Traditions of the Lower Volga. Astrakhan and Elista in 3 days

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The city of Astrakhan on the Lower Volga with its amazing history and nature will open its warm embrace to you.

You will get acquainted with the ancient Astrakhan Kremlin of the XVI century, marvel at the diversity of cultures and national traditions in the capital of neighboring Kalmykia – Elista and the center of Kazakh culture.

Location

Astrakhan

Sightseeing tours

Tour highlights

Astrakhan through the ages

You will find beautiful central streets of the city and a walk through the White City – the oldest district of Russian Astrakhan with the Kremlin

Steppe pearl – Elista

Visit the Central Buddhist Hurul of Kalmykia with a statue of Buddha, the Museum of the History of Buddhism and admire the architecture of the city

The Center of Kazakh Culture

Go to the village of Altynzhar, where you will visit the Kurmangazy museum complex, learn about the history and culture of the Kazakh people, admire the beauty of the Astrakhan deserts

Itinerary

Day 1 - A tour of Astrakhan and a visit to the Astrakhan Museum of Local Lore
Meeting of the group at the airport.
Check-out time is 14:00.
12:00-13:00 Lunch at a cafe in the city.
Sightseeing tour of Astrakhan.
13:00-16:00 Meeting with the guide.
You will find beautiful central streets of the city and a walk through the White City – this is the oldest district of Russian Astrakhan with the Kremlin, which can be called an open-air museum without exaggeration.
You will walk along Lenin Square, see Swan Lake, the Triumphal Arch and the Alley of glory of the heroes of the Astrakhan land, admire the majestic monument to Emperor Peter I, walk along Petrovskaya Embankment overlooking the Volga and see old houses on one of the oldest Astrakhan streets.
The walk will end in the Astrakhan Kremlin.
The main decoration of the city and the constant object of tourists' visits is a unique architectural ensemble, a monument of military engineering art of the second half of the XVI century - the Astrakhan Kremlin. In 1947, the Astrakhan Kremlin was included in the list of architectural and historical monuments of national importance and placed under state protection.
We will also definitely stop by the Astrakhan Fish Market, a very colorful place where you can buy fish for every taste and just feel the atmosphere of this port city, where oriental bazaars have been noisy for centuries, and merchants were one of the main strata of the population.
16:00-17:00 Visit to the Astrakhan Museum of Local Lore, the exhibition "Gold of the nomads".
The collection of archaeological objects made of precious metals of the Astrakhan Museum-Reserve began to form in the second half of the XX century. Of particular interest are the gold jewelry of the Sarmatian leader from the famous burial site near the village of Kosika in the Enotaevsky district.
17:00 Transfer to the hotel, check-in, free time.

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Day 2 - The capital of Kalmykia is Elista
06:30 Early breakfast at the hotel (buffet).
07:00 Meeting with the guide, departure for an excursion to Kalmykia.
Today we are waiting for a unique Elista – the pearl of the steppe, the capital of Kalmykia.
Cultures, religions, and architectural styles are mixed here. Kalmykia is a land of endless steppe expanses like the ocean. Elista is the capital of this amazing republic. The life of Stolny grad is saturated with legends, legends and ancient rituals.
For example, guests of a diverse city are invited to pass through Altyn Bosch – the Golden Gate. Kalmyks believe that such a rite cleanses the soul and thoughts. Elista is also home to the largest Buddhist temple in Kalmykia, and the influence of Tibetan architecture can be unmistakably determined in its outlines.
12:00-13:00 Arrival in Elista.
Memorial to the victims of political repression The exodus and return of the work of Nobel Prize winner Ernst Neizvestny. The Stupa of Enlightenment is a traditional place of pilgrimage for Buddhists all over the world, a place of strength and inspiration, a place of fulfillment of desires.
13:00-14:00 Lunch at a cafe in the city.
14:00-17:00 Visit to the new Central Buddhist Hurula of Kalmykia with a 9 m high Buddha statue. Museum of the History of Buddhism. The museum is a Unique Kalmykia. Walking tour of the city center – Golden Gate, inspection of sculptural compositions created at the international Biennale of sculptors The Great Silk Road and Man and Nature through the eyes of the East
17:00 Free time to buy souvenirs.
17:30 Gathering of the group and departure to Astrakhan.
22:30 Arrival in Astrakhan, transfer to the hotel.

