Packing
Pack as lightly as possible. Bring practical clothes you can wash easily. Summers are warm and dusty; however bring an umbrella or a raincoat. Winters are cold and dry with temperatures as low as -30c. Interiors are usually well-heated so it is wise to dress in layers. You won’t be able to do without warm boots and a jacket, woolen socks and gloves because winter is freezing cold. It is better to put on clothes you enjoy wearing and feel comfortable in. You definitely need good walking shoes which you don't mind getting dirty.
Documents
Keep your passport, visa, important papers, tickets and money in a safe place at all times. NEVER pack them in luggage to be checked. Make photocopies of the passport ID page, the visa, credit cards, etc., and keep the copies in a separate location in case of a loss. You will have to show your passport if you visit an embassy or consulate.
Medicines
It is only necessary to bring flu and common cold medicines, prescription drugs and remedies. Those recommended are: aspirin, throat lozenges, antibiotics for minor infections, lip salve, vitamins, etc.
Food
The Russian diet is quite heavy and does not have much variety during winter. The nutrition particularities of Siberian people have been formed thanks to ancient traditions and the bleak climate. People prefer dairy products, vegetables and greens in summer and meat dishes with pickles in winter. There are usually three meals per day. For breakfast Russians prefer porridge with milk and butter, omelet or boiled eggs and a piece of bread with a slice of cheese or bacon on it. Lunch is a substantial meal in Russia and local people usually have soups like Schi (soup with meat and vegetables), broth with Pelmeni (small dumplings with a meat filling), Ukha (fish soup) for the first meal and meat with fried or mashed potatoes as well as stewed vegetables for the second course. Main dishes as a rule are served with sauerkraut and pickles. Dinner mostly includes salads and meals like beef stroganoff, meat rissoles and pork chops with some garnish. One cannot but mention Russian pancakes, fish and fruit pies, shangui (a kind of pirozhki) with berries, carrot, cabbage, curds and onion. In summer Russians like to eat okroshka (salad made from radish, onion, cucumbers, eggs and dressed with kvas). Kvas is an original Russian soft drink made of bread. Russians also drink black tea and instant coffee.
Health Insurance. Make sure you have adequate health insurance coverage for overseas. Consult with your health insurance company on how your coverage will be treated in Russia. In case of evacuation for medical reasons you should understand what coverage you have.
Immunizations
Check with your doctor or visa service office for current requirements. It may be necessary to update immunization for childhood diseases, including a tetanus shot. As of August 1994, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends having current polio and DPT vaccines.
Passports, Visas, Customs
You must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay overseas. You will need a tourist visa which can be booked through your travel agent. This visa will be valid only within Russia. Should you wish to visit another republic (e.g. Ukraine or Mongolia) you will need to contact those consulates to get separate visas. The tourist visa is a single entry visa. Should you wish to visit another republic during your time in Russia, you will need to apply to the local OVIR to obtain a re-entry visa. The same procedure applies for extending your visa or making other changes. Foreigners must register with the local OVIR within 72 hours after arriving in a community.
Tick-borne encephalitis
In Russia there exist about 100 kinds of ticks, mostly found in the country side. Ticks are the vermin of wild reptiles, birds, mammals and domestic vertebrate animals. They are blood feeders and many kinds of ticks attack people when they venture into nature areas. It can be very dangerous for a persons health should you be bitten. Ticks carry pathogenic organisms with natural locus. Tick-borne encephalitis (the basic carriers - taiga tick) is widespread in this part of Siberia. For protection from ticks it is necessary to take strong measures like wearing appropriate clothes and possibly scaring grids impregnated with repellents.
