Blooming steppes of Kalmykia

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The unique tourist route to Kalmykia via Rostov-on-Don is a real treasure among the offers for travelers in Russia, the emotions of the trip will stay with you for a long time.

You will find the history of the Don Cossacks, and the original Kalmykia, where there are memorable places reminiscent of the culture of nomadic peoples, and an incredible Lonely Poplar, and local steppes, against which the best photos are obtained. Join us!

Location

Russia, Moscow

from

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Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

Blooming steppe expanses

We will make stops in the fields with wild tulips for amazing photos

Delicious hospitality

In Rostov-on-Don, we will be greeted with a glass of moonshine and salsa, and in Elista with exotic Kalmyk tea and bortsokami

The largest Buddhist temple in Europe

We will visit the "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha", which houses the largest 9-meter Buddha statue in Russia and Europe

Itinerary

Day 1 - Departure from Moscow
Self-boarding tourist train No. 928 (carriage number, seats will be indicated in the voucher).
18:40 Departure of the tourist train No. 928 from the Kazan railway station in Moscow.
Rest on the train.

1 more photo
Day 2 - Rostov-on-Don
Breakfast on the train.
10:28 Arrival of the train at the railway station in Rostov-on-Don.
Meeting with the guide on the platform, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated in your voucher).
Sightseeing bus and walking tour of the glorious merchant city, the capital of the Don land – Rostov-on-Don!
During the tour you will get acquainted with the history of Rostov-on-Don, culture, modern appearance, and see the main sights of the city.
Next, we will visit the Don Cossack Guard Cultural and Exhibition center, the only one in Russia.
Here you will see a unique private collection, which was collected by Rostov resident Nikolai Novikov for 25 years: documents, uniforms of Cossack units, household items, weapons and equipment.
And then we will go to lunch at the famous Levberdon in the restaurant "Cossack Kuren". An authentic restaurant of real Don cuisine. A welcome glass of moonshine and a salzo with black bread awaits guests.
The restaurant has access to the river, after lunch you can walk to the Don, admire the views of Rostov from the opposite bank of the river, take colorful photos.
Free time in the city center for a walk along the Rostov embankment.
Transfer to Rostov-on-Don railway station.
18:59 Departure of the tourist train to Elista.

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Day 3 - Elista
Breakfast on the train.
08:50 Arrival of tourist train No. 928 in Elista.
Meeting with the guide on the platform, boarding the bus (the bus number is indicated in your voucher).
Kalmykia is a small republic in the south of the country with a distinctive culture and people, the only one in Europe professing Buddhism. Blooming steppe expanses, ancient burial mounds and the largest Buddhist temple in Europe, a unique tulip festival — all this is waiting for you today.
Transfer to the Lone Poplar natural monument (~20 km, ~40 min on the way).
A natural monument of local importance "Lonely poplar" — this poplar is considered a sacred tree by Kalmyks Buddhists. Every year, monks from the Central Khurul perform a large prayer service here. One of the 10 in the world, the only Kalachakra Stupa of Green Tara in Russia, is installed here.
On the way we will see the steppe (with a stop for a photo shoot)!
The steppe in spring is a unique phenomenon, because only during this period of the year it can be called picturesque. Blooming steppe – hundreds of different colors, all shades of the natural palette with which God painted the landscape called "Planet Earth".
A meeting at a Lonely Poplar with Kalmyk tea and wrestlers, Kalmyk songs from the soloists of the Zulturgan ensemble.
Visit to the ethno-haughton "Ceren". The excursion program "Holiday in the Kalmyk hoton", where you will meet guests according to Kalmyk customs with a long song and dances, get acquainted with the musical culture of the Kalmyk and Mongolian peoples, a photo shoot in national costumes, tasting of national drinks Chigyan, dairy araki, Kalmyk tea with borziki and camel and horse riding.
Return to Elista.
Walking tour of the center of Elista (duration ~1 hour). We invite you to see the "Pagoda of Seven Days", the prayer drum, the golden light and musical fountain "Three Lotuses", the Statue "Buddha Shakyamuni", which is the only statue of Buddha in Russia installed outside the Buddhist hurul.
Lunch in a cafe in the city (menu of Kalmyk national cuisine).
National cuisine is, in a sense, the soul of the people, a reflection of their character, moods, feelings. Kalmyk cuisine bears the imprint of the nomadic pastoral life of the Kalmyks.
Visit to the Central Hurul "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha". The hurula building is 63 meters high and houses the largest 9-meter Buddha statue in Russia and Europe.
The largest Buddhist temple in Europe stands in the center of Elista, the capital of Kalmykia. The temple impresses with its grandeur and beauty. The Buddhist temple was inaugurated in the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia on December 27, 2005 after a visit to Elista by the spiritual leader of the Buddhists, His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV. And after visiting hurul, we will make a bark (clockwise detour) around hurul, making the most cherished wish!
Visiting the events of the Tulip Festival held at the city's venues
Elista.
Transfer to the railway station of Elista.
19:34 Departure of the tourist train from the railway station to Moscow.
Rest on the train.

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Day 4 - The road to Moscow
Breakfast on the train.
Rest on the train.
Day 5 - Return to Moscow
Breakfast on the train.
06:10 Arrival of the tourist train No. 928 at the Kazan railway station in Moscow.
The time in the program is indicated approximately.
The Company reserves the right to make changes to the tour program without reducing the total volume and quality of services, as well as to cancel the tour and/or offer alternative travel options in case of a shortage of the group and cancellation/replacement of rolling stock.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Train

4 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale

The tour provides for travel in wagons of the selected category on the route Moscow – Rostov-on-Don – Elista – Moscow.

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

Carriage category	Compartment (there is 1 compartment left, seats near the WC)	sv (there are no seats)	SV 1-local (there are no seats)	Luxury (there are no seats)	Suite 1-bed (there are no seats)
For an adult	66530	97960	170000	127000	225000
For children from 0 to 9 years old inclusive (with a seat)	66000	97000	–	–	–
For children up to and including 4 years old (without a seat and breakfast)	23000	23000	–	–	–

Purchase of an additional seat in a 4-seater compartment – 30,600 rubles.

The tourist train includes comfortable luxury, CB, compartment and second-class carriages.

SUITE 6 compartment	1 upper shelf + 1 lower (unfolds, it turns out the analogy of a bed is slightly smaller than a 2-bedroom bed), bathrobes + slippers, 1 medium + 1 large towel. Personal amenities in the form of a WC with a sink. A soft corner sofa, there is a TV (you can use a USB stick or disks). There are only 12 people in the carriage
sv	2 lower shelves, 1 medium towel for 1 person, mini travel kit (toothbrush + toothpaste, slippers, refreshing napkin). Amenities per carriage. The maximum number of people in a carriage is 18
COMPARTMENT	2 lower and 2 upper shelves. Amenities per carriage. Mini travel kit (toothbrush+ toothpaste, slippers, refreshing napkin). The maximum number of people in a carriage is 36
Reserved seat	9 open-type compartments, 9 side seats. The maximum number of people in the car is 54 seats

Tour conditions

Group

up to 45 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

5 days 4 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Moscow

Included in price

travel in wagons of the selected category on the route Moscow – Rostov-on-Don – Elista – Moscow;
transportation and excursion services, including entrance tickets to the excursion facilities according to the program;
meals according to the program.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Moscow and back;
personal expenses;
purchase of an additional seat in the compartment – 30,600 rubles.;
meals not specified in the program.

It's important to know

Air and railway tickets are not included in the price of the tour. You can purchase them yourself or contact us for help.

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification

from
$646

4 – 8 Apr, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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