Tuva is mystically beautiful. The beauty of Tuva is unexpected: you never know what landscape you see or what experience you have the next moment. Impressions and emotions will change each other as you encounter Tuva's wild magnificent nature, fantastic incredible colours and centuries-old traditions of the people so different from you.
The nature of Tuva is imprinted forever in the culture of the peoples who live here: the freedom of steppe sounds in the Tuvan undertone singing, the roaring of the powerful Yenissei river is in the rumbling of a Buddhist monk prayer, and the unity of Nature and a human being is within the 
mysterious shaman’s rites.
mysterious shaman’s rites.Tuva is a special place on Earth. It is the land over which Time does not have any power. The Tuva experience cannot be defined by hours or days or months: being in Tuva means forgetting the previous existence, forgetting the fuss of life – and opening up to Nature and ancient traditions. You will never come back home the same person as you came to Tuva: you will feel more intensely, see sharper and live a fuller life.
Day 1
Arrive in Kyzyl (by flight from Moscow via Krasnoyarsk). Meet your guide in the airport. Transfer to the yurt (ger) complex Biy-Khem located in steppe on the shore of a river (25 km, 30 min). Settle in and have lunch. Time at leisure to rest or explore the scenic surroundings. We recommend walking up the hill over the yurt camp to enjoy the enchanting view over the whole Biy-Khem valley. Evening bonfire.
Dinner and night in the felt yurts (double-basis, shared shower cabins and WC).
Day 2
After breakfast, leave for a trip to to Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva. Walk along the embankment admiring the mountains on the opposite side of the river, and stop in the geographical Centre of Asia. Visit the Buddhist temple where you might attend to the sermon of a lama and dropped by the Shaman clinic to discuss with local shamans. Lunch in the city restaurant. In the afternoon visit the National Museum of Tuva hosting an outstanding collection of the Scythian gold and silver jewelries found at the burial mound Arjaan-2, walk around the city and return to Biy-Khem.Dinner with traditional dishes of Tuvan cuisine cooked specially for the guests. In the evening, you can enjoy the incredible performance of traditional undertone singing "khoomei" (optional – for extra-fee). Dinner and night in the felt yurts (double-basis, shared shower cabins and WC).
Day 3
After breakfast, check out. We will travel westwards - to the mineral spring (in tuvan – arjaan) Shiviling venerated by the locals (420km). In translation Arjaan means “saint water, mineral water, healing spring”. We will make a stop on the way next to the spectacular mountain Khajyrakan – one of the most worshipped by shamanists and Buddhists alike places in Tuva. In 1992 this site was consecrated by Dalay Lama XIV. Local shamans come to the mountain at least once a year to have energy, strengthen and purify their souls. Lunch as a picnic, in the company of "Seven Sisters" – hundred years old larch trees, growing from one root. Arrive at the Shiviling spring. Dinner cooked over fire and communication at the evening bonfire. Night in tents.
Day 4 Today the tour participants need to make a choice whether they would like to go for an active programme or day at leisure. We can either trek to Mongulek mountain (15 km) or stay at the spring enjoying its spectacular surroundings and bathing.
Lunch at the foot of the mountain not far from the ancient stones surrounding Scythian burial grounds. Return to the camp. Dinner, evening bonfire and night in tents.
Day 5
After breakfast, we depart in direction of Kyzyl (130 km). Stop on the way near Ustuu-Huree, the Buddhist temple, a unique building having no analogies within the former USSR. In 1930 it was closed, and in 1937 completely destroyed. In 1999 thanks to the people’s support and decision of the local authorities the restoration of the temple started. This idea was supported by local ethno- and rock-musicians, who organize annual festival in Chadan town, where all the gatherings go for charity for the temple reconstruction and lama (Buddhist monks) education. Lunch on the way. Continue the trip to Sayano-Shushenskoe water reservoir (100 km). Help make the tent camp. Dinner, evening bonfire, night in tents.
Day 6 After breakfast, head on to Kyzyl. Stop at Syyn-Churek (Maral’s heart). See the archeologists working at excavations and copying ancient rock paintings on paper. Walk up to the top of Syyn-Churek. Lunch as a picnic on the way.
Continue the trip and arrive at Biy-Khem yurt-comlex in late afternoon. Dinner and night in the felt yurts (double-basis, shared shower cabins and WC).
