Kyzyl | Tyva

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◄◄◄ Krasnoyarsk Region | Irkutsk Region ►►►

Preview

The main town of the Tuvans living in southern Siberia. The Central Russian city of Buddhism.

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Sights of Tyva

Tyva drama theatre

In 1935, a theater studio was founded in Kyzyl, which in 1936 has performed its first musical show. From that date, the Tuvan national drama theatre traces its history. In 1944, Tuva became a part of the USSR, and in 1945 the National Theatre was created on the basis of a theatre studio. In 1947, the Russian troupe was organized in the theater, and then an actor studio in 1950. In 1958, the theatre was reorganized into a music and drama theatre, and it keeps this status up to now.

Today it is one of the most important national theaters in Russia. Nine generations of actors are working in the theatre – the graduates of drama and musical schools of Moscow, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Yaroslavl, Ulan-Ude, and Kyzyl. The theatre troupe used to include many honored artists of Russia, like Maksim Munzuk, who starred in the "Dersu Uzala" film by the legendary director Akira Kurosawa. Today the repertoire of the theatre consists of more than a dozen of masterpieces of the world, Russian and Tuvan classics, such as "King Lear", "Romeo and Juliet", "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare, "The Cherry Orchard" by Anton Chekhov, "Little Tragedies" by A. Pushkin, " The Government Inspector "," Players ","Balzaminov’s Marriage" by N. Gogol, “Poverty Is no Vice", "The Poor Bride", “Guilty Without Fault" by A. Ostrovsky, "Khaiyraan bot" by V.Kok-ool and a lot of others.

In 1986 the theater was awarded the "Badge of Honor" order. Tuvan Drama Theatre is the winner of the Grand Prix of the Turkic-speaking theatres "Tuganlyk" in Ufa. In 1996, the theatre and its play “Kara and Sedip” won the festival awards: "For the best scenography", the special prize of theater critics "For the movement to the new theatre time”. The theater is the winner of the Intelligentsia Congress award in the "Window to Russia" contest. It is also a party to the international theatre festivals, such as "Galata Bridge" (Istanbul, 2004), "Desired Coast" (Ulan-Ude, 2005), "White Tower" (Brest, 2005 ), "Newroz" (Kazan, 2005), "Siberian transit" (Krasnoyarsk, 2005) – awarded with jury’s special prize for Best Director and "for the development of world drama in the national theatre”, a participant of the theater forum "Golden Vityaz (Knight)" (Minsk, 2005) – awarded with "Bronze Vityaz", the international theatre festival in Adana (Turkey, 2009), "Novo-Siberian transit" (Novosibirsk, 2010), the international eco-ethnic puppet theater festival "Chir-Chayaan" (Khakassia, 2010). In 2000 the theater was awarded the title "Theatre of the Year" and a gold medal of Academician Likhachev for achievements in the country and region’s culture.

Getting here

Address: 33 Lenin street, Kyzyl

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Buddhist prayer wheel

Buddhist prayer wheel is located in the central square of Kyzyl. The prayer wheels, which are a source of the greatest blessing and invariable decoration of traditional Buddhist countries, were totally destroyed in Tuva during the Soviet era. The copper prayer wheel of Kyzyl was ordered by the monks of Gyudmed monastery in India when the sand mandalas were constructed there in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and was paid by the donations of people of Tuva.

The prayer wheel, sanctified by the Buddhist lamas, was inaugurated in 2006 when the works were finished on building the magnificent two-tiered pagoda, which became a home to the sacred relic. Nowadays, this Buddhist sanctity is the first religious item of this kind in the region. The Kylsky prayer wheel is also the largest Buddhist wheel in Russia.

The special address by the heads of the region specifically highlights that the prayer wheel is especially valuable for the religious people of Tuva due to the fact that over 115 million mantras are placed inside of it. Over the hundred million mantras of the Bodhisattva of Compassion form the basis of the prayer wheel filling. The wheel copper body also contains over four million mantras of Lama Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelug school, whose teachings for many centuries were popular in the Buddhist regions of Russia and are being revived nowadays. Inside of the wheel, there are also over eight million mantras of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the precious teacher of Tibetan and Russian Buddhists, as a sign of wishing him long life and execution of all his plans.

