Treasures of the southern steppes. Sightseeing tour to Kalmykia

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We invite you to an exciting journey through Kalmykia!

During this tour, we will get acquainted with the culture and history of the Kalmyk people. You will see with your own eyes a Buddhist republic unlike any other region in Russia.

And you will also find steppe salt lakes and dunes, traditional cuisine and the most interesting museums and religious centers of Kalmykia!

Location

Russia, Volgograd

Sightseeing tours

from

US$ 636

Contact the tour coordinator

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

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Tour highlights

Culture of nomadic peoples

Let's get acquainted with the life and traditions of the Kalmyks visiting a family of nomads

Monument "Lonely Poplar"

We will be told the legend of this place and we will find out why it became a Buddhist shrine

Central Khurul of Kalmykia

We will see the famous Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha and the Seven Days Pagoda

Shamanic ritual

An ancient rite of offering to heaven, earth and the spirits of the area will be held especially for us

Blooming steppes

Let's admire the landscapes of the blooming steppe and enjoy the magnificent aromas of various grasses

Wonders of the protected Kalmykia

In the Black Lands nature reserves we will see pink lakes and a burning spring, we will hear singing dunes

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Kalmykia. Getting to know Elista
The journey begins in Elista, where you get to by our transfer from Volgograd (recommended flight to Volgograd with arrival at 8:40).
Meeting in the lobby of the hotel in Elista.
Lunch at the cafe.
After that, you will go on a tour of the Kalmyk capital.
First, you will visit the Museum of Nomadic Peoples, where you will get acquainted with the life of Kalmyk nomads and take part in various master classes.
You will learn how traditional tea "Jomba" is prepared and what "Todo bichig" looks like — Old Kalmyk vertical writing. Learn how to knit a Kalmyk knot correctly and, if desired, you can take pictures in national costumes.
Elista is one of the largest centers of Buddhism in Russia. You will visit the Central Khurul of Kalmykia — the "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha".
After that, you will go to the steppe, to the border of two geomorphological zones: the Kumo-Manych depression and the Ergeninsky hills.
Here you will visit the Lone Poplar natural monument with a healing spring, hear the legend of this place and find out why it became a Buddhist shrine.
Back in the city, you will have dinner at the restaurant and relax at the hotel.

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Day 2 - Blooming steppe and Lake Manych-Gudilo
After breakfast, you will have a trip to Lake Manych-Gudilo.
Along the way, you will make stops to admire the landscapes of the blooming steppe and enjoy the magnificent aromas of various grasses.
You will see purple fields of musk mallow and sage, yellow astrogal thickets, various types of tumbleweeds and flowering belvalia Sarmatian - a plant listed in the Red Book of Russia.
Lunch in the form of a mini-picnic with Kalmyk dishes will be organized right in the steppe, you will be told about the peculiarities of the national cuisine of nomadic peoples.
Also, if desired, you can watch birds with professional binoculars.
In the vicinity of Lake Manych-Gudilo there are terns, steppe eagles, strepets, beautiful cranes, and various types of seagulls.
One of the islands of the lake is home to Europe's only breeding colony of pink and crested pelicans. If you are lucky, you will be able to see these rare birds.
In the evening, you will return to Elista and have dinner at a cafe.
After that, you will have a guided walk through the evening city.
You will visit the Seven Days pagoda, where the largest prayer drum in Europe is installed — "kurde" with 75 million mantras.
You will see the statues of Shakyamuni Buddha and the Golden Gate.
Then return to the hotel and relax.
The length of the route is about 200 km.

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Day 3 - "Singing" dunes, nomads and pink lakes
In the morning, after breakfast, you will go back to the steppe to visit a nomad family.
They came to the Kalmyk lands from Mongolia, live in yurts in the middle of the steppe and breed camels.
You will learn how their everyday life goes, what are the similarities and differences between the way of life of nomadic Kalmyks and Mongols, and try dishes of national cuisine.
If desired, you will ride a camel, take part in a camel milking master class and will be able to taste fresh camel milk.
Then you will go to explore the unique natural attractions of Kalmykia.
On the way, you will stop for lunch at a cafe.
After that, you will have a walk through the desert with "singing dunes" and along the shore of the salty Mekleti lakes.
Migrating birds brought a small pink crustacean into the lakes, which bred here, and therefore now the water in them seems pink. In addition to staining water, this crustacean is involved in the formation of therapeutic mud, which is used in cosmetology and the treatment of skin diseases.
In ancient times, there were camps of various nomadic peoples along the shores of the lakes. Fragments of ancient clay vessels and arrowheads belonging to the pit, Catacomb, Sarmatian and Scythian cultures can still be found on the hillsides.
After a walk along the shore of the pink lakes, you will go to the spring, where you will take part in the ritual of igniting the "burning spring".
In the evening you will arrive in the village of Adyk, where you will have dinner in a yurt with dishes of national cuisine.
After that, you will be taken back to the hotel in Elista.
The length of the route is 200 km.

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Day 4 - Meeting with the shaman and returning home
Today you will have an early breakfast and a morning trip to the steppe.
Here you will meet with a descendant of a shaman, who will conduct an ancient rite of offering to heaven, earth and the spirits of the area especially for you.
You need to have a stone of natural origin with you, which you can either bring from home or find while traveling in the previous days.
The ceremony will end with an offering of gifts to each guest from the shaman.
Then you will return to Elista and pick up your things from the hotel.
Before you are taken to the airport for your departure flight, you will make a farewell stop in the spacious steppe and will be able to have lunch at a roadside cafe.
To return to Moscow, choose a flight departing from Volgograd at 17:45.

Difficulty

For any person

Accommodation

Hotel

3 nights

Comfort

Upscale

The tour includes accommodation at the Marco Polo Hotel in Elista, double occupancy.

Offering free Wi-Fi, a terrace and a shared lounge, Marco Polo Hotel is located in Elista. It offers a 24-hour front desk and a restaurant. Room service is available at the hotel.

The air-conditioned rooms feature a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a wardrobe, a refrigerator, a kettle and a shower. Towels and bed linen are provided in all rooms.

A buffet breakfast or a full English/Irish breakfast is served in the morning at the Marco Polo Hotel.