Places of power in Kalmykia. 7-day tour

If you are looking for amazing natural landscapes, ancient temples and places of power, then a trip to Kalmykia is perfect for you! 

During 7 days you will visit the most famous and mysterious places of the Republic of Kalmykia — Elista, the sacred mountain Shared, the oldest Buddhist temples, and also go to the Astrakhan region to Lake Baskunchak, where you can enjoy the peaceful nature and stunning views.

Do not miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the original culture of Kalmykia and discover new places full of mysteries and mysteries.

Location

Volgograd
from
$593
$507
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
7 Days
6 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • Dates for next season
    • 14 – 20 July, 2025
    • 1 – 7 September, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Hotel
    5 nights
  • Guest House
    1 night
Comfort
  • Basic+
  • Midscale
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for everyone
Group
Up to 15 people
Minimum age
7 years old
Group meet at
Volgograd
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

Ethnic immersion
We will see the central hurul "The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha" — the largest Buddhist temple in the Republic of Kalmykia and one of the largest in Europe
Places of power
We will visit the Stupas of Enlightenment, the oldest Buddhist temples, the Lonely poplar, the sacred mountain of Kalmyks — Shared
The amazing "Bumba Country"
Let's admire the pink Mekletinsky lakes, singing dunes, a burning spring
Bolshoe Bogdo Mountain
Let's go to a place sacred to the Kalmyk people, formed, according to legend, from a sacred stone brought by Kalmyks pilgrims from the distant Tien Shan mountains
Therapeutic salt lake Baskunchak
Let's breathe air with a high content of bromine and phytoncides, contributing to a rapid recovery from many diseases
Kalmyk cuisine
We will taste the nomad's lunch, get acquainted with the national dishes and traditions of the Kalmyk people

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Meeting in Volgograd. "Khlebnikov Field", the foot of the Green Container, "The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha"

    09:00 Meeting of tourists in Volgograd with a sign "Kalmykia. Places of power."

    Brunch at the Elite cafe in Volgograd is included in the price.

    09:30 Transfer to the city of Elista — 300 km.

    10:30 We stop at the Khlebnikov Field.

    Velimir Khlebnikov is a poet, novelist, founder of Russian futurism and the largest figure of Russian avant—garde. According to Roman Jacobson, he was the greatest world poet of the XX century.

    Velimir Khlebnikov's poetry is distinguished by its originality and originality, it contains neologisms that the author himself invented. His work is an interweaving of philosophical and mythological motifs. 

    The birthplace of the greatest of the poets of the Silver Age is the Kalmyk village of Malye Derbety. It was there (October 26, old style) that Viktor Khlebnikov (the real name of the writer) was born on November 9, 1885, and became the third child of Vladimir and Ekaterina Khlebnikov. 

    Father Vladimir Khlebnikov belonged to an ancient merchant family, was an ornithologist and forester, founded the first Astrakhan Nature Reserve in the Soviet Union. Thanks to him, Victor fell in love with nature and became interested in natural sciences.

    11:00 We continue the transfer to Elista — 200 km.

    13:00 The stop of the Green Container is a place of power.

    According to legend, far to the north there is a pure land inhabited by the gods — the country of Shambhala, which is not visible to the human eye.

    Once upon a time, the goddesses — Green Tara and White Tara — on their way from Shambhala to the land of Zu (Tibet) When they saw a beautiful place in the middle of the steppes, they went to the Dalai Lama's palace and descended onto the green earth. 

    Thunder rang, a rainbow flashed, and the goddesses descended to earth on silver thrones. Where they set foot on the ground, a spring of the purest water clogged, trees and flowers grew. When people saw this miracle, they called the Gelyung, who conducted the "ova tukhn" (the rite of consecration of the mound). An ova (stone structure) was built at the resting place of the goddesses in honor of this event.

    Since then, this area has been called Ovata, which means: "... a place where there is an Ova." To this day, as the legend says, the footprint of one of the goddesses has been preserved there: a deep sinkhole in the ground, which is beyond the control of time. On October 22, 2000, a Stupa of Enlightenment was built at this place with public donations.

