Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Experiences you'll have
Many excursions are waiting for you on this tour: ethnographic museums and viewing points with breathtaking landscapes, archaeological excavations and ethnic places of power. In the evenings you will taste the national cuisine of different regions of Siberia and watch the performances of the local folklore ensembles.
This tour has a very rich excursion program. You will cover 2500 km by bus along the great Sayan ring, visiting three regions with different nature, cuisine and traditions: Krasnoyarsk region, Tuva and Khakassia. You will get acquainted with the Siberia, staying at the authentic Tuvinian and Khakas yurts and the original Siberian peasant country-estates.
5 most vivid impressions and unusual places of this trip:
We accept bookings for groups of 6 or more
Itinerary
The journey begins in Krasnoyarsk, which you must travel to on your own. We are ready to help with the purchase of tickets. If necessary, leave a comment on the application.
We highly recommend you arrive to Krasnoyarsk the day before, to have chance to take rest after long flights and to start excursions relaxed.
Day 1 Meeting Siberia
You will be met in Krasnoyarsk and transferred to a hotel. After having a rest you will go on the tour of the symbols of Krasnoyarsk — the Paraskeva Pyatnitsa chapel situated on the Karaulnaya mountain. From here you can enjoy a picturesque view of the city, of the river Yenisei, of the surrounding mountains and the nature reserve Stolby. You will pass the historical part of the town with its monuments from the 18th-19th centuries and the former mansions of Siberian merchants and patrons. You will also see the Annunciation Cathedral, the Theatre Square, and more.
Then you will visit the Ethnographical Museum which is considered to be among the best historical and ethnographical museums in Siberia. Here you will find out what places are you going to see on the Sayan ring.
After lunch, you will go to the natural reserve Stolby (Rus. for poles), where you will see the famous Krasnoyarsk syenite stone outliers. You will learn about the history of the reserve and could take photos of the unique natural masterpieces. Returned to the city, you would have dinner in the restaurant and go to the hotel.
The route length: 80 km by bus.
Day 2 Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station
Today you will travel to the South through the city of Divnogorsk. The road will go along one of the biggest dams in the world — the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric power station.
You will have lunch in Abakan, the capital city of Khakassia Republic. Then, you will go to Shushenskoye village, located near the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station. In the area of the reservoir, there is the Sayano-Shushensky Biosphere Reserve.
You will spend the night in the guesthouses of the museum Shushenskoye. It still keeps the customs and traditions of the Siberian village of the late 19th century, with its streets and houses, and will help you feel the atmosphere of country life.
The route length: 620 km by bus.
Day 3 Museum Shushenskoe and the tea ceremony in Tuva
The day begins with an excursion in the ethnographical museum Shushenskoye that will bring you to a real Siberian village of the 19th-20th centuries. There are about 200 wooden buildings: farmhouses, a commercial shop, a jail, a tavern, etc. A visit to a real tavern will bring everybody another surprise, you can see handicrafts and go to the shop of a merchant.
After lunch, you will continue the way towards Tuva across the West Sayan mountains. You will see the host of this territory, the Sleeping Sayan warrior, if you look attentively at the contours of the mountain. The legend says that one day the Khakassian warrior Sayan fell asleep here. He can be seen now lying on the back with folded arms.
Closer to the evening you will come to Tuva. There are almost no signs of civilization on most parts of Tuva territory; steppes and sharp mountains cover hundreds of kilometers. You will stay in the yurt camp on the bank of the Biy-Khem river. After dinner, you will listen to traditional throat singing – khoomei.
The route length: 350 km by bus.
Day 4 Excursions in Kyzyl
The place of this day is Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva. This city is situated in the place where the Biy-Khem (the Big Yenisei) and the Kaa-Khem (the Small Yenisei) unite their waters and give life to the great river Yenisei. The first sight to visit here is the Geographical Centre of Asia. Buddhism in Tuva exists in harmony with shaman beliefs. So after the Buddhist temple, you will go to a Shaman community.
After lunch, you will visit the National Museum of Tuva (exhibition Scythian gold) and see unique archaeological finds of different epochs.
During having free time in Kyzyl, you will visit a local market and the mineral spring near Kyzyl. Then you can meet with the local handicraftsmen who will share the secrets of making shamanic drums, yurts, utensils, jewelry.
After dinner with meals of national cuisine you sea a tea 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. After that, you will see a bewitching show – shamans' "kamlaniye". During this ritual, the shamans dance around the fire, sing and beat a drum.
