What is it like to travel around Russia by car? In this report, I will share my experience of independent car travel. Which car should you choose? What to take on a trip? How to prepare the car? What can you do to ensure your travel safety? My personal experience and advice from avid autotourists.
I like traveling very much! And every time I try to bring something new to this business: a new style, a new format, new routes.
- I have already traveled by bike in the Sahara Desert, the Mediterranean coast and the Atlantic Ocean in Morocco.
- Organized a solo motorcycle trip around Sumatra.
- Ride well on rented bikes on the islands of Penang and Borneo, the Philippines and Vietnam.
- Run over on trains and flew on planes, too, be healthy!
And now the time has come to try something new. I decided to buy a super-passable and roomy car - UAZ "Patriot"to discover a new travel style with it. My first car, driving for the first time. I trained for three months, driving in the immediate vicinity, equipped a car, bought all the necessary camping equipment - and on the first day of autumn 2016 I got behind the wheel and set off on a road several thousand kilometers long to see the Caucasus.
So far I have traveled by car only in Russia (read: Where to go by car in Russia), and my advice is primarily useful for those preparing for a trip within the country. But my recommendations on preparing a car, collecting things and safety issues will also be useful to those who are planning an independent trip by car to Europe or other places abroad. Most of the tips are universal.
Why did I choose UAZ "Patriot" for traveling in Russia?
I chose a car for a long time, compared all possible parameters, pros and cons of each option. As a result, I came to the conclusion that the best option for me, taking into account my needs, would be the "Patriot".
In what pros car UAZ "Patriot" for long-distance travel in Russia?
- Passability... In this car, I drove through terrible mud, drove onto very steep slopes, galloped over huge cobblestones off-road in the mountains, drove along the bed of mountain rivers. The car coped with all the difficulties. I am a fan of getting into remote and hard-to-reach places, so the passability of the car is very important for me.
- Spaciousness... No matter how much equipment you have, personal belongings, equipment for shooting and work, provisions and water - all this will perfectly fit in the trunk and interior of the car. Another bonus: in the cabin, with the rear seats folded down, two people can sleep (I made a simple construction of plywood in the form of a raised floor, and put a cotton mattress on top - the bed is ready). So UAZ "Patriot" is practically a house on wheels.
- Repaired in any village in the most remote corners of the country... If a car breaks down while traveling in Russia far from civilization (for example, in Altai or the Caucasus), then it will be easy to find the necessary replacement parts and a craftsman who can fix everything (after all, they only drive UAZs there). If you are traveling in Russia in a foreign car and there is a breakdown in some wilderness, then you will have a hard time.
But, of course, there are minuses:
- High gas mileage: about 13 l / 100 km on the highway, off-road it can be all 40-50.
- Shakes, makes noise, vibrates... On long trips in the Patriot, when you drive about 1000 km a day, it is exhausting. But what can you do? This is the Russian car industry! This is an UAZ! We'll have to endure.
- You won't go over 120 km / h, no matter how hard you try... More precisely, even after 100-110 km / h it already becomes extremely uncomfortable - the engine roars, the car is sausage.
Also UAZ "Patriot" is quite suitable for trips to the CIS countries, but it is better to travel to Europe by another car - otherwise you will have to drag a trailer of parts and spare parts behind you.
Preparing for a long journey by car
I'll make a reservation right away, I do not give advice on preparing and equipping a car for large-scale and long trips into utter wilderness, into the taiga, into the mountains, hundreds of kilometers from the nearest settlement. For such extreme expeditions, training on a completely different level will be required, as well as confident knowledge of mechanics, the ability to diagnose and fix breakdowns. I don’t have those skills and most people, I suppose, do not. Therefore, my lists and tips are intended exclusively for autotourists who want to go on vacation in their car, and not recover to conquer the virgin expanses of taiga, tundra or inaccessible plateaus and mountain passes.
On a note... To travel by car, you do not need to have personal transport or drive from home. You can rent a car wherever you go. Find a car of the right make and class at the best price on the convenient Skyscanner Car Hire service, which compares offers from all the most popular car rental companies. It is especially convenient if you are planning a trip to Europe, Asia or America.
What to do before leaving
So, what should you do before you go on an independent car trip in Russia or abroad?
- Pass the inspection, change oil, filters, worn out parts - in general, check everything and bring the car in the best possible condition.
- Equip, equip car with everything you need. If you are going to drive off-road, it is worth putting protections for fuel tanks, steering rod protection and hand-outs. Equip a berth if you plan to spend the night in the car. Organize the storage of things (there are a lot of them on a big trip - you need to pack everything correctly).
- Think over nutrition and form a supply of food and water. It is always better to have something edible both for a snack on the road and a supply for a rainy day (more precisely, a few days).
- Think over the route and places of overnight stays... Calculate how far you will travel in the day, and, based on this, decide where you will spend the night so as not to end up in an open field at night. It's a matter of security and peace of mind.
- Learn about work cellular communication and availability internet access along the route of the trip and at the destination.