    Visiting the Stupa of Enlightenment.

    Then we walk with the guests in the direction of the Green Container's footprint. Everyone should see this failure for themselves.

    If you are lucky enough to see the foot, then you have received the blessing of the Green Container.

    14:30 We continue the trip to Elista.

    15:30 Lunch is included in the price.

    16:30 Visit to the hurul "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha" — a place of power.

    The largest Buddhist temple in the Republic of Kalmykia, one of the largest Buddhist temples in Europe. 

    The temple houses a museum of Buddhist culture and history, as well as a library. 

    The area around Khurul is also very impressive: a fabulous garden with fountains, flowers, statues of great Buddhist teachers and prayer drums, which everyone can spin.

    18:00 Check-in at the hotel.

    Free evening.

    1 more photo
  • Day 2 - Elista. Syakyusn-Syume Temple, Lonely Poplar, Elista
  • Day 3 - Mount Shared, felting workshop
  • Day 4 - Oirat parking lot, "Bumba Country"
  • Day 5 - Lagan and Khosheut khuruli
  • Day 6 - Astrakhan and the Batu Barn
  • Day 7 - Big Bogdo Mountain. Baskunchak Lake. The end of the tour in Volgograd
Difficulty
Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Hotel
    5 nights
  • Guest House
    1 night
Comfort
  • Basic+
  • Midscale

The tour includes accommodation in a hotel in Elista and Astrakhan, guest houses 2*, 3* in the village. Adyk, Akhtubinsk/village The Lower Baskunchak.

The cost of a combined tour for 1 person, depending on the size of the group, RUB.:

Group sizeCost
5 people82 500
6 people73 800
8 people64 500
10 people59 000
12 people55 300
15 people52 200

The cost of an individual tour for 1 person, depending on the size of the group, RUB.:

Group sizeCost
2 people150 000
3 people112 000
4 people91 500

Check-out time in hotels is 12:00.

Elista Hotel 3* 3 nights

Elista Hotel is located in Elista, 600 m from the center of Elista. It offers a bar, private parking and a terrace. The hotel has a restaurant and a 24-hour front desk. Free Wi-Fi is available. Room service is available. Guests can enjoy drinks at the snack bar.

All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a desk, a refrigerator, a kettle, as well as a shower and free toiletries. Some rooms have a safety deposit box. Each room has a private bathroom and a wardrobe. All rooms at the Elista Hotel are equipped with towels and bed linen. There is no hairdryer in the rooms, but it can be requested at the reception.

A continental breakfast is served daily.

4 more photos
Hotel "Julia" 2*, Akhtubinsk 1 night
The hotel in the village Nizhny Baskunchak 1 night
Guest house / caravans in the village of Adyk or Hotel "Bonotel" 3*, Astrakhan or 1 night

Tour conditions

Group
up to 15 tourists
Minimum age
7 years old
Duration
7 days 6 nights
Group meets at
Volgograd

Included in price

  • accommodation in hotels and guest houses according to the program;
  • meals specified in the program;
  • tour service;
  • transfer according to the program.

Paid extra

  • air and railway tickets to Volgograd and back;
  • meals not specified in the tour program;
  • additional excursions;
  • personal expenses.

It's important to know

Personal equipment you need for the tour

The winds are always blowing in the steppes, so be sure to bring windproof clothes with you.

Do not forget to take sunscreen, the minimum protection is SPF 20-30, and possibly SPF 50, it all depends on your phototype.

In order to prevent a tick bite when traveling to the steppe, shoes should be closed and trousers tucked into socks.

Safety rules on the route
Is insurance included in the price of the tour?
Are plane tickets included in the price of the tour?
What do you need to know when visiting khurul?
What to try and buy in Kalmykia?
Are there any changes in the program?

Dates and Prices

  • from
    $507
    14 – 20 Jul, 2025 7 days 6 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • from
    $507
    1 – 7 Sep, 2025 7 days 6 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now