The protected delta. Tour to Astrakhan region

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 Meeting with the guide, departure of the group to the village of Saltpeter.

Today we will take another amazing trip to Sarai Batu, the medieval capital of the Golden Horde. 

140 km above Astrakhan, the village of Selitrennoe (Kharabalinsky district of the Astrakhan region) is located in the steppe. 

Looking at the wide desert steppe surrounding the village, it is impossible to believe that one of the capitals of the world, one of the largest centers of civilization, was once located here. 

But, nevertheless, it was here, on the hills and mounds of the modern village, that the Golden Horde once settled. 

The raids and campaigns of the conquerors took place from here, and the ruins of the huge Golden Horde city of Sarai-Batu, called the Saltpeter Hillfort, rest here.

10:30 Arrival at the Batu Barn.

10:30-12.30 An exciting tour of the scenery of Sarai Batu, the reconstruction city of the Golden Horde, which was built in 2010 in the Kharabalinsky district of the Astrakhan region for Andrei Proshkin's film The Horde. 

When you get to Sarai Batu, the city impresses with maximum historical authenticity, which archaeologists have helped to recreate thanks to their long and painstaking work. 

Free time, you can walk along the shore of Ashuluk, visit the khan's headquarters, the site of sand figures. 

For an additional fee, you can have a snack at the Khan cafe (pastries, pilaf, shurpa), ride a camel, visit a torture chamber or shoot an arrow (from 300 rubles per person per service).

12:30-13:30 Arrival at the Saltpeter hillfort excavation site. Inspection, guided tour.

13:30 Departure to Astrakhan.

15:30 Arrival in Astrakhan. 

Lunch in Astrakhan, transfer to hotels.

06:30 Breakfast at the hotel.

07:00 Gathering of the group, departure from the city, on the way — travel information from the guide. 

Bolshoe Bogdo Mountain and the Baskunchak salt lake are unique natural sites, they are part of the Bogdinsk—Baskunchak Nature Reserve. 

To the east of Bolshoe Bogdo Mountain there are many caves of karst origin, which are called Singing Rocks. 

Bolshoe Bogdo Mountain is the highest point of the Caspian lowland, and the salt lake Baskunchak is similar in its healing properties to the Dead Sea.

12:00-13:00 Arrival, lunch at a cafe in Nizhny Baskunchak village (salad, soup, second course, drink, bread).

13:00-14:00 Excursion to the salt lake Baskunchak, visit to the old salt fields. The salt and mineral mud of the lake are powerful healing agents. 

Baskunchak is a unique creation of nature, it is the largest and saltiest of all known salt lakes in the world.

For those who want to plunge into the lake, a shuttle service is organized to places where you can swim (for an additional fee).

14:00-17:00 Guided tour of the slopes of Bolshoe Bogdo mountain, singing rocks. Bolshoe Bogdo Mountain is covered with many legends, one of which says that the mountain was moved here by Buddhist monks from the Urals. 

Since then, her peace has been guarded by the spirit of the giant Tsagan Ebugai, who lives on the eastern slope and drives away the uninitiated with terrible sounds.

17:00 Departure to Astrakhan.

22:00-23.00 Arrival in Astrakhan.

Additional mandatory expenses in case of bad weather (rains) include a transfer fee to Bolshoe Bogdo Mountain on PAZ buses in the amount of 400 rubles per person.

Transfer to the bathing place on the spot on UAZ trucks, organized by local residents for an additional fee (from 600 rubles per person) — optional.

Breakfast at the hotel, room release. You can leave your belongings in the hotel's luggage room or put them on the bus.

09:00 Departure from Astrakhan, travel information from the guide on the way.

11:00 Arrival at the Biosphere Reserve. The Astrakhan Nature Reserve was established in 1919 to preserve the unique flora and fauna of the Volga Delta. 

The Astrakhan Nature Reserve not only protects species in a limited area, but also serves as a source of animal settlement throughout the Volga Delta.

11:00-13:00 Guided tour of the nature reserve (1 hour by boat and 1 hour ecological trail).

An ecological trail, a wooden deck raised above the surface of the earth, invites you to discover the mysteries of the Caspian jungle. 

The route of the ecological trail of the Astrakhan Nature Reserve begins from the central cordon of the Damchik section, where the participants of the excursion are located in long motorboats, repeating the shape of a boat.

13:00-14:00 Lunch, free time.

14:00 Departure to Astrakhan.

16:00 Arrival in Astrakhan.

On the way, tourists departing by plane are taken to the airport.

Tourists leaving by evening trains can be taken to the railway station or to the hotel (optional).

The travel time is approximate, depending on the ferry capacity!

Please note! If for technical reasons it is not possible to organize a tour to the Astrakhan Biosphere Reserve, the tour will be replaced by a trip to the Volga Delta.

The program of the trip to the Volga Delta.

09:00 Meeting with the guide. Departure from Astrakhan. The Volga Delta is an incredibly picturesque region, you will see meadows and desert landscapes, forests and thickets of reeds, many rivers, lakes, islands and sand dunes. 

Among the many channels and small rivers, you will admire the true beauty of the untouched Astrakhan nature, enjoy the unique landscapes that it has created, and just breathe in the fresh air and have a good rest. 

The variety of flora and fauna will make your walk unforgettable!

10:30 Arrival at the pier/recreation center.

If the recreation center is an island, then we go to the base from the pier by boat.

10:30-11:00 Meeting at the base, briefing

11:00-13:00 Boat trip to the Volga Delta accompanied by a huntsman. Starting a journey along one of the rivers of the Volga delta, after a while you will find yourself in a real water jungle, surrounded by wild islands and hundreds of channels and get acquainted with the unique and amazing world of Astrakhan nature. 

13:00 Arrival at the recreation center.

13:00-16:00 Lunch (soup, second course, salad, drink), stay at the base.

You can swim in the pool (during the warmer months), go fishing (provision of gear for an additional fee) or just stroll around the territory.

16:00 Departure to Astrakhan.

17:30 On the way, tourists departing by plane are taken to the airport.

Tourists leaving by evening trains can be taken to the railway station or to the hotel (optional).