Question: Does one need a visa to enterRussia? Do you assist foreign citizens getting visa?

Answer: Yes, you need to have visa to travel to Russia (except republics of the former USSR).You need to make sure that your passport does not expire in not less than 6 months after the end of your tour. We provide our tourists invitation to visit a tour in Russia. A scanned copy of the invitation will be sent to the  tourist. The invitation is necessary for getting visa.

Question: How does one book a tour?

Answer: In order to buy a tour one needs to inquire to the office of the tourist agency "Sayan Ring", located on 41 Uritskogo str 660049, Krasnoyarsk, Russia. One can contact us either by e-mail info@sayanring.com or our representatives in other countries. When reserving a tour, 30 % payment upfront is required. The rest 70 % of the payment should be covered in not less than 45 days before the beginning of the tour. In case one makes the reservation in 45 days before the tour one needs to cover 100% of the tour price when making the final confirmation.

Tour Pricing

Question: Are the air and train tickets included in the tour price?

Answer: No, the travel expanses are not included in the tour price, but we can help in buying air and train tickets.

Question: Are there any discounts?

Answer: There is a discount for children under 12 - 30%. If you book the tour in advance you can use special offerings, terms of which are published on the web-site of the company.

Question: What other services does one need to pay for during the tour?

Answer: Principal services like food, accommodation, drinks, excursions, transportation on the route, work of guides and instructors, insurance are included in the package tour. Alkohol drinks are not included. The set of extra services may vary according to the program (souvenirs, some extra excursions, banya and fitosauna, folklore shows etc). Air and train tickets have to be paid extra.

Question: How do I pay for the package?

Answer: One can pay either cash or by clearing settlement (noncash). One should cover 100% payment before the beginning of the tour.

General information

Question: Who usually takes "The Great Sayan Ring" tour and other programs of your travel agency?

Answer: Tourists from various countries, such as Holland, Great Britain, Israel, Russia, Japan, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, The USA, Japan, China, Switzerland, New Zealand, Dane, Turkey, Finland, Norway etc. took part in different tours of "Sayan Ring" agency. Our special guests were the members of the US Embassy, the ambassador ofNew Zealand, the consul ofSwitzerland, the Prince of Monaco, the president and the members of Russian Association of Tourist Agencies, and the Russian minister of tourism. People fromMoscow, Saint-Petersburg, Samara,Astrakhan, Ekaterinburg,Murmansk,Ufa,Voronezh,Novosibirsk,Abakan andKrasnoyarsk were among Russian tourist.

Question: What time is best to take a tour roundSiberia?

Answer: Each season has its advantages; therefore the choice depends only on what month seems to be the best in your opinion.

• It's very beautiful in May, as the greenery is still fresh, everything is in blossom, at the same time you can see snow high up in the mountains. It's warm during the day, but rather cool in the evening.
• In June everything is in blossom as well, and every week you can various colors of nature. Stable weather is characteristic of this period of time.
• July is the hottest month, but sometimes there might rain for a week. The weather is stable and it's warm in the day time and at night. At the end of the month the steppe starts getting dry.
• The first half of August is warm, but later it starts getting colder. Nights get colder. At the end of the month there is a change of colors in nature surroundings: leaves get red and yellow. At this time of the year there is a great many of mushrooms and berries.
• September is rich with a diversity of nature colors, red, yellow, and green colors prevail. Usually, the first half of the month is warm but nights are cold. During the second half of September it can be rainy, the temperature can drop to +5C.
• In early October, it is already getting colder, the temperature can drop to 0^◦C, sub-zero- temperatures at night, but winter is still far, there will be rather even no rains. If you're lucky, nature will give you an opportunity to see the golden autumn in Siberia. But in late October at most parts of the route there is snow.

Question: Is there a lot of ticks and mosquitoes, and what are the ways of protection from these insects?

