Adventures

Introduction to Altai, Sayans, Khakassia and Tuva

Join us for this fascinating and remote voyage through the south of Siberia, to the crossroads of ancient civilizations and religions. We'll hike in national parks and nature preserves to experience the diversity of the vast Siberian landscape-from taiga to steppe to desert. We'll enjoy breathtaking scenery as we look for ibex, bear, yak, and a variety of migratory birds.

You will learn about the customs and culture of the original nations of the Central Asia - the Khakasy and Tuvans, as well as Russian old-believers. You will have an opportunity to live in the Tuvans jurts, taste national cuisine, listen to the world-famed throat singing.

We give you the opportunity to discover theses republics trought Adventure travels. Take your time to discover our propositions and you will see that Russian Concept as an Adventure for you.


q WE CAN ARRANGE FOR YOU

  • Wildlife tours
  • Rafting and fishing
  • Ethno-cultural tours
  • hiking, trekking


q TUVA

  • ../images/aventures/tuva_map.htm" target="_blank" onclick="openWin(this.href,this.target); return false;">Map of Tuva
q "A Journey Across Tuva"
"A walk around the capital Kyzyl"


Tuva is a small republic in Central Siberia on the border with Mongolia, which is currently part of the Russian Federation. The capital of the republic is the city of Kyzyl. Tuva broke away from Mongolia in 1921, and retained its independence until incorporation into the USSR in 1944. Tuvinian is a Turkic language and is most closely related to Uighur, spoken in the Chinese region of Sinkiang.

q The Republic of Tuva is a miracle of nature. It is a country with unique flora and fauna, and interesting history and culture. Tuva is also called "the Land of Golden Sands." It lies between Altai and Sayan Mountains on the northern border of Mongolia. Here, one can find not only a wide range of exotic animals such as camels, yaks, deer and reindeer, but also interesting people, such as nomads, Buddhists, shamans and ancient villages of Old-Believers.

q SAYANS


Photo: Ju.Kosar'kovThis region encompasses the Krasnoyarsk Krai and Republics of Khakasia and Tuva. These diverse areas are united by the greatest Siberian river - mighty Yenissey. You find only boundless uninhabited taiga forest untouched by human activity. Located at the zoogeographic boundary dividing the western and eastern flora and fauna, the Yenissey's valley is characteristic for incredible wealth and diversity of plants and animals.

This land is a crossroad of cultures of the whole Asian sub-continent, where three world religions (Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism) come together. The most ancient routes of shamanism are known from there, too. Khakasia has no equal in abundance and accessibility of ancient archaeological monuments (1-5 milennium B.C.). The paleolandscapes formed by the activities of ancient man are well preserved there.


Altai

  • ../images/aventures/altai_map.htm" target="_blank" onclick="openWin2(this.href,this.target); return false;">Map of Altai

The far eastern tip of Kazakhstan meets the borders of Mongolia, China and Russian Siberia in the middle of the Golden Mountains, known to us as The Altai. This is a true wilderness with high mountains and vast forests, steppes and deserts, and it is almost devoid of people. The mountain flowers are amazingly beautiful and varied.

Altai deservedly call pride and a pearl of Siberia. One can hardly ever find the second such surprising place, united the beauty of Tibet and the Alpes. Everyone who has ever visited Altai, are admired with its unique beauty.

The capital of the republic is the city of Barnaul with a population of 650'000. It is linked by air, railways, cars and river boats with other parts of Russia and local places.

Time: +7.00 GMT (Moscow time +3 hours).

Climate: The climate of Altai on the plains is sharp - continental with long, cold and not so snow winter, with hot and frequently droughty summer. Average temperature of January -20 °C. Average temperature of July +17 °C.

KHAKASSIA

  • ../images/aventures/khakasia_map.htm" target="_blank" onclick="openWin(this.href,this.target); return false;">Map of Khakassia
Khakassia republic is located to south-west from Krasnoyarsk. This region is interesting for rafting and trekking activities. The capital of Khakasia is Abakan with a population of 160'000.

Khakassia, with its over 30,000 monuments of ancient culture, is often called the "archaeological Mecca" of Siberia. lt is famous for its huge burial mounds which originally resembled the pyramids of the Egyptian pharaohs, and also for such archaeological finds as fine jewelry made of gold.