Entry dates

26.05.2012 - 03.06.2012, 09.06.2012 - 17.06.2012, 20.06.2012 - 28.06.2012, 04.07.2012 - 12.07.2012, 18.07.2012 - 26.07.2012, 29.07.2012 - 06.08.2012, 09.08.2012 - 17.08.2012, 19.08.2012 - 27.08.2012, 06.09.2012 - 14.09.2012, 20.09.2012 - 28.09.2012,

Tour program

A journey around Sayan ring. This tour embraces three Siberian regions: Krasnoyarsk region, Tuva and Khakasia. Each region possesses its own peculiarities, culture and historical past. But there is one thing that unites them – the people. Open-hearted, hospitable and absolutely unselfish people. It makes no difference where they live, in a megapolis or in a Tuva steppe. Siberia receives and unites everybody, that is why different religions and ancient traditions exist in peace here. This journey around Sayan ring is a touch of the very origin.

• View booking-list
• Program in German
• Program in Russian

Route in brief:

Duration: 9 days/ 8 nights
Months: from May to September
Bus traveling: 1500 km
People in group: Min – 6, Max - 20
Age limit: children not younger than 10 years old
The tour doesn’t require a special physical training.

Far, mysterious and unapproachable. Many people still think it is a snowy land with thick forests, where wild bears are the only hosts. The Siberian land is still terra incognita. But fortunately there is a journey which reveals some of the secrets of this mysterious land. It is a journey around Sayan ring. It includes three regions  of Siberia: Krasnoyarsk region, Tuva republic and Khakasia. The route goes through the world known places such as Shushenskoe village, Kyzyl, the geographical centre of Asia, the Valley of delight. All of these places are situated near The Sayan mountains, that is why the name of the tour is “The mysteries of Sayan ring”. This journey around Sayan ring is a touch of the very origin.

Day 1

The city on Yenissey.

Upon tourist’s arrival to Krasnoyarsk airport or railway station the group is transferred to the city (individual transfer**). Check-in the hotel, short rest till 11.30 (check-out), breakfast**.

Meeting with a guide in the hotel’s hall, lunch in a restaurant.

A short sightseeing tour with a visit to a symbol of Krasnoyarsk  the Paraskeva Pyatnitsa chapel situated on the Karaulnaya mountain. In the 17^th century the Cossacks who founded the city built a watch tower on this mountain. One can enjoy a picturesque view of the city, of the river Yenisey, of the surrounding mountains and the nature reserve Stolby.

If you have ever been to Krasnoyarsk, but haven’t visited the reserve “Stolby”, you haven’t seen the heart of the city, it’s lungs, it’s soul. The next point of the excursion is the famous fun-park “Bobrovy log”. Lunch. In the fun-park  you will have a chance to discover a beautiful view on the national park “Stolby” (Takmak rock) going  up the hill by the ropeway to the observation point overlooking the magnificent views of the city and surroundings. This tour is a wonderful opportunity to plunge into the wild nature without leaving the city.

We are going to visit the Regional Museum being considered to be among the best historical and ethnographical museums in Siberia. The museum was opened in 2001. It will provide an excellent prelude to your travel and your first impression of the Sayan Ring tour.

Dinner in a restaurant.

20.00 Departure to Abakan by train (train tickets not inluded**)

*Accommodation in the train, lunch, dinner.

** extra charge

Day 2

Siberian history.

Arrival in Abakan, capital city oh Khakassia republic. Breakfast in a café. A short sightseeing tour visiting the Siberian unique landscaping park “Garden of the dream”. The park has so many unexpected and interesting things: the Eiffel Tower, the evil claws and beak of an huge eagle, unsightly mounds near the grass are funny hedgehog, an English lawn, meditation in a Japanese garden, and the most impressing thing is many Siberian amazing plants, pergolas, swings, funny little creatures, sitting at the edges of walkways and much more. The park is unique one in Russia.

Then the group goes to an old Russian town Minusinsk. Lunch. During the excursion you will see Saviour Cathedral, walk around the city-centre, aged merchant’s houses, visit a local market where you can buy famous Minussinsk tomatoes.

Tomatoes in Minusinsk were began to grow the last century. Many local residents still use seed varieties, which fell to them by inheritance from grandparents. The largest tomato weighing nearly 2 kg, raised a local man in 2010.

Excursion to the local museum of Russian Decembrists’.