Answer: In Tuva and Khakasia there are not many mosquitoes, but there can be a lot of mosquitoes because of continuous rains, which is a rare phenomenon for Tuva and Khakasia. In alpine region, where the center "Snow Leopard" is located, there are almost no midges and mosquitoes. There are ticks in Tuva, where the territory is treated by the pest control, and also in Khakasia (the taiga area), where we do not make stops. The area round "Snow Leopard" has no ticks due to the alpine location. Anyway each tourist is given the individual means of protection, also we recommend tourists to make sure their arms and legs are covered in twilight because mosquitoes are enlivened in the evening time.

Question: Can a person catch a disease being bitten by any insect?

Answer: Mosquitoes and flies are not dangerous, a certain type of ticks- encephalitis - can be dangerous, but we provide a tourist with the insurance.

Question: Is smoking allowed during taking a tour?

Answer: Yes, it is allowed but we ask tourists to refrain from smoking in the bus, during bus excursions and at public catering places not to cause discomfort to other tour participants.

Question: How big is the group of tours' participants?

Answer: Usually there are small groups with 12-15 participants; the maximum groups’ size is 20 people.

Question: Can children participate in the tour "The Great Sayan Ring" or any other programs, which your company offers?

Answer: Children aged under 10 can't take part in the tours of the company "Sayan Ring". For children under 12 there is a sale 30%.

Question: How long do we travel by bus each day in the tour "The Great Sayan Ring"?

Answer: Each day we cover the distance of approximately 400-450 km. Every 1,5-2 hours we make stops, that's why the journey does not seem very tiresome. There are days included into the program when tourists stay at holiday centers and do not travel by bus.

Question: Can one recharge camera batteries during the journey?

Answer: Yes, of course. You can do it at any place we stop during the journey "The Great Sayan Ring" in tourist centers and hotels.

Question: What souvenirs can I buy in Siberia?

Answer: In Krasnoyarsk you can buy the paintings of local artists, souvenirs made of stones, bones, ceramics, things of birch bark made by local craftsmen, also you can buy semi precious stones and antiques. Besides that, you can take Siberian vodka, herbal and berry liqueurs, jewelry, handicraft (embroidery, hats and headscarves). In Shushenskoye village there is a wonderful store in a local museum of XIX-XX centuries, where you can purchase postcards, books, things made of ceramics, wood, and glass beads, kitchenware made by regional craftsmen and children as well. As you continue the journey you will be able to buy real cedar nuts, cedar oil, herbs. In Tuva there is a wide choice of souvenirs, presented at the numerous stores in Kyzyl - items made of 'soapstone' aghalmatolit, Tuvan chess, national dresses, gowns, hats, souvenirs made of wood, metal, amulets, also CD's and tapes with the performers of guttural singing. In the tourist center "Snow Leopard" you can gather herbs yourself (cowberry tree, wild rose, feverfew, coltsfoot), widely used in everyday life of local inhabitants, also you can gather different berries (cowberry, huckleberry, honeysuckle, great bilberry), mushrooms (boletus, orange-cap boletus, brown mushroom, variety of edible mushroom, saffron milk-cap, chanterelle), and of course, cedar cones, Siberians' favorite delicacies. Khakassiya is rich with ceramic and wooden items, embroidery, various amulets, national instruments, you can buy there CD's and tapes of national folk singers.

Question: Can one pay for the services during the journey with a credit card? If yes, than which ones?

Answer: Credit cards Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Union can be used in many big stores inKrasnoyarsk. It won't be a problem to find a ATM working 24 hours a day, so you can draw some money from your credit card at any time. As for the other places of the route you can pay cash for the services.

Question: Where can I exchange the currency?

Answer: Our advice concerning currency will not surprise you. We strongly recommend you not to exchange the currency in the street, but do it in a bank or hotel, where the exchange rate almost does not differ from the rate in the city banks. It is better to exchange your currency on the very first day inKrasnoyarsk, as the next place you can do it will be only in Kyzyl, the capital of Tyva.

Clothing

Question: What is necessary to take when going on a tour roundSiberia?

