Information about tour “The Mysteries of Sayan Ring”

General information

Ethnographic tour “The Mysteries of Sayan Ring” (9 days/8nights, period May-September) route goes along territories of Krasnoyarsk region,  Khakassia and Tuva. 

Krasnoyarsk region  is located in the eastern part of Siberia along the basin of the Yenisei river. It covers 3000 km from the South to the North, where it is washed  by Kara sea and Laptevs’ sea. The population of the region is about 3 million people.

The region is subdivided into three climate zones: arctic, subarctic and mild.

Krasnoyarsk region territory is the domain for 450 species of plants, 340 species of birds and 90 species of animals including snow leopard, Putorana bighorn sheep, snow fox, stoat and musk-ox. In region there are 6 nature reserves under state protection:  Big Arctic, Central-Siberian, Putorana, “Stolby” (Rock pillars), Sayano-Shushensky and Taimyr reserves.

The main religion here is Orthodox Church, but other confessions are also spread: Catholicism, Islam, Judaism etc.

The capital of the region is Krasnoyarsk – megapolis situated on the both sides of the Yenisei river. It was founded by Russian military man Andrey Dubensky in 1628. The population of Krasnoyarsk is about 1 million people. Time difference with Moscow is +4 hours, distance to Moscow is3995 kmThere are many old buildings and places of interest here. Krasnoyarsk is the motherland of painter Surikov, geographist and scientist Potanin, singer Khvorostovsky, violinist Tretyakov,  Olympic champion Yarygin, writer Astafiev.

The symbol of Krasnoyarsk is Paraskeva Pyatnitsa chapel built in 1805 on Karaulnya hill. It is printed on the 10-roubles banknote.

Tuva is situated on the South of Eastern Siberia in the geographical center of Asia. It borders Krasnoyarsk region, Khakassia republic, Mongolia, Altai republic. Tuva is very rich in natural resources: besides huge geological deposits, there are about 8000 rivers, including famous Khemchik and Yenisei, about 20 big fresh and salt water lakes, lots of healing mineral springs.  Fauna of Tuva is very unique and diverse: here one can meet a camel, a desert dweller, and a reindeer, inhabitant of northern territories, Tuvan mountains Tannu-Ola are the realm of snow leopard. Also bear, wolf, squirrel, moose, sable, roebuck, lynx, glutton and birds like hazel-hen, blackcock, goose, duck, eagles and even swans are often met here.  From fish such species can be mentioned:  Siberian and Mongolian grayling, salmon, bass, pike and many others.

The population of Tuva is about 315 thousand people. The capital of the republic is Kyzyl, the place having been calculated and depicted to be the geographical center of Asia. Distance from Abakan – 460 km, from Krasnoyarsk – 1000 km.  Time difference with Moscow is +4 hours.

Main confessions: Orthodox Church, Buddhism, Shamanism.

Places of interest in Kyzyl are: free Arat square, “The center of  Asia” obelisk, Regional Tuvan museum of 60 heroes; Tuvan national theatre;  Shaman clinic.

If you happen to appear at a Tuvan family’s place, you should know that it is used to give little presents to hosts. You present children with sweets or cookies, and adults may be presented with something useful, for example a torch. It’s very important to deal with older ones with respect, following subordination.

Singing songs in a company of people is much preferred by Tuvans, so be ready to be asked to sing, Good vocal abilities are not important – it’s important to support singing anyway.

Khakassia republic is located in South Siberia on the left side of the Yenisei basin. It occupies territory of 62 thousand sq.km. Its population is 580 thousand people.  Time difference with Moscow is +4 hours.

Khakassia is famous for its huge lakes with healing water concentrating in Shirinsky district. Many territories of the republic are devoted to the protected nature reserves, which are inhabited with rare species. Some of them like red wolf, snow leopard and argali are endangered and included into Red list of WWF.

The administrative center of Khakassia is Abakan, a city with population of 160 thousand people. Sightseeing in Abakan: Khakassian regional museum, Preobrazhensky cathedral, zoo, “Lora” stele.

 How to get

The trip starts and ends in Krasnoyarsk.

One of the main transport hubs in Siberia is Krasnoyarsk. It is passed through by Trans-Siberian railway, so it provides tourists with possibilities to travel actively. Krasnoyarsk posses the airport both of local and international level, river port and well-developed road vehicle infrastructure.

