Lotuses in Europe. Astrakhan – Elista

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In late summer and early autumn, the sacred Lotus blooms – we invite you to contemplate this incredible natural phenomenon!

Then you will see the holy places for every Buddhist — Hurul, personally consecrated by the Dalai Lama XIV, sacred Stupas and the largest Buddhist temple in Europe — the "Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni".

And also only in Kalmykia you will be able to appreciate the taste of real mutton, which is served at the tables of Arab sheikhs, and taste other unusual dishes of nomadic cuisine.

Location

Astrakhan

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

Lotus fields

Let's inhale the delicate aroma of this delicate plant and swim in the Volga Delta

Fish pleasure

Let's try the most delicious fish soup from freshly caught fish

Burning source

We will visit the springs with water that can be set on fire

The endless steppe horizon

Let's get acquainted with the life of the nomadic Kalmyks, shoot arrows and see a stunning sunset

Singing dunes

We will visit a real desert, where in dry weather the sands of the dunes emit a sound similar to the melody of an organ

Immersion in Buddhism

We will explore the "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha" together with an expert guide on Buddhism

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Astrakhan. Vacation at the campsite
08:00-09:00 Gathering of guests.
09:00-11:30 Transfer to the campsite.
11:00-13:30 Arrival at the campsite.
During your stay at the campsite, guests will be offered: meals (fish soup made from freshly caught fish), swimming in the Volga Delta, a long walk through the lotus fields, a coffee break, swimming in the pools of the campsite, walks in the protected area (included in the price).
13:30-14:30 Hearty lunch with local products (ear, salad of seasonal vegetables, watermelons, second course).
14:30-18:00 Rest at the campsite.
18:00-22:00 Dinner, free time, rest.

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Day 2 - Guided tour of the Mekletinsky Nature Reserve
07:30-08:30 Breakfast at the campsite.
08:30-09:00 Gathering at the campsite and departure to Kalmykia.
13:45-14:45 Lunch on the way (on your own).
15:30-19:00 Guided tour of the Mekletinsky Nature Reserve.
Excursion to the Pink Lake — microscopic Artemia salina crustaceans live in the water of this lake, which give the lake such an unusual color.
The mud of the Pink Lake is used in the treatment of skin diseases and the production of cosmetics.
Guided tour of the "Singing Dunes".
Kalmykia has a real desert with typical flora and fauna — lizards, snakes, exotic birds.
In dry weather, the sands of the dunes emit a sound similar to the melody of an organ. In ancient times, there were camps of various nomadic peoples here.
Ancient artifacts of the Sarmatian, Yamskaya and Scythian cultures can still be found on the blown-out hillsides.
Excursion to the "Burning Spring".
Not far from the singing dunes there are springs with water that can be set on fire, and it will burn! Along the way, you may encounter ancient antelopes, the same age as mammoths — steppe saigas.
The tourist complex "Country of Bumba" — acquaintance with the life of nomadic Kalmyks, master classes in Kalmyk puzzles, lasso throwing, photographing in national costumes.
20:30 Arrival in Elista, check-in at the hotel.

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Day 3 - A lonely poplar tree. Hurul complex "Geden Sheddup Choi Korling" and hurul "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha"
08:00- 09:00 Breakfast.
09:30-12:00 Excursion to the steppe to the place of power — A lonely poplar tree with a cascade of springs.
This relict tree is a place of worship and a natural monument. It is a sacred place where various Buddhist rituals and prayer services are performed.
8 Buddhist stupas have been erected around the poplar tree. Nearby there is an open source with healing properties, which were first described by the doctor S.R. Zalkind.
12:00-13:30 Guided tour of the Heden 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.
13:30-15:00 Lunch (on your own).
15:00-16:30 Guided tour of the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha in Hurula.
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.
16:30 Transfer to the hotel. Free time.

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Day 4 - The National Museum named after N. Palmov. "Khan's hunt". Gastronomic master class
08:00-09:00 Breakfast.
09:30-10:00 Walk through the City Chess, visit the Stupa of Enlightenment.
10:00-11:00 Visit to the Museum of the Gallery of Artists of Kalmykia.
11:00-13:00 Visit to the N. N. Palmov National Museum of Local Lore.
13:00-14:30 Lunch (on your own).
14:30-16:30 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.
16:30 Transfer to the hotel. Free time.

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Day 5 - Departure
07:30-09:30 Breakfast.
09:30-11:30 Walking around the city, visiting souvenir shops.
11:30-12:00 Departure from the hotel.
12:00-13:30 Lunch (on your own).
13:30 Transfer to Astrakhan airport (departure from Elista airport is possible).

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

or

or

Hotel, Camp Site, Guest House

3 nights
Camp Site

1 night

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale
Premium

The tour provides accommodation at a campsite located on the banks of the Volga River (determined on the eve of the tour by availability) and in a hotel/guest house or glamping in Elista to choose from.

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
The Marco Polo Hotel 4*	64 000	—
Hotels "Nomad", "White Lotus", "Elista"	51 200	76 100
Guest house	48 000	53 600