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About us
Comtourist was founded in 2009 and aims to provide the best information about travelling to former communist countries
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Contact Comtourist if you want travel information about the former communist countries or in case you have some material to contribute
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Travel
Comtourist undertakes a grand journey trough multiple countries of the former USSR and communist world every two or three years
Belarus country profile
Comtourist country profile for the former Soviet republic Belarus often called the last dictatorship of Europe bud a great place to visit
The mountains of the Caucasus
In 2011 we had the three former Soviet Republics of the Caucasus on our programme, it was a great trip with many highlights
Azerbaijan
We started our 2011 Caucasus Tour in Azerbaijan, a beautiful country on the Caspian Sea with a great capital and many historic Silk Route places
Georgia
Comtourist visited many beautiful places in Georgia including, Telavi, Mtskheta, Gudauri, Gori, Kutaisi, Batumi and the capital Tbilisi
Armenia
We entered Armenia in the Lori province, stayed at Lake Sevan, the Capital Yerevan and ended in the Sisian province near Karabakh
Nagorno Karabakh
We included Nagorno Karabakh in our 2011 Caucasus tour to see the impressive mountains and visit the cities of Sushi and Stepanakert
Photos Azerbaijan
Comtourist photos of Azerbaijan from the capital Baku, the Absheron Peninsula, Gobustan National Park and the ancient town of Sheki
Photos Georgia
Georgia has seen difficult times recent years, it is still a great place to visit with beautiful nature, old monasteries and a great capital
Photos Armenia
Armenia is a beautiful former Soviet Republics with rough mountainous landscapes, early Christian churches and a great capital
Photos Nagorno Karabakh
A brutal War was fought over Nagorno Karabakh in 1991, we visited the country twenty years later an got some great pictures
Nowa Huta city guide
Nowa Huta is a city build after the war in Socialist Realist style intended to be an utopia for the workers of the Lenin Steelworks
Photos Nowa Huta
Photos of Nowa Huta a communist model town build in Socialist Realist architectures style close to the Polish city of Krakow
Krakow city guide
Krakow is an ideal destination for a city trip in Eastern Europe with a beautiful old city centre and many tourist attractions in the area
Photos Krakow
Photos of Krakow; a beautiful Polish city with an old city centre, many historic buildings good hotels and interesting tourist attractions
Belarus and Ukraine 2006
In 2006 we spend a month in the former Soviet republics Belarus and the Ukraine staying in Minsk, Kiev, the Crimea and Odessa
Minsk site seeing
On our last day in Minsk we went shopping and visited the Dynamo stadium, Gorky Park and the Museum of the Great Patriotic War
Minsk Prospekt Nezavisimosti
We spend the first days in Minsk exploring Prospekt Nezavisimosti the main street build in Stalinist neo classical architecture
Kiev
The second destination of our 2006 journey was the Ukrainian capital Kiev were enjoyed the grand architecture, museums and monuments
Photos Belarus
In 2006 Comtourist did a four week tour in Belarus and the Ukraine, we started in Belarus where we stayed in Minsk for a couple of days
Photos Ukraine
Photos of our 2006 visit of the Ukraine, we started our holiday in Kiev, from there took the train to the Crimea and ended in Odessa
Photos Kiev
Kiev is an upcoming travel destination in Europe. Comtourist spend a couple of days there during our Ukraine journey in 2006
Photos Rodina Mat Kiev
Rodina Mat in Kiev combines the giant motherland statue, Museum of the Great Patriotic war, Military and Afghanistan Museums
Photos Crimea
Highlight of our tour trough the Ukraine in 2006 was the Crimea where we visited Sevastopol, Yalta and Simferopol
Photos Sevastopol Monuments
The Russian naval citadel Sevastopol is packed with grand monuments and statues from both Tsarist times and the Soviet era
Photos Black Sea Fleet
In 2006 Comtourist photographed the Russian Black Sea Fleet, based in a section of the Sevastopol harbour leased from the Ukraine
Photos Balaklava submarine base
Balaklava Submarine base near Sevastopol was a top secret Soviet military location that was only opened for tourists in the 1990s
Photos Yalta