The route length: 70 km by bus.
Day 5 From Tuva to Khakassia, following nomads’ paths
You will cross Tuva from the east to the west and reach Khakassia. You will have a stop near the breathtaking mountain Khairykan — one of the most respected places in Tuva.
On the way, you will see the center of Buddhist culture, a ruined temple Ustuu-Khuree. The temple was the crowning of Buddhist construction in Tuva. Khakassia begins after the Sayan pass, at a height of 2214 meters. The mountains here are covered with fabulous cedar taiga.
You will arrive at the Snow leopard base, have dinner and get acquainted with the instructors of the base, who know all the surrounding taiga trails and healing Siberian herbs.
The route length: 440 km by bus.
Day 6 Hiking in taiga
After breakfast, you will have a walk around the area to the hanging bridge named "Bridge of love" (2 km one way, 2.5 hours). It is laid through the high-mountain river surrounded by centuries-old cedar taiga.
After lunch you can pick mushrooms and berries 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.
In the evening you will go to the Russian banya. Those who are courageous enough can jump into the cold river right after steaming. Time after the dinner is spent at the fireplace.
Day 7 Meeting with Khakassia
Today you will leave taiga. En route, you will make a stop at a Khakassian village where there is a monument called Khurtuyakh Tas. Native women bring their gifts here if they wish to have a baby.
By afternoon you will arrive to the Kyug valley. There is the yurt camp Kyug, where you will accommodate. This time it will be wooden Khakassian yurts built specifically for tourists. After, you will have an excursion to the nature reserve Kazanovka. You will learn more about the influence of ancient civilizations and have a chance to see rock paintings which are 3000-5000 years old.
After dinner with traditional dishes, a performance of the Khakassian national folklore group is waiting for you.
The route length: 242 km by bus.
Day 8 Archaeological and cultural monuments of Khakassia
Today the excursion to the National Museum of Khakassia Kazanovka will continue. You will see the ancient sacred signs left by shamans and the cult monument named Ah-Tas (White stone). Also, you will be told of the mysterious purpose of vertical stones, sticking out from the ground all over Khakassia. You will visit real archeological excavations.
After lunch, you will go to the capital of Khakassia – Abakan. During a tour of the city, you visit the Khakass national local history museum, where a unique collection of stone statues – the heritage of ancient cults are exhibited. In the evening you will accommodate at Asia Hotel, have dinner and relax.
The route length: 160 km by bus.
Day 9 Valley of Kings
Today you will go to the Valley of Kings. There are 30 burial hills in this valley that date back to the 3rd-4th century B.C. The largest hill is named the Great Salbyk burial mound. The hill's circumference is 500 m, its height is more than 11 meters. The total weight of vertical stones is approximately 60 tons. Many think that this is a place where shamans enrich their power.
You will have lunch outdoors, after that you will go back to Krasnoyarsk. Upon arrival in the city, you will stay at the hotel and have dinner in the restaurant.
The route length: 450 km by bus.
Day 10 Departure
In the morning you will be brought to the airport or the train station. Group transfer to the airport at 4 a.m, to the railway station at 10 a.m.
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Accommodation during the trip
Krasnoyarsk hotel (day 1 and 9): private rooms, twin or double. Shower, WC, bathrobe, slippers, hair dryer, cosmetic set, towels. Wi-Fi, mobile connection.
Krasnoyarsk hotel — comfortable location in the very city centre, on the bank of Yenisei river, on the Theater Square, 15 min from the railway station, 50 min from the airport. You can create your own world of rest and bliss here. Accommodation in double or twin rooms — for extra charge, single rooms. In every room: WiFi, TV, phone, air-conditioning system, mini-bars, fridge, hair-driers, bathrobe, towels, cosmetic kit, slippers, electric kettle, electronic locks, shower, WC. Additional services: in the hotel building there are many restaurants, cafés, bars, sauna, billiards, hair salon, beauty salon (tanning salon, massage), gift shop, business centre (PC, copy machine etc), conference halls, personal safes, luggage room. Breakfast (buffet) is included.
Guest houses in Shushenskoye (day 2): wooden houses with private rooms, twin. Shower, WC, bathrobe, slippers, hair dryer, cosmetic set, towels. Wi-Fi, mobile connection.