What to take on a trip by car
Listed below are all the things that I take with me on long and long road trips. Make your own based on my list, including the items you will need on your trip. Print and use when collecting so you don't forget anything.
Mandatory set of a motorist... Extended travel first aid kit, fire extinguisher, compressor, jack, tool kit, spare wheel, rope, starting wires. I also have: a shovel, rubber boots, an ax, a saw, jack boards, rags, funnels, a washer, antifreeze, brake fluid, gloves, a can with a supply of water, ropes, luggage rubber bands with hooks, a set of fuses, clamps.
Electronics... Inverter (voltage converter to 220 volts). A very important thing when traveling! It makes it possible to charge equipment and connect any not too powerful electrical appliances. Bring spare fuses for it too. Also very useful: navigator, video recorder, radar detector, phones with GPS, useful travel applications and maps (OSM, Yandex, Google). Other electronics: laptop, camera, player, usb-speakers (it is convenient to watch movies with them in the evenings, listen to music in the hotel room). SIM cards of different (best) operators.
Camping life. Wet wipes, paper napkins, a raincoat, sleeping bags, a tent, tourist rugs, a sheet, pillows, pillowcases, towels, a blanket, garbage bags, folding camping chairs, a folding table (think how much you need it, as it takes up a lot of space), a thermal bag , toilet paper, soap, shampoo, personal care products, matches, lighters, flashlight and batteries, fumigators and insect sprays, alcohol or chlorhexidine for disinfection.
Cooking and eating... Gas burner and cylinders, pots, frying pan, cutlery, mugs, thermos, containers, corkscrew, can opener, knives, small camping kettle or boiler, geyser coffee maker or turk, chopping board, washing sponges, detergent, barbecue, skewers.
Food... Everyone forms their own stocks of edibles, I will list only the main ones. Salt, sugar, tea, coffee, sunflower oil, nuts and muesli for a snack on the go. What can you eat while traveling? Suitable products, in my opinion: cereals, pasta, canned meat, vegetables and fish, couscous (highly recommended), bread or crackers. A decent supply of drinking water is a must!
Cash of various denominations, especially small ones (50, 100). Far from large cities you cannot pay with a card, and you cannot always find an ATM (for example, we somehow in Morocco, in a tiny completely non-tourist village in the Sahara desert, found ourselves without cash in local currency, we had to look for people willing to exchange). Traveling independently in Russia by car, there is always a chance of breaking down, and then you will need to resort to someone's help - cash will come in handy.
clothing... When going on a long car trip, think carefully about this question. Choose clothes and shoes based on the route and season. If you will spend the night in a tent or a car, take care of the presence of warm clothes (for example, in the Caucasus in September-October it was very cold at night). Thermal underwear and fleece clothes will never be superfluous. Find the optimal footwear different types: something light (flip flops, sandals), waterproof (boots, boots), casual shoes for the city or nature. I can recommend the Asics trail running shoe - it's a great shoe! In these miraculous sneakers, we walked over 20 km a day in the mountains with a climb of more than a kilometer, and did not freeze at -20 ° C, and at + 30 ° C our feet did not boil in day in them is convenient.
Other: books, sunglasses, tape, pins, sewing needles and thread, cotton pads, glue, umbrella, hammock.
Travel safety
Safety tips from seasoned car travelers to take note of:
- Consider the safety of your overnight stay. Better to sleep in the car. All valuable things must also be inside. Do not fold the driver's seat and leave it free so that you can quickly get behind the wheel and drive away. The nose of the car should not rest against an obstacle (tree, ravine, pond, etc.).
- Keep self-defense tools close at hand... For example, pepper spray. Experienced travelers recommend having a powerful flashlight or searchlight on hand (to blind the enemy). In the face of the aggressor, you can also Fire some household spray (for example, WD-40, glass cleaner, etc.).
- Inform your loved ones about where you are, staying overnight, as well as on the way.
- Find out and write out phone numbers tow trucks and service centers for your car in those regions through which you will drive.
- Keep track of the amount of fuel... Fill a full tank well in advance. Ideally, carry a can of gasoline.
- Useful to have satellite phone.
- A few points in favor of your safety will give you press documents or at least badges. It's good if you have the opportunity to create a special page on the Internet that will talk about your trip and create the appearance that you are a participant in a major travel project and the whole country knows about you. You can also decorate the car with stickers of your participation in the expedition. These measures will give you special status and make law enforcement officers more soft and fair in dealing with you (the likelihood of collisions and rudeness will decrease).
Safety issues that should always be considered by any traveler (not just a motorist):
- Money... Predict ALL possible financial difficulties and find ways to solve them. It is worth having several cards from different banks, keeping them in different places (the same applies to cash). Have a reserve - the amount for unforeseen expenses.
- Documentation... Scan or photograph your documents, save them to a flash card and keep them with you.
The list of things for the trip and tips on safety and comfort will be gradually supplemented and adjusted as new experience accumulates. I will be glad to your advice and comments! Share your experience in the comments - we will form the auto-traveler's note by joint efforts.
