Lesnaya st 43 (office 227) Moscow 127055
Tel. (495) 926-58-82, (495) 926-58-83, (499)978-69-65
Fax. (499) 972-40-32
E-mail: moscow@travelrussia.net
Web: http://www.travelrussia.net
PEARLS OF TUVA
MOSCOW – KRASNOYARSK – KYZYL- ABAKAN – MOSCOW 2008
Moscow has been an inseparable part of the life of all Russia. Moscow’s history dates back more than 800 years to 1147 when Prince Yuri Dolgoruky established a small outpost on the banks of the Moscow river. During the reign of Ivan the Great it became the capital of the Russian Empire. Ivan summoned the greatest Russian and European architects to create a capital so wondrous that “reality embodied fantasy on an unearthly scale”, and soon the city was hailed as the “New Constantinople”. Modern Moscow is the largest city in the country with great variety of amazing sights and places of interest.
Tuva is one of the most mysterious regions of Russia. It is so exciting – one doesn’t know what will happen in a moment. And in a moment – you can see another world when every second your emotions overfill you due to virgin Siberian nature, fresh air, fantastic colors and more importantly due to unspoiled culture of local people – preserved during centuries, their way of life, music, traditions, shamans’ rites.
| Day 1 | ARRIVAL TO MOSCOW Mercedes, E-class, ES guide | |
| am/pm | Transfer to hotel | |
| acc | “Budapest” hotel, 3*, Dbl st b/b | |
| Day 2 | FDSS Mercedes, E-class, ES guide | |
| am | Kremlin (territory + cathedrals) | |
| lunch | Local restaurant | |
| pm | Novodevichy Convent | |
| eve | Departure to airport, transfer Mercedes E-class, ES guide Flight to Krasnoyarsk, flight SU779 at 21:00 (local) | |
| Day 3 | KRASNOYARSK/KYZYL | |
| am | Arrival to Krasnoyarsk at 5:40 AM (local) Transfer to hotel “Oktyabrskaya’, ES guide | |
| lunch | Local restaurant | |
| pm | City tour around Krasnoyarsk, visit to Regional museum | |
| acc | “Oktyabrskaya’ hotel, Classical suite, b/b | |
| Day 4 | KRASNOYARSK/KYZYL | |
| am | Transfer to airport, ES guide Flight to Kyzyl at 10:30 AM (local) | |
| pm | Arrival to Kyzyl at 11:50 (local) Visit to the Buddhist Temple and Shaman clinic | |
| eve | The performance of traditional throat singing – “khoomei”. | |
| acc | Gers in “Biy-Kem” village | |
| Day 5 | ||
| am | Visit to the National museum of Tuva, souvenir shop, mineral spring | |
| lunch | Local restaurant | |
| pm | Drive to lakes Tos-Bulag and “Douce-khol” Swimming, sunbathing, watching the wild Siberian nature | |
| eve | Dinner with traditional Tuvan cuisine Amazing show “Kamlaniye of shamans” | |
| acc | Gers in “Biy-Kem” village | |
| Day 6 | KYZYL/ABAKAN | |
| am | Drive to Abakan, visit to the sleeping Sayan mountain and “Arjaan-2” | |
| lunch | Local restaurant | |
| pm | Drive to old Siberian villages “Tanzibei” and “Shushinskoe” Excursion to the State Ethnographic museum-reserve Optional: dinner in local restaurant | |
| acc | hotel 2* in Abakan | |
| Day 7 | KYZYL/KRASNOYARSK | |
| am | Transfer to airport Flight to Krasnoyarsk at 08:00 Arrival to Krasnoyarsk at 09:20 AM (local) | |
| pm | At leisure | |
| acc | “Oktyabrskaya’ hotel, Classical suite, b/b | |
| Day 8 | DEPARTURE DAY | |
| am | Transfer to airport, ES guide Flight SU 780 to Moscow at 07:10 (local) Arrival to Moscow at 08:05 (local) Departure home |
| DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAMME | ||
| Day 1 | Arrival to Moscow, transfer to hotel | |
| Day 2 | AM | Full day Sightseing Kremlin (territory + cathedrals) 
Visit the oldest part of Moscow – Kremlin.. You might be surprised how many ancient and magnificent structures one can see within its walls: 15th century cathedrals (the coronation, wedding and bury place of Russian rulers), bell-tower, Patriach’s Palace, Grand Kremlin Palace and of course the richest museum - Armoury. Visit the 15th century cathedrals with fantastic interiors afterwards.