The village Shushenskoe offers you to stay for a night in their wooden guesthouses built in the Ethnographical museum. They are so Siberian typical as the museum itself. Guesthouses were reconstituted with preservation of cultural styles of Angara river area and south of Krasnoyarsk Territory. The realities of peasant life are combined with modern comfort living (full board with Siberian dishes will be served). On the territory of museum there are 5 houses, every of them consists of 2-4 rooms, has unique design, its legends, in every house there is a fridge, kettle, tea set. Every room has 2 single beds and private shower, toilet, air-conditioning, as well as free Wi-Fi, cosmetic kit, towels, bathrobes and slippers are provided.
Extra services: banya, photographing in national costumes, themed tours.
Biy-Khem yurt camp (day 3 and 4): every yurt for 1-2 people, twin. Towels, shower and WC as shared facilities. Only mobile connection, no Wi-Fi.
The yurt camp is located 22 km from Kyzyl, on the bank of Biy-Khem river, and is specially designed for tourists’ accommodation. These are yurts with low door facing the East. They are furnished for 1 or 2 people. There are 2 beds, a cupboard, bedside tables in yurts. At the door you can find a washstand. Electrical heating, electrical outlets. Toilet and shower are in a special big yurt. Canteen and bar are also situated in a separate yurt.
Extra service: banya, shamans' kamlaniye ritual.
Snow Leopard camp (day 5 and 6): wooden houses for 1-2 people, 2 separate beds, 1 double bed or bunkbed. Biotoilet, wash basin and towels. Outdoor shower, banya (once per stay free). No mobile connection, no Wi-Fi.
Camp is situated in the taiga in highland district of Khakassia, 1250 m above the sea level. Specialty of the camp are various dishes of Russian cuisine and Russian bathes on the bank of mountain river. During the tour the Great Sayan Ring tourists will be accommodated in wooden houses for 1-2 people with a bio-toilet and washstand. There are single, double or bunk beds, a table, a chair, a cupboard and a bedside table. Furnace heating. Please note that the camp is located deep in the taiga, with electricity from the generator, so the houses have no outlets for personal use (to avoid overloading the network and fires).
There is also the main hall, upholstered furniture, fireplace, bar, karaoke, billiards, a café, sports ground for playing volleyball. There is an outdoor shower as well as Russian banya (one visit free of charge for 2 nights stay).
Kyug yurt camp (day 7): every yurt for 1-2 people, twin. Towels. Shower and WC as Shared facilities. Only mobile connection, no Wi-Fi.
The yurt camp 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 situated 140 km far from the camp. It consists of 15 wooden yurts, a canteen. There are also shower cabins and bio toilets on the territory of the complex. Yurts are furnished for 1 or 2 people. There are 2 beds, a cupboard, bedside tables in yurts. At the door you can find a washstand. Electrical heating, electrical outlets. Russian traditional cuisine includes local cuisine dishes. Extra service includes: banya, horse riding, herbalist consultation, etc.
Asia Hotel (day 8): private rooms, twin or double. Shower, WC, bathrobe, slippers, hair dryer, cosmetic set, towels. Wi-Fi, mobile connection.
Asia Hotel is located in the center of Abakan. You will be accommodated in standard double rooms, decorated in a classic style (with 1 double or 2 single beds). All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, fridge and flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi. You can visit the restaurants with the european and pan-asian cuisine.
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Common questions
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 travelling. Our guides speak Russian, English or German language. Other languages on request. On condition a group of tourists is more than 4 people with one spoken language, the guide is free of charge. If there are less than 4 people, the service is extra played. You can require the information from our managers. Tipps to our guides and drivers are not included in the tour price.
During all the tour you will be offered three meals a day. Weather it is a hotel, yurt complex or picnic in the open air, you will be served with hot food, mineral water, coffee or tea — they are included in tour price. Alcohol beverages 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. In case you don’t complete it, you will be provided with standard European food with elements of national cuisine. Changing of menu during the tour is possible only for extra pay.
The national dishes of Russian, Tuvan, and Khakassian cuisine are essential parts of the program. The traditional dishes of Russian cuisine are thought to be pancakes, rosted and backed 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 Tuvan 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 Tuvan 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).
In case the meal preferences were not specified, one will be provided with standard menu. Any altering in meal during the tour is possible only for additional fee.
Our tour is organized by comfortable minivans, minibuses (Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter) or large buses depending on the number of people in the group. The final decision, what kind of bus to choose, is made upon the group's formation, usually 10 days before the tour start.
