Kalmyk New Year

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Did you know that the Kalmyks are the first to celebrate the New Year?

Go on a New Year's gastronomic trip with us! Taste the real cuisine of the nomads, enjoy the delicious lamb, marbled veal and many more different dishes of the Kalmyks New Year's table.

Walk through the streets of the capital of Kalmykia, visit the most interesting museums of the republic and get acquainted with the hospitable and original people!

Location

Republic of Kalmykia, Elista

Sightseeing tours

from

The price is valid until 28 Jun

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

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Tour highlights

Kalmyk Theatre

Let's join the Kalmyk art and get a lot of positive emotions from the performance

Nomadic traditions

We will learn the Old Kalmyk script and hear a story about a heroic epic.

Abodes of the gods

We will visit the main Buddhist shrines and temples.

Itinerary

Day 1 - A walk through Elista. Dinner at one of the best meat restaurants
15:00-15:30 Check-in at the hotel.
15:30-16:20 Lunch.
16:30-18:30 Elista City Tour.
Let's go for a walk around the city.
We will walk through the city center, through the Seven Days Pagoda, which is the hallmark of our capital.
It symbolizes the exit from samsara and the achievement of nirvana.
The largest prayer drum in Europe, the Kurde, is installed in the Pagoda, which is filled with 75 million mantras. After making a wish, walk around it three times, and it will definitely come true!
You will hear the music of the wind as you walk under the Golden Gate, decorated with 28 paintings by local artists.
The Kalmyk people have a tragic page in their lives – the deportation of 1943-1957.
We will visit the monument "Exodus and Return", dedicated to the victims of Stalinist repression, created by the outstanding contemporary sculptor Ernst Neizvestny.
Return to the hotel.
Free time.

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Day 2 - Hurul "The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha". Museum of Nomadic Peoples. A master class. City Chess
08:00-09:00 Breakfast.
09:00-13:00 Hurul "The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha".
Participation in a large morning prayer service.
Guided tour with an expert on Buddhism.
The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha" (Kalm. Burhn Bagshin Altn Siume is the largest Buddhist temple in Europe.
The entire architectural plan of the temple has the shape of a mandala.
The hurula building is surrounded by 17 pagodas with statues of the great Buddhist teachers of Nalanda Monastery.
In the prayer hall of the Central Hurul "The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha", the first, the main object in size and significance that attracts the eyes of any person is the figure of Shakyamuni Buddha.
The height of the statue is 9 meters.
13:00-14:00 Lunch at the national restaurant.
14:00-16:00 Master class on the Old Kalmyk script "Todo-bichig" (clear writing) and a story about the heroic epic "Dzhangar". The epic "Dzhangar" has been passed from mouth to mouth for centuries in song form by its performers, the jangarchi storytellers.
16:00-17:00 City Chess Walk.
17:00 Return to the hotel, free time.

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Day 3 - The Geden Sheddup Choy Korling school complex. Workshop of the Kalmyk national artist
07:30-09:30 Breakfast.
09:30-12:30 Guided tour of the Geden Sheddup Choy Korling Cultural Complex.
The Shakyusn-Xume Hurul is a Buddhist temple of the Geden Sheddup Choy Korling hurul complex, located in the suburbs of Elista.
This place was consecrated in 1992 by the Dalai Lama XIV himself during his second visit to Kalmykia, and four years later the Shakyusn-Xume hurul was erected on this site.
In 2004, the Dalai Lama visited Kalmykia and Elista for the third time, with the aim of holding the radne ceremony, after which Hurul rightfully became a real abode of deities.
13:00-14:00 Lunch.
14:00-15:30 Guided tour "Acquaintance with Buddhist painting".
Meeting in the workshop of Alexander Povaev, Kalmyk national artist, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts, art critic.
15:30 Return to the hotel, free time.

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Day 4 - The rite of "Prolonging life". Visit to the performance of the B. Basangov National Drama Theater
07:30-08:30 Breakfast.
09:00-12:00 Conducting a "Life Extension" ceremony by a Buddhist monk.
This ceremony requires a certain internal preparation of the participant himself, but do not be alarmed – there is no need to remember sins.
The main thing is to focus on those important goals that you would like to achieve in the coming year.
12:00-13:00 Visit to souvenir shops.
13:00-14:00 Lunch at the national restaurant.
18:00-20:00 Visit to the B. Basangov National Drama Theater.
Theater is not just an exciting and developing art form, but also an excellent antidepressant – a source of feelings, emotions and knowledge.
By visiting the performance of the Kalmyk theater, you will not only understand some of the features of the cultural code of the republic, but also receive a great charge of positive emotions that give rise to a feeling of joy, lightness and good mood for a long time!
20:30 Return to the hotel, free time.

