The virgin forests of Komi Republic are one of the more remote WHS of Russia. When I thought about visiting them, I was mentally preparing myself for something akin to a trip to see the Putorana Plateau which involves a week-long fishing trip out in the nature with all of your things with you and no cell signal.

Fortunately, Ivan came with a solution that turned out to be I guess the craziest WHS trip we took so far. And we did it over the weekend! Night flight from Moscow to Perm. Dmitrij, the owner of a travel agency we booked the trip with took us to his hotel where we waited until about five in the morning. When the whole group of about 14 people assembled, we took a five hour-long marshrutka trip to Nirob, the last inhabited town on the border of the National park, still in Perm oblast and a location of a well-guarded prison. The village itself has a church, a museum and a place where Mikhail Romanov was imprisoned.

From Nirob it was 1.5 hour helicopter ride to the Manpupuner mountain with its famous rock formations - parts of the former hilltop that remained after erosion. They're 30 - 40 metres high and a very impressive site, one of seven wonders of Russia. It's a breathtaking sight and a very unique experience. The stone giants are out of this world with extra bonus of our group being the only one there at that time. The only other way to reach the stone formations is via three-day trek and that's one way. We stayed for two hours and then flew and rode back to Perm.

Presently, the helicopter flights from Perm have been renewed after being cancelled for some time as Komi Republic did not like the fact other subject of Russian Federation is making profits from their natural treasure and the Nordic Ural tour agency is making weekend trips from Perm again. They should speak English, but if you need help contacting them, let me know!