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Day 3 - Astrakhan Opera and Ballet Theatre. The center of Kazakh culture. Completion of the tour
Breakfast at the hotel (buffet). Room release (items are placed on the bus or remain in the luggage room at the hotel)
09:15 Meeting with the guide.
09:30-10:30 Excursion to the Astrakhan Opera and Ballet Theater, which has become a new brand of the region in a few years.
And the secret is not only in the quality of the performances. The theater building itself, presented to Astrakhan by the federal center for the 450th anniversary, attracts and impresses. He is proudly shown to guests, tourists are led to him, newlyweds are photographed against his background, his image appeared on Astrakhan souvenirs. You have an amazing opportunity to see all the beauty from the inside and get acquainted with the interesting history of the theater.
As part of the tour, you can get acquainted with the history of construction and architectural features of the building, visit the spacious halls of the theater, as well as see specially organized exhibitions and photo zones.
On each floor of the Opera and Ballet Theater there are art spaces, galleries with paintings, exhibitions, and the Old Astrakhan exposition. Accompanied by a guide, you will visit these unique places, as well as look into the theater living room.
10:30 Departure for an excursion to the Kurmangazy Sagyrbayev Center of Kazakh Culture.
The mausoleum and museum complex of the legendary Kazakh poet Kurmangazy Sagyrbayev is located 70 kilometers from Astrakhan on the territory of the village of Altynzhar. It is a unique cultural monument of the Kazakh people. We will go to the burial place of the poet, to the village of Altynzhar, where we will visit the Kurmangazy museum complex, learn a lot about the history and culture of the Kazakh people, admire the beauty of the Astrakhan deserts and visit the mausoleum of the great akyn.
12:00 Arrival in Altynzhar village.
12:00-14:00 Visit to the mausoleum of Kurmangazy Sagyrbayev.
The mausoleum was erected 100 years after the death of the great composer on the site of his grave. Meeting guests according to the traditions of the two peoples, visiting the museum of the great akyn. The Kurmangazy Museum is a combination of three stone buildings, stylized as large white yurts under the blue sky of Altynzhar.
An interactive production of One day in the life of a yurt – A musical and ethnographic program, a photo shoot in national Kazakh costumes (for those who wish for an additional fee.a fee of 200 rubles per person).
14:00 Departure to Astrakhan.
15:30 Arrival in Astrakhan, visit to the Astrakhan fish market (optional).
16:30 Transfer to the airport.
17:00 Arrival at the airport.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

2 nights

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

The tour provides accommodation in a selected hotel in Astrakhan in double rooms of the standard category.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the accommodation, RUB.:

Hotel	2-local	1-local
Volga-Volga 3* (continental breakfast)	21 600	24 400
Cosmos 4* (breakfast buffet)	24 100	26 900
Azimut 3* (breakfast buffet)	26 400	31 400

The cost of an additional day and an additional payment for early check-in, RUB.:

	Volga-Volga 3*	"Cosmos" 4*	"Azimuth" 3*
Additional payment for early check-in at the 2nd placement	750	1315	1875
Early check-in surcharge for 1st placement	1375	2000	3125
Additional payment per night for 2nd occupancy	1375	2625	3750
Additional payment per night for 1st placement	2750	4000	6520

Earlier check-in at the hotels after 7:00.

Additionally, on the first day of the tour, you can order breakfast at the hotels.

For tourists arriving in Astrakhan earlier or departing later than the tour dates, the service of booking an additional night's stay is provided.

Check—out time in hotels: check-in after 14:00, room check—out before 12:00.

Volga-Volga 3*

The Volga-Volga Hotel Complex is located in the historical city of Astrakhan, in the Volga Delta. It offers a sauna, free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk and a restaurant.

The rooms of the complex are decorated in an elegant style. They are equipped with air conditioning, a TV, a telephone and a refrigerator. The private bathrooms are equipped with a hairdryer.

The Volga-Volga Complex's restaurant serves European cuisine.

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Another option

"Cosmos" 4*

This hotel is located in the center of Astrakhan, next to the main railway station and bus station. It offers modern rooms with flat-screen TVs and soundproof windows. Free parking is available. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.

The rooms at the Cosmos Astrakhan Hotel are decorated in bright colors. They are equipped with air conditioning and a work desk. Each room is equipped with toiletries, a hairdryer and a free bottle of mineral water.

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Another option

"Azimuth" 3*

Azimut Astrakhan Hotel is located on the banks of the Volga River. It offers comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi and satellite TV. The historical center of Astrakhan is just a 5-minute walk away.

All rooms at the Astrakhan Azimut Hotel have a refrigerator and a private bathroom. Some rooms offer views of the Volga River and the Astrakhan Kremlin.

A buffet breakfast with local and international dishes is served every morning in the Azimut's restaurant. Coffee and tea are served in the cozy lobby of SMART Living. Delicious snacks can be purchased at the Grab&Go counter.