New Year's holidays are a time when you want not just to relax, but to get bright emotions. But what to do if ski resorts and noisy capitals are already boring, and a plane ticket seems too banal? Road trip - the perfect way to combine freedom of movement, savings and unique experiences. In this article we have collected 10 unusual destinations, where you can reach by car in the winter of 2026, including ice hotels, abandoned Soviet highways and even places with northern lights, accessible without a helicopter.
Important: all routes are selected taking into account winter cross-country ability and the presence of gas stations/service stations along the way. We'll also give tips on how to prepare your car for extreme conditions - from winter tires up to autonomous heaters. And for those traveling with children, we added unique "children's" stops - for example, master classes on sculpting snowmen from professional sculptors or nightly searches for “reindeer” with a guide.
1. Ice hotel in Karelia: sleep at −5°C in a room made of ice
Forget about standard hotels: in village of Kinelakhta (200 km from Petrozavodsk) are built every year hotel made entirely of ice and snow. In 2026, a new art object will appear here - an illuminated ice gallery that can only be viewed at night. The temperature in the rooms is kept at −3…−5°C, but guests are given thermos sleeping bags and sheepskin blankets.
How to get there: the route is laid along the highway P21 (“Cola”) with a turn to A133 towards Sortavala. The last section (30 km) is a dirt road, but in winter it is regularly cleaned. Be sure to check the antifreeze level and take snow chains: there are icy areas on the climbs to the hotel.
- ❄️ Unique experience: overnight in an ice room with a visit to a wood-fired sauna (included in the price).
- 🎨 For children: master class on ice carving (tools provided).
- ⚡ Lifehack: take a 20,000 mAh powerbank - at −20°C the phone battery runs out in 2 hours.
⚠️ Attention: You need to book rooms in advance - there are no places left for the New Year already in October. Alternative: ice igloos on the hotel premises (30% cheaper, but without amenities).
2. Abandoned highway “Kola North”: 500 km in the footsteps of Soviet geologists
Route Murmansk - Teriberka - Far Zelentsy runs along the former military road, built in the 1950s to supply radar stations. Now there is almost no traffic here, but there is abandoned barges, snowy lighthouses and a chance to see northern lights no light pollution. The road is partially asphalted, but there are sections with gravel surface and icy rifts.
What to see along the way:
- 🏚️ Abandon settlements: abandoned village Liinahamari with dilapidated barracks.
- 🌊 Natural attractions: Lip Ura - a place where the Barents Sea freezes with bizarre ice sculptures.
- 📡 Technical tourism: operating radar in Far Zelentsy (excursions by appointment).
| Route section | Length (km) | Difficulty | Gas stations/service stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murmansk — Teriberka | 120 | Medium (asphalt + gravel) | 2 gas stations, 1 tire service |
| Teriberka - Far Zelentsy | 80 | High (virgin snow) | No (get fuel in Teriberka) |
| Distant Zelentsy - border with Norway | 40 | Extreme (off-road) | No |
⚠️ Attention: To travel to the border zone you need FSB permission (issued 30 days in advance). Without it, you will be turned away at a checkpoint in Pechenga.
3. Underground city in the Urals: New Year in the caves of the Perm region
B Kungur Ice Cave (100 km from Perm) from 2023 New Year's excursions with lanterns and tea in grottoes. The temperature inside the cave is stable at −2°C, and the walls are covered ice crystals, which shimmer in the light of the lamps. A quest “In Search of Santa Claus” with clues in the form of frozen footprints is organized for children.
How to get there: along the highway P242 to the city Kungur, then 15 km following the signs. Parking is paid (200 ₽/day), but there is a free alternative 500 m from the entrance. Be sure to check your tire pressure — in a cave, sudden temperature changes can deform the rubber.
Clothing with membrane fabric (moisture wicking)|Thermos with hot tea|Flashlight with spare batteries|Non-slip shoes (e.g. Merrell Moab>)|Passport (needed to purchase a ticket)-->
4. Vaigach Island: where the polar night lasts 40 days
This is one of the most isolated places in Russia that can be reached by car in winter. The island is connected to the mainland winter road (ice road), which operates from December to April. There are no hotels here - tourists live in guest yurts local reindeer herders or rent cabins at the weather station. Main entertainment: dog sledding and monitoring polar bears (with an armed guide!).