Answer: The clothing should be comfortable, first of all. If you take a tour in a period from May to September, please take what you usually put on for hiking and holidays. In case of chilly weather, especially in the evenings, make sure you take a warm sweater, socks, and wind resistant jacket.

You should take:

footwear - 2 pairs: a pair of sport shoes, and a pair of water resistant shoes.

A light colored shirt with long sleeves and light pants (trousers), which can protect your legs from thorny grass in the steppes of Tuva.

Sunglasses, and sun cream (the sun activity is high in Tuva and Khakasia).

Swimsuit (you may need it in 'banya', Russian sauna).

A hat or a baseball hat to avoid sunstroke.

A knitted jacket and warm sweater.

Light wind resistant jacket, in August – warm jacket.

Shorts, T-shirts, easy clothing and footwear.

Shower slipper

You also should take a contract confirming tour purchase, medical insurance card, tick-born encephalitis  insurance certificate (if you have one), individual medicines.

Question: What footwear should I take?

Answer: During the tour you will need first of all comfortable shoes for hiking and easy summer shoes. Shower slipper can be useful.

Question: What is the weather like in Krasnoyarsk, Tuva and Khakasiya?

Answer: There is no great difference in temperatures between May and June, the weather is warm, the average temperature is +20+22 C. In June - July the temperature inKrasnoyarsk, Tuva and Khakasia reaches +25+30C. The weather is mostly dry, with occasional rains. It is warm at the end of August and the beginning of September +15+20 C, sometimes it rains. During the first half of September the temperature can drop to +10 +12C, by the end of the month it drops to +5C. October day’s temperature +5, at night -5-8C

Service

Question: What kind of transport does your company provide your tourists with?

Answer: Comfortable buses and minivans (for small groups) with air conditioner service in all the programs of the company. In every bus there is a bar, fridge, audio and video system. During the tour there are several stops, rest, walks and picnics. Every tourist can seat near the window and enjoy the picturesque view. It is forbidden to smoke in buses, stops in some places, preserves. Driving during the night is also forbidden because of the seasonal pasture.

Question: How high is the quality of the service provided?

Answer: The ambassador ofNew Zealand inRussia, who took one of our tours, said, "In this tour one is provide with the service which makes a person feel comfortable and at the same time in private with nature. Here you don't need French wines, luxury will destroy the glamour of nature and the immersion in the culture of nationalities ofRussia, Tuva and Khakasia". We are trying to pay attention to any request of our guest, among which requests concerning the diet needs of our guests.

Question: How qualified are your tourist guides who accompany us in tours round Russia?

Answer: We have highly qualified guides working in our company, due to this fact the tours of the company "Sayan Ring" have become so interesting and fascinating. They say, without a guide any journey, even a short one is nothing more than going some distance, but with a guide it is already traveling.

In case a foreign sub-group is over 4 people with the same language guide-interpreter is provided free of charge. If the number of foreign tourists who speak a language is less than 4 people, guide services are paid separately. This information can be requested from the company's managers.

Question: What kind of food do you offer?

Answer: In any tour you will be offered two or three meals a day, be it a hotel, a nomad's tent, even on picnics you will be served hot meals. Mineral water, local drinks, coffee, tea, and juice are included in tours' pricing (alcohol not!). The national Russian, Tuvinian, and Khakasian cuisine will be an integral part of the program. We also consider the tourists' preferences, those who follow special diets or are vegetarians.

Sightseeing

Question: Where do we stop?

Answer: During the journey tourists stop at the following places:

• TheKrasnoyarskregional museum is pearl ofSiberia. It possesses one of the largest collections inRussiaapproximately 450 000 exhibits. In 2001 the museum was opened after a long reconstructive period. It presented an amazing exposition made according to the best world traditions and high technologies which was dedicated to the region's life, mutual influence of cultures, its religious beliefs, priorities of spiritual life and sacrifice.

• Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric power station - the world largest hydroelectric power station, built in 1972. It is built on the river Yenisej a little higher than the city ofKrasnoyarskis located at the crossing point of Yenisej withEast Sayanyspur near Divnogorsk town.
• The town ofAbakan, an administrative and cultural center of the republic, established in 1913 with the population of over 165,500 people. The town is relatively new, thus its architecture is modern. You will visit of the main places of sightseeing inAbakan- Khakasian republic regional study museum.
• Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station is situated on the river Yeniseinear Sayanogorsk town. The height of the dumb is245 meters, the length of the upper part is1070 meters, of the low part -110 meters. The width is25 meters. Hydroelectric power station dumb forms a water basin of 31.34 cubic kilometers. Its area is 621 square kilometers.
• The town Shushenskoye is located in the south ofKrasnoyarskregion,500 kmaway fromKrasnoyarskin a fertile Minusinsk Hollow. The town was established by the settlers coming fromMoscowtoKrasnoyarskin XVIII century. Historically the village was built at the place where a small river Shush used to flow into Yenisej. The main place for sightseeing in the whole are round the village is the state history ethnographic museum-reserve "Shushenskoye". You will chance to see the excursion-performance in the museum.
• Village Tanzybei. Visit to a local family house where tourist taste home cooked cookies and beverages, fruit and vegetables from the garden. 
• Yergaki mountain range, lies in the central part ofWestern Sayany. It stretches from the west to the east for about80 km, its greatest width is 70km. Yergaki is one of the most picturesque mountainous taiga regions inSiberia. In Ancient Turk language this word means "fingers". Actually many of the rocks remind the shape of vertically spread apart fingers. It is truly a fantastic unique spot in Sayani. None of its valleys looks alike, numerous lakes - each beautiful in its own way, each mountain top has its unique image.
• The Burial Mound "Arzhan II", its excavation was started in 2001 by the archeological expedition fromSt. Petersburgtogether with German archeologists. It dates back to the VI century B.C. The archeologists found the untouched tomb of "the tsar" and "the tsaritsa", where there was a great many of golden items, the total weigh of which was20 kg.
• The city ofKyzyl, the capital of the republic Tuva. It is situated in the eastern part of Tuvinian Hollow, at the merging place of two rivers Bolshoi Yenisei (Biy Khem) and Maliy Yenisei (Ka Khem), forming Verhniy Yenisej (Ulug Khem),4668 kmto the east ofMoscow. It has a pier, railway station, and an airport. The city was founded in 1914 under the name Belotsarsk. In 1926 it was given another name Kyzyl (it means "red").

• The national museum Aldan-Maadyr is one of the most significant museums in Ost Siberia. There are 5 departments in the museum now: nature, history, pre-revolutionary Tuva, People's Republic of Tuva, soviet Tuva and funds. The pearl of the museum's collection is of course objects from the burial mound Arjaan  II. The excavations of this burial mound were carried out in 2000-2003 by the specialists of the Hermitage and the German archaeological institute. These archaeological findings (more than20 kgof golden objects) became a real sensation in archaeological world. The museum's collection includes unique exhibits such as the original of the first tuvinian ABC book, meteorite fragment, a collection of ancient shamans' belongings, a Buddhist collection, golden and bronze plates, jewellery and a collection of tuvinian stonecutters.
• Shaman clinic is  a  small building which attracts your attention by two yurts and a sacred place ovaa which are situated in front of it. The clinic is named “Tos Deer”- "The central religious shaman organization of Tuva republic". Shamans heal their patients by means of throat singing and natural energy. They also use herbs and trees. They also combine different healing tactics: massage, aromatherapy, herbal healing, iridology, inner human rhythms correction. Everybody who wants can visit any of these shamans to know his future, health and to pass a ritual of purification. Now there are 4 shaman clinics working in Tuva republic.
• The buddhist temple worked out by Fan Chen Ir architect quickly became one of the main sightseeing places in Kyzyl. It was built in a very short period of time. On the 17^th of February the president of Tuva laid the first stone of the temple and in October 1999 it was consecrated by Bogdo-Gegen IX. There is a residence of Dalai-Lama XIV representatives on the first floor. A beautiful marble stair leads to the second floor where a pray hall, an altar, pictures of Buddha and Dalai-Lama XIV are situated. The temple harmoniously combines orient architecture traditions and modern construction technologies.
• The centre of Asia monument which is situated in the central part of Kyzyl on the bank of the riverYenisei, was built in 1964. The present day monument has a predecessor - in 1890ies an English traveler saw a stone pillar which symbolized the centre ofAsiain Saldam. Saldam is situated25 kmfar from the place where Kaa-Khem joins Biy-Khem. Later this pillar was moved to Kyzyl, but unfortunately we cannot see it today as it was washed away by flood. In 1964 the present monument "The centre ofAsia" was built. In 1984 the monument was reconstructed according to the project of Kuular architect. It was lifted to the podium and decorated by granite.
• The mountain Khaiyrakan, one of the most honored saint places in Tuva. In 1992 it was chosen as the most energetically powerful spots and it was sanctified by Dalai Lama XIV. At least once a year shamans come to this place in order to get the energy, strengthen and purify the spirit.