Information about railways to Krasnoyarsk can be inquired at managers of  “Sayan Ring”

Airport in Krasnoyarsk “Emelianovo” accepts planes from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Norilsk, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Vladivostok, Kamchatka and many other cities in Russia, also from international flights from Beijing. You can reach Krasnoyarsk by flights of following  airlines “Aeroflot”, “Transaero” or “Sibir”

Trains Krasnoyarsk-Abakan-Krasnoyarsk №124, № 658 everyday. The timetable may be changed. At the moment we are going to leave Krasnoyarsk at 20:00, to arrive to Abakan at 06:45, then last program day we are going to leave Abakan at 20:00 and to arrive to Krasnoyarsk at 6:30. The average cost of economy class (6-berth) – from 35 euro/person, compartment (4 berth) – from 60 euro/person, 120 euro/person for twin use.

Meeting and seeing off

Group transfer from the airport is organized at fixed time. Tourists are met with a board, where tourist’s name or a name of a company is printed. At the day of the beginning of the tour the bus at the airport will wait for arriving tourists from 06:00 to 07:30 (local time).  You will be met by the representative of the company, who will help you with everything you have problems with. For those who arrive at different time an individual transfer can be organized for additional fee (car 58 Euro one way from the airport, 29 euro from the train station). We earnestly recommend you to book tickets according to this time.

Tourists leaving at different time are transferred to the railway station 40 minutes before the departure, to the airport - 3 hours before a flight. 

NB! A room in the hotel "Riviera" is booked for tour participants from 12:00 on the day before tour starting, we recommend you to  arrive a day earlier to be able to relax, sleep better and  explore Krasnoyarsk city, and with renewed energy to start the program at the day of arrival.

Group’s meeting

Group’s meeting takes place on the day of tour beginning at 11:30 in the hotel “Riviera” hall (Michurina str., 10). Guide meets tourists with a board “Sayan ring”. Guide’s phone numbers are going to be told to you 7 days before the tour.

Weather

The climate in Tuva is sharply continental. Summer there is dry, temperature up to 40 C. Winters are cold and not snowy.

The climate in Khakassia is also continental:  cold winter, hot summer, with significant variation of temperature and precipitation level.  Summer duration in steppes is from the middle of May till the middle of September, in highlands – from the middle of June till the end of August. The hottest month is July (average temperature is 20 C). Sometimes there is “Indian summer” in the end of September.

Each season in Krasnoyarsk region 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.

Useful tips

Travelling clothes must be comfortable. Please, take clothes you put on for walking and outdoor activities with you. Make sure you have taken warm sweater, warm socks, and waterproof shoes and waterproof jackets with you to feel comfortable during cool evenings; a pair of light sports trainers, short with long sleeves and light trousers to protect your skin from spiny plants in Tuvan steppes. Sunglasses, sun cream will be helpful to defend yourself from high sunburn activity in Tuva and Khakassia. Swim suite will be needed at bunya (bathhouse). You will need flip-flops in shower of hotel “Zharki”. Also one should posses a hat or cap to avoid sunstroke. Take shorts, T-shirts, other light clothes and shoe with you. Take also the tour contract, medicine insurance, private medicines if you have chronicle diseases.

Accommodation along the tour

Krasnoyarsk

 Riviera hotel **

Perfect location and choice of rooms with different price categories are undoubted advantages, along with clean, homely and comfortable. Modern and cozy "Riviera" Hotel offers a twin standard rooms (with the possibility of settling one person). The hotel has a convenient and secure parking. On the ground floor there are two spacious saunas with a swimming pool where you can spend time with your family or just relax. "Riviera" Hotel offers reasonable prices, decent apartment and a high level of service. It’s situated on Michurina str, 10 - on the right bank of the Yenisei River near the exit of October Bridge (30 min to the city center, 80 min to the airport, 30 min to the railway station). Additional services: free Wi-Fi, luggage storage, guarded parking. No breakfasts included in the price (provided by Sayan Ring company). In every room 2 beds, spacious wardrobe for clothes, desktop, luggage rack, TV, phone, bath, sneakers, personal hygiene, bottled water, hairdryer

On your request accommodation at any other Krasnoyarsk hotel (as well as in the city center)

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 “Mysteries of 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 “Mysteries of Sayan  Ring” tourists will be accommodated in econom houses (with bed, wardrobe and table). Closet facilities are beyond a house. 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, portable toilet. 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.