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The Khuree Tsechenling

The Buddhist temple Tsechenling, the pride of Tuvans, which was built by the project of the famous architect Phan Che Yil in 1999 in Kyzyl, has gained huge popularity and soon became its main landmark. The temple stands in the center of Kyzyl in Krasnoarmeyskaya street, nearby shamanic clinic. This is one of the first datsans, or so-called khuree (Buddhist temples), to be reconstructed in Tuva. Construction of the temple was finished in the shortest possible time. A magnificent white building was erected in slightly over a year and a half. The symbolic foundation stone of this building was laid by President of Tuva in February 1998, and already following October the temple was consecrated by His Holiness Bogd Gegen IX. A significant contribution to the construction of the temple was made by the sponsors, in particular, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Tuvan countryman, who donated over 15000 dollars for the case.

The ground floor of the building is occupied by the residence of representatives of the Dalai Lama XIV. Here you can see the altar with the bright silver, golden and bronze burkhans (idols), as well as the images of the Dalai Lama XIV and Buddha. This space was specifically created to allow the believers to talk to lamas about various aspects of the faith, religion, philosophy, and, of course, get some answers to their questions about day-to-day life.

Tsechenling Buddhist temple combines the modern construction technologies with ancient traditions of oriental architecture, household and education.

The name ‘Tsechenling’ is translated as ‘abode of infinite compassion’. In the temple, the young residents of Kyzyl are taught Tibetan language, basics of meditation and yoga, and Buddhist philosophy. On the ground floor, the representative office of Dalai Lama is arranged. Here the believers can communicate to lamas. All monks are well-educated people; they study Buddhism in India and Buryatia. The first floor of the temple is taken by the prayer hall with a richly decorated altar in the Tibet style. The floors are connected by the grand marble staircase.

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Aldan Maadyr National Museum

The National Museum of Tuva is the oldest regional history museum in Siberia and one of the major scientific centers of Tuva. The history of the creation of the first regional museum in Tuva is connected with the activity of the local history society, founded in 1925 by the Russian consul. The society has studied the archaeological artifacts, accidentally found by the Krasnoyarsk workers. These included pottery shards, pieces of pipes and pieces of iron ore, as well as other remnants of the early metallurgical production, which was carried out in the area. The museum was officially opened in august 1930. It had three departments formed: ‘Nature’, ‘Pre-revolutionary history’, and ‘Revolutionary Tuva’. For a long time the museum did not have its own premises, and only as late as 1941 it was lodged in the building of the former theater, where it stays up to now. A huge support in the development of museum was provided by the Soviet scientific and cultural institutions, including the Soviet Union museums, such as the State Hermitage, the Russian Museum, the Mineralogical Museum, and the Zoological Museum. Departments of exhibitions in Moscow, Leningrad, and other cities have allotted various collections to replenish the funds of Tyva museum.

Among the most interesting expositions of the museum is a permanent exhibition ‘Treasures of the Valley of the Kings of Tyva. Royal mound Arjaan-2’, which presents unique golden objects from the archaeological site in the world famous Valley of the Kings in Pii-Khem kozhuun of Tyva. The opening of this exhibition has raised the status of the National Museum of Tyva to the international level, which the museum personnel tries to meet. Currently, permanent exhibitions are arranged in eight exhibition halls, which reflect the natural, historical and cultural heritage of Tyva since ancient times to the present day. Among them, ‘Tyva – the pearl of Central Asia’, ‘Art of Tyva. Silver’, Buddhism in Tyva’, ‘Graphics by Nadya Rusheva’.

In addition to museum work itself, one of the activities of the National Museum of Tuva is a scientific and research activity related to the study of history. The museum has organized several scientific and practical conferences of international level. Museum staff participates in scientific forums around the world.

Getting here

Address: 7 Lenin street, Kyzyl
Phone: +7(39422)2-28-24

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The Kadarcha Monument

In 1997, on the hill opposite Kyzyl airport, at the 9th kilometer of Kyzyl – Erzyn highway, at the entrance to the city of Kyzyl, the monument of Kadarcha (breeder). Shepherd meets all the arriving people wearing the national costume: a long Tuvan robe – tona and a high-peaked hat. He is gazing far at the distant endless steppes, symbolizing a traditional Tuvan lifestyle. On his belt, he has a knife and flints, necessary for living in a wild steppe. Many Tuvinians believe this sculpture reflects the national spirit. In the man’s posture you can feel confidence and strength, but at the same time, the shepherd doesn’t look aggressive, but rather thoughtful.

