Gorno-Altaysk, Russia

From time to time, every citizen of a megapolis feels like the crazy rhythm, constant noise, and perpetual rush of the city become too much and all you want to do is run away to some magical place where you can spend some time recharging and restoring your inner harmony. At first, it might seem like in the 21st century, when progress and urbanization run the show, such an amazing place can exist only in a dream, but take a closer look at one of Russia's gems, the breathtaking Altai region.

The Altai Republic is a complete antipode to the modern cities which remain lit 24 hours a day and always in a hurry. Although the region boasts an area of 92.600 sq km (35.800 sq mi), its population is only 206 thousand people, making it the least-populous Russian republic. Most locals live just the way their ancestors did a hundred years ago: baking bread at home, preferring water from the string nearby over tap water, believing in spirits, and eating only what they can produce. The locals always lived in harmony with nature and, fortunately, managed to preserve their incredible traditions over the centuries. During Altai travel, you can find old villages unreachable by car most of the year and not covered by any mobile network, hordes of the wild horses running free, and even small yurt settlements.