Day 7
Today is a free day for walks along the river and on the hills. In these places, you can often see Tuvans herding the cows, horses and sheep, or spot a camel. In the evening, you can attend shaman’s kamlaniye (optional – for extra fee). Kamlanie is a mystic performance, where shaman talks to the spirits, feeds the fire and performs the purification rite. Optional: banya (Russian steam sauna) in Kyzyl (for extra fee). Meals in the yurt complex and night in the felt yurts.
Day 8
After the breakfast we leave Biy Khem and head southwards, to the lake Chagithai - one of the largest (2860 ha) and deepest freshwater lakes in Tuva. The scenic Chagithai lake is located at the foothills of the mountain Tanny-Oola (1003 m). Explore the shore of the lake and the mountain, enjoy swimming and sunbathing. Dinner cooked over fire, night in tents.
Day 9
After breakfast, head on to the healing spring Argolik (45 km). Its waters contain no salt, but the locals believe in its healing powers.
Continue to the lake Douce-khol (Svatikovo, 140 km). Enjoy swimming in the lake and taking mineral mud baths. Return to the yurt’s complex Biy-Khem in the evening. Dinner and night in the felt yurts (double-basis, shared shower cabins and WC). Day 10
After breakfast, transfer to the airport. Departure by flight to Krasnoyarsk and further to Moscow/home.
In case of bad weather the standard program changes to include the following alternative program (this 3-days STANDARD BLOCK can be also booked for an extra-fee):
Day 1
After breakfast, leave in the south-western direction towards the settlement Tovu-Aksy (200 km). Visit the mineral spring Khuregechi located at the foothill of the mountain range Tandy-Uula covered by taiga forest. The spring is famous for its whitish salty bitter water healing the problems of digestion, moving, blood circulation, secretion, skin and eyes, and its white rejuvenating clay.
Accommodation in the tents. Walks and free time in the scenic mountainous area remarkable for its coniferous forests, bright green clear patches and snow-dusted peaks.
Dinner, bonfire and night in the tents (in pure nature, non-arranged area).
Day 2
Today is a lazy day to enjoy the nature. Visit the spring and walk to explore the picturesque surroundings. The spring is located at the foothill of the Lysaya Gora (Bold Mountain) which is believed to be a sacred place, and is a subject of many a superstition and belief. According to the locals, one cannot go up this mountain, as this would attract the bad weather; but if you lose an item in this area, it is a sign that you were well-noted by the local spirits, who will give you in exchange something much more precious. Lunch as a picnic.
Return to the complex Biy-Khem in the evening (transfer 200 km). Dinner and night in the felt yurts (double-basis, shared shower cabins and WC).
Day 3
After breakfast, have a trip to the endless steppes, to the so-called Kings valley (150 km), to the site of the archaeological diggings of Arjaan-2, the Scythian burial mound. The treasures found in this mound became sensational in the archaeological world. Lunch as a picnic.
In the afternoon you will be invited to raft down Biy-Khem (50 km, 4-6 hours) to the yurt complex.
Dinner and night in the felt yurts (double-basis, shared shower cabins and WC).
Optional 3-days BLOCK TO OLD BELIEVERS VILLAGE (upon request, for extra fee):
Day 1
Early in the morning we depart eastwards, to the village Erzhei, along the Kaa-Khem (Minor Yenissei) river (180 km). Lunch on the way. The absence of the good road is compensated by stunning views of the mountains, coniferous forests and green glades.
Check in the mini-houses (huts, double-basis). Time to explore the picturesque surrounding area. Dinner, evening bonfire.
Day 2
After the breakfast visit the village of Old Believers Sisim located on the riverbank (30 km return trip). The ferryboat is the only link connecting the village of old-believers with the rest of the world. The history of such villages dates back to 18th century, when the first people were settling down on these lands.
Meet the locals who kept all their traditions and communicate with them. This is rather an amazing experience, a real trip back in time, into the world of other values. Even the modern descendents of Old believers have a very reclusive lifestyle and prefer not to open to the outer world. In Sisim, however, there are a few families who welcome guests. You will discover the traditions and rituals of Old believers, another way of thinking and seeing the life. Lunch.
Travel to the Kaa-Khem river, where you can opt for boating or fishing (both optional, for extra fee) or just have a swim and sunbathe. In the evening, return to the lodge where you stayed last night.
Optional – have an experience of an excellent Russian banya. Dinner and night in the mini-houses (huts, double-basis).
Day 3
After breakfast, have a trip amongs the endless steppes (180 km) back to the Biy-Khem yurt camp. Lunch on the way, dinner and night in the felt yurts (double-basis, shared shower cabins and WC).