• Ustuu-Khuree temple. The temple was a real masterpiece of Tuvan architecture having no analogies neither on theterritoryofTuvaRepublic, nor on the territory of formerSoviet Union. In 1930 the temple complex was closed and in 1937 it was destroyed by communists. And only in 1999 authorities decided to begin restoration of the unique complex. This idea was widely suppoted by musicians who established annual musical festival of faith and live music “Ustuu-Khuree”. The main purpose of the festival is attracting attention to the temple complex and collecting money for restoration work and buddhist monk training.
• Stella Hurtuiah tas, a stone, which is still being worshiped, Khakasian women bring gifts to the stone if they want to have a child. In 2003, at request of the local inhabitants, stella was transported from the regional study museum back to the place it used to be over 30 years ago.
• A museum-reserve in open air "Kazanovka". It was founded in 1996. The territory covers more than 18, 000 square hectares with mountains, gorges, caves, mixed forests, and rare plants. The archeology ethnographic monuments in natural cultural surroundings, the ancient and modern settlements underlie the exposition. You can see petroglyphic paintings dating back to 3,000-5,000 years. Moreover you will be demonstrated the way archeologists copy the pictures on paper for further study. You will see archeological excavations, sacred signs of ancient shamans, and a religious stella Ahtas, which possesses a very strong healing energetic field.
• Khakassian republic regional study museum contains more than 95,000 exhibit items.The museum is very proud to have a collection of stone sculptures, made over 5,000 years ago in Khakasia. There are fantastic complex pictures on the ancient sculptures, which still cause disputes among scientists. Some think those pictures portray the ancestors, shamans in ritual masks, others - gods.
• Big (Bolshoi) Salbyksky Burial Mound was named after Salbykskiy Hollow. It was called big because many years ago this earth pyramid was 25-30 metershigh., and the total weigh of vertically standing stones is 60 tons. It is quite understandable why it was called the greatest of all the burial mounds in Khakaasiya. As archeologists have stated, it was erected at the end of IV B.C. They found the mines where people got the stones for the mound, that place turned to be70 kmaway from the mound itself, on the bank ofYeniseiriver.

Question: What kind of accommodation do you offer?

Answer: The most comfortable places of accommodation are chosen for the tourist. In Tuva and Khakassia special yurt-complexes are built.

Accommodation along the tour

Krasnoyarsk

“Siberia” hotel ****

It  is an up-to-date business-hotel, which corresponds to all the European standards. Interiors and equipment of the rooms stand in line with four-star hotels. Appearance of the hotel's interior is worthy of special attention: grandiose atrium, panoramic lifts, fountains in the halls. The hotel is situated 50 min from the airport, 30 min from the railway station.  Address: Krasnoyarsk, Sovetskiy district, 19 Aviatorov st.

The cost of the room includes breakfast (buffet).