Then the group goes to Gladenkaya Ski Resort, located near the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station. The dam was built in 1987, height 245 meters, the length of the ridge 1,070 meters, the width at the base of 110 meters, the width of the crest 25 meters. Hydroelectric dam forms the Sayan-Shushenskoye reservoir volume of 31.34 km ³ and an area of 621 km ². In the area of the reservoir there is the Sayano-Shushensky Biosphere Reserve. Amazingly clear water allows to exist a trout farm near hydroelectric power station, because trout are known to not tolerate polluted water. Visit a trout farm, where it is possible to buy fresh fish.

On the way you will visit Syzaya village, home of two-time Olympic champion, five-time World Cup champion, the great wrestler Ivan Yarygin.

Accommodation at the pension, rest. Free time for walking around and visiting to the Spa-complex (extra charge). Dinner.

      *Accommodation at the pension “Zharki”** on Gladenkaya Ski Resort. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Accommodation in Gladenkaya “Sport hotel”**** on request. 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 has a swimming pool, a sauna, a restaurant, children playgrounds and other facilities. (extra charge)

Day 3

The Sayan mountains.

The day begins with departure to Shushenskoye village (430 km is the total mileage of the day) that will serve as a pass from civilization to ancient times. The excursion to the ethnographical museum "Shushenskoe" will bring you to the real Siberian village of ХIX-XX centuries. The history of the museum is inextricably linked with the name of Vladimir Lenin, who lived in Shushenskoye in exile 1897-1900. This corner of antiquity is situated on a bank of the river Shush, near its confluence with the Yenisei. There are numerous monuments of architecture on the 7 hectares: farmhouses, commercial shop, jail, tavern, about 200 wooden buildings. A lot of people go here attracted by ancient Siberian traditions, which are fully preserved in this place. A visit to a real tavern will bring everybody another surprise, you can see handicrafts and go to the shop of a merchant. Here you will be served a cup of tea in a real Siberian izba.

During this day the group will also get acquainted with another Siberian village. The name of the place is Tanzybei. The group will visit a local family; taste home cooked cookies and beverages, fruit and vegetables from the garden. Here you can see chickens and rabbits, have a natural milk, see the Siberian garden. Lunch at the farmhouse will surprise you with its variety of dishes.

After a lunch the group continues its way towards Tuva (430 km) across the West Sayan mountains. You will see the host of this territory - Sleeping Sayan warrior if you look attentively at the contours of the mountain. The legend says that one day the khakasian warrior Sayan fell asleep here. He can be seen now lying on the back with folded arms.

In June now here, now there you can see globeflowers, flowers of a bright orange colour, which are so fond of Siberians.

Closer to the evening group comes to Tuva. It’s amazing but as soon as the bus crosses the border between Krasnoyarsk region and comes to Tuva even the scenery changes. It seems like you are coming to another planet and another age. There are almost no signs of civilisation on the most part of Tuva territory, steppes and sharp mountains are over the hundreds kilometres.

The group makes a stop 22 km from the city Kyzyl, on the bank of the Biy-Khem river (in Tuvan – Big Yenisey), in the yurts’ complex. Accommodation in the real thick felt yurts built by tuvians specially for the tourists.

After dinner – the performance with the traditional throat singing – “khoomei”. The throat singing - a fantastical capability of the Tuva people (and some other Siberian nationalities) to emit simultaneously two or three sounds of different tone and to sustain the same sound for 25-30 seconds without taking a breath. If you close your eyes it is hard to believe that the sounds are emitted by a person and not by a musical instrument.

Who of us has not dreamed of the open spaces of the sky? At the end of the day you can enjoy Tuvinian starry sky in all its glory with the help of a telescope installed in the yurt complex. You can see many constellations; an experienced guide will help you in this, even if you have not been strong in astronomy. From time to time the soul of each urban resident asks for something special, for what we have never enough time in everyday. And then we look at the stars.

* Accommodation is in the yurts’ complex “Biy-Khem”. Breakfast, lunch and dinner 

Day 4

The centre of Asia

The Europeans are still interested in the eastern traditions. The route that covers the Sayan ring lets you visit the heart of Asia. The place of this day is Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva. This city is situated in the place where Biy-Khem (the Big Yenisey) and Ka-Khem (the Small Yenisey) unite their waters and give a life to the great river Yenisey. The first sightseeing to visit here is the Geographical Centre of Asia. Built in 1964, the monument represents a big globe on which the contours of continents are marked, Tuva and Kyzyl are specially indicated.

