is still quite small, you will have to limit yourself to a couple of laps around the square, but you can offer the teenager a full ride on horseback in the surroundings.

A good family vacation includes not only meaningless reclining on a beach or in a lounge chair at a mountain spring, but also a search for new bright impressions. To do this, it is necessary to agree on current offers for excursions to nearby scenic and interesting places. In any large city you should definitely visit the center, but the list of attractions is clearly not limited.

It would be strange to rest in Sochi and never go to the mountains, because they are located very close here, literally within reach of them. There you can see the real mountain rivers in picturesque canyons and green alpine meadows, which attract with their brightness. In no way should you miss the Olympic Park, built specifically for the 2014 Winter Games, in the city itself. You can go on a day trip to neighboring Abkhazia, but be careful - if you have the appropriate mark in your passport, you can then have problems entering Georgia.

For those who are deeply in love with the mountains, walks around the outskirts of Goryachiy Klyuch will be a wonderful leisure time. Not even a week is enough to visit all the local sights: here there are picturesque rocks, and deep valleys, and even rather long caves.

It should be noted that in each city the tourist season is different, therefore, it is impossible to say which season is the best. For example, in the north, in Yeisk, it is worth visiting the sea only from June to August; in fact, it is convenient to track the beginning and end of the season by train to Moscow and St. Petersburg, which simply do not go out of season.

Resorts of the south, such as Sochi and Tuapse, are ready to take beach lovers in May and September, but in July and August, the local heat may seem unbearable. Balneological Anapa and Hot Key position themselves as year-round resorts, well, and it’s worth going to the mountains for the skies only during the coldest winter months.

If there are several children in a family, and they differ significantly in age, one should carefully prepare for such a trip. You can not neglect the interests of any of the children, parents must be sure that everyone will like it at the point of arrival. For such a vacation, it is highly desirable to find a family-type hotel or recreation center and discuss in advance with the guide entertainment infrastructure for children of both ages.

In the most extreme case, you can skip the interests of the younger child, but then you need to consult with the elder and get his approval, based on an understanding of the reasons for such a decision.Otherwise, the long-awaited vacation in the desired south, instead of real joy, will bring only disappointment, because one of the children will remain distressed and unfairly offended.

In the next video you will find a webinar from the tour operator "Dolphin" on the topic of holiday with children in the Krasnodar region.