Since the beginning of the 2010s, the demand for out-of-town holidays has been slowly but steadily changing in large cities of Russia. Proximity to nature has come to the fore: an eco-friendly and ethical approach to leisure and organization of the environment, community and the principle of less is more have become important. The young city dweller wanted more than a pretty room in a holiday home with a pool and trees around: thickets of grasses with chirping grasshoppers, minimalistic and comfortable living modules, stargazing, birdwatching and excursions in the forest. “Subtleties” together with the expert Irina Mamai, the founder of the “Green Path” project, found out how glamping differs from the usual country hotels, who should visit there and what, in fact, is the trick. The word “glamping” appeared in the UK in 2005, but the idea itself has its origins in the royal hunts of the 16th century, when comfortable tents were set up in nature and filled with items from palace use. Now glampings are very popular in the UK, USA, Croatia, Slovenia and other countries; in Russia, the first glamping opened in 2017, by 2022 there are already about 360 of them. “The trend towards ethical consumption, towards being close to nature is a macro trend. It will not go anywhere, only the forms of manifestation can change (other residential modules, a slightly different organization of the territory), services such as natural healing can be added, but the very essence of natural recreation, which meets the philosophy of less is more, is firmly rooted in Russia,” Irina believes Mom.
What is glamping?
What does glamping look like?
Formally — This is a comfortable campsite. That is, mobile or easily erected housing (tents, tipi, small houses), but with the comfort of a four-star hotel and various hedonistic extras. For example, glampings often have their own hot tub, hanging bed, or hammocks near the living quarters. The rooms are lined with class 4-5 * hotel linen, natural cosmetics are used, pleasant little things are added: a projector for watching movies, a mask and T-shirts for sleeping, woolen socks and raincoats as a gift, a coffee machine, a cappuccino whisk, a shoe dryer. The cuisine is often uncomplicated in terms of the number of dishes, but with a focus on locality and beautiful presentation – tables in the forest with natural decor and serving.
Glampings tend to have a very involved owner, so there are no random things. All the little things, such as tea for the public area, water in the rooms, mattresses in the cabins, are chosen very carefully, as for themselves.
The philosophy of glamping is the principle of less is more (“less is more”) and non-interference with nature.
Glampilliersthey do not remake nature for themselves, but only look for its most beautiful angles. This dictated an unusual approach to the organization of the environment and leisure. They often use alternative power sources: heating of residential modules with gas heaters. Light – from solar panels, water heating – from a diesel generator. Water is sometimes taken from a river or stream. Septic tanks are used either closed type or peat toilets according to Finnish technology, which can even be installed in the house – with a complete absence of smell with properly installed ventilation. And household waste (except for organic matter, which is composted) is often taken to the “mainland” on boats and even helicopters.
10 things to love about glamping
- Long grasses where grasshoppers and garden warblers live.
- Waterscapes organized according to the principle < i>permaculture(this is an approach to the design of the surrounding space based on the interconnections of natural ecosystems: no rough intervention of people and technology, everything is as natural as possible).
- Wooden and woodchip paths instead of asphalt and tiles.
- Dispensers with organic cosmetics.
- Small wooden houses with large windows, integrated into nature, which guarantee maximum privacy and minimum interference with neighbors.
- Décor made from natural materials.
- Unbanal leisure: walks with a biologist or astronomer, birdwatching, yard games, tastings and trips to local farmers.
- Volleyball, badminton, jogging through the woods, exercising on the bare feet trail. In the evening, punch and a guitar by the fire.
- Dinners in the forest with natural serving and the most romantic atmosphere.
- Slowing down the pace of life and gentle nature meditation. That is why glampings have a lot of hammocks in quiet places, small gazebos, scenes in the forest for improvisations.1/1
What else to read on the topic
- The 7 most Instagrammable places where you can go cheap on a weekend e from Moscow
- To Karelia with tents: shoals of beginners and experienced tips
- Glamorous camping is a new trend. 11 best glamping sites near Moscow