Prices are fixed in shops, but at souvenir markets, such as Izmailovo in Moscow, polite haggling over prices is a good idea. Despite the strain in relations with the West, Russia is generally a safe country in which to travel. Although it's possible to travel in Northeast Caucasus Dagestan, Chechnya and Ingushetia these days, the area remains volatile. An Islamist insurgency is smouldering at all times and law-enforcement bodies are rarely concerned about sticking to the law.
In other parts of Russia, certain isolated villages suffer from the unpredictable side effects of chronic alcoholism, especially in western Tuva, where locals are frequently drunk and armed with knives. In more remote areas of the country, specific natural hazards include bears and, from late May to July, potentially fatal tick-borne encephalitis particularly in Siberia and Ussuriland in the Russian Far East.
And, if trekking in Kamchatka, remember that many of those volcanoes are active. Official border crossings aside, Russia's borders are usually off-limits and care should be taken when approaching.
Trekking in some border areas is allowed, but you will need to possess a permit, which although free can take at least 60 days to process. Being caught near borders without a permit could result in a large fine at best and deportation at worst. The same goes for Russia's closed cities usually associated with the military in some way. These are not obvious and rarely marked β if you are planning any serious back-country exploration, it's worth checking first what official permits you may need to avoid incurring fines or deportation.
Racism is a problem. Russian neo-Nazi and skinhead groups are violent and have been linked to many murders. Although the number of incidents has significantly decreased over the last 10 years, attacks on Africans and Asians on city streets are not uncommon. Visitors of African, Middle Eastern and Asian descent should be aware that they may not always receive the warmest of welcomes, though Russian racism seems particularly focused on Central Asians and people from the Caucasus.
