Samara Luka National Park

Samara Luka National Park - the main natural attraction of the Samara region. It occupies a significant territory-134 thousand hectares, framed by the bend of the Volga (Samara Luka on the map. The Zhiguli mountains, the upland part of the park and the plains, as well as water areas are located on this territory. The plant world has 1500 species of plants, among which there are relict ones: point Marten, Cossack Juniper, Tatar bark beetle, Podolsk shiverekia, Robert geranium, etc. Also here there are plants of the ice age: bearberry, Siberian dinlasia, Altai anemone, Oak petiolate, Hazel. Of particular interest are endemics, i.e. plants that grow only in this area, and nowhere else on Earth: yuzepchuk kachim, Zhigulevsky milkweed, zhigulevskaya Jaskolka, Zhigulevsky kachim, Zhigulevsky thyme, monetolistny sunflower. About 200 species of plants growing here are rare, 18 of them are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

The wildlife here is also diverse. There are 304 species of terrestrial vertebrates, 61 species of fish. Previously, the diversity was even greater, but over the past 100 years, the brown bear, the great jerboa, the European Marmot, the Ogar, the black stork, the Little Tern and others have disappeared.

It is not surprising that Samara Luka is one of the favorite places not only for local tourists, but also come here from other regions. Of course, it is impossible for a simple tourist to see all the variety of species of flora and fauna here, since most of them live in specially protected natural areas of the park, where ordinary tourists cannot get, but tourist routes have been created especially for tourists, available for a fee on tickets.

Official website: http://npsamluka.ru/

How to visit Samara Luka National Park

The system of visiting the National Park is somewhat confusing, and it is often confused with the Zhiguli Reserve, which is actually visited separately, and is not connected with the park in any way.

The territory of Samara Luka is huge, including settlements, suburban areas, public roads. The National Park is divided into zones, some of which are freely accessible (these are roads, settlements, summer cottages and agricultural land), some of the zones are completely closed from visiting (including the Zhiguli Reserve), and some are available only for a fee on tickets. It is about these zones that we will discuss further.

These zones in the terminology of the park are called tourist routes. But this does not mean that you should go through these routes on foot, and not stop anywhere. Quite the contrary, these routes are zones where you can drive by car or bicycle, set up handkerchief camps in designated places, build fires also in designated places, walk along paved trails, climb to the tops of mountains. The main thing is not to violate the rules of behavior of the park and not to destroy nature.

Entrance and entry to paid tourist routes are indicated by information boards, but entry control is not carried out. However, inside, patrolling is carried out by Rangers who check the availability of a paid ticket, and in case of absence, a fine of 1500 rubles is issued. So you should not save and take risks, especially since the cost of visiting is symbolic, and goes to the maintenance and development of the National Park.

We figured out the principle of visiting, now how the visit takes place in practice. You can visit Samara Luka by yourself, arriving here by car, bus, or by river transport from Samara or Togliatti. It is convenient to visit the park by bicycle, for which you can ferry it by river transport. Also, sightseeing tours to Samara Luka are offered by travel agencies of Samara and Togliatti, or you can buy excursions in the Directorate of the National Park (do not confuse this with tickets for self-visits). Tours for 1 and 3 days are offered, more details here - http://npsamluka.ru/tourism

And we also advise you to see ready-made excursions around Samara and the region, with which it will be much more interesting to get acquainted with the region. You can find and Book Group or individual excursions on these trusted sites with reviews:

• 📷 search for excursions in Samara on Tripster.ru
• 📷 search for excursions in Samara on Sputnik8.com

How much does it cost to visit Samara Luka

There are several paid tourist routes in the park, each of them is paid separately. For more information about routes, see below. The cost is:

• for 1 day-50 rubles, preschoolers-free of charge
• monthly subscription-1000 rubles
• subscription for the quarter-2000 rubles
• subscription for 6 months-3000 rubles
• children under 7 years-free of charge

Upon payment, a ticket is issued, where the time of purchase (or term) is indicated, so if you want to stay more than a day, you must purchase a ticket for two days or more at once.

