Peoples of Southern Siberia

Day 1 – “Meeting with Khakassia”. 10:00 - Meeting of tour participants at the airport or railway station.
Breakfast.
Excursion to the Khakass National Museum and Cultural Center with a visit to the unique exposition of ancient stone sculptures. Sightseeing tour of the city with a visit to the park of topiary art, the only one not only in Siberia, but also in Russia. The park presents extraordinary expositions: the Eiffel Tower, English lawns, alpine slides, numerous Siberian and overseas plants, cozy arbors, swings, various animals sitting on the edges of the paths and much more.
Lunch in Abakan.
Arrival at the recreation center "Country hearth".
Dinner. Bath. (Route length 120 km)

Day 2: From the present to the past. 9:00 - Breakfast.
Excursion to the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP (external inspection), visit to the trout farm (optional).
Excursion to the museum - Shushenskoye Reserve. The Shushenskoye Museum-Reserve is a unique historical, architectural, ethnographic complex located in the open air. The museum represents the historical central part of the ancient Siberian village. Economic activity, life, social life, spiritual culture of Siberian peasants at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries are represented in monuments of rural architecture, in the interiors of peasant houses and public buildings, in rich collections of tools and household peasant art.
Accommodation in the hotel complex "New Village". (Route length 90 km)

Day 3: Visiting the Sleeping Sayan. 9:00 - Breakfast.
Meeting with the owner of these places, “Sleeping Sayan”. If you look closely, you can see him in the outlines of the mountains: he lies on his back, folded his hands on his chest. Why exactly here, tourists will learn from the guide's story. Excursion on the "Trail of the Siberian Hunter". An ecological path leading to a special world, according to the laws of which people lived and still live, whose main trade is the hunt for fur animals. Tourists will get acquainted with the life and traditions of hunters of the early XX century, fishing techniques, ancient Samoters, enjoy picturesque landscapes. The Siberian Hunter Museum is the starting point of the route. There are expositions that introduce the history of hunting, the development of hunting traditions in Russia. Following the trail, tourists will get acquainted with fishing gear and learn the mechanism of their action. The first part of the trail runs through the mountain taiga area, but gradually the forest is replaced by a subalpine meadow - this is a place for ungulates and bears. Here you can see the trails and traces of animals. In the middle of the route is the real wintering of the hunter. Near the house is a fire with benches in the form of a horseshoe for luck. At the end of the way, tourists will meet with a taiga giant - a century-old Siberian cedar! Accommodation on the Yergaki b/o. (Route length 110 km)

Day 4 - "Acquaintance with Tuva". 9:00 - Breakfast.
Departure of the group to Tuva. Excursion to Kyzyl, capital of Tuva. A visit to the geographical center of Asia, which is symbolically located near the confluence of two rivers - Bi-Hem (Big Yenisei) and Ka-Hem (Little Yenisei). Then begins the famous, crossing Siberia from south to north Great Yenisei. Visit a Buddhist monastery where you can hear the preaching of a real lama. Visiting a shamanic society where you can ask questions, learn the secrets of shamanism. Lunch in a restaurant (a national lunch is possible). Visit to the National Museum of Tuva (excursion to the exposition "Gold of the Scythians"). The excursion "Golden Scythians" is dedicated to the famous mound "Arzhan-II", the excavations of which were carried out in 2000-2003 by specialists of the Hermitage in cooperation with the German Archaeological Institute. The treasures found in the mound (more than 20 kg of gold items in total) became a real sensation in the archaeological world. Free time in town. Visit local artisans who will share the secrets of making national Tuvan instruments, shaman diamonds, jewelry. Hotel accommodation. (Route length 240 km)

Day 5: "To the center of Buddhism." Departure to Chadan. The route will run from east to west, this is the road of ancient nomads. On the way, tourists will visit the center of Buddhist culture, the restored monastery of Ustuu-Huree is the center of spirituality and statehood of Tuva. The basis of the Tuvan alphabet was laid on the territory of Khuree, the first coin of the Tuvan People’s Republic was minted. Ustuu-Huree Monastery was founded in 1905-1907 by Noyon Haidip. The construction was carried out under the direction and project of a specially invited Tibetan lama Kuntan Rimpoche and with the participation of Chinese masters. In 1930, after the adoption of a special decree, the monastery was closed. In 1937, it was decided to destroy the main temple - Tsogchen, but it was not possible to completely destroy the complex, high mud walls remained from the temple. In 1999, the Russian government, recognizing the historical and architectural value of Ustuu-huree, decided to restore it. In the same year, in order to attract attention to the temple and raise funds for restoration, the International Charity Festival of Live Music and Faith "Ustuu-Huree" was held, since then, annually. Hotel accommodation. (The length of the route is 235 km).