Yalta was the principal seaside holiday resort in the Soviet Union, there are also some important historic sites near this Crimean city
Photos Sapun Mountain
Sapun Mountain has a diorama and World War II equipment commemorating the storm of Sapun Mountain on May 7 1944
Photos Odessa
Our 2004 tour of the Ukraine ended in Odessa where we relaxed on Arcadia beach and saw the famous Potemkin stairs
Trans Siberian Express 2002
In 2002 we made a trans Siberian train journey from St. Petersburg to Shanghai making stops in Moscow, Irkutsk, Mongolia and Beijing
Russia
In 2002 we made a 7000 km train journey from St. Petersburg to Shanghai with the Trans Siberia Express passing through Mongolia
Mongolia
Our 2002 train journey took us through Mongolia where we stayed in Ulan Bator and in the Elstei Ger Camp
China
Our 2002 train journey ended in China where we spend a couple of days in Beijing and our final destination Shanghai
Photos Russia
Photos of our Trans Siberian train journey thta we started in St. Petersburg and boarded the Trans Siberia express from Moscow
Photos Mongolia
In 2002 we took the Trans Mongolian Express, sleeping in a Ger on the endless Mongolian steppes was a fantastic experience
Photos China
Our 2002 Trans Mongolian journey ended in Beijing, from there we visited the Great Wall, Ming Tombs and Shanghai
Photos Trans Siberia Express
In 2002 Comtourist undertook its first grand journey, the Trans Siberia Express turned out to be a great way to get to learn Russia
Baltics 2007
In 2007 Comtourist camped a month in the beautiful Baltic countries Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and the Russian enclave Kaliningrad
Photos Baltics
Photos of our 2007 Baltic journey that we started with a fery and then camped in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Kaliningrad
Photos Estonia
We started our 2007 Baltic Journey in Estonia, the most Northern of the Baltic states, visiting Tallinn, Paldiski and Saaremaa Island
Photos Latvia
In Latvia we spend most of our time near Sigulda on a camping near the Gauja river, we did a canoe trip and visited the town of Cesis
Photos Lithuania
In Lithuania we visited the famous hill of crosses, went to Trakai were we camped for a view days to visit Vilnius and Grutas Park
Photos Tallinn
Photos of the beautifull Estonian capital Tallinn with picturesque places like the Old town, City Wall and Central Square
Photos Baltiysk
Baltiysk (former Pillau) is the home of the Russian Baltic fleet and is closed for tourist unless you have a special permit
Photos Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a place that most Europeans have never heard of, it is well worth a visit to see how Russia deals with this strange place
Photos KGB Headquarter Vilnius
Those who want to see the crimes of the Soviet Union against the Baltic people should go to the KGB headquarters in Vilnius
The steppes of Central Asia
In 2006 Comtourist travelled trough the Soviet republics in Central Asia visiting Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Kazakhstan
We started our Central Asia Tour in the Astana from where drove to Kurchatov, Karkaralinsk and Karaganda by 4x4 ending in Almaty
Kyrgyzstan
In Kyrgyzstan we relaxed at Lake Issyk Kul, and wandered around in the Capital Bishkek before we left the country via Manas Air Force Base
Uzbekistan
Our Uzbekistan tour took us from Tashkent to Khiva and Nukus, then to the Aral Sea by 4x4 and finally to the Silk Road Bukhara Samarkand
Turkmenistan
We spend four days of our Central Asia tour in crazy Turkmenistan visiting Dashoguz, the capital Ashgabat and the desert city Merv
Photos Kazakhstan
In 2009 we raced trough the Kazakhstan steppes with a UAZ 4x4 car visiting Astana, Kurchatov, Karkaralinsk, Karaganda and Almaty
Photos Kyrgyzstan
In 2010 Kyrgyzstan made the news with violence and riots, during our visit in 2009 it was still a peaceful country with beautiful nature
Photos Uzbekistan
We spend two weeks of our 2009 Central Asia tour in Uzbekistan visiting places like Samarkand, Khiva, Buhkara and the Aral Sea
Photos Turkmenistan
Photos of our 2009 visit of Turkmenistan, the land with stunning deserts, ancient Muslim monuments and golden statues
Photos Central Asia
In 2009 it was finally time to tour Central Asia. Comtourist spend a month in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
A week in North Korea
Comtourist made a one week trip trough North Korea in 2004 where we visited Pyongyang, Mt. Myongyang, Kaesong and the DMZ