The next place of visiting is the Buddhist temple where you will have a chance to hear a sermon of the lama. Buddhism in Tuva exists in harmony with shaman beliefs. So after the Buddhist temple we will go to a Shaman community where you can pay and ask about your health and future, get information about shamanism secrets. Lunch is organized in a local restaurant. After eating the group will visit the Regional Museum of Tuva (exhibition “Scythian gold”) and see unique archaeological finds of different epochs.

Free time in the city.

Visit to local handicrafts who will share the secrets of making shamanic drums, yurts, utensils, jewelry.

A dinner with traditional dishes of Tuvan cuisine including meat and dairy products will be cooked specially for the guests on returning back to the yurt complex.

To make the guests’ life as clear as the milk, to let spirits of heaven and earth help to the successful resolution of all deals, to make the travel trouble free, we invite you to Tuvan tea ceremony. During the ceremony you will hear a story about cooking national Tuvan tea with milk and salt, you will learn about the history of tea in Tuva, about tea legends and parables. You’ll feel the taste of the rich culture, feel the wonderful land of steppes and open spaces of Tuva.

In the evening you will see a bewitching show: shamans' kamlaniye**. Kamlanie is a magical communication between shamans and spirits. During this ritual the shamans dance around fire, sing and beat a drum. Kamlanie will leave a long lasting impression, nobody remains indifferent after this ritual. There the shamans will tell you about their traditions, rituals and abilities. After that you will get an opportunity to ask them about your future, your health and experience the ritual of purification**.

* Accommodation in the yurts’ complex “Biy-Khem”. Breakfast, lunch, dinner

** Extra charge

Day 5

Following the path of nomads.

Nowadays the tourists can follow exactly the same path that ancient nomads followed crossing Tuva from the east to the west and reach Khakassia. The route will go through the mountain pass. Here you can meet places which are considered to be energetically powerful. Before lunch there is a stop near a breathtaking mountain Khairykan - one of the most respected places in Tuva. In 1992 it was chosen by Dalai Lama XIV to be an energetically powerful place. Once a year local shamans come here to get energy, strengthen and purify their spirits.

Many of the tuvan people are still nomads. The group will meet a family of real nomads (if nomads are there that time). The nomads' way of life today has little difference with their life a hundred years ago. Traditionally a yurt, where they live is divided into two halves - a man's half and a woman's half. Guests are received in a special place.

Picnic is organized right on the grass, next to a Buddha stela. And around the larches a lot of edelweiss’s are growing, which became a symbol of the mountains for many people.

On the way tourists will see the center of Buddhist culture, a ruined temple Ustuu-Khuree. The temple was the crowning of Buddhist construction in Tuva. And it was unique not only in Tuva, but also in like the former Soviet Union. In 1930, after the adoption of a special resolution Ustuu-Khuree was closed, and in 1937 - destroyed. In 1999, the Russian government, recognizing the historic and architectural value of the unique temple Ustuu-Khuree, decided to restore it.

Khakassia begins after the Sayan pass, at a height of 2206 metres. The mountains here are covered with fabulous cedar taiga. The tourists will spend the next two days in the taiga camp "Snow Leopard" built on the bank of the river Stoktysh.

You can enjoy walking on colourful moss here, breathe pure mountain air, taste traditional taiga cuisine.

* Accommodation in the camp "Snow Leopard". Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6

Sayan taiga.

The first day in taiga will amaze you by silence, not usual in big cities. In the morning the group will go to the mountain "Mayak", to the bridge of love or to the hunters’ house. The pendant bridge is over mount river, which flows across taiga forest overcoming many rapids. There is a local tradition according to which a lover if he wants to prove his love has to carry in one's arms his beloved lady over this bridge. Lunch. In July and August you can gather gifts of the forest - berries and mushrooms which you don't even need to look for - they are just under your feet. You will also have a chance to eat cedar nuts. A Siberian cedar is a unique tree. Those cedars which you will be surrounded by are the witnesses of several centuries, fed hundreds of generations who lived in taiga.