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| PM |  Novodevichy conventOne of the most beautiful Moscow convents, founded at the beginning of 16th century, for 400 years the Novodevichy Convent was the witness and the participant of important historical events, connected with the names of Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, Sofia and Peter I. Its nuns were, as a rule, representatives of the supreme feudal nobility. The architectural ensemble of the convent was formed by the end of 17th century and till now remains one of the best in Russia. In the main, Smolensk Cathedral, there is a valuable wall fresco of 16th century and a magnificent carved iconostasis with icons of famous imperial masters of that time. Representatives of noble families and tsar relatives, the hero of the Patriotic war of 1812 D.V.Davydov, the writer I.I.Lazhechnikov, the historian S.M. Solovyev and others are buried on the convent territory. | |
| Day 3 | AM | MOSCOW/KRASNOYARSK Arrival to Krasnoyarsk |
| PM |  City tour around Krasnoyarsk, visit to regional museumA sightseeing tour with a visit to a symbol of Krasnoyarsk - a Paraskovya Pyatnitsa chapel, as well as to Regional Museum, which is considered to be one of the best historical and ethnographical museums in Siberia. Paraskovya Paytnitskaya Chapel is located on the Karaulnaya hill, it is the symbol of Krasnoyarsk city, its image can be seen on a 10 rouble-note. From the Karaulnaya hill you can see the whole city spread out behind you. Krasnoyarsk Regional Museum was founded in 1889, there are unique archaeological finds from ancient civilisations of Yenisey basin, and value ethnographic collections are presented here. | |
| Day4 | AM | MOSCOW/KRASNOYARSK Transfer to airport, flight to KyzylKyzyl is located in the place of junction of the rivers Biy-Khem (Big Yenisey) and Ka-Khem (Small Yenisey), which forms the famous Yenisey river (Ulug-Khem). The city of Kyzyl was founded by tsar’s government in 1914 as a main point in floating. Nowdays Kyzyl is a cosy town wrapped in green trees and sunny flowers. |
| PM |  Visit to the Buddhist temple and Shaman clinicIn the afternoon visit the Buddhist temple where you will hear the sermon of lama. Afterwards you will drive to the Shaman clinic – here the shamans will present you their traditions, rituals and abilities. You may always ask these shamans about your future or pass through the ritual of purification. | |
| EVE |  The performance of traditional throat singing “Khoomei”The throat singing is a fantastical capability of the Tuvian people toemit simultaneously two or three sounds of different tone and to sustain the same sound for 25-30 seconds without taking a breath. If you close your eyes it is hard to believe that the sounds are emitted by a human and not by a musical instrument. | |
| Day5 | AM | Full day sightseeing Visit to the National museum of Tuva, souvenir shop, mineral spring Kyzyl – capital of Tuva repulic, where famous “Geografical centre of Asia” is located. Geographical centre of Asia is a monument which is situated not far from the place of junction of two rivers – Biy-Khem (Big Yenisey) and Ka-Khem (Small Yenisey). Famous Great Yenisey starts here and crosses Siberia from South to North. The monument was erected in 1964 and symbolizes the Earth with specially marked Kyzyl and Tuva on it. |
| PM |  Drive to lakes Tos-Bulag and “Douce-khol”Today we move to the South. There is a stop on the route near the fantastic lake Tos –Bulag. Afterwards we will continue to the lake “Douce-khol” (Svatikovo) – this lake is very salted and salubrious, almost like Dead Sea. One more specialty of this lake is its fauna – small red crawfishes, which length is about 1,5 cm. You may enjoy the silence, purity and beauty of Russian nature while resting and bathing on the shore of the lake. On the way back we will visit the cattle-breeder’s yurt. | |
| EVE | Dinner with traditional Tuvan cuisine. Amazing show “Kamlaniye of shamans” Kamlaniye of shamans is a bewitching show. It is a talk to spirits, a real ritual blessing for health and happiness at the fire ring. It is very rare event when several shamans take part in it at the same time. | |
| Day 6 | AM | KYZYL/ABAKAN Drive to Abakan, visit to the sleeping Sayan mountainIn the morning we will move to the edge of Tuva republic and Krasnoyarsk city. On the way we will have a splendid opportunity to meet the host of the region – the Sleeping Sayan. It could be seen it in the contour of the mountains: he is lying on his back, his arms folded. Why? – The guide will tell you everything. |
| PM |  Drive to old Siberian villages “Tanzibei” and “Shushinskoe”Excursion to the State Ethnografic museum-reserve In the afternoon we will arrive to the Siberian village Tanzibei, where tourists will know about traditions of locals. A stop in the historical village Shushenskoe will bring even a confirmed sceptic from civilization to old times – a show-excursion to the State Ethnographical Museum-reserve “Shushenskoe”. | |
| Day 7 | AM | KYZYL/KRASNOYARSK Flight to Krasnoyarsk |
| Day 8 | AM | KRASNOYARSK/MOSCOW Flight to Moscow, departure |
| ACCOMODATION DESCRIPTION |
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“Budapest” hotel (Moscow) Located in the centre of Moscow within a walking distance to the Red Square, the Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theatre and GUM shopping mall. The hotel combines traditional Russian architecture with modern comfort. 150 cosy elegant rooms and suites. All the rooms have a bath/shower, WC, telephone, colour TV, minibar and a room safe. Business centre, conference room, interpreter office, “John Bull” and lobby bar. Breakfast is served in the rooms. The hotel doesn’t have restaurant. Delivered breakfasts are served in the rooms. |
“Oktyabrskaya” hotel (Krasnoyarsk)- located in the center of the city, on the left bank of the Yenisei River in an old historical part of Krasnoyarsk, which is called "na Strelke". The building of the hotel was built in 1978, since 1995 it has been completely reconstructed and today the Oktyabrskaya Hotel is considered to be the hotel of the international class. The hotel provides the accommodation in cozy rooms of different categories and all necessary conditions for a pleasant rest. |
“Biy-Kem” village (Tuva, Kyzyl)Yurts’ (gers’) complex “Biy-Khem” includes 15 real thick felt yurts(gers) built by tuvians specially for tourists. Yurts (gers) are furnished with wooden furniture, completed with all the conveniences. |
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Hotel in Abakan upon availability |
END OF SERVICES
Total: Euro 2050 pp in a double room with 2 pax traveling – price is valid for 2008
Included: accommodation (3* hotels in a double room), private transport, ES guide, entrances, meals as specified, airplane tickets Krasnoyarsk – Kyzyl and Kyzyl – Krasnoyarsk, visa support letter
NOT included: airplane tickets Moscow – Krasnoyarsk and Krasnoyarsk – Moscow (depending on the exact flight day – approximate rates euro 500 per ticket return flight)
Optional: dinner in Abakan local restaurant – Euro 35 pp or Euro 70 per 2 PAX