Arrival
We started our North Korea tour in 2004 with a flight from Beijing to Pyongyang with the North Korean National airline Air Koreo
Mt. Myonyang
From Pyongyang we made a trip to Mt. Myonyang were we visited the International Friendship Exhibition, Pohyon temple an the Piro Peak
Kaesong
The second destination we visited during our 2004 North Korea journey was Kaesong a historic Korean city very close to the DMZ
National day
We spend the third day of our North Korea tour in Pyongyang where we witnessed a mass dance on Kim Il Sung Square
The DMZ
The Demilitarized Zone and the Joint Security Area between North and South Korea were a highlight of our North Korea journey
Nampho
We drove back to Pyongyang from Kaesong making stop overs at Mt. Kuwol and the West Sea Barrage and we passed Nampho under way
Pyongyang - Beijing
On our final day in North Korea we took the train from Pyongyang to China passing the border over the Yalu river form Sinuiju
FAQ North Korea travel
The North Korea FAQ page addresses questions we often get from peoplewho are interested in a trip to North Korea
Photos North Korea
In 2004 Comtourist spend a week in North Korea. We stayed some days in the capital Pyongyang, Mt Myongyang and Kaesong
Photos Kaesong and the DMZ
Kaesong photos of our 2004 North Korea tour were we visited the DMZ and drove backt to Pyongyang via Mt. Kuwol and Nampho
Photos Mt. Myohyang
Photos of the area around Mt. Myohyang were we visted the International Friendship exhibition the shrine to the Kim dynasty
Pyongyang city guide
City guide for Pyongyang North Korea helps readers finding the best hotels, restaurants and museums in Pyongyang
Pyongyang entertainment
Tourists usually do not have much choice on where to go in Pyongyang, here an overview with hotels, restaurants and museums
Pyongyang monuments and architecture
Pyongyang is build as a showcase for the North Korean regime, this guide lists many of the giant communist monuments and architecture
Photos Pyongyang
Photos we took during the time we spend in Pyongyang in 2004, we photographed the city and witnessed large public festivities
North Korea country profile
Country profile for North Korea with tips, links and background information about worlds most exclusive holiday destination
Minsk city guide
City guide for the Belarusian capital Minsk with tips about Soviet era hotels, restaurants, museums, architecture and monuments
Stalinist architecture of Minsk
The grand nineteen fifties Stalinist neo classical architecture of Minsk city centre is probably the main attraction of the Belarusian capital
The Soviet monuments of Minsk
An overview of the many Soviet monuments of Minsk including the Hero city column and statues of Lenin, Kalinin and Dzerzhinsky
Photos Minsk
In 2006 we spend three days in Minsk, we shot many photgraphs from the Stalinist architecture and many Soviet monuments
Soviet Baku then and now
Baku will host the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, the city has changed a lot since Soviet days, Comtourist looks back a the past
Photos Baku
Photos from Baku architecture and monuments remaining from Soviet times, plus some old Soviet era postcards and videos
History
Comtourist history with photos reports and articles relating to the history of the Soviet Union and other communist countries
Wings of liberation Best
Wings of liberation is a small Dutch World War II museum with an exposition dedicated to Operation Barbarossa and the Berlin Wall
Photos Wings of liberation
Wings of liberation in Best has a entire section dedicated to operation Barbarossa and an exposition about the Berlin Wall
Georgian uprising Texel
Georgian soldiers in the German army on the Dutch island Texel rose against their masters at the end of the war, a vicious battle erupted
Photos Georgian uprising Texel
A small museum and a Soviet cemetery remind of a bloody battle between Georgian and German soldiers on the Dutch island Texel
OKA-18 wreck Terschelling
The waters around Terschelling are littered with ship wrecks, the most famous wreck is Soviet transport ship OKA-18 that sunk in 1966
Photos Terschelling wreck museum
The Wreck Museum in the attic of a pub on Terschelling exhibits some interesting items salvaged from the Soviet ship OKA-18
Our Skoda 105
Comtourist owned a beautiful Skoda 105 manufactured in Czechoslovakia we sold it a while ago but still have fond memories
Photos Skoda 105
