RUSSIA

     For the most travelers Russia is the largest unexplored travel   destination on the planet. For the last seventy years, enormous expanses of pristine territory, centuries of rich Russian history and culture and the greater part of the hospitable Russian people themselves have all been closed to outside visitors.  Today, Transaero Tours center creates  the opportunity for any traveler to explore a vast and unknown land.

Russia  facts

Geography
Russia spans 11 time zones. It’s land ranges from the highest mountains in Europe to some of the lowest  spots in the world, and from Arctic tundra to seemingly endless plains.  

Official Name: Russian Federation.

Passport/Visa Requirements: Passports, visas and proof of onward passage are needed by Canadian and U.S. citizens. If you arrange your trip through a tour agency, the agency will handle visa arrangements for you. If you are traveling independently, you`ll need an official letter of invitation from a Russian citizen or company, and you`ll have to apply for a visa through a Russian consulate. (Although an experiment is currently under way to obtain visas at the airport, it is advisable to take care of visa arrangements before arrival in Russia. Visas issued at the airport are only valid for a maximum of 72 hours, and it is unclear how long the experiment will continue.) After entering the country, the visa must be registered within three days. Your hotel will usually take care of this for you, but you may be charged a small fee. Expect the process to take at least a day, and be sure to pick up your documents from the hotel (they don`t necessarily return them to you until you ask). Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.

Capital: Moscow.

Population: 145,470,197.

Languages: Russian, many regional languages.

Predominant Religions: Russian Orthodox, Muslim.

Time Zone: 2-12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2 through +12 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed March-October.

Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.

Telephone Codes: 7, country code; 095, Moscow city code; 812, St. Petersburg city code.