Taiga air makes you healthier, but the real cure for all illnesses is a Russian banya. A steaming Russian banya with brooms made of coniferous twigs, birch and oak twigs. Those who are courageous enough can jump into the cold river right after steaming. But if you are not ready for such an extreme procedure, there is also phytosauna** built on the territory of the camp. Time after the lunch is spent at the fireplace. Cedar taiga, fire, star-spangled sky and silence will make you forget about rush of the cities. All this will make you feel a part of wild nature.

After dinner evening at the fireplace. Cedar Taiga, starry sky and the silence that we forget about in the city surround you and only the crackle of the blazing fire…

* Accommodation in the camp "Snow Leopard". Breakfast, lunch, dinner

 

Day 7

The valley of delight.

After breakfast - bid farewell to "Snow Leopard" (242 km) and taiga.

On the route the group makes a stop at a khakasian village where there is a monument Khurtuyakh tas, where native women bring there gifts if they wish to have a baby.

By afternoon the group arrives to the Kyug valley (in Khakassian "kyug" means "delight") 137 km far from Abakan. Two great mountains chains stand near each other here. The Khakasian people call this valley "delight", archaeologists find a lot of monuments of different cultures. There is a yurt complex "Kyug" situated not far from the nature reserve "Kazanovka".  Excursion to the State museum-reserve of Khakassia "Kasanovka". It is hard to believe but you really will see petroglyphs 3-5 thousand years old. Moreover you will be shown how archaeologists make copies from it for study, this pictures you can take with you like rare souvenir. Besides, you’ll know the role of vertical stones which stay all around Khakassia and see real archaeological excavations.

After dinner - a performance of the khakassian national folklore group.

Khakassisn speech sounds here, Khakassian food is not exotic, all rituals are natural without striving for theatricality.

In the silence of the Khakassian valley you can really calm and relax and the scent of the beautiful irises will give you new energy.

   * Accommodation in the yurt complex "Kug"*. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Day 8

The history of Khakasia.

Departure from the complex and in a couple of hours arrival in Abakan, the capital of Khakassia. A visit to the Republican Regional Museum, where unique collection of stone statues is kept. Some of them are considered to be still powerful. Lunch.

From Abakan the group goes to "The Valley of  Kings", there are about 30 burial mounds aged from the IV-III century B.C. The culmination of the trip will be the Great Salbyk Mound which was built on the noble family’s grave and excavated by archaeologists in 1954-56. It measured 0,5km in perimeter and 11,5 m high, the weight of stones is up to 60 tonnes. Then back way to Abakan. Dinner.

Departure to Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk or Moscow (tickets – extra charge)

   *Accommodation in train. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Day 9

Departure.

Arrival to Krasnoyarsk railway station, end of the program, transfer to the airport** (extra charge)

---

Tour details can be inquired from the manager of the company:Olga, info@sayanring.com; ICQ: 633-060-400, skype olgafedoseev
or from the representatives of "Sayan Ring" in your country: Germany, Spain, France, Great Britain, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands.

 

---

Children under 12 years old – 30% discount!

• Special offer:
• In case of full payment of the tour till 01 March 2012 г - discount 10% !
• In case of full payment of the tour till 01 May 2012 г - discount 8% !

Price includes:

transportation (bus); accommodation in the hotels (twin), economy sector of the “Snow Leopard” camp (without shower and toilet on the floor), in the yurt complexes; full board (including mineral water, juice, coffee, tea); group transfers; excursions; folklore programs; luggage transportation; entrance tickets to museums, parks, nature reserves; Russia, English or German speaking guide service; visa; accident insurance

 

Price does not include: Air and train tickets to Krasnoyarsk, alcohol drinks; kamlanie, extra service which is not included in the program, Tick-borne encephalitis insurance – 20 Euro. Extra supplement for SGL accommodation (hotels, yurts, separate house in the “Snow Leopard” camp (with WC)) – 250 Euro Extra supplement for TWIN accommodation (separate house in the “Snow Leopard” camp (with WC)), 2 Nights – 30 Euro Accommodation in Gladenkaya “Sport hotel”**** (1 night) DOUBLE – 35 Euro SGL – 40 Euro Train tickets Krasnoyarsk-Abakan one way 60 Euro/person in a compartment 2 class for 4 pax, 120 Euro/person in a compartment 2 class but for 2 pax In case of a foreign group of more than 4 people with the same language guide and translator for free. If the number of foreign tourists who speak a language is less than 4 people, interpreter service is for extra charge. This information can be requested from the company's managers.