Russia is set to implement stringent new safety regulations for its adventure tourism sector, targeting expeditions in high-risk environments. Effective September 6, 2025, tour leaders who fail to notify authorities of their planned routes will face significant penalties, a move by the Ministry of Natural Resources designed to enhance safety for travelers exploring the country’s vast wilderness.
The new measures mandate that guides or instructors leading groups on hazardous routes must provide advance notification to several key bodies. These include the regional branch of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM), the local government body overseeing tourism, and the organization responsible for guide certification. The rules apply to treks through difficult-to-access terrain, mountainous regions, and on water-based routes.
Non-compliance will result in a warning or a fine ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 rubles (approximately $75 to $110 USD) for a first-time offense. Repeat offenders will face much steeper fines of 30,000 to 50,000 rubles (approximately $330 to $550 USD), with authorities having 60 days from the date of the infraction to impose the penalty.
The regulations will have a direct impact on popular destinations like the Kronotsky Nature Reserve on the remote Kamchatka Peninsula, a region famous for its volcanoes, geysers, and wildlife. Officials from the reserve clarified that even when tourists are accompanied by state inspectors for safety, the primary tour group leader is still independently responsible for registering the trip with EMERCOM.
“The safety of tourists on our routes is paramount,” said Anna Narab, an official at the Kronotsky State Reserve, urging tour leaders to act responsibly. This policy is part of a broader effort to professionalize the industry, which includes local initiatives like the reserve’s guide training school, which has certified nearly 200 wilderness guides to operate in Kamchatka’s protected areas.