Xoomey in the centre of Asia

After breakfast we will head for the nomadic yurt camp in the place called Ak, an extremely beautiful area surrounded with high mountains, forests and purest spring waters. Their camp is located in a beautiful place in the western Tuva. Tuvan nomadic families still keep their traditional lifestyle and original culture. Staying in the yurt camp allows to see, to experience and to learn the nomadic culture more in depth while roaming in authentic life. People living on this very isolated part of land breed animals such as sheep, cows, horses, goats and yaks. They still keep their culture and traditions. Following Tuvan hospitality tradition, you will be offered to taste tuvan cuisine; you will also have a chance to discover and experience one day of nomadic life. Lunch, dinner and accommodation in yurt camp “Sai-Xonash”. World famous tuvan throat singers will perform for you tonight.

After breakfast there is an ample opportunity to go for a walk in the forest for a photo session or climb one of the mountains. We will then come back to our camp to have lunch.
After lunch we will be off for an excursion to the old burial places (kurgans) which are situated on the territory of the Bayan-Kol valley or visit one of the nomadic families living in the valley.
For dinner we will have Tuvan traditional food with a previous Tuvan traditional way of sheep cooking. Overnight at the yurt camp. World famous tuvan throat singers will perform for you tonight. Private throat singing workshops are possible during the day, 1 hour – 2000 rubles.

Breakfast at the yurt camp. Master class of making byshtak – Tuvan fresh cheese, which is called by all tourists who ever tried it “mozzarella”. The guide will introduce you the rich variety of Tuvan traditional dairy products. Tuvan are very wise people, they create many different meals just from milk. Free time.
After lunch we will go hiking to the spring water or to pick up some blue berries or cow berries in the forest.
After dinner you will be demonstrated the process of making araka – Tuvan traditional alcohol drink made from fermented milk. Full board, accommodation in yurts. World famous tuvan throat singers will perform for you tonight. Private throat singing workshops are possible during the day, 1 hour – 2000 rubles.

After breakfast we will drive to the Bai-Taiga region, to “Shivilig” springs. Lunch boxes for lunch, pic nic on the way in the nature. Shivilig springs are situated in the Western Tuva on the left bank of Khemchic river. It’s a cold radon spring. You can enjoy the nature of the place, hike or take a shower in healing waters of the spring water. Dinner and accommodation in tourist camp “Shivilig”. Our first interactive meeting with a real tuvan shaman who will open you some secrets of tuvan shamanism, answer your questions.

After breakfast we will hike the Mountain where there are several wooden cabins for having shower with spring waters. The cabins differ from each other by their medicinal properties as their spring come out from different sources and they vary by their mineral contains. During this day the shaman will be available for private consultations, healings, predictions, purification rituals. You will have a great chance to address him with your question.

Breakfast and drive to the yurt complex ‘Aldyn-Bulak’. Lunch will on the way, you will be given lunch-boxes. On the way there we will stop for an excursion at the Xaiyrakan mountain (50km from Aldyn-Bulak) – one of the most sacred places of Tuva which was sanctified by the Dalai-Lama – XIV in 1992 and worshipped as well by shamans. As the saying goes, the Mountain will give healing and force to those who visit it with an open heart. We will also have an excursion to one of the most sacred places of Tuva the Buddhist Monastery “Ustuu-Khuree” which was ruined in 1937. Dinner at the restaurant of the complex. Accommodation in suite yurts. There will be a shamanic fire ritual this night and a folk concert of the world famous Tuvan throat singer’s group.

After breakfast we will drive to the Toju region, Azas lake. Toju is one of the largest and least populated regions of Tuva. Its territory is about 40 thousand square kilometers including 6 settlements with the population less than 7 thousand people. Traditional types of nature use are preserved: reindeer herding, cattle breeding, fishing, hunting, forestry and logging. Lunch will be on the way; lunch boxes will be given to everybody. Upon arrival you will have dinner. After dinner there will be some free time you can have walk to the lake or have banya. Accommodation in the tour camp.

Lake Azas partially makes part of the Azas reservation in the central area of Todzhinskaya Hollow. Not only fish but also birds of different species recorded in the Red Book live in the lake. The neighboring plants are mainly presented by birch and larch and pine forests with herb stratum. Its banks are abundant in blueberry, cowberry, cranberry and wild strawberry. The lake also has a rich history. In 60s early man sites dating back to 7-5 millennium B.C. were discovered in its suburbs.
Lake Azas is the only lake where white water lilies grow.
After breakfast and a group khoomey workshop enjoy your free time, having rest and relaxing surrounded by the beautiful nature of this unique place. It’s a chance to try your hand as a fisherman as the lake is rich in pike, cisco, perch and taimen. Fish barbecue for lunch. A wonderful boat excursion around seven islands in the middle of the lake, we will land in one of them and have a short excursion there. Accommodation and dinner at the tour camp “Azas”.

Breakfast and hiking to Nogaan-Khol lake (Green Lake) which is one of the numerous radon springs of Tuva. Nogaan-Khol lake is situated in 3 km from Azas lake. Its waters contain dissolved copper salt which makes the lake green colored. The lake’s mud is known for its medical properties. Local people use it to cure the joint diseases. You can have mud bath and enjoy the fresh air and picturesque scenery of the spring water “Nogaan-Khol”. Group khoomey workshop after lunch. Private khoomey lessons. Dinner and accommodation at “Azas” tourist camp.

Early breakfast and drive to Kyzyl. Pic nick for lunch on the way. Upon arrival you will be accommodated in your rooms in hotel. Dinner in restaurant of Kyzyl. Opening ceremony with a great performance of the best tuvan throat singers and folk dancers. Usually the most outstanding musicians from all over the world. This performance usually takes place in the left bank of the Yenissey river, in the “Centre of Asia” sculpture complex. Accommodation in hotel.

The program of the days 12, 13 and 14 will be according to the official program of the international throat singing festival. Its program usually includes Opening ceremony with a concert of Tuvan throat singers, contests where throat singers from Tuva and all over the World participate, parade of participants of the festival. There will be Gala-concert of Winners on the last day of the festival. During these days we will see our free time according to the program of the festival and we 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 souvenir stores and a shamanic clinic where you can see real Tuvan shamans at their work. Accommodation in hotel.

Breakfast and departure to the airport of Kyzyl. End of program.