Biathlon World Cup in Russia: Sochi or Khanty-Mansiysk?

10/30/2013 2:06:17 PM

First of all, it’s definitely Sochi (but sounds more like TCH), this is official transliteration of the Ч.

Secondary, as others mentioned, you must do a stop during your flight at Moscow – unfortunately, in Russia many flights are made with such stop. I suggest you to stop for a day in Moscow, just for another sightseeing there.

Also:
Flight duration from Moscow to Sochi – 2 hours
Flight duration from Moscow to Khanty-Mansiysk – 3 hours, and flight by is made from other airport than you’ll land from Frankfurt!, if you choose the UTAir.
You can choose the TransAero, but it’s not as cheap as Sochi flight.

And most important part: sightseeing and weather.

Khanty-Mansiysk’s average temperature is -9,8 °С, and sometimes there is cold weather,
down to -40.1 °С (March, 1st, 1966).
Sochi’s average temperature is +15 °С, with sea temperature up to +9 °С. You can try it out – extreme, but quite fun 🙂 There will be a snow machines for Biathlon in Sochi, but natural snow is in Khanty-Mansiysk.

As for the sightseeing, in Khanty-Mansiysk is all about the World Cup – people there love skiing, and you will be bored there if you are not a fan of it. There are quite small quantity of the sights in Khanty-Mansiysk (in Russian), and even less of them you’ll be interested in during cold weather.

As for Sochi, you’ll find much more fun there – because it is a very popular touristic center during long time. And because of preparing for the Olympic games, there are much more easier for foreign tourist to get information about city – people started to study languages, and whole touristic situation changed in a good way.

So, make your choice, but if I were you, I’d start with Sochi (plus 1-2 days stop in Moscow) – for start it will be enough. But if you want some extreme – choose the Khanty-Mansiysk, it will be a journey of the year for you.

12/11/2012 9:59:41 PM

Go to Sochi (or Sotchi?). It is much easier to reach from Frankfurt than Khanty-Mansiysk. The international airport is located some 30 kilometers south of Sochi. Sochi is a touristic place and you don’t have to worry about the infrastructure.

For the dates you specify a flight from Frankfurt to Sochi, via Moscow Sheremetyevo, takes 7 to 9 hours, including transit time. It costs less than 500 EUR return. And you have some choice regarding the schedules.

Khanty-Mansiysk costs more than 1500 EUR return, it takes much longer and there is no choice regarding the schedules.

By the way, the Georgia route mentioned in one or the comments is not a serious option. It won’t be cheaper and it will take longer. Tbilisi to Sochi is more or less 500 kilometers as the crow flies. The road will then be at least 700 kilometers. And the terrain is difficult, physically and politically.

12/12/2012 5:54:07 PM

As far as the travel to either place is concerned you can fly to either place with a single stop in Moscow. For example at present you can use TransAero though flights to Khanty-Mansiysk may not be available every day. Current costs: ~$900.

You can use UTAir to get to Khanty-Mansiysk which books with LuftHansa for international flights. EDIT They offer direct flights from Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Now as far as Sochi is concerned you have more options then you can count.

So pick your poison play with dates flights, etc.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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