Where to buy vouchers to Samara Luka

It is not difficult to purchase a ticket-ticket, the points of their implementation are located either near the entrance/entrance to the route, or directly at the entrance, as well as in partner travel agencies in Samara, Togliatti and Zhigulevsk. On those routes where the implementation of vouchers occurs at the checkpoint, in rare cases there may be no one, in which case the vouchers are bought from the Rangers already on the route. Below in the list of routes we indicated the nearest points of purchase of vouchers for this route, and here is the full list:

• On the official website online

  Now it is possible to issue an electronic ticket on the official website http://npsamluka.ru/, for which the "visit the park" section was created. You need to choose the date of the visit, one of the routes or zones of the visit, specify personal data and pay for the ticket online. With such an electronic ticket, you can safely go on vacation. Just keep in mind that it is better to buy a ticket in advance, and not already on the spot, since the reception area of cellular operators in some parts of the park is bad, accordingly, it may not be possible to issue a ticket, and this threatens with a fine.

• Directly in the National Park at the entrance to the routes and near them, seven days a week

  • Bakhilovo, Recreational Area "Witch Lake", Tel. +7 927 025 52 79
  • Sosnovy Solonets, Lesnaya STR., 23, Tel. 8 (84862) 3-70-99
  • Sevryukaevo village, Information Center, Tel. 8 (84862) 37-6-123
  • Mordovian floodplain, checkpoint on the shore
  • Rozhdestveno, Sadovaya STR., 32 Tel. 8 (84862)99-45-07, +7 927 616 26 57
  • Checkpoint in the village of Gavrilova Polyana (shore)
  • Checkpoint in the village of Podhory (on the way to the source of St. Elijah the Prophet)
  • Checkpoint near Tornovoye village (on the bicycle route)
  • Zhiguli, checkpoint Molodetsky Kurgan, Tel. +7 927 896 47 34
  • Bolshaya Ryazan, Forestry Office, Lesnaya STR., 13, Tel. 8 (84862)3-84-50, +7 927 899 76 48
  • Shiryaevo village, Information Center, Zavodskaya STR., 4, Tel. +7 939 701 06 95

• The City Of Zhigulevsk

  • Samara Luka EcoCenter, 9a Privolzhskaya STR., Tel. 8 (84862)7-99-70
  • Central Office of the National Park, Department of recreation and tourism, 109A Tkacheva STR., Tel. 8 (84862) 2-16-98

• City Of Samara

  • 127 Kuibyshev Street, office 15, Tel. (846) 332-02-13, 89278997115

• Tolyatti City

  • Travel agency "Pilgrim", Mira Street, 132, working hours: Monday-Friday from 9.00 to 19.00. Saturday from 10.00 to 16.00, Sunday-day off. Tel. (8482) 48-45-29, 48-73-74
  • TIC, rechnoy vokzal Komsomolsk district, in the summer without days off from 9.00 to 18.00, in winter-from Tuesday to Saturday from 9.00 to 18.00., Tel. (8482) 55-72-73, 50-70-80

And now more about the most popular tourist routes in Samara Luka, attractions, and places of sale of vouchers:

Tourist routes in Samara Luka

• Tourist route stone bowl and Nikolsky spring

  

  I call the stone bowl a tract not far from the village of Shiryaevo, where the holy spring of Nicholas the Wonderworker is located. It is part of the Zhiguli Reserve and the Samara Luka National Park at the same time. This is one of the most popular tourist places in the Samara region, which is visited all year round. Especially many people come here during religious holidays, because it is popular not only among tourists, but also among believers, among pilgrims.

  The spring got its name because of the rounded cup-shaped extension of the Shiryaevsky ravine, which forms a kind of stone bowl in which the source is located. The very existence of a spring here is surprising, since local rocks consist exclusively of limestone, which absorbs precipitation and does not allow springs to form. The water of the spring is considered curative and consecrated, and nearby is the chapel and bathhouse of St. Nicholas. Learn more about the stone bowl here....

