Three in one: steppes, mountains and the sea. Travel from Kalmykia to Dagestan

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This tour will give you a rare opportunity to see three completely different natural landscapes in a short time. Get ready for a rich and fascinating journey in which different cultures and two religions are intertwined: Buddhism and Islam.

In Kalmykia, you will be greeted by endless steppes and rich traditions of the Kalmyk people. Visit ethnographic museums and national reserves, enjoy the majestic silence while admiring the sunsets over the steppes, and taste traditional Kalmyk cuisine.

Next, you will find yourself in Dagestan near the shores of the Caspian Sea. Take a walk along the picturesque embankments, plunge into the warm waters and enjoy seafood dishes in local cafes. The majestic beauty of the Caucasus Mountains awaits you: canyons, gorges and ancient villages with their unique architecture and culture.

Location

Republic of Kalmykia, Elista

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

Nomadic culture

Get to know the traditional activities, folklore and cuisine of nomadic peoples

Ancient city

You will visit Derbent, one of the oldest cities in Russia

Boat trip

Take a ride with the breeze and admire the picturesque rocky shores of the Sulak River

Caves and canyons

You will be impressed by the beauty of Dagestan's landscapes: Sulak Canyon, Karadakh gorge and Nokho caves

Two religions

Get to know Buddhism and Islam better: visit huruli and mosques, and hear a lot of interesting things from the history of these world religions

The Song of the Sands

Walk through the amazing desert areas and hear the songs of the dunes of Kalmykia and Dagestan

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival. A walk through the historical part of Elista
14:50-15:20 Meeting at the airport of Elista.
15:20-16:30 Transfer to the selected hotel, check-in.
16:30-17:30 Walk through the central historical part of 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. Make a wish, walk around it three times, and it will definitely come true!
17:30-18:30 Dinner.
Free time.

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Day 2 - Lonely poplar, Central Khurul, workshop of the Kalmyk artist
08:00-09:30 Breakfast.
09:30-12:00 Excursion to the steppe to the place of power — a lonely poplar 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. Nearby there is an open source with medicinal properties, which were first described by the doctor S.R. Zalkind.
12:00-13:30 Guided tour of the Geden Sheddup Choi Korling Resort.
Hurul "Shakyusn-Xume" is a Buddhist temple of the hurul complex "Geden Sheddup Choi Korling", located in the suburb 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-Syume" hurul was erected on this site.
In 2004, the Dalai Lama visited Kalmykia and Elista for the third time, in order to hold the radne ceremony, after which hurul rightfully became a real abode of deities.
13:30-15:00 Lunch.
15:00-16:30 Excursion to the hurule "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha" with an expert guide on Buddhism.
The Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha" (kalm. Burkhn Bagshin altn syume) 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 "Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni", the first, the main object in size and importance that attracts the eyes of any person is the figure of Buddha Shakyamuni. The height of the statue is 9 meters.
16:30-17:15 Excursion "Acquaintance with Buddhist painting". Meeting in the workshop of the Kalmyk national artist, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts, art critic Alexander Povaev.
17:15-18:30 Independent dinner.
Free time.

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Day 3 - National Museum, Museum of Nomadic Peoples, Stupa of Enlightenment and memorial "Exodus and Return"
08:00-09:00 Breakfast.
09:00-10:30 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 painting, graphics and sculpture. There is a hall where the collection of gifts of the first President of the Republic of Kalmykia, FIDE President K.N. Ilyumzhinov is located.
10:30-12:00 Excursion to the Museum of Nomadic Peoples — the history of the life of nomadic Kalmyks, photographing in national costumes.
12:00-13:00 Visit to the Stupa of Enlightenment and the memorial "Exodus and Return".
13:00-14:00 Lunch.
14:00-15:30 Free time or a visit to the "Camel Island" for an additional fee (800 rubles).
Rest at the hotel.

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Day 4 - "Bumba Country", Pink lake, singing dunes and a burning spring
07:30-08:30 Breakfast.
Check out of the hotel.
08:30-10:30 Transfer to the village of Adyk.
10:30-13:30 Visit to the excursion "Adyk — Bumba Country".
The tourist complex "Bumba Country" — acquaintance with the life of nomadic Kalmyks, master classes in Kalmyk puzzles, lasso throwing, photographing in national costumes.
Excursion to the Pink Lake — microscopic crustaceans Artemia salina 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.
A 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!
13:30-19:30 Transfer to Zelenomorsk village.
19:30-20:30 Dinner.
Check-in at the hotel
Day 5 - Free time and sightseeing tour of Derbent
07:30-08:30 Breakfast.
08:30-12:30 Free time / relaxing on the beach, swimming in the sea.
12:30-14:30 Transfer for a tour of Derbent.
14:30-15:00 Lunch.
15:00-17:30 Sightseeing tour of Derbent:
Naryn-Kala Fortress (UNESCO World Heritage Site);
Juma mosque.
The oldest mosque in the CIS is a federal architectural monument.
20:00 Return to the campsite.
Supper.
Free time.
Day 6 - Sarykum barkhan, Sulak Canyon and Chirkeyskoye reservoir, Nokhyo caves
07:20-08:00 Breakfast.
Departure from the campsite.
09:00-10:00 Visit to Sarykum dune.
Sarykum is the largest dune in Europe and is located on the territory of the Dagestan Nature Reserve. The filming of the film "White Sun of the Desert", recognizable from the first frame of the masterpiece of Soviet cinema, took place on the site of the dune.
10:30-13:00 Boat trip.
13:30-14:00 Lunch on the banks of the Sulak River.
14:00-15:00 Visit to Nohyo Cave.
The recently opened complex of mountain caves is another bright point of our route.
This complex of exploration tunnels was laid back in the 70s of the 20th century, but they remained abandoned for the last 30 years before their restoration.
Here you can walk over a suspension bridge installed at a height of 60 meters and connecting two caves on different banks of the Sulak River.
15:30-16:00 Visit to the observation deck of the Sulak Canyon.
16:30-17:00 Chirkeyskoe reservoir, observation deck.
17:00-19:30 Transfer to Chalda village.
19:30-20:00 Check-in at the hotel.
Free time.
20:00 Dinner.

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Day 7 - Visit to Karadakh gorge, Datun temple, Goor village
07:30-08:15 Breakfast.
Check out of the hotel.
08:45-09:50 Visit to the Karadakh gorge.
This gorge is a natural monument formed due to erosion — erosion of limestone rock by water flows. The gorge reaches a height of 170 meters and a maximum width of 5 meters.
11:15-11:45 Excursion to Datong Temple.
The Datun Temple is a medieval Christian church built by Georgian missionaries in the late X — early XI centuries.
13:00-14:00 Lunch.
14:00-15:30 Visit to the "Land of Towers" — the village of Goor.
The ancient village is located on the very edge of a steep precipice, once there were 7 stone towers in this place, serving to defend the village from raids.
At the moment, tourists can see the ruins of ancient houses and 3 preserved towers, whose height reaches 15-20 meters.
15:45-19:00 Transfer to Makhachkala.
The end of the program.

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