Question: How does one book a tour?

Answer: In order to buy a tour one needs to use our on-line system pressing the button “Book this tour” or call our office tel. +7(391) 252-49-72, 252-49-73. One can contact us either by e-mail info@sayanring.com or our representatives in other countries. When reserving a tour, 10 % payment upfront is required. The rest 90 % 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.

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: How to get to Kyzyl?

Answer:

The journey starts in Kyzyl. Time difference with Moscow is +4 hours.

You can get to Kyzyl from Krasnoyarsk by airlines “Dexter” (8 seats). Telephone in Krasnoyarsk +7 (391), 2666-999 and 2555-955. There is a fixed timetable for the summer.  The flight Krasnoyarsk-Kyzyl is Mon-Sat at 11:10, arrival in Kyzyl at 12:30. The timetable could be changed during the summer. The one way tickets cost from 190 Euro.

There is no railroad in Tuva. In the republic there are 2 roads of federal significance: Kyzyl-Abakan and Kyzyl-Ak-Dovurak-Abakan. From Krasnoyarsk, Abakan, Novosibirsk you can get to Kyzyl also by regular and fixed-route taxis.

If it is more convenient for you to fly to Krasnoyarsk.

Krasnoyarsk airport “Emelyanovo” accepts boards from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg, Barnaul and Norilsk from the following air companies: “Aeroflot” www.aeroflot.ru, «Vladivostok Avia» www.vladavia.ru,  «Sibir» www.s7.ru, «Utair» www.utair.ru, «Transaero» www.transaero.ru, «Taimyr» taimyravia.ru  and others.

Information about flights to Krasnoyarsk airport “Emelyanovo” (KJA) can be queried at 007 (391) 2666-999, 2666-955 

Then you can fly to Kyzyl or spend a day in Krasnoysarsk going to a city sightseeing excursion and then in the evening go by train to Abakan.

From Krasnoyarsk to Abakan and back you can go by fast and passenger train ¹ 124, ¹ 658 that go every day.. Information on the phone: +7 (391) 259-41-49. Schedule for the summer can be changed, now we focus on the departure on the first day of the tour at 21 o'clock, arrival in Abakan in 10:46. From Abakan departure at 20.00 and arrival in Krasnoyarsk at 06.00. The cost of railway tickets Krasnoyarsk - Abakan: 3rd class - 30 Euro, 2d - 50 Euro.

If it is more convenient for you to arrive in Abakan

To Abakan you can get by airlines “VladivostokAvia” www.vladavia.ru and “Siberia” www.s7.ru from Moscow, Vladivostok, Barnaul, Norilsk. All information in Moscow at  +7(495) 436-34-80, 250-96-46, in Abakan +7( 3902) 282-864, 282-798. Moreover, you can get to Abakan by train from Moscow, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Moscow, all information at +7(3902) 29-41-01, by bus, by fixed-run taxi and by electric train.

From Abakan to Kyzyl you can get only along motor roads:

1) transfer ordered in advance, which will be arranged for you by our company, traveling time 6 hours, the price for a car - 200 Euro, a minibus up to 7 seats - 330 Euro, minibus up to 13 seats -490 Euro.

2) by regular bus: departure from the railway station Abakan daily at 12:00 and 19:00, traveling time 9 hours; from bus terminal on Thursdays at 16:10. Ticket price - 25 Euro. Ordering a ticket through our company you pay an additional service fee of 7 Euro. Phone of ticket office 8 (39022) 9-41-69. Transportation by buses LAZ. Due to frequent breakdowns of that buses, long time on way we recommend using them in the last resort.

3) by private fixed-run taxi and cars (Toyota Fielder, Honda Odyssey) from the railway station from 06:00 to 20:00. The car leaves as soon as it is full, so passengers usually wait up to 3 hours. Traveling time 6 hours, the price from 35 Euro. Ordering a ticket through our company you pay an additional service fee of 7 Euro.

4) by private car on the highway M-54, the distance Abakan-Kyzyl - 400 km.

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. Alcohol 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 not later than 45 days before the beginning of the tour.

Question: Are there any discounts?

Answer: There is a discount for children under 14 - 20%. 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: Who usually takes “The initiation into shamanism” tour and other programs of your travel agency?

Answer: Tourists from various countries, such as Holland, Germany, France, Austria, Sweden etc. took part in different tours of "Sayan Ring" agency. Our special guests were the members of the US Embassy, the ambassador of New Zealand, the consul of Switzerland, the Prince of Monaco, the president and the members of Russian Association of Tourist Agencies, and the Russian minister of tourism. Last year program is already in the Russian market.