  🕐 Working hours: in summer from 8:00 to 20:00; in winter from 8:00 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 50 rubles, preschoolers-free of charge. The fee is paid at the entrance to one of the two tourist routes leading to the stone bowl, or at the headquarters of the Reserve. If you will get to the source from the village of Shiryaevo, then tickets must be purchased at The Information Center of the Samara Luka National Park (Zavodskaya STR., 4)

  🚶 How to get there: The stone bowl and Nikolsky spring are located on the territory of the Zhiguli nature reserve and the Samara Luka National Park about 150 kilometers by road from Samara, and 75 from Togliatti (stone bowl on the map. There are two routes to the tract: from the village of Sunny Polyana (on the territory of the Zhiguli Reserve) and the village of Shiryaevo (on the territory of the National Park). From the village of Shiryaevo to the holy spring is about 8 kilometers, but in good weather you can get by car almost to the source itself. From Sunny Glade about 3 kilometers. You can visit both independently (by private transport, buses, riverboats) and with an excursion. Self-visit is not difficult, because there are signs everywhere.

• Shiryaevo village, tunnels, and Mount Camel

  

  In our opinion, this is the most interesting and rich route. It includes several attractions at once: tunnels in Shiryaevo, camel mountain and tunnels in it, Popov mountain. All of them are visited by one ticket. What is good in this route, you can come to it with a tent, and stay in the area of Mount Camel or on the beach of the village. Even in Shiryaevo you can visit the museum complex, including the House-Museum of the artist Repin, the House-Museum of the poet A.V. Shiryaevts, the museum-estate of the merchant I. Widow. In terms of time, you can see everything here in one full day.

  Tickets for visiting this route can be purchased directly at the entrance to the village Information Center (Zavodskaya STR., 4).

  Learn more about each of the attractions on this route: Shiryaevo village, shiryaevo tunnels, Mount Camel, Mount Popova

• Walking route "Witch Lake"

  

  The walking route "Witch Lake" in Samarskaya Luka is an excursion and entertainment trail, and not a zone, as on other routes. It is held for a certain time, you can not stay on the territory of the route for the night.

  The trail introduces the history of the emergence of the village of Bakhilovo, legends and Legends of the Mordovians-moksha - the founders of the village. It takes place next to the lake, and is decorated with figures of fairy - tale characters - a witch, a Goblin, a water and others. The length of the trail is 2 km, the passage time is 1-2 hours (one kilometer to the lake and the same back). Along the route there are signs and information stands, places for rest are equipped. Learn more about the route "Witch Lake" here....

  🕐 Working hours: the tourist route is open Monday-Friday from 08:00 to 17:00; Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 50 rubles, preschoolers-free of charge. Payment is made at the checkpoint at the entrance, Phone +7 927 0255279.

  🚶 How to get there: Witch Lake is located near the village of Bakhilovo, 115 kilometers by road from Samara, and 40 from Togliatti (route on the map. It is best to get there by car, at the entrance to the village on the road there is a sign in the direction of the checkpoint.

• Molodetsky Kurgan

  

  Molodetsky Kurgan and its surroundings are considered one of the most picturesque places in the Samara region. Here you can come to relax for the whole day, walk around and climb to the top, admiring from there the panorama of the Volga at the site of the formation of the artificial reservoir "Zhiguli sea", on the mountains Lepeshka and Devichya. More active tourists can stay here for the night in a tent, for which there is an equipped area with benches, tables and canopies near the entrance to the territory. Even if you come here for a day, you can fry kebabs in this camp.

  Using the signs, you can climb to the top at a height of 243 meters along one of the routes: long and gentle or shorter but steep. Lifting is not difficult, it takes 1-2 hours, even a child can master it. Learn more about Molodetsky Kurgan here....

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is better to visit in summer.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 50 rubles, preschoolers-free of charge. Ticket-ticket is purchased at the checkpoint at the entrance from 08:00 to 20:00. Phone KPP +7 927 8964734. The permit is valid only for this tourist route.

  🚶 How to get there: Molodetsky Kurgan is located in the Samara Luka National Park, 110 kilometers from Samara, and 40 from Togliatti (Kurgan on the map. It is best to get here by private transport. Parking for transport in front of the entrance-50 rubles. You can also take local suburban buses to the village of Zhiguli, and then 5 kilometers on foot.

• Stepan Razin Cave

  Stepan Razin's cave is located 2 kilometers from the village of Malaya Ryazan, on the banks of the Volga river in the southern part of the National Park. The cave is not very large, consists of one Hall 4 meters wide, 20 in length, and the entrance to it is even smaller, you can not pass through it in full growth. The origin of the cave is karst, formed as a result of leaching of rocks by water.