Shortly after the monument was installed, large stones painted white were delivered here. They symbolized a flock of sheep, and it helped the shepherd stop looking somewhat bewildered.

Near the Kadarcha, there’s a wooden pole decorated with colorful ribbons. According to the local beliefs, this helps to “appease” the spirits of the steppe.

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The Trinity Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church

In the 19th century, an active development of these lands by the Russian empire began. Russian orthodox missions were actively turning the locals into the Orthodox faith. But Orthodoxy took different forms. It is worth highlighting some representatives of the pre-reform Orthodoxy, who came to Tuva in the result of the inner migration of people from Tobol, whose ancestors came to Siberia as early as late 16th – early 17th century; ‘new ritualists’-Nikonians, who accepted the church reformation in the end of 17th century; and the ‘old ritualists’, or ‘old believers’, who rejected the innovations of Patriarch Nikon. The first Old Believers came to these lands from the previously developed Siberian territories after the church split in 17-18th centuries. Some of them were among other Russian colonists, who have fallen under the government decree on the settlement of the new lands due to the foundation of forts and factories. The others were fugitives, hiding in the inaccessible gorges of the Sayan Mountains from government duties, serfdom, conscription, and religious persecution. It was right here that they established rural settlements. Some Old Believers were exiled to the so-called state-owned settlements. It should be noted that in remote areas of Tuva the free people colonization preceded the state-run development of the lands; and here, far from Tzar, the life was much freer and more liberal till the very end of 19th century, when the persecution of the Old Believers began. In the beginning of the 20th century, due to the legislation changes, the old believers’ communities were legalized, but up to the end of 20th century, they didn’t have a right to call themselves parishes.

Today there are few old believers. They mostly live in the upper reaches of the Yenisei, in Altai, and in Kyzyl. The desire to preserve their faith determined their isolation and living separate. This, in turn, allows them to keep their culture pure for a long time, with the main foundation of this life being the preservation of the old life, daily graft, and the faith of their fathers and grandfathers. The Old Believers think that all the temptations of life are the “Antichrist charm” and must be avoided by means of prayers and stiff restrictions to the way of life.

Today, the Old Believers’ church is one of the iconic attractions of the capital of Tuva. This is Holy Trinity Church. The first orthodox cathedral in Kyzyl was built in 1929. The existing church was built in 1953 by the capital reconstructing of the old building. It is a rectangular wooden one-tier building with a dome and a belfry. In the beginning of 21st century, the church was reconstructed; a new dome and bell tower were built.

Getting here

Address: 112 Oyuna Kursedi street, Kyzyl

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The Museum of Nadya Rusheva

A Russian artist, who lived only 17 years, but left behind a huge legacy of about 12000 drawings. She was called genius already during her lifetime. There is something mystical in her artistic gift, and in her early departure from life because of a brain hemorrhage. The people, who surrounded Hadya, and the researchers of her art say that she was a messenger sent to our world for a brief moment to bring us some message in the language she spoke – the language of drawing. And her departure was – not death, but return after the mission was accomplished. Her drawings were made without sketches, she always drew a fair copy, and it was not something visible, but only the images that arose in her imagination while reading a book or when listening to someone reading the book aloud. There’s even a small planet named in honor of the young artist. Nadya Rusheva was buried in Moscow, in the Pokrovsky cemetery.

Nadya Rusheva drawings are kept in Leo Tolstoy museum in Moscow, in the Pushkin House of Academy of Sciences in St.Petersburg, in the National Fund of Culture and the Pushkin Museum in Moscow. But one of the most interesting and large collections of her works are stored in Nadya Rusheva museum in Kyzyl. The museum was established in 1993 based on this collection. Here Nadya’s various drawings, early sketches, and series are exhibited: ‘Antiquity’, ‘East’, ‘Modern’, ‘World of Animals’, ‘Pushkiniana’, images of literature characters, ‘Tuva’ and others, made in different techniques. A genius of her imagination, easy lines, and completeness of composition attract the attention of Kyzyl residents, as well as tourists, interested in art and in the unusual life of the artist, the periods of her work and her parents.

