Get in touch with your inner hippy and become one with yourself, others and nature at Etnomir - the largest Russian Ethnographic Park. Spanning a total area of over 10,000 square meters, including ethno-yards of 252 countries and about 40 ethno-houses constituting ethno-yards of different peoples of Russia and the world, Etnomir offers excursions and master classes in ethno-yards for a full immersion into the different cultures of the world.

Although the park is open all year around, the best time to visit is, of course, summer. June offers festivals dedicated to the different cultures of Africa as well as the different peoples of Russia. Also make sure to check out the Latin American festival for samba till your feet go numb and the Festival of the sun on the longest day of the year (June 22nd).

In July the good people at Etnomir have the “World of Taste” festival that will have foodies spoilt for choice with cuisines from all corners of the globe. The kite festival also sounds pretty fun and colorful! August has the following lined up: Vegfest, Ice Cream celebration and the Festival of Ethnic Fashion and Dance – all self-explanatory! And all this just 110km out of Moscow near Kaluga.

Getting there: Trains leave from Kievsky Railway station (metro Kievskaya) to Balabanovo and the journey takes 1,5 hour. You can also travel by marshrutka (minibus). Marshrutka's leave from Kievsky Railway station about every 40-60 minutes and the journey takes 1,5 - 2 hours.