Drive through the semi-desert to the salt lake Elton

The journey will start early in the morning in Volgograd. It is one of the longest cities in Russia, stretching along the Volga River for as much as 100 km!

Before embarking on a two-day trip around Volgograd and its surroundings, stop by the "Happiness is!" cookery shop. Here from 7:30 you can have a quick and tasty breakfast and take a snack for lunch. Keep in mind that you'll be spending most of the upcoming day in the wilderness, enjoying the vast expanses of steppes and bodies of water, so it's worth stocking up on food and water.

The first stop is the lotus lake in the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain. This amazingly beautiful place was discovered relatively recently - in 2007. Residents of the nearby village Krasny Tugor began to carefully monitor the preservation of plants, and soon the number of flowers on the lake increased significantly, and the previously nameless pond became a landmark. The lotus blooms start in August and last for about a month.

Lake Elton is a real natural gem, fascinating with its alien beauty. The most salty lake in Europe has been known since the time of Ivan the Terrible - salt has been extracted here. Now Elton Ultra - the only Russian ultramarathon in the semi-desert area - takes place there. You can reach the lake through the village of Elton, beyond which the road to the lake begins. Leave your car at the barrier, then walk another 2 km.

If you are attracted not only by nature, but also by the cultural heritage of the locals, in the village you will find an ethnographic centre organized by the local teacher Smagula Muntaev. It represents two Kazakh yurts and a room made in the style of a Russian hut. Here you can learn a lot of interesting things about the everyday life and culture of the Kazakh people in an informal atmosphere.

A couple of kilometres from the village you'll have the opportunity to get mud from the salty lake and to lie in the brine pit. At the end of the spit there is an equipped changing room where you can put your things. To wash yourself later and return to a human face, take fresh water with you. In the evening at sunset, the lake looks especially picturesque - it's the best time for a stunning photo shoot.

After a long dusty road and exploring the salt lake, you will definitely want to clean up. Check into the hotel, take a shower and get ready for a relaxing but also full of emotions evening. Take a shower and go to the restaurant "Knyagininsky Dvor" for dinner.

For dinner go to the restaurant of Volga cuisine "Knyagininsky Dvor". Here they cook dishes from fresh organic products produced on their own farm and Volga fish.
Table reservation: +7 (8442) 94 40 24

Have a good rest before the next day of your journey. It will be no less eventful and full of experiences.
If your accommodation includes breakfast, take advantage of this opportunity in the morning. This will save you time to explore a number of unique natural sites on the second day of your trip.