In the heart of Asia

Tour to Khakassia and Tuva. Khakassia and Tuva are unique in variety of climatic zones and landscapes; natural, archaeological and historical monuments of the Republic, while little visited by mass tourists. There is still a truly “pristine”, “wild” nature, and the number of archaeological sites scattered across the steppe expanses of Khakassia, the Republic has no equal in Russia. No wonder scientists call Khakassia – “Mecca of Siberian Archaeology”!
You will find an unforgettable meeting with the ancient steppes and healing lakes of Khakassia, dense forests, mountain rivers and snow-capped Sayan ranges! Winds of millennia swept over this Earth, thousands of nomadic tribes passed through it, leaving silent monuments of eras in the ancient steppe of Khakassia. To the secrets of some of them we have to touch with reverence to learn the wisdom and greatness of the ancient rulers of the Steppe.
We will get acquainted with the ancient culture, customs and traditions of Tuva - one of the most remote territories of Russia. We will visit the center of the Asian continent, in the heart of Siberia, at the source of one of the greatest rivers, the Yenisei. Through the steppes, rivers, passes and taiga, along the path of discovery and knowledge, along the ancient path of nomadic peoples leads this tour.

Day 1. Meeting in Abakan (at the airport and railway station). Moving (160 km) and visiting the open-air museum "Ust-Sos". Acquaintance with the traditions and way of life of Khakas – the owners of this land. At the end of the tour, an ancient Siberian game "Khazikh-oyyn", divination on an old book and lunch with tasting dishes of national cuisine.
Trip to Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP (120 km), on the way (optional) visit the Church of St. Eudokia. Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP is the largest and most powerful power plant in Russia. During the tour, you will visit the observation deck and hear the history of the construction of the HPP.
Transfer Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP – Yergaki (220 km). Yergaki – the Western Sayan range, is rightfully considered a cult place of tourists, climbers, photographers and artists. The area is popular due to its numerous lakes, waterfalls, sharp peaks and grandiose rock walls. Hotel accommodation. Dinner.

Day 2: Breakfast. A walking tour along the trail to the top of the mountain, which offers a stunning view of one of the symbols of the Ergaki ridge - "Sleeping Sayan" (the duration of the tour with stops and rest - 2-3 hours).
Departure to Kyzyl (180 km) with stops for a photo shoot.
Arrival in the capital of Tuva - Kyzyl. Hotel accommodation.
Excursion to the Center of Tuvan culture and crafts - acquaintance with the centuries-old traditions of Tuvans who live today. You will get acquainted with family traditions, household items, national crafts.
At the end of the tour you will get acquainted with the unique Tuvan throat singing – khoomei. Dinner is the national Tuvan cuisine.

Day 3. Breakfast. Excursion to the Aldan-Maadyr National Museum.
The museum has a large ethnographic and archaeological collection. In the courtyard of the museum there is a unique collection of steles, including monuments of different eras: from deer stones of the early Scythian time to ancient Turkic statues and steles with runic inscriptions. The pearl of the archaeological collection - a collection from the excavations 1971-1974
world-famous Scythian mound Arzhan.
Visit to the Buddhist temple "Tsechenling". The new temple, built in 1999, became one of the hallmarks of Kyzyl. Not far from the temple is the Memorial sign "Center of Asia" - a stele, on the banks of the Yenisei, a symbol of the geographical center of Asia. To its right, the two rivers Kaa-Khem and Biy-Khem merge, forming the great Siberian river - the Yenisei.
In good weather, go swimming on a salty lake. Dus-Khol (Svatikovo) (40 km one way). After lunch, excursion to the Holy Spring "Beaver" ("Kundustug Arzhan").
The source was discovered during the Turkic Khaganate IV-VIII centuries. In Tuvan legends, it is said that the pure water of arzhan contributes to the healing of the body and the accumulation of strength. He who visits Kundustug Arzhaan will guard the riches of the land all his life: he will not kill animals and will not pick a single flower. Dinner.

Day 4. Breakfast. Early departure from the hotel. We go on a journey along the steppe roads of Tuva - the ancient road of nomads. Visit to the Aldyn-Bulak National Recreation Base, located in a sacred place, the former Khan’s headquarters with three observation decks, places of worship, a ritual platform, etc.
At 7 km from Chadan there was an ancient center of Tuva statehood, its spiritual and economic center - the temple complex Ustuu-Huree. The complex was destroyed in the 30s of the last century. We will visit one of the temples of the complex.
Ustuu-Huree, restored in 2012
Visiting the monument of nature and the sacred place - Uttug-Haya (Leaky Rock), it is believed that the person who passed through this hole can fulfill the most cherished desire.
For the city of Ak-Dovurak, the road turns north to Khakassia and, after 100 km, rises to the Sayansky ("Hundredth") pass - the border of Khakassia and Tyva. The scenic road gradually goes down, and we gradually descend, getting out of
Highlands in the real Siberian taiga! (Movement in a day about 500 km)
After a long road today, home warmth welcomes us recreation center "Kubayka", located in the heart of the Sayan taiga, on the banks of the mountain river Ona. Placement at the base. Dinner (movement per day approximately 500 km)

Day 5. Breakfast. Water walk on the river Ona. This is not just rafting, but a whole trip along the river, with a rest on the picturesque banks, fishing and lunch at the stake. Do not forget to bring a photo or video camera, because often wild animals come to the river to drink water! Back to the recreation center. Dinner. Bath.

Day 6. Breakfast. Free day. You can stay at a tourist base to relax after a long journey or go on a guided tour to continue discovering the ancient history of this amazing land.
You will be offered a car tour to the open-air museum "Kazanovka" (170 km one way) (optional for an additional fee from 2200 rubles / person).
The museum is located in Askiz district of the Republic of Khakassia, about 127 km from Abakan. Here in February 1996, the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve was created on the territory of 18 thousand hectares. Amazing nature, curious ethnography and archaeological monuments are the three components of "Kazanovka". Several millennia ago, people lived here who prayed to mountain spirits, depicted animals and various rituals on the rocks, built mounds. Archaeologists have been working in Kazanovka for many years. On the territory of the reserve more than two thousand only recorded monuments. Among them are excavated mounds and burial grounds, about a thousand cave paintings, which are six thousand years old. The earliest structures belong to the IV-III in BC. Dinner.

Day 7. Breakfast. Departure from the recreation center. Transfer to Abakan (230 km).
On the way, visit the excursion complex of the Khakassky Reserve in Abaza, where you will learn about the nature of the mountain-taiga part of Khakassia. Walk along the trail "Taiga Charter", visit the "Museum of Siberian crafts", located in a stylized hunter's hut with a canopy and labaz.
A visit to the museum "Ulug-Khurtuyakh-Tas" is a three-meter stone stele that was dug into the ground about 6 thousand years ago at the site of a geological fault, where a powerful radiation of special energy is noted.
For a long time, this statue is considered the patron saint of all women of Khakassia and today is one of the most revered stone statues. Also here is a real Khakass yurt (XIX century) with a full collection of traditional household items, mounds of Tagar archaeological culture (VII-III centuries BC).
Arrival at Abakan. A short tour of the city. Transfer to the railway station (to the hotel).
If you leave Abakan the next morning, don’t forget to book your hotel in advance!