Question: What time is best to take the tour "The initiation into shamanism"?

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 June, 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.
• 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.

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

Answer: In Tuva there are not many mosquitoes, but there can be a lot of mosquitoes because of continuous rains, which is a rare phenomenon for Tuva. There are ticks in Tuva, the dangerous season is May-June, but the accommodation places are treated with special chemicals. 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. We recommend also get vaccinated against ticks.

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 8-10 participants; the maximum groups’ size is 12 people, minimum - 6.

Question: Can children participate in the tour "The initiation into shamanism"?

Answer: Children aged under 12 can't take part in the tour.

Question: How long do we travel by bus each day in the tour "he initiation into shamanism"?

Answer: Each day we cover the distance of approximately 200-300 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, sure. You can do it only in yurt complex. In camping there is no electricity, so we recommend recharging all batteries of mobile phones and camera in advance and taking some additional batteries with you.

Question: What souvenirs can I buy in Tuva?

Answer: In Tuva 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). 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. Books, maps, post cards, movies and photo albums about Tuva.

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 but only in Kyzyl. 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 only cash for the services.

Question: What is necessary to take when going on the tour "The initiation into shamanism"?

Answer: The clothing should be comfortable, first of all. 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, wind resistant jacket and 2 footwear 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).
• 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.
• 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 is the weather like in Tuva in summer?

Answer: In June the weather is warm, about  +15 +20 C. In June - July air temperature reaches +25 +30 C. Weather, mainly dry with occasional rains. In late August and early September it is warm in Tuva - +15 +22 C, sometimes it rains.

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

Answer: Traveling by minivans, minibuses, cars UAZ, jeeps according to group’s size. All transport is with air conditioner. In every bus there is a bar, fridge, audio and video system. On the most difficult tracks we use the services of the most reliable transport – UAZ. During the tour there are several stops, rest, walks and picnics. 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 qualified are your tourist guides who accompany us in the tour?

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. On some trips you will be accompanied by experienced instructors. Tourists are also accompanied by a shaman, who organizes seminars, ritual of kamlanie, tells about shamanism secrets. If a subgroup includes more then 4 people speaking the same language, they get the guide-interpreter (English, German, French) free, guides with other languages according to your request. If a subgroup contains of less then 4 people, the interpreter is extra paid. The information about it you can get by our managers.

Question: What kind of food do you offer?

Answer: In any tour you will be offered two or three meals a day, even on picnics you will be served hot meals or lunch boxes. Mineral water, local drinks, coffee, tea, and juice are included in tours' pricing. The national Tuvan cuisine will be an essential part of the program. We also consider the tourists' preferences, those who follow special diets or are vegetarians. Alcohol drinks are not included in the price.

Question: By what shamans will we be accompanied during the tour?

Answer: All shamans have already experience working in such tours and seminars, they are usually members of some shaman societies. Shamans have not only shamanistic practises, but they are ready to tell tourists about shamanism, disclose all secrets of shamans of telling the fortune, all clothing attributes.

Question: What sights will we see?