In every bus there is an air conditioning system, audio and video system. Each day we cover a distance of approximately 400-450 km. Every 1,5-2 hours we make stops, that's why the journey does not seem very tiresome. There are days included in the program when tourists stay at camps and do not travel by bus. It is forbidden to smoke in buses, stops in some places, preserves. Driving during the night is also forbidden because of the seasonal pasture.
Group transfers from or to airport (railway station) in Krasnoyarsk are organized at fixed time:
For those who arrive at different time an individual transfer can be organized for additional fee (car 45 euro one way from the airport, 22 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 60 minutes before the departure, to the airport — 3 hours before a flight.
In Krasnoyarsk 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). In Shushenskoye village there is a wonderful store in a local museum of XIX-XX centuries, where you can purchase postcards, books, things made of ceramics, wood, and glass beads, kitchenware made by regional craftsmen and children as well. As you continue the journey 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.
In the Snow Leopard camp you can gather herbs yourself (cowberry tree, wild rose, feverfew, coltsfoot), widely used in everyday life of local inhabitants, also you can gather different berries (cowberry, huckleberry, honeysuckle, great bilberry), mushrooms (boletus, orange-cap boletus, brown mushroom, variety of edible mushroom, saffron milk-cap, chanterelle), and of course, cedar cones, Siberians' favorite delicacies.
Khakassiya is rich with ceramic and wooden items, embroidery, various amulets, national instruments, you can buy there CD's and tapes of national folk singers.
Participation in the tour is not recommended for children under 12 years of age, due to the intense excursion program and long journeys 400-600 km per day. But the parents reserve the right of final decision. If you think that your child is emotionally and physically ready for this trip, the tour operator will not mind.
We also don't recommend to participate in the tour people with high blood pressure, due to high altitude difference.
The climate in Tuva is sharply continental. Summer there is dry, temperature up to 40°C. 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.
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 +5°C.
Yes, children 12-16 years old receive a 10% discount.
The tour price includes insurance against accidents and tick-borne encephalitis.
Booking
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
double accommodation in hotels, yurts and guest house on the route
meals (full board)
transportation services (including group transfer from/to the airport)
guide service
excursions and folk programms
entrance tickets to the museums and parks
visa support
accident and tick-borne encephalitis insurance
flights to Krasnoyarsk (starting at 240 EUR for a round-trip ticke)
single accommodation (+290 EUR per person)
individual transfer from the airport to hotel and vice versa (+25 EUR for one way route)
French-speaking guide services (+1400 EURO per group, optionally)
additional services at the places of accomodation
DBL accommodation in a hotel of Krasnoyarsk before the day of the start of the program + city tour (+100 EUR per person, optional)
shamanic ritual
double accommodation in hotels, yurts and guest house on the route
meals (full board)
transportation services (including group transfer from/to the airport)
guide service
excursions and folk programms
entrance tickets to the museums and parks
visa support
accident and tick-borne encephalitis insurance
flights to Krasnoyarsk (starting at 240 EUR for a round-trip ticke)
single accommodation (+290 EUR per person)
individual transfer from the airport to hotel and vice versa (+25 EUR for one way route)
French-speaking guide services (+1400 EURO per group, optionally)
additional services at the places of accomodation
DBL accommodation in a hotel of Krasnoyarsk before the day of the start of the program + city tour (+100 EUR per person, optional)
shamanic ritual
Testimonials
Sayan Ring is a brilliant tour with an excellent itinerary. Our guide was very professional and very knowledgeable. Also all local excursions were of the highest quality.
We had a very good minivan and our driver was great.
Accommodation in the yurts was interesting, though they can do with some improvements. But the hotels were very good.
The food was so good, that it tested my resolve not to overeat. I am afraid, it is time for a strict diet now.Emoji
On the whole, I have thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would recommend it to anyone.
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To summarize the tour in one word, it was great! Everyone was very nice. Slava is a very good driver, and Viktoria is a very good guide, as well. Viktoria spoke English to explain me as best she could although she is not her duty. The participants, Anastasia and Nadya, were also very sweet people. Even though I don't speak Russian and they don't know English or Turkish, I think we get along very well.
I am grateful to everyone. I am very glad, I did this tour. It is a little bit of a tiring tour because we spent 2500 km on the roads, but there is no other way to visit those places. Nature was amazing!!! I had very good experiences. My current goal is to take a luxury cruise on the Lena River. Maybe you will have offers :) Thank you very much for everything. Love and many thanks, NURAL