Car 4х4
Hotel
Wooden houses
Yurt Camp
Tuva may be far from any sea or ocean but it is irrigated by many rivers and tributaries. The lakes of Tuva occupy a very special place in this landscape. If you ask Tuvans about one of those lakes, they will tell you a myth or a legend behind every lake and will tell you who its master spirit (spirit of nature) is. Most of the lakes of Tuva, being situated close to spring waters and due to the special conditions of the soil and climate have acquired medicinal properties discovered long ago by the population and ever since people go to the lakes to wild camping or to stay at one of the resorts. This tour will help you discover some of the lakes of Tuva, along with the main elements of traditional Tuvan culture.
Day |
Itinerary |
Meals |
Accommodation |
1 |
Kyzyl – Aldyn-Bulak yurt complex |
L+D |
Yurt (Double) |
2 |
Kyzyl-Dus-Khol |
L+D |
Wooden houses |
3 |
Dus-Xol – Chagytay |
B+L+D |
Wooden houses |
4 |
Chagytay |
B+L+D |
Wooden houses |
5 |
Chagytay – Kyzyl |
B+L+D |
Hotel |
6 |
Kyzyl airport |
B |
n/a |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Our guide will meet you at the airport of Kyzyl. You will visit the Tuvan National Museum the highlight of which is the exposition of golden items from the ancient Scythian burial site “Arzhaan – 2” (VII B.C.) discovered on the territory of Tuva in 2001. We will also visit a shamanic clinic where you can see real Tuvan shamans at their work. Lunch in restaurant of Kyzyl. After this we will take a walk through Kyzyl to see some of the town’s principal sights: The Centre of Asia sculpture complex, the Buddhist temple “Tsechenlig” (“compassion” in Tibetan). We will then go back into town to the Centre of Traditional Tuvan culture. Many elements, expressions and representations of Tuvan culture are concentrated in this center: Tuvan National Orchestra, throat singers’ groups, artisans and great masters of traditional Tuvan instruments. Drive to Aldyn-Bulak yurt complex. Dinner and accommodation in suite yurts. Special folk performance with the best Tuvan Khoomey singers and dancers will be organized for you during dinner. After dinner the most powerful Tuvan shaman will pray the spirits. He will make a huge fire and offer white food and drinks to the spirits, he will play his drum and burn sacred juniper during the ritual.
We will meet and drive to Dus-Xol lake (Salt Lake) in 45 km south of Kyzyl. The lake itself is not very big nor very deep. Its peculiarity is its incredibly high concentration of salt and the artemias – little red organisms whose role is essential- they cleanse the water. The lake is visited by many people from Tuva and abroad who value the medicinal properties of the lake water and mud. You will be accommodated in “Dus-Xol” resort. Lunch and dinner at the lake.
After breakfast at Dus-Xol we will drive to Chagytai Lake (50km). This lake is known to be the biggest and the deepest fresh water lake of the Tuvan bassin situated at 1003 meters above the sea level. The lake has fish such as ide, pike, bream and carp. Accommodation and meals at tourist camp on the bank of the lake. Bonfire and throat singing performance in the evening.
After breakfast at Chagytay we will go to excursion to “Durgen” canyon which is in 18 km from the lake. The canyon and the cascade are situated in a picturesque place surrounded by taïga and forests. This is one of the most beautiful sports of the Tannu-Ola ridge.
Back to the camp. After lunch we can play games on the bank of the lake. Dinner and accommodation at Chagytay.
Drive to Kyzyl. We will drive to a nomadic camp not far from Kyzyl and have lunch in a traditional yurt. You will have a chance to live a day as a nomad, to learn to make alcohol drink just from milk or cook delicious tuvan fresh cheese. A hostess will make you tuvan traditional milk tea – making tea is the whole ceremony with its strict rules and sequence of actions, every tuvan woman keeps carefully the secrets of the best tea receipt to pass down to the next generations. We will go back to Kyzyl, visit some souvenir stores. Dinner at local restaurant. Accommodation in hotel.
Breakfast and drive to the airport of Kyzyl.
The price of the tour:
2 PAX – 1099 Euros per person
4 PAX – 999 Euros per person
6+1 PAX – 899 Euros per person
10+1 PAX – 799 Euros per person
14+1 PAX – 699 Euros per person
Included:
1 private folk performance;
1 shamanic ritual;
Accommodation as (in the itinerary) in Tuva during the tour;
Transfer in Tuva during the tour;
Full board (principal meals during the tour). Please note that the breakfast of the day 1 as well as the lunch and dinner of the last day are not included. During the meals drinks except tea and coffee like fruit juice, coca-cola, soda, alcohol drinks etc. are not included in the price of the tour. Kindly inform in advance regarding your meal preferences (vegetarians, allergies, etc.);
Professional cook’s team will work for the whole trip.
1 liter of bottled mineral water per a day;
Excursions mentioned in the program;
Service of the guide-interpreter and a driver according to the program of the tour.
Excluded:
Airplane/train tickets;
Visa procedures and costs (consultation could be provided);
Drinks and water during the tour except the ones mentioned in the program;
Personal expenses and tips;
Individual throat-singing workshops;
Private sessions with a shaman;
Horse rental
Situation: Central Asia and Southern Siberia
Time zone: GMT +7 (summer)
Currency: Russian ruble
Climate and clothing: continental climate (summer max: +30 to +40ºC, winter max: -25ºC to -45ºC). Please note that the mountain temperature is usually lower than in the rest of Tuva. Therefore, it is advised to take two different types of clothes and shoes: for hot summer days as well as for rainy and cold days. Please note that we cannot be responsible for bad weather conditions.
What else you could need: mosquito repellents, basic pharmacy and medications if you are taking any, umbrella. People with special conditions: Please advise us in advance if you have any special condition such as, for example, diabetes, blood tension, and so on.
Electricity: 220V, 50 HZ