Accommodation in double or twin rooms – for extra charge single rooms. In every room: Internet access, TV-set, international and trunk-line, air-conditioning system, mini-bars, hair-driers, electronic locks. Additional services: underground parking, a cafe, restaurant, fitness center, beauty salon, bar, currency exchange, air - and the railroad ticket office, gift shop.

Tuva

Yurt-complex “Biy-Khem”

Yurt-complex is a yurt camp near Kyzyl specially designed for tourists’ accommodation. These are yurts with low door facing the East. They are furnished for 1 or 2 people. There are beds, a cupboard, bedside tables in yurts. At the door you can find a washstand. Toilet and shower stall are in a special big yurt. Also canteen and bar are situated in a separate yurt. Excursions, horse riding, Biy-Khem river rafting, national cuisine cooking and other entertainment services are available for additional fee.  

Khakasia

“Zharki” pension

“Zharki” complex consists of three buildings with various comfort level. During the tour “the Great Sayan Ring” tourists live in double rooms and moderate deluxe for 1 person. In every yurt there are single beds, bedside tables, a cupboard, a TV-set, a fridge. Toilet is in a room. Fitness workshops, horse-riding tour, spa-programs are organized here. A lot of entertaining facilities are available here: ping pong, hydro-massage, dance-floor, billiards and many more.

“Zharki” complex is situated in24 kmfrom Sayanogorsk.

Tourists also can have accommodation in ski resort “Gladenkaya”.

"Gladenkaya" Sport hotel ****

The complex is made in the style of a wooden chalet. It has 4 floors built in the shape of a shamrock. Choosing this hotel you get an opportunity to enjoy comfortable rest. The hotel is situated25 kmfar from Sayanogorsk,100 kmfrom Abakan.

The hotel has a swimming pool, a sauna, a restaurant, children playgrounds and other facilities. You can spend the whole day skiing on one of the best slopes of Russia and then have a nice dinner. The guests are offered a conference hall for 70 people, a parking place, a sauna, massage cabinets, children club, internet access, international and intercity telephone, horse riding, a skating rink and many other facilities.

Extra fee for accommodation in Sport Hotel “Gladenkaya” ( day rate)
DBL – 35Euro/person
SGL – 40 Euro

Accommodation includes: breakfast (buffet table), swimming pool with whirlpool bathtubs, sauna, Turkish banya, internet access, telephone (international and intercity lines).

Booking this kind of accommodation only in advance, specifying the information in your  application form.

“Snow leopard” camp

Camp is situated in taiga forest in highland district of Khakassia,1250 mabove the sea level. Speciality of the camp are various dishes of Russian cuisine and Russian bathes on the bank of mountain river.

During the tour “the Great Sayan Ring” tourists will be accommodated in wooden houses (lower row) for 1-2 people, which are furnished and there is a brick Russia furnace, a room for personal hygiene with bio-toilet and washstand.

Also you can have accommodation in one room cottages (upper row) with glassed terrace, decorated with horns and skins of animals. In some cottages there are fire places. There is a double bunk bed, a table, a chair, a cupboard and a bedside table. Furnace heating.

There is also the main hall with a big hall, upholstered furniture, fireplace, bar, karaoke, billiards, a café, Russian bathes, sports ground for playing volleyball.

Extra services: spa therapy, massage, horse riding, the Bolshoy On River rafting, walking trips, hunting, diving.

 “Kyug” yurt complex 

The yurt complex "Kyug" is situated near Kuznetsky Alatau on the bank of the river Askiz, on the territory of an ethnographic nature reserve "Kazanovka". Abakan city is situated140 kmfar from the complex. It consists of 15 wooden yurts, a canteen, a souvenir shop and a health centre with banya. There are also shower cabins and bio toilets on the territory of the complex. Russian traditional cuisine includes local cuisine dishes. It is possible to organize seminars, trainings and corporative holidays in the complex. Extra service includes: excursions to the nature reserve, the ritual of shamans' kamlanie, national Khakass bands' performances, Khakass national cuisine, banya, horse riding etc.