Photos of the Skoda 105 that Comtourist used to drive also some leaflets from dealers promoting this beautiful Czechoslovakian car
Mikoyan Brothers Museum
The Mikoyan Brothers Museum in Sanahin Armenia is a great liitle museum about the live of Soviet Armenia's two most famous sons
Photos Mikoyan Brothers Museum
Comtourist visited the Mikoyan Brothers Museum in Armenia in 2011 and shot some nice images from the musuem collection
Gori Stalin Museum
Nothing has changed since Soviet times in the Gori Stalin Museum, the building, exhibits and guides are all authentic Soviet era relics
Photos Stalin Museum
Comtourist was in Gori Georgia to visit the Stalin Museum, here you will find the photos of almost everything there is to see in the museum
Yerevan Military Museum
The Yerevan Military Museum is an intriguing place, the museum includes World War II and a Nagorno-Karabakh exhibitions
Photos Yerevan Military Museum
The Mother Armenia Statue in Yerevan houses an Military Museum with exhibitions about World War II and the Nagorno-Karabakh War
Technik Museum Speyer
The Technik Museum in Speyer Germany has the largest collection of Soviet Space exhibits outside Russia including a Buran Space Shuttle
Photos Technik Museum Speyer
Photos of the exhibits from the Speyer Technik Museum including the Buran Space Shuttle, Soyuz and Vostok spacecrafts and a An-22
Technik Museum Sinsheim
The Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim Germany is the only museum outside Russia that has a Tupolev Tu-144 on display
Photos Technik Museum Sinsheim
Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum photos of the exhibits from the USSR and the GDR including the famous Tupolev Tu-144
Flugausstellung L+P Junior
Flugausstellung L.+P. Junior in Hermeskeil Germany exhibits a large collection of Soviet airplanes and helicopters including a Tupolev Tu-134A
Photos Flugausstellung L+P Junior
Photos of every Soviet Aircraft, Helicopter, Engine, Ejection Seat and Pilot Helmet on display at Flugausstellung L.+P. Junior in Hermeskeil Germany
Tashkent Railway Museum
The Tashkent Museum of Railway Technics displays a large collection of historic steam, diesel and electric locomotives from the USSR
Photos Tashkent Rail Museum
Photos of every Steam, Diesel and Electric locomotive plus all carriages and railway engineering equipment displayed at the Tashkent Railway Museum
Polish Aviation museum
The Polish Aviation Museum in the beautiful city Krakow has an extensive collection of Soviet and Polish aircraft and helicopters
Photos Polish Aviation museum
Photos of the Polish Aviation Museum, probably the largest military aviation museum specialized in Warsaw Pact aircraft outside Russia
Dutch Army museum
The Dutch Army museum is dedicated to the Dutch armed forces but also has some items relating to the Soviet Army and Korean war
Photos Dutch Army museum
The Dutch Army Museum in Delft has a small but interesting collection of Soviet military exhibits Comtourist photographed these items
Szoborpark statue park
Szoborpark statue park near Budapest is a theme park with dozens of communist statues that once stood in Hungarian cities
Photos Szobor statue park
Comtourist friend Paul was in Budapest where he visited Szobor statue park. He shot some photo's and a video old Soviet statue's
Liberty park Overloon
Liberty park is the biggest war museum in the Netherlands with an impressive collection of Soviet and East German military equipment
Photos Liberty park
Liberty Park in Overloon in the South East of the Netherlands is a war museum with a large collection of Soviet tanks and other vehicles
Zulu submarine Amsterdam
The Soviet Zulu class submarine B-80 at the maritime quarter in Amsterdam is not open for visitors but Comtourist took a look anyway
U-434 submarine Hamburg
The U-434 is a well preserved Soviet tango class diesel submarine converted into a museum in the harbour of Hamburg Germany
Photos B-515 Hamburg
The B-515 is a Soviet Tango class submarine now a museum ship in Hamburg Germany, Comtourist went there and checked it out
Foxtrot submarine Kalliningrad
The B-413 Soviet Foxtrot class submarine in Kaliningrad is an well preserved museum ship with all its original equipment still in place
Soviet Aircraft in the Netherlands
The Netherlands have a couple of exelent aviation museums, here an overview of the Soviet aircraft on display in these museums
Photos Soviet Aircraft in the Netherlands
Photos of Soviet aircraft that can be seen in Dutch museums and on airfields like MiG-21 jets, Antonov An-2 biplanes and more