  But much more interesting than the geological origin of the cave, the history associated with it, and perhaps just a legend. It is said that the cave was used by Stepan Razin, the leader of the 1670-1671 uprising. Allegedly, the cave was then very large that it could even be entered on horseback, while the entrance to it always remained invisible.

  You can go here only to inspect the cave itself, which will take no more than 10 minutes, but also for a longer rest. Nearby there are equipped recreation areas and tents, several springs with drinking water. The cave and place for tents is located on the banks of the Volga, but for swimming it is not very suitable, there is no beach here. Learn more about Stepan Razin cave here....

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 50 rubles, preschoolers-free of charge. The ticket is purchased at the checkpoint on Wednesday-Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, on Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 to 17:00. KPP Phone - +7(84862) 3-84-50. The ticket is valid only for this route of Samara Luka.

  🚶 How to get there: the cave is located 110 kilometers from Samara, and 45 from Togliatti (cave on the map. You need to go to the village of Bolshaya Ryazan, there at the checkpoint at 13 Lesnaya Street to buy vouchers for visiting (Checkpoint on the map), and then go to the village of Malaya Ryazan. In Little Ryazan, the asphalt road ends, and you need to drive a little more along the dirt road, and then on foot. By public transport, you can get from the bus station Zhigulevsk by bus number 330, and then by hitchhiking or on foot.

• Zavolzhsky monastery and the source of St. Elijah

  Previously called Podhorsky, this source has been known for several centuries and has always been a place of pilgrimage for residents of surrounding villages and villages. But during the Times of Soviet power and the Prohibition of religion, the place was abandoned, everything fell into disrepair. The spring was restored and re-consecrated only in 2003, a chapel and the Zavolzhsky monastery were built nearby. It is a well from which you can draw water for drinking and ablution, for which a bath is installed here. The water is always very cold, no more than +5 ℃ even in summer, so swimming is very invigorating. In addition, water is very useful: analysis of water shows that the content of silver ions in it is 100 times higher than normal. According to legend, Silver Falls into the water from treasures hidden in the Zhiguli mountains.

  For tourists, in addition to the source itself, the surrounding landscapes, the nearby Belaya mountain and the village of Gavrilova Polyana on the Volga shores will be interesting. This is a very popular bike route, from here you can reach the trails to Mount Camel and the village of Shiryaevo. Learn more about the source here....

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: the visit to the source and the temple is free, but since it is located in the National Park, you will have to pay 50 rubles for access to the territory, preschoolers - for free. The ticket is purchased at the checkpoint at the exit from the asphalt to the dirt road in the village of Podgori, there is a sign.

  🚶 How to get there: the source is located near the village of Podgori in the Samara Luka National Park (source on map. It is quite difficult to get here by car: there is no asphalt road to the village of Podhory from there, so you can only get by car along a dirt road through the villages of Sosnovy Solonets, Rozhdestvenno. The car can only be transported by cargo ferry from Samara to summer navigation. Therefore, it is most convenient to visit this route by ferry and then on foot or by bicycle.

• Mordvinskaya floodplain

  Mordvinskaya floodplain is a water route along the numerous channels of the Volga among the numerous islets near the village of Mordovo in the Samara Luka National Park. Rare protected species of flora grow here, Birds Nest, the water is rich in fish. But you can make a tour of this route only with a boat tour, which is ordered from the National Park administration. The route also passes along the ancient coastal villages of Ermakovo, Vinnovka, and Leshche. If you have your own swimming facility, even an inflatable boat, then you can take a tour yourself, for this you only need to purchase a ticket to the checkpoint on the shore.

  🕐 Working hours: round the clock, time of excursions by agreement.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 50 rubles, preschoolers-free of charge. The ticket is purchased at the checkpoint on the shore from 08:00 to 20:00. The cost of excursions can be specified by calling the National Park +7(84862)2-16-98; +79278964732.

  🚶 How to get there: Mordvinskaya floodplain is located near the village of Mordovo, 110 kilometers from Samara and 50 kilometers from Togliatti (MORDVINSKAYA floodplain checkpoint on the map).