Getting here

Address: 7 Lenina street, Kyzyl
Phone: +7(39422)2-28-24

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The NKVD Museum

NKVD stands for the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs. This is an agency, whose task was to ensure revolutionary order in the Soviet Republic at the beginning of the XX century. An important part of its activity was the process of separation of church and state. And for this purpose, the NKVD officers were equipped with extraordinary powers, which resulted in multiple casualties among the religious leaders, and simple believers. This authority also ensured the public security, including carrying out the punitive operations against those who disrupt the order or do not share the ideas of socialism. NKVD was in charge of punishing the opponents of the new regime, so its system included prisons and places for exiles and executions of the prisoners.

Museum of the History of Political Repressions, also known as the NKVD Museum of Tuva is located in the building, which in the 1930s was the NKVD commandant's office. The exhibition presents archival photographs, documents, newspaper articles, biographies of the repressed in the republic in 1930-1950. The museum contains information about the execution of the government of Tuva led by the chairman of the Presidium of the Small Khural Adyg-Tyulyush Khemchik-ool and chairman of the Council of Ministers Satomi Churmit-Tazhi, that has happened in 1938, and about the repression of the famous Lama Mongush Lopsan-Chimit in 1941, who was the developer of one of the variations of the Tuvan writing, and other historical materials.

Getting here

Address: 5 Komsomolskaya street, Kyzyl

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The Center of Asia Obelisk

Obelisk "Center of Asia" is a monument located on the banks of the Yenisei River, in the city of Kyzyl, Tuva republic. It is considered the most popular and interesting monument in the city. The concrete obelisk was erected in 1964 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Soviet Tuva. Twenty years later, to the fortieth anniversary, the monument was covered with the artistic facing made of Sayan granite.

The monument is a ball with a three-edged spike above it, up to ten meters in height. The obelisk is mounted on a rather wide pedestal. The ball under the obelisk, which symbolizes Earth, is marked with the contours of the continents with the underlined territory of Tuva and pointing the city of Kyzyl. Despite the name, the obelisk "Center of Asia" is considered only a geographical symbol, not an exactly measured territorial point. The pedestal carries the words “Center of Asia”, written in Russian, Tuvan and English.

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Tos Deer Shamanic clinic

In Tuva shamanism arose a very long time ago, but despite the change of the centuries, and various religions spread on these lands, shamanistic traditions have survived to the present day almost unchanged. In most cases, our knowledge of the shamans and their activity is formed by thematic exhibitions and historic reconstructions. In Kyzyl, you also have a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the living representatives of this craft. In Tuvan capital, there is a shamanistic clinic "Tos Deer". This is a clinic where the aid is provided to the sick using ancient Tuvan shamanic techniques. It is one of four centers of alternative medicine, which are located throughout the region. An ordinary small wooden building immediately attracts attention by what stands in front of it – these are two yurts and ovaa with many colorful ribbons - chalama. Shamanic Clinic is located near the obelisk "Center of Asia".

"Tos Deer" was founded at the beginning of the XXI century and united the seven most powerful shamans of the region. This somewhat violates customs, which tell them to hold individually, but the modern way of life leaves the healers no other choice. The shamans can predict the future to all the interested, heal them of all diseases and adjust internal rhythms. Those who have more trust in the preventive examination at the city hospital, are attracted to "Tos Deer" as this is a real treasure of ethnography, mysticism, and ancient traditions.

Tuvan men and women turn to shamans in different ways. If a Tuvan woman runs there even on small domestic occasions, the man does the same only when it becomes very difficult and he sees no other way out. The shaman's house has four rooms - entrance hall, two adjacent shaman consultation rooms, and a room for purification rituals, where there is no direct entrance. The fee is usually not fixed, and every visitor individually decides how much to pay for the mystical session.

Getting here

Address: 18 Krasnyh Partizan street, Kyzyl

More interesting facts ►►►

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Azas Reserve

Azas State Nature Reserve, with a total area of over 300 thousand hectares, was founded in 1985, in the north-east of the Republic of Tuva, in the central part of the basin Todzha. It is a large intermountain depression, which is also the watershed from which the largest Siberian rivers take their origins.

