Big Country Travel: Trips to Russia, Adventure Tours & Vacation Packages

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

You will walk along the shore of an incredible Pink Lake, meet the sunset at the "Lonely Poplar", get acquainted with the traditions of the former nomadic people, their complicated history and unusual, but satisfying 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 a 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 at Elista, where you will get to on your own.
We recommend a flight arriving in Volgograd at 08:40 on the first day of the program (you need to get to Elista yourself) or a flight to Elista departing at 11:05.
14:50 Meeting at the airport of Elista.
15:00-15:30 Check-in at the hotel.
16:00 Lunch at the Kalmykka cafe.
16:45 Excursion to the Museum of Nomadic Peoples.
You will learn the history of the Kalmyks' nomadism in the territory of modern Kalmykia, everything about the life of the nomadic people, who occupied what place in the yurt, and how our ancestors 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.
17:30 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 (guided tour, sunset, walk through the place of power).
19:00 Transfer to Elista.
Dinner at the Kalmyk Cuisine restaurant.
The total length of the route is 350 km.

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Day 2 - Steppe tulips
09:00 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 campsite, where you can ride on "desert ships" 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 Seven Days Pagoda.
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.
10:30 a.m. After breakfast, you will have an unforgettable tour of the N.N. Palmov National Museum.
The museum, which was founded in 1921, will reveal to you the entire history of the Kalmyk people, which is represented by unique exhibits.
After visiting the museum, you will go to the hotel, where you can have lunch on your own.
A car will pick you up at approximately 13:00 and take you to the airport.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

3 nights

Comfort

Premium

The tour provides double accommodation in Elista:

from 3 to 6 April and from 17 to 20 April in the Kalmyk courtyard "Samsara";
From 10 to 13 April at the Marco Polo Hotel.

The cost of the tour for 1 person is 72,000 rubles.

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

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

The Marco Polo Hotel 4*

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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Another option

Kalmyk courtyard "Samsara"

We present you a unique opportunity to live in real yurts of the Kalmyk courtyard "Samsara".

Each yurt has everything necessary for living (equipped with a shower, sink and toilet, bed linen and bath accessories). Each yurt can comfortably accommodate 5 people if it is a family, or 4 if not. Double occupancy is possible.

The courtyard is a 15-minute drive from the center of Elista, and our driver will pick you up and take you back every day.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 4 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;
breakfasts, lunches and dinners (except lunch on the 4th day on the way to the airport);
airport transfer Elista to the hotel and back on day 4;
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

flights to and from Elista;
single room on 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;
individual first aid kit;
repellents;
personal hygiene products.

Dates and Prices

from
$817

3 – 6 Apr 4 days 3 nights

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from
$817

10 – 13 Apr 4 days 3 nights

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No need to pay now
from
$817

17 – 20 Apr 4 days 3 nights

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No need to pay now

Tulips of Kalmykia