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

• The city of Kyzyl, 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 km to the east of Moscow. 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 main sights: monument the geographical centre of Asia,  the national museum of Tuva, the Shaman clinic, the Buddhist temple.
• The national museum Aldan-Maadyr. The museum starts its history in 1924 when the remains of ancient iron domes were found in Podhrebtinsky district. The first exhibits of the museum were gathered by the participants of a region studies society organized in 1925. It were manuscripts, ancient objects, photos etc. The museum was opened for public in 1930. The head of the museum's project was Vladimir Ermolaev. Some parts of the precious collection were given to the museum by the Hermitage and by the Russian museum. In 1942 the museum got the national status and was given the name "Aldan-Maadyr" or "The 60 warriors". There are 5 departments in the museum now: nature, history, pre-revolutionary Tuva, People's Republic of Tuva, soviet Tuva and funds. 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, the larch model of a burial mound Arjaan, ancient tuvinian ethnographic collection (musical instruments, instruments of labor etc) and a collection of tuvinian stonecutters. 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 than 20 kg of golden objects) became a real sensation in archaeological world. In 2008 famous "Scythian gold" was returned to Tuva from European exhibitions. To protect the collection of the museum the special equipment was bought for the exhibition hall.There are 76 528 objects in the collection.
• Prayer drum in Kyzyl was built by the monks of the monastery Gyudmed thanks to donations from Tuvan Buddhists. The drum is installed in the central square. Copper frame prayer drum weighing more than 100 kilograms has been sent to the capital of Tuva, from India. The drum was made in Nepal, in its copper body there are 100 million sacred mantras. According to Buddhist teachings, the only one rotation of prayer drum with pure thoughts is equivalent to reading aloud these million mantras. This allows you to gain positive energy potential, which promotes the growth of the spiritual path and well-being in the material world. In analogy with the Buddhist texts, the rotation of prayer drum exempt from failures and illnesses, and in the longer term, eliminating the rebirth in the lower realms
• 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 river Yenisei, was built in 1964. The present day monument has a predecessor - in 1890ies an English traveler saw a stone pillar which symbolized the centre of Asia in Saldam. Saldam is situated 25 km far 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 of Asia" 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.
• Monument Kadarchy is located on the hill opposite the airport on the outskirts of Kyzyl in the south, near Arzhaan “Tos-Bulak”. Monument is set in 1997, its author is a Tuvan sculptor T.Ondar. A shepherd in traditional costume with a knife and a steel on the belt is looking into the distance, at stretching to the horizon  endless steppes, symbolizing the traditional Tuvan lifestyle. Specially brought to the foot and white painted stones serve his flock of sheep and logically complete the composition. From the highway to the monument there is a convenient asphalted road. People often rise to the top of the hill to take pictures with magnificent shepherd, who became one of the business cards of Tuva.
• The Chagytai Lake is one of the deepest and biggest lakes with fresh water in Tuvinian basin. Its crystal water swashes at the foot of the northern slope of the mountain range Tannu-Oola. It’s 1003 meters above sea level. Its area is about 2860 hectares. The banks of the lake either rocky or sandy stretch 20 km long. Only the southern part of the lake is marshy and is covered with purple willow, birch, larch trees.
• The lake Dus-Khol (Svatikovo). The lake attracts the attention because of the "zone of the desert" in miniature, where one can lie on hot sand. Lake is known as therapeutic. Each tourist could tell that healing properties of the lake is higher than ones of the Dead Sea in Israel or the Lake Tuz in Khakassia. Mineralization of water in Dus-Hole is very high, up to 280 g / liter. Rapa (the so-called lake water heavily saturated with salt) is similar to glycerin. It is full of millions of tiny red crustaceans. It is shrimps, the inhabitants of salt lakes and seas. The composition of rapa is magnesium-sodium, with a high content of bromine. With the help of rapa and mud some diseases of the joints, digestive apparatus, of peripheral and central nervous system, also skin and gynecological diseases can be cured. Diving in the lake is difficult - the water is so dense that pushes the body back. The deeper you come, the warmer the water and mud in the bottom layer are. At the bottom temperature reaches 41 ° C. The temperature difference of rapa on the surface and the bottom reaches 16 ° C.
• The Burial Mound "Arzhan II", its excavation was started in 2001 by the archeological expedition from St. Petersburg together 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 was 20 kg.

Question: What kind of accommodation do you offer?

Answer: The most comfortable places of accommodation are chosen for the tourist. In Tuva a ecial yurt-complex is built.

Yurt-complex “Biy-Khem”

Yurt-complex is a yurt camp near Kyzyl specially designed for tourists’ accommodation. Yurts for two people made of felt are very comfortable and cozy are furnished with wooden beds, little wardrobe and cupboard. Shower with hot water and bio-closet facilities are situated in the big detached yurt. Canteen and bar are also situated in another yurt.

In the complex there is a stone “ovaa” – witchcraft rite place sanctified by shamans, campfire where in evenings a ritual “kamlanie” and concerts are held.

For corporate customers yurt complex offers organizing business events, seminars, retreats. At good weather it is possible to pull the tents and organize a workshop in the open air, for your guests we make a coffee break, install projectors and screens. In case of rain the business part takes place in a yurt-canteen.

At the time of departure of tourists on the radial routes for 2-3 days involving overnight stays outside the yurt complex tourists have to check out the yurt, leave extra luggage in a cloakroom, taking to the route what you need, some valuable things. Arriving back in the yurt complex tourists are accommodated in free yurts.

Additional services: excursions, horseback riding, cooking meals to order Tuvan cuisine, rafting on the river "Bii-Khem", concert performers of throat singing, rite shamans.

Excursions, horse riding, Biy-Khem river rafting, national cuisine cooking and other services are available for additional fee. More details

Camping

Camping is made at time of radial trips on the route at convenient places for tourists. Tents are set by the accompanying staff.

Camping has tents for 2 or 3 people. To stay at the complex you will be given a full set of tourist equipment: mats and sleeping bags. There is no electricity in the complex, so we recommend precharging the batteries of mobile phones and cameras, as well as taking a spare set of batteries. During their stay in tents tourists will be provided three times a day hot meals, which the cook prepares to fire. On the way we organize picnics, tourists get lunch boxes.