Todzha depression is characterized by distinctly continental climate and moderate humidity. In winter, the temperature drops to -54 degrees Celsius, and the average January temperature is -28.7 degrees. Snow cover lasts an average of 160 to 165 days, with an average height of 25-30 cm in the low and up to 80 cm in the midlands. Summer in the Azas reserve lasts about two months, the average daily temperature in July is 14 degrees.

Various kinds of forests grow on the territory of Azas natural reserve, such as pine, deciduous, moss and mountain-taiga forests. It is home to 51 species of mammals. Of these animals, three species are listed in the Red Book of Russia. These are the snow leopard, Tuvan otter, and forest reindeer.

Getting here

Address: Toora-Khem village, Todzha district, Tyva
Website: http://green-azas.ru

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Kings Valley

Valley of the Kings - the name of the complex Scythian burial found in the Republic of Tyva. The uniqueness of the findings lies in its preservation - archaeologists found mounds before "black diggers" or farm equipment been there.

One of the mounds with a diameter of 100 meters was discovered in 2008 and today it is the largest burial of the Scythian period in Eastern Siberia. At present time, there are excavations of burial, with a preserving of cultural layers.

Most found in the burial objects are made of gold. In addition, many objects of bronze were found. Of equal interest are articles cut from the skin, rarely preserved to our days.

Valley of the Kings is located forty kilometers from Kyzyl. In connection with the increased interest to historical monuments, Valley of the Kings gradually transformed into a major tourist center with a developed infrastructure.

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Por-Bazhin Fortress

In the Tyva Republic, the mountain shallow lake Tere-Khol with several small islands spread near the Mongolian border. On one of these islands, there is a medieval monument – the fortress Por-Bajin (from Tuvan - "clay house"). It was built in the VIII century AD. The fortress has a shape of a regular rectangle 211x158 meters, is located at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level, the height of the fortress walls up to 10 meters, the width of the wall - more than a meter. Inside the fortress, the palace buildings are located, connections between them are massive covered walkways, on the east side gates and towers still exist. In addition, inside the fortress a maze of buildings and ancillary facilities are preserved.

The most striking thing is that until the present no human remains were found in the fortress. People for some reason left the fortress. The reason for the construction of such huge fortress by ancient nomads, who didn’t stay long in one area, isn’t also clear.

Among the local population the legends of countless treasures, hidden under the fortress are preserved. In XX century, scientists organized the space Tere-Khol Lake monitoring and found on its bottom an ancient stone road that raised new questions about the origin of the fortress.

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Ubsunur (Ubs Nuur) basin

Ubsunur Basin is the Russian State Nature Reserve, located in the territory of two countries - Russia (Tuva) and Mongolia. The uniqueness of this place is in the fact that on the area of 0.893 million hectares there are almost all landscapes of the temperate zone of the Earth. In the reserve, one can observe taiga, glaciers, deserts, alpine tundra and grasslands, steppes and forest-steppe, sand dunes. Due to this diversity of natural areas, the diversity of species in this area is very rich. 360 species of birds and about 80 species of mammals live in the reserve. The most famous of them are the snow leopard, deer, lynx, wolverines, manul cat, crane, bustard and the lark. Ubsunur Basin is a protected area and is home to many endangered species. In addition, the Altai Osman lives in the Ubsunur lake, which can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Of all the animals of the reserve, the Russian Red Book lists 8 species of mammals, 34 species of birds, and 1 species of reptiles. As for the snow leopard, red wolf, hooded crane, peregrine falcon, and white-taled eagle, they are listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Small human settlements can be found in the steppes in the reserve territory. Mostly, those are the Tuvan herders. Locals will eagerly let tourists in their yurt and show them the features of local life, treating them to the dishes of national cuisine and demonstrating various types of folk art - embroidered household items or even Tuvan throat singing. Despite the fact that many of them have houses in nearby villages, they prefer a nomadic life that their ancestors lived.

A part of the reserve, that is called Yamaalyg, will surprise its visitors by the unique archaeological finds. Almost two hundred burial mounds were found here, as well as the masterpieces of the rock art. Whimsical images of horses, bulls, rams and mysterious magic signs drawn on the rock with red paint are well preserved until now, although belong to the Bronze Age. Seven sections of the reserve are the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unique Nature Reserve Ubsunur Basin is one of the key areas of the Altai-Sayan ecoregion. Which, in turn, is part of the “Global 200” - a list of the virgin or little-altered ecoregions of the world where there are more than 90% of the planet's biodiversity.