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Day 5 - The National Museum named after N. Palmov. Departure
08:30-09:30 Breakfast.
09:30-10:30 Free time to prepare for departure from the hotel.
Check out of the hotel.
11:00-12:30 Excursion to the N. Palmov National Museum, which is the only museum where the history, culture and art of the Kalmyk people are most fully represented.
You will be able to get acquainted with the nature of Kalmykia, Buddhist art, see historical artifacts of the Oirats, and take a look at modern exhibits of paintings, graphics, and sculptures.
12:30 The end of the tour.
Gifts to the guests from the organizer.
Farewell.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

or

Hotel, Guest House

4 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation in a hotel/guest house or glamping.

The cost per 1 person, depending on the accommodation, rub.:

Living conditions	2-bed standard
The Marco Polo Hotel 4*	60 000
Nomad Hotel 3, Elista 3	55 900
Central Guest House	for check-in / 2-bed / 3-bed accommodation
Central Guest House	43 500

The Marco Polo Hotel

The cozy Marco Polo Hotel is located in Elista. It offers comfortable accommodation with amenities, free Wi-Fi and parking.

All categories are equipped with ergonomic furniture and appliances. Other amenities include bed linen, towels and personal hygiene products. The bathroom with shower and toilet is located in the room.

Breakfast is prepared and served every morning. At other times of the day, various dishes are prepared on request for an additional cost.

The Marco Polo Hotel has an excellent location and is popular with visiting guests. The area is popular for hiking and cycling, and bicycles can also be rented. A shuttle service is available on request.

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Another option

The Nomad Hotel

The NOMAD Hotel is located in the center of Elista. It offers a reception, free parking and Wi-Fi, and territory security.

The hotel offers 31 rooms with different categories. Each room has a bed, wardrobe, electric kettle, LCD TV, air conditioning.

The hotel has its own kitchen with various appliances for use. Grocery stores are located nearby.

The distance to the railway station is 1.8 km, to the airport — 7.4 km. Within walking distance of the Golden Buddha Monastery, parks.

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Another option

The Elista Hotel

A comfortable hotel in the center of Elista. It has on-site parking for cars, an ATM for cash withdrawal and free Wi-Fi for guests. The staff speaks two languages.

Various accommodation options are available for booking. The rooms are equipped with a refrigerator, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and a bathroom with all necessary accessories.

The possibility of ordering breakfast, which will be delivered to the room. The hotel has a bar and a restaurant with a wide selection of drinks and dishes. There are shops and supermarkets in the hotel itself and just a step away from it.

Nearby are the Friendship Park, the Alley of Heroes, the Eternal Flame, the monument to the Actor, the drama theater named after Basanov, the local hippodrome. The train station is 4.4 km away, and the nearest airport is 13 km away.

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Another option

Central Guest House

Top location, 3 minutes walk from the central historical part of the city, the guest house is new.

The bathroom is shared by 4 rooms, two showers and a sauna will soon appear in the neighboring building.

Excellent breakfasts, including excellent pancakes with veal, berig (Kalmyk dumplings) for breakfast, the owners are meat producers (they raise heifers and sheep), hence all the delights of breakfasts.

Very clean, comfortable and close to all shops, restaurants.

There are 2-bed and 3-bed rooms.

In addition, there is a veranda with a barbecue, you can arrange cozy gatherings in the courtyard of the house for your company, or for two.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 6 to 16 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

5 days 4 nights

Group meets at

Republic of Kalmykia, Elista

Included in price

transfers (according to the program);
meals according to the program:
- Day 1: lunch;
- Day 2: breakfast, lunch;
- Day 3: breakfast, lunch;
- Day 4: breakfast, lunch;
- Day 5: Breakfast;
accommodation in the specified accommodation facilities;
guide/accompanying services;
participation in all program events (entrance fees);
program activities;
master classes (according to the program).

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to/from Elista;
horseback riding (optional);
offerings in temples;
meals not included in the program: dinners, alcoholic beverages.

It's important to know

passport, insurance policy;
seasonal clothing and shoes;
personal medicines.

Dates and Prices

$684

$583

3 – 7 Jan, 2027 5 days 4 nights

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Kalmyk New Year

Location

Tour highlights

Itinerary

Accommodation

Tour conditions

Included in price

Paid extra

It's important to know

Dates and Prices

Reviews Leave a review

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