Kalmyk New Year

17 more

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

Contact the tour coordinator

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

Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

Gastronomic master class

We will acquire the skills of cooking basic Kalmyk dishes and have a delicious dinner

Kalmyk Theatre

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

The life of nomads

Let's learn how to shoot a bow and take a picture in national costumes

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.
Visiting souvenir shops.
19:00-22:00 Dinner at one of the best meat restaurants "Gourmet", where you can taste delicious grilled meat: veal, lamb, camel, pork.
A variety of combo sets of national dishes will delight true connoisseurs of authentic tastes.
Alcoholic beverages are not included in the price.
Free time.

3 more photos
Day 2 - Hurul "The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha". Museum of Nomadic Peoples. A master class. City Chess
07:30- 08:30 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 Excursion to the Museum of Nomadic Peoples – the history of nomadic Kalmyks, archery, photographing in national costumes.
Master class on writing the old Kalmyk vertical script "Todo-Bichg.
Clear writing.
The precious heritage of the ancestors, the history of its creation, as a gift, the spelling of the participant's name on the Todo Beach.
16:00-17:00 City Chess Walk.
17:00 Return to the hotel, free time. independent dinner

5 more photos
Day 3 - The Geden Sheddup Choi Korling Khurul complex. Workshop of the Kalmyk folk artist. Gastronomic master class
07:30-09:30 Breakfast.
Check-out at 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.
16:00-19:00 Gastronomic master class, in which you will acquire the skills of cooking basic Kalmyk dishes, and we will have dinner with the same dishes.
19:30 Return to the hotel, free time.

4 more photos
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.
After visiting the performance of the Kalmyk theater, the guest 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. independent dinner.

4 more photos
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, take a look at modern exhibits of paintings, graphics and sculptures.
There is a hall where there is a collection of gifts from the first President of the Republic of Kalmykia, FIDE President K.N. Ilyumzhinov.
12:30 The end of the tour.
Gifts to the guests from the organizer.
Farewell.

3 more photos

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

or

Hotel, Guest House

3 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 (adults and children over 6 years old)	1-local standard
Hotel "Marco Polo" 4*, hotel "EliSun Hotel"	60 000	86 600
Nomad Hotel 3*	55 900	82 200
Central Guest House	for check-in / 2-bed / 3-bed accommodation
Central Guest House	43 500

The Marco Polo Hotel

Marco Polo Hotel features a shared lounge and a terrace. It offers a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and free Wi-Fi. Room service is available. Free private parking is available on site. Each room is equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a refrigerator, a kettle, a shower, a hairdryer and a wardrobe. Breakfast is a buffet.

3 more photos

Another option

The Nomad Hotel

New hotel, launch year 2022.

It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Central Hurul "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha".

Accommodation in a standard 2-bed room, continental breakfast, WiFi, the hotel is fully equipped.

There is a possibility of accommodation in eco-houses such as campsites (one-room! A frame type house) if desired.

2 more photos

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.

1 more photo

Another option

The EliSun Hotel

The EliSun Hotel is located in the central part of the city, but away from the noise. It is within walking distance from the main square of the city, the Seven Days Pagoda cultural complex and 1.3 km from the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha. The National Museum and Druzhba Park are 1.5 km away. The distance from the railway station is 2.8 kilometers, and the airport is 12 kilometers away.

Guests are offered accommodation in standard, Deluxe, and family suites.

The rooms have comfortable beds, a set of furniture, Wi-Fi, TV, air conditioning, bottled water, slippers, towels, bed linen, bathroom with shower.

It offers comfortable rooms, parking, and a 24-hour reception desk.

Tour conditions

Group

From 6 to 16 tourists

Minimum age

9 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, dinner;
- Day 2: breakfast, lunch;
- Day 3: breakfast, lunch, dinner;
- 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;
alcoholic beverages.

It's important to know

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

Dates and Prices

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

$600

3 – 7 Jan, 2027 5 days 4 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now

Reviews Leave a review

No reviews yet

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

Similar tours