The beauty of this place fascinates. A lowland, surrounded by mountain ranges, the Ubsunur salt lake, which once was part of the sea, and the ancient burial mounds. Such grandeur is breathtaking. Those who were lucky enough to visit this reserve, confidently call it an amazing place and a unique monument of nature.

Getting here

Reserve representative office: 64 Shagonarskaya street, Kyzyl
Phone: +7(39422)5-37-70
Website: http://ubsunur.3dn.ru

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Hindiktig-Khol Lake

Lake Hindiktig-Khol is located on the south-western outskirts of the republic of Tuva, in Mongun-Tayginsky District, on the border with Altai. The lake is located in a small valley, south-west of Lake Dzhulukul.

In Tuvan “Hindiktig-Khol” means “Lake with the navel". This body of water has received its name due to the island with a mountain in the middle, that reaches a height of 2458 meters. The length is 15 km, width is 7 kilometers. The total area of the reservoir is 66 square kilometers. It has a moraine-dammed origin. On its shore, you can see the 2 higher levels of standing water that were in the past: 20 meters and 80 meters above the present level of the reservoir. Waters of the Mogen-Buren river flow from Hindiktig-Khol, which then falls into the Achit Lake in Mongolia. In total there are two islands where tarbagans (black Siberian marmots) and various birds live.

But the lake became truly famous due to the cleanest water and the abundance of all kinds of medicinal herbs that grow here. Today the waters of Hindiktig-Khol are rich with big fish, it really abounds with grayling. There is a fishing brigade working on the lake.

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Transport

 

Kyzyl Airport

Kyzyl airport is 6 km away from the city, and it is a large regional air transport hub, serving the passengers visiting Tuva.

In Kyzyl airport, passengers can visit cafes, shops and souvenir stalls, extra comfort lounge (paid service), temporary storage room for the luggage.

In front of the airport there is a convenient car parking area.

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Bus Terminal

Buses in Siberia are a convenient way of transportation within the region or to the adjacent regions.

Bus tickets can be purchased at the bus station or in the special booking-offices. You can also buy an e-ticket on the website. To buy an intraregional ticket, there are no special requirements. If you buy a ticket to travel outside of the region, you will need to show your passport at the bus station counter; you may also be required to show it while boarding the bus.

While traveling in the winter, you will need to remember that due to the bad weather conditions the bus can be delayed or even canceled. Also, most buses don’t have a toilet, which also should be considered before going on a long journey, if you want it to be not painful but pleasant. Remember that the distances in Siberia are quite long.

There are also international routes from Kyzyl to Mongolia.

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City bus

Regular shuttle transportation.

Buses run along the special routes and are marked with corresponding numbers. But for the passengers’ convenience, on each bus, there's also a list of the key stops on the route, for an easier navigation.

The fare is paid directly in the bus to the conductor and only in cash.

In Russia, it is believed that if the sum of the first three digits of the ticket number is equal to the sum of the last three digits, then you need to chew and eat the ticket, which is supposed to bring luck to you. We can only recommend that before eating the lucky ticket, you make sure that your insurance covers the risks of such undertakings.:)

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Minibus (marshrutka)

Regular shuttle transportation. 

Minibusses run along the special routes and are marked with corresponding numbers. But for the passengers’ convenience, on each bus, there's also a list of the key stops on the route, for an easier navigation.

The fare is paid when entering the minibus, directly to the driver, and only in cash. The fare depends on the length of the journey; the details are always displayed in the cabin.

It is very common that the passenger closest to the driver is asked by the others to pass the money on to the driver. So, if you sit in that place, it would really help if you’re able to count quickly (and are quite familiar with the local money to pass the change back to everyone). Minibusses stop on demand, so in order not to pass your stop, you should exactly know its name and ask the driver to stop, loudly and in advance.

On the street, you can stop the minibus by raising a hand, just like a taxi, but only at the stopping sites.

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Taxi

You can use the taxi to move around the city or region. You can order a cab by calling a special service or you may just stick your hand out and stop the taxi when you see it. We don’t recommend using any kinds of an illegal taxi (a regular car with no signs of a taxi service on it).