Logistics: start in Naryan-Mar, then 300 km along the winter road to the village Warnek. Take plenty of fuel — the nearest gas station is 150 km away. Be sure to take satellite phone (connection can only be received Iridium) and first aid kit with anti-frostbite medications.
What happens if you stall on a winter road?
If your car is parked in the middle of an icy road, you should not leave it for more than 10 minutes - there is a risk of frostbite in a wind of −30°C. You can call for help using a satellite phone (emergency number: +7 (81853) 2-12-99). Local residents on snowmobiles usually arrive 2-3 hours in advance, but take payment in cash (from 5,000 rubles for evacuation).
5. Ghost town of Pyras in Altai: New Year in an abandoned sanatorium
Village Pyras in the Altai Republic was abandoned in the 1990s after the closure molybdenum plant. Now there are only snowy high-rise buildings, abandoned swimming pool and house of culture with a preserved scene. Local tourist clubs organize here New Year's parties in post-apocalyptic style — with generators, fires and live music.
Route: from Barnaul along the highway P370 up to Chemala (400 km), then 50 km on a dirt road. It's impossible to drive without all-wheel drive — the last 20 km are covered with virgin snow. But you can spend the night on site yurt with stove (rent from 1,500 ₽/day).
- 🎭 Entertainment: quest “Survival in a ghost town” with lanterns and maps from the 1980s.
- 📸 Photospots: abandoned monument to Lenin in the snow, kindergarten with preserved toys.
- ⚠️ Dangers: collapse of ceilings - do not enter buildings without a guide!
6. Baikal ice: driving a car on a frozen lake
From mid-January to March, the ice thickness on Lake Baikal reaches 1-1.5 meters, which allows cars to drive through it. Route Listvyanka - Olkhon Island (200 km) takes 4-5 hours with stops at ice grottoes and thermal springs. Main rule: drive only on marked roads (they are updated daily).
Technical requirements for the machine:
- 🔧 Tire pressure: reduce to
1.5 atmfor better grip. - ⛽ Fuel: full tank + 20 liter canister (on ice, consumption increases by 30%).
- 📡 Navigation: download offline maps Osmand with marks of cracks.
If you are planning to spend the night on the ice, take thermos tent (for example, Decathlon MH500) and gas burner — the temperature at night drops to −30°C.
7. New Year's Yakutia: festival “Winter begins with Yakutia”
B Oymyakon (the coldest place on Earth) from December 28 to January 5 there is a festival where you can swim in a thermal spring at −50°C, try Stroganina from frozen fish and take part in races on reindeer sleigh. Organized for auto travelers heated parking (200 ₽/hour).
How to get there: route Yakutsk - Khandyga - Oymyakon (1,000 km) takes 2 days. Fill fuel only at proven gas stations - on the highway A360 "Lena" I get diluted gasoline. Take Webasto starting heater — without it, the car won’t start in the morning.
Drive only during the day: at −45°C the battery loses 60% of its capacity, and there is no lighting on the highway.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about road trips in winter
Do I need to take out travel insurance to travel to remote regions?
Yes, but not the usual one OSAGO, and extended insurance for extreme trips (for example, from AlfaInsurance or Ingosstrakh). It covers evacuation by helicopter (from RUB 50,000) and treatment of frostbite. Cost: from 3,000 ₽ for 10 days. Be sure to check the item “action in border zones” — without it, insurance will not work on the Kola Peninsula or Vaygach.
How to prepare a car for −40°C?
Minimum checklist:
- Replace antifreeze with G12++ with a freezing point of −50°C (for example, CoolStream Premium).
- Install
AGM batterywith a capacity of at least 70 Ah (for example, Varta Silver Dynamic). - Stick on glass thermal film (reduces heat loss by 30%).
- Take
tow rope(length 5 m, load capacity 3 t).
Do not use alcohol-based lock defrosters — at −30°C they freeze and break the mechanism.
Is it possible to drive on winter roads in a passenger car?
Technically yes, but only if:
- You have four-wheel drive (for example, Subaru Forester or Toyota RAV4).
- Tires
Velcrowith spikes (for example, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10). - They are in the trunk
sand/gravel(for padding when slipping) andshovel.
On Vaigache or in Yakutia better to rent UAZ Patriot or Toyota Hilux on the spot - local rental offices provide cars with insulated interior and additional canisters.