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Siberia
Grand tour through the western Sayans

A fascinating journey by road and by boat to the remote corners of Western Sayans (Southern Siberia), to the land of unyielding mountains, blue lakes, roaring rivers with crystal-clear water, to the kingdom of wild animals, to the crossroads of ancient civilizations and religions.

You will also travel across the breathtaking scenery of ancient Tuva. This is the geographical center of Asia, the crossroads of all the historic caravan routes from China and India to Europe, including the Silk Road and the Tea Road.

HIGHLIGHTS

Vast areas of untouched wilderness
Vast diversity of landscapes from sandy deserts to mountain taiga forests and tundras
Encounter Siberian ibexes, camels & yaks
Listen to world-famous Tuvan throat-singing
Visit Khakassian and Tuvan yurts
See the famous archeological monuments of Khakassia, peers of the Egyptian Pyramids


ADVENTURE # S101
Itinerary   17 days
Group size   Up to 13 pax
Season   August 2 & 18
Price   on request
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  • Recommended equipment
In order to book this voyage, contact us

INCLUDED

  • City tour of Moscow
  • Full board
    (half board first & last days)
  • Rental horses for cargo
  • Double accom. in Moscow
  • Transfers from (to) airports
  • Guide, interpreter and cook
  • Transportation
  • Museum fees
  • All travels within Russia
  • Accomod. as per program
  • Nature reserves fees
  • Folk performance

PROGRAM

Day 1
(Aug 2, Saturday): Arrival in Moscow. Bus transfer to downtown. Accommodation at the Arbat Hotel *** (double rooms). Welcoming dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2
Breakfast. Excursion to the Red Square and the Kremlin, visit its cathedrals. Lunch at the restaurant. Boat excursion along the River Moskva (In case of nasty weather, leisure time). Transfer to the airport, departure to Krasnoyarsk.

Day 3
Arrive in Krasnoyarsk. Bus transfer to the Stolby Nature Reserve. Accommodation at the hotel (double rooms). Hiking excursion (2-3 hrs). Lunch at the hotel. Talk about the Stolby Nature Reserve given by local researcher. Dinner. Sauna. Overnight at the hotel.

Photo: K.MikhailovDay 4
Breakfast. Full day hiking trip to the rocky section of the nature reserve. Packed lunch. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5
Breakfast. Departure from Krasnoyarsk. Short sightseeing tour of the city. Excursion to the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station. Lunch at the restaurant. In then afternoon, take a train to Shira. Dinner and overnight at the train.

Day 6
Arrive in Shira early in the morning (4 a.m.). Bus transfer to the wooden cottages. Lunch. Long hike in the steppe. Visit archaeological monuments. Dinner at the sanatorium. Evening options are mud bath, sauna, or swimming pool (extra fee). Overnight in the cottages in Shira.

Day 7
Breakfast. Bus transfer to the Khakassian National Nature & Archaeological Park "Kazanovka". Full day guided hiking excursion to the Park. Very picturesque and unusual landscapes. Overnight in a comfortable yurts made in traditional Khakassian style (double accommodation, warm water, biotoilets).

Day 8
Bus transfer to the village of Shushenskoe. Make a stop on the way in the Valley of the Tsars (or Tsar Valley). Packed lunch. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel "Tourist" in Shushenskoe. Theatrical performance in the Shushenskoe historical ethnographic museum. Participate in traditional games and dances. Night at the hotel in double rooms with facilities.

Day 9
Visit the Nature Museum. Bus transfer to the village of Cheremushki (95 km). Visit the church. Drive across the mountain pass to the river Dzhoiskaya Sosnovka. Take the boat Yaroslavet (at 1.00 p.m.) across the Sayano-Shushensky Reservoir. Lunch on board. Hiking excursion in the mountain taiga forest. Overnight in Malaya Golaya base station of the Nature Reserve (6 passengers on board, 6 - on the barge).

Day 10
Continue traveling by boat along the Sayano-Shushensky Biosphere Nature Reserve. Two hiking excursions in the mountain. Lodging at Kurgol' or Malye Ury base stations of the nature reserve (6 people in the ship, the other on barge and in the wooden huts, rustic facilities). Banya (Russian steam bath).

Day 11
After breakfast, hiking excursion in the Malye Ury. Lunch on the boat. Transfer by bus to Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva (about 3 hours). Dinner and overnight at the hotel Odugen.

Photo: V.Balakhchin

Day 12
"A Tuvan Yurt"
Visit the monument to the Center of Asia, the Buddhist temple and the museum of natural history. Lunch at the restaurant. Bus transfer to the Kotlovina Nature Reserve (250 km, 5 hrs). Stop at a medicinal spring. Arrive to the beautiful Tore-Khol' Lake near the border with Mongolia, accommodation and dinner at the yurt camp. Overnight in specially prepared yurts, facilities outside.

Day 13
Excursion to the sands of the Tsugeer-Els where you will enjoy the impressive panorama of the sandy deserts. Lunch at the camp. A tour to the rock desert Yamaalyg. Overnight in yurts, as per Day 12.

Day 14
Excursion to the tundra zone of the nature reserve. Picnic lunch. Return to the Tore-Khol' by the evening. Horseback riding is possible. Evening entertainment of famous Tuvan throat singing. Overnight in yurts.

Day 15
Excursion to the rocks Kara-Khaya and Kyzyl-Khaya (12-13 km from the camp). Packed lunch. Bus transfer to Kyzyl. Stop in the village of Erzin to visit the famous stone carver. Dinner at the restaurant in Kyzyl. Attend to a ritual performed by the shamans. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 16
Bus transfer to Abakan. Hiking excursion in the Krasnoyarsk Region. This is the true "Heart of the Sayans" with beautiful mountain lakes, fascinating ridges, mountain passes and waterfalls. An impressive mountain panorama is similar to those in Mountain Altai. Farewell dinner at the restaurant in Abakan. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 17 (Aug 18, Monday)
Transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Moscow. Arrive to Moscow, transfer to the international airport for the flight home.