Russian Air Force Museum
The Russian Air Force museum in Monino has the largest collection of Soviet aircraft in the world, including many unique prototypes
Photos Russian Air Force Museum Monino
Comtourist visted the Russian Air Force Museum at Monino in 2008 and we made photographs of almost all aircraft on display
Inside Lenin's Mausoleum
Article about Lenin's mausoleum that has been visited by millions of people since it was opened on Red Square in 1924
Photos Lenin Mausoleum
A collection of current and historic photos of Lenin's Masuoleum in Moscow, his embalmed body and the Kremlin Wall Necropolis
UK Helicopter museum
The UK helicopter museum near Weston-super-Mare has an impressive collection of helicopters including seven Soviet models
Photos Helicopter museum
Photos of the Soviet helicopters displayed at the excellent Helicopter Museum near Weston-super-Mare in the United Kingdom near Bristol
Riga Aviation museum
The Riga Aviation museum near the airport has a large collection of Soviet era civil and military aircraft and helicopters
Photos Riga Aviation museum
The Riga Aviation museum has a large collection of military and civilian aircraft from the Soviet period on display
Bishkek Lenin and Frunze Museums
The Lenin Museum in Bishkek had been left untouched when we visited it in 2009 just like the Frunze Museum nearby
Photos Bishkek Lenin and Frunze Museums
Photos of the former Lenin and Frunze Museums in Bishkek where the original Soviet exhibitions are exactly as they were during the Soviet times
News & Entertainment
Comtourist news keeps you informed on the latest events in the (former) communist world and everything that relates to communism
Western media on Russian WC bid
The 2018 World Championship football was awared to Russia, Western media were furious and painted a bleak picture of Russia
Soviet Christmas tree topper
Comtourist recieved a very nice gift from our frends in Kazachstan and found good use for it as the christmas tree topper
Lenin mausoleum vote
United Russia the biggest political party of Russia have opened a website where visitors can vote on the fate of Lenin's mausoleum
Kim Jong Il giving field guidance
Many popular blogs and even dedicated website feature a popular ongoing series if Kim Jon Il looking at thinks, we stated a simular item
Armenian Genocide bill
The French National Assembly passed a bill criminalizing public denial of the Armenian Genocide on December 22 2012
Dear leader Kim Jong Il is dead
Kim Jong Il's dead was announced Monday 19 December 2012, the worlds cruellest but also funniest communist dictator is no more
Giant at Kim Jong Il funeral
A giant was spotted on one of the official North Korean photos of the Kim Jong Il funeral, was this am other fake or a real man of 2.40m?
Kazakhstan elections
Two new parties managed to enter the Kazakh parliament after the parliamentary, President Nazarbayev's party still won 80% of the votes
Shame on you Berlin
The East Side Gallery, one of the most historic places in Berlin is now destroyed by a developer who can make a profit
Media
Reviews of books, movies, documentaries, music, collectors items and everything else that relates to communist countries
The red chapel film review
A Danish film crew falsely convinced Korean authorities that they want to do a comedy in Pyongyang for cultural exchange
Nothing to Envy book review
Journalist Barbara Demick describes the horrible daily life in the North Korea city Chongjin based on the testimonies of six defectors
Pioneer One Drama series
Pioneer One is a Web Drama series about a Soviet Space Craft that crashes in Montana, could this capsule actually come from Mars?
Restaurant Pyongyang
A North Korean Restaurant was opened in Amsterdam early 2012, Comtourist went down there to see what the fuss is all about!
Photos Restaurant Pyongyang
Our visit to Restaurant Pyongyang in Amsterdam resulted in nice photos of the food, entertainment and North Korean Art
Kim Jong Il looking at things
Periodically Kim Jong Il visits production facilities, farms or military installations to asses the state of the country, here some photos
Who is Mista Putin
Putin hopes to be elected as President of Russia for an other period, but who is Mista Putin? Thats what blogs around the internet want to know
Photos
The Comtourist photo collection with pictures from our travels, book and postcard collection and found on the internet