Arrangements can be made for accommodation in a real village, or accommodation at a "dacha". Villages are isolated settlements, usually in dense forest settings requiring several hours of transport by motor car to reach. "Dachas" are summer homes located outside the city, sometimes as close as 40 minutes by train, mostly inhabited by children and grandmothers in the summer months where vegetables and flowers are grown. Dachas may be close to forest settings, lakes, Gulf of Finland, but nevertheless will be relatively close to civilization and perhaps next to a hundred similar dachas.

CONDITIONS

Village stays are most definitely for those who don't mind primitive living conditions. The cost of transportation to a village/dacha will depend mostly on how far it is located from Saint Petersburg and whether it is desired or necessary to have someone accompany you to your destination.

Villages may actually be settlements consisting of several dachas (where people don't live permanently), but as a rule are more isolated than your strictly dacha settlements nearer to the city. Even in villages, electricity will probably be available, although it may be sporadic. Running water will be a rarity, toilets in outhouses. Transportation to a village may be available only every other day, or walking may be required, and so White Nights may be called upon to offer its transportation services or offer a guide who will lead tourists to their destinations.

Some village locations are very much removed from civilization, surrounded by forests where one could easily become lost especially if one is without a compass. June is the first month when village life could be tried, however mosquitos are plentiful, mushrooms are just starting to grow (there may be no mushrooms in June depending on rainfall). On the plus side June is the month of white nights, when there is at least dim sunlight at all hours of the night Ð very enchanting. Wild berries are probably available June. In July, more mushrooms are a likelihood, although mosquitos are still a problem. August is generally the warmest month, less mosquitos. September is mostly known as the month with the most mushrooms. Mushroom picking can be intoxicating, and the more isolated a location, usually the better the pickings. It's like walking and finding money every once in a while. Near the city of Saint Petersburg the forests are usually swarming with mushroom pickers, a very popular activity among Russians, and competition in finding mushrooms may be tough. Depending on the sort it is possible to dry mushrooms in a couple of days for taking back to home. With berry picking it may be possible to preserve your own jam as a souvenir for home.

In all months of the summer fishing can be plentiful, and generally no fishing license is required and there is no limit on fish catches. Swimming is usually available in locations next to lakes/rivers/Gulf of Finland. Hiking everywhere. In some locations the Russian bath will be available. People enter sauna houses and are whipped by tree branches, usually followed by dashes into the cold water of a nearby river/lake.

Food will be provided by the hostess and may consist of items home-grown from the area supplemented by provisions brought in from the city. Potatoes are a great part of the diet, often accompanied by wild mushrooms, possibly with smetana (Russian sour cream). Of course mushrooms (which can be inspected by the hostess), fish and berries that tourists gather can be prepared for consumption.

WARNING: Tourists should be forewarned that in remote locations alcoholism may be a problem among inhabitants. White Nights will try to insure that hostesses of tourists are not problem drinkers, but no such guarantee can be extended to include that of all neighbors in the area. Such is life in small Russian settlements. A few days in a village location is recommended.

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