Day 6 - "Road to Khakassia". 9:00 - Breakfast.
Departure of the group to Khakassia. Accommodation of the group at the recreation base "Snow Leopard". The base is located in the heart of the friendly Siberian taiga on the banks of the mountain river Stoktysh. This place, where air, water and earth merge in complete harmony, is located in the center of the Western Sayan. Drunking air, water, and land covered with moss, gentle forest corals - jaguel, lingonberry and blueberry meadows, dwarf birches. The group will have the opportunity to participate in the campaigns (optional):
- to the Mayak Mountain (3km one way, 3 hours), which offers a magnificent panorama of local attractions (goals, floodplain of the B-On River, Sayan Range);
In the hut of the hunter (1 km one way, 2 hours) during the hike, tourists will be able to get acquainted with the life and life of a modern hunter, as well as learn some secrets of the hunting craft;
- on the suspended "Bridge of Love" (2 km one way, 2.5 hours). The suspension bridge passes through the high mountain river Big On. Local tradition – a spouse or loved one should carry his beloved in his arms on the bridge of “Love” over the waters of the mountain river;
- on the lake "Beloved, Kamenistoe" (1.5 km on foot, 9 km by car, 3.5 hours). Tourists will walk along a very beautiful trail strewn with stones, overgrown with many medicinal plants. Lake "Favorite" the source of which is Lake "Kamenistoe";
cedar forest to the mountain lake Marankul (8 km one way) or to the Stoktysh mountain lakes (10 km one way). For those for whom such walks are not possible, they will be able to wander around the base and collect mushrooms, berries or medicinal herbs, which are abundant in these parts. Accommodation "Snow Leopard" (the length of the route is 200 km).

Day 7 - "Acquaintance with Khakass culture".
Stop near the Khakas village, where there is a stele "Ulug Khurtuyakh Tas" (big stone grandmother), which is worshiped and brought gifts by Khakas women who want to give birth to a child. Menhirs of Khakassia entered the top "places of power" of the country. It was compiled by the website of the TV channel “My Planet”. And our stone statues are on the list of seven places in Russia where you can recharge with positive energy, put your thoughts in order and ask for the fulfillment of desires. One of the most unique is called the menhir Ulug-Khurtuyakh-Tas. People believe that the "Stone Old Woman" helps childless women. Departure to Kazanovka: excursion to the Khakass State Museum-Reserve of Kazanovka. The reserve was founded in 1996 on the initiative of a historian, archaeologist and just a caring, sincerely loving Khakassia man - Leonid Eremin. “Kazanovka” is an example of how to treat historical and cultural heritage. Tourists will be given the opportunity to touch one of the most ancient and possessing extraordinary power stone Ah Tas (White stone), see the drawings of ancient artists. In the Khakass aal you will be greeted by hospitable hosts who will prepare a lunch and introduce you to the national culture. Khakass artists will talk about national instruments and perform songs using a special technique of throat singing “high”. Accommodation in the yurt complex "Kyug". It is possible to organize a national Khakassian dinner. (The length of the route is 240 km).

Day 8: Journey to the Valley of the Kings. 9:00 - Breakfast.
Departure of the group to the Salbyk mound in the "Valley of the Kings", where there are about 50 burial mounds of the III-IV century BC. The culmination of the entire journey will be the Great Salbyk Kurgan, once built over the grave of the noble family of the Tagar tribe and excavated by archaeologists in 1954-56. Khakass with reverence relate to this ancient building, tying ribbons on stone ledges as a symbol of the deification of multi-ton giants. Many locals come here with the desire to heal from serious diseases. Placement on the b / o near Lake Wild. (The length of the route is 260 km).

Day 9 – “Khakassky Reserve”. There's free time until lunch. After lunch, leave for Abakan. On the way, follow the excursion to the state reserve "Khakassky", the site "Oglahty". In 2014, a new section of the reserve was opened - the tourist complex "Oglahty". The complex includes a thematic Visit Center, a walking tourist route along the stairs leading to one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in Khakassia, located on the Forty Teeth mountain. The age of petroglyphs is estimated at 5000-1000 years. Some of the drawings can be seen climbing the stairs in 960 steps. At the foot of the stairs is a slab “Shaman-stone” with the image of 34 Scythian daggers, several chariots, animals and larvae. Back to Abakan. Hotel accommodation. (The length of the route is 200 km).

Day 10: Farewell to Siberia.
Early breakfast. Departure to the airport.