Tulips of Kalmykia

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Embark on a journey through the unknown and full of wonders of Kalmykia!

You will walk along the shore of the incredible Pink Lake, meet the sunset at the "Lonely Poplar", get acquainted with the traditions of the former nomadic people, their difficult history and unusual, but hearty and delicious cuisine. And you can even light water — create a burning artesian well with your own hands. But the most important highlight of this tour is the flowering of tulips – once a year, the hospitable Kalmyk land is covered with bright, colorful buds. Don't miss the opportunity to take amazing photos in the sea of tulips.

Location

Russia, Volgograd

Sightseeing tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

A sea of flowers

Let's have a mini picnic among blooming wild tulips and take fantastic pictures

Culture of nomadic peoples

Let's get acquainted with the way of life and traditions of Kalmyk nomads and learn the basics of making Kalmyk tea

Singing dunes

You will be able to hear this natural phenomenon for yourself – in dry weather, the sands emit a sound similar to the sound of an organ

Monument "Lonely Poplar"

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

The "burning" spring

You will take part in the ritual of igniting the "burning spring", a special kind of springs Kalmykia, which can be set on fire by holding a lighted match correctly.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Getting to know Elista
The tour starts in Elista, where you will get our transfer from Volgograd.
We recommend a flight arriving in Volgograd at 08:40.
14:00 – 14:30 Check-in at the Marco Polo Hotel.
15:00 Lunch at the Kalmykka cafe.
16:00 Excursion to the Museum of Nomadic Peoples.
You will learn the history of the Kalmyks' nomadism to the territory of modern Kalmykia, all about the life of the nomadic people, who occupied what place in the yurt and how they lived in it with large families.
A master class on making Kalmyk tea will be organized for you, you will get acquainted with the old Kalmyk Mongolian script "Todo bichig" and learn the basics of knitting a Kalmyk knot.
17:00 Transfer to the Lonely Poplar.
We will go to the steppe to the border of two geomorphological zones: the Kumo-Manych depression and the Ergeninsky hills, where we will visit the natural monument and the Buddhist shrine "Lonely Poplar" with healing springs.
A place that will not leave anyone indifferent.
An excursion, a walk through the place of power and watching the sunset.
18:30 Transfer to the city of Elista.
Dinner at the Kalmyk Cuisine restaurant.
The total length of the route is 350 km.

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Day 2 - Steppe tulips
9:00 am After breakfast, you will go to the steppe to admire the extraordinary landscapes of blooming wild tulips.
You will arrange a mini picnic in a field among flowers, take wonderful photos and selfies, and walk around a lot.
And then you will have a trip to the camel parking lot, where you can ride on the "ships of the desert" and hear stories about these animals.
After that, you will have a fascinating tour of the city center, where you will get acquainted with the sculpture of the "White Elder", and after passing through the "Golden Gate" visit the Pagoda of Seven Days.
In the evening, you will have dinner and return to the hotel.

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Day 3 - Singing dunes, a pink lake and a "burning" spring
In the morning you will have breakfast at the hotel, and after that you will go to the village of Adyk.
The tour route will take you through the desert with Singing dunes.
This natural phenomenon is famous for the fact that in dry weather, the sands emit a sound similar to the sound of an organ.
Then you will continue the route and go to the unique salty Mekletinsky lakes.
Migrating birds brought here a small pink crustacean, which bred in the lake, and therefore now the water in it 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.
Here you will take a walk and take impressive photos for memory.
In the evening, you will take part in the ritual of lighting the "burning spring", a special type of springs in Kalmykia, which can be set on fire by holding a lighted match correctly.

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Day 4 - Returning home
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, you will have an unforgettable tour of the interactive museum "Unique Kalmykia".
It is here that you will see the largest Kalmyk puzzles, the only "Rook of Life" in the world, listen to an interesting story about Tengrianism, and also be able to buy rare souvenirs and take photos in national costumes.
After visiting the museum, at 11:00 – 11:30 transfer to Volgograd airport for the recommended flight at 17:40.
On the way, you will stop at a cafe where you can order lunch yourself.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

3 nights

Comfort

Premium

The tour provides double accommodation at the Marco Polo Hotel in Elista.

The cost of the tour for 1 person:.

From April 18 to April 21 – 56,000 rubles.
From April 25 to April 28 – 58,000 rubles. because there will be accommodation in superior rooms.

The surcharge for single occupancy is 10,000 rubles/person.

Children under 12 years old receive a discount of 2000 rubles.

During the tour, you will stay at the Marco Polo Hotel in Elista. It offers a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and free Wi-Fi. Your room will have one double or two single beds, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a refrigerator, a kettle, and a bathroom with a shower cabin, a hairdryer and toiletries.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 12 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

4 days 3 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Volgograd

Included in price

accommodation according to the program;
breakfast, lunch and dinner (except lunch on the 4th day on the way to the airport);
transfer from Volgograd airport to Elista and back;
transportation services according to the program;
guide services;
camel riding (optional);
guided tours according to the program;
entrance tickets to sightseeing sites and eco-collections in protected areas;
the ethnic program.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Volgograd and back;
single accommodation along the route (+10,000 rubles/person);
personal expenses.

It's important to know

wind and moisture proof trousers and a hooded jacket;
rubber shoes for walking on the pink lake (summer time);
A long sleeve T-shirt;
light boots or sneakers;
an individual first aid kit;
repellents;
personal hygiene products.

Dates and Prices

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

from
$559

17 – 20 Apr, 2025 4 days 3 nights

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from
$579

24 – 27 Apr, 2025 4 days 3 nights

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No need to pay now