Meals

During all the tour you will be offered three meals a day. Whether it is  a hotel, yurt complex or picnic in the open air, you will be served with hot food, mineral water, coffee, tea and juice – they are included in tour price list. Spirits are not included in the price. We can also take into consideration the tourists' preferences in dietary or vegitarian food as far as possible. In order to have it during the tour, you should fill in the questionnarie about pecularities in food and send it to us in advance. If you won’t have informed us, you’ll get standard european meal with some additional national dishes. During the trip the menu can be changed only for an extra fee.

The national dishes of Russian, Tuvinian, and Caucasian cuisine are essential parts of the program. The traditional dishes of Russian cuisine are thought to be pancakes, rosted and fried pies, meat dumplings, salty cucumbers, beetroot salad, cabbage soup, fruit drinks and many others. The basic food in Khakassia are considered to be meat dishes in winter and diary products in summer. Also an integral part of daily ration in Khakassia is bread, different kinds of soups (ugre) and broths (mun) with boiled meat in it. As for cereals, they prefer soup called “charba ugre’ and barley cereal (koche ugre). Speaking about Tuvinian people, they also can’t do without meat and diary products. In fact, they eat mostly meat and all other food is just an addition to it. Various dishes made of meat and flour are quite popular with local people, these are soup with meat and noodles (uzken bydaa), meat dumplings prepared on steam (boozy) and traditional ones (manchy), round fried meat pie (khuzhuury), minced meat with pastry (tyrtykan) and many others.

Moreover, you can find on the table of Tuvinian people vodka made of milk (araga), which is made of sour milk, boorzaki – pieces of pastry fried in boiled oil, cakes, which are eaten not with prepared food, but as “individual dish” and soktaan dolgan – ground barley. Also Tuvinian people like blood pudding, green tea with milk (it is drunk with butter or salt). The importance of diary products as well as meat product is very high for these people. They developed different ways of cooking products made of  milk such as – cheese (bashtyk), butter (sarzhag), cream (oreme), koumiss (khymys), kefir (tarak), sour clotted milk (khoitpak), dried cottage cheese – of hard  and crumbly consistence (kurut and aarzhy respectively).

 Security

All vehicles along the route are equipped with first-aid kit and all our guides have been specially trained to do primary medical assistance. Also all our tourists are insured against accidents. Insurance company is “Nadezhda”, phone of 24-hour customer service center +7 (812) 325 72 92, +7 800 333 72 92

 Mobile communications on the route

On the most part of the tour the cellular network coverage is available. Mobile phones operated by local operators (MTS, ETK, Beeline, Megafon) are working alright. You can purchase a SIM-card of these companies in Krasnoyarsk or Kyzyl. There is no mobile connection in “Snow Leopard” and in some parts of Tuva and Khakassia

Special information

Transportation terms

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.

Guide services

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.

Additional service

Our company recommend you to combine “the Mysteries of Sayan Ring” tour with other journeys along Russia from Moscow to Far East. Also you can continue travelling around Krasnoyarsk region to know northern territories better visiting old town Yeniseisk or “Stolby” nature reserve. And before the tour it is possible to travel to Baikal lake, Altai mountains, Kamchatka volcanoes and many other lands of Russia. Our company will do one’s best to assist you in hotels and air tickets booking, organizing transfers and excursion programs. We will do anything to make your coming to Russia pleasant and unforgettable.

You can also go around “The Mysteries of Sayan Ring” by cars or undertake a moto tour organized by the company. You can find the information among our suggestions.

Ticks and mosquitoes

In Tuva and Khakassia 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 Khakassia. 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.

Water

Water provided during the tour is clear and doesn’t need any additional purification. You will be given  water for drinking (still or carbonated) in any amounts you like, that’s why there will be no need in taking water with you.

Other information

Information  including meeting guide telephone and timed program is provided 7 days before the first day of the tour. You can get your insurance certificates, air and railway tickets booked in advance from your guide at the starting day.

Guarantees

‘Sayan Ring’ is the incoming tour operator  in Krasnoyarsk regional, Khakassia and Tuva. The company is in the Federal Register of Tour Operators, according to it our Certificate Number is # ВНТ 006833, given by Federal Tourist Agency. We are the member of Association of Russian Tourism Companies.

Financial insurance guarantee #124730344 for 10 million rubles  is valid from the 16.05.2012  to 15.05.2013