Don’t be surprised if a car stops, that is not marked as a taxi – anyone can give you a ride. But it is important to agree on the cost of the trip before getting into the car. Sometimes you can even get it for free.

The cost of a trip from the airport to the city center or vice versa should not exceed 1000 rubles. It is paid mostly in cash (some taxi companies also accept major credit cards, but you better check it before the ride).

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Hotels

„The TripSib team recommends“

 

 

Night life

„The TripSib team recommends“

 

 

Activities

 

Rafting

There are plenty of hobbies which train the person’s reaction, the ability to the instant decision. One of these hobbies is called rafting. Rafting is floating through the hard water areas on rafts. The raft is an inflatable boat. It can hold up to 20 people. It is made of durable material to withstand heavy loads. Its design allows the raft to hold on the water and not to roll over.

There are three types of rowing on the raft: rowing with single-bank oars, mounted on a special frame; canoe-style rowing; mixed rowing. Rafting requires wearing protective clothing. The main features of such clothing are quick drying, good heat insulation, water resistance, elasticity, light weight.

Rafting is very popular in Siberia in the warm summer weather. Moreover, a lot of tourists practice rafting in combination with traveling. This kind of extreme sports is very popular in the mountainous area, with challenging turbulent mountain rivers. Siberian mountains are a perfect fit for this.

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Offroad car trips

Off-road trips are a kind of leisure activity and sports that involves crossing the off-road on a four wheel drive vehicle. The vehicle crew consists of at least two people: a pilot and a navigator. Navigator is in charge of the navigation; he determines the route and directs the actions of the pilot at the off-road route. The pilot is driving; he should have good skills of off-road and extreme driving. The off-road trips include off-road expeditions, raids, festivals, which often take place in remote Siberian taiga.

In Novosibirsk, there are two clubs which are the most actively engaged in off-road trips. They have the necessary vehicles, which are duly tuned and upgraded, and are professionally engaged in this activity.

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ATV tours

ATV is a unique vehicle, specially designed for the off-road driving. There is nothing more exciting than traveling with friends by ATV through the rugged areas of the wild, primitive Siberian nature.

Driving the ATV Riding ATV does not represent any special difficulty, even for a beginner. One or two hours spent behind its wheel are enough to feel confident. Bright emotions, thrill, and an indescribable excitement before the start of a trip are guaranteed!

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Snowmobile tours

A snowmobile is a driven vehicle designed to travel on snow. No matter what the Canadians say, but the first snowmobiles drove across the expanses of Russia, on the banks of the Neva River at the beginning of the last century. This fact is recorded in the documents as the tests of "Russo-Balt". Naturally, the first snowmobile developed a speed of only 40 kilometers per hour and it looked very much different as compared to the modern snowmobiles.

Snowmobiles have long been an integral part of winter recreation in Siberia, whether snow safaris, ice fishing, or just a ride between the mountain slopes. Snowmobiling gives a lot of impressions both to the seasoned drivers, and to those who is behind the wheel for the first time. Snowmobiling is a fun and a rush of adrenaline brought up by the speed, freedom of movement, the ability to see the pristine beauty of wild Siberian land, and to look into the hidden corners of the taiga.

Today, snowmobiling tours are among the most interesting components of active recreation in Siberia. Test the new machines, explore new routes, conquer new heights - savor the taste of freedom that’s brought to you by this winter miracle of technology!

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Ski trips

Participants of the ski trips and photographers that make amazing shots of winter scenery somewhere in the mountains or wild forests are not mythical characters, who love the crazy adventures. Everyone can see the beauty of winter nature and, moreover, there are special clubs for this, organizing these unforgettable tours. Winter trips are almost always about ski tourism, and you will not have to walk waist-deep in the snow and plow the snow drifts with your body. The only difficulty in the winter trip is the ability to ski. But at the same time, it does not require a lot of time to learn how to ski, a few hours or a total of one day will be enough, not only to learn how to slide but also not to fall when descending by the slope.

The landscapes, most fantastic in their beauty, when everything sparkles and shines, and the day is sunny and clear, usually happen at a temperature of -30 to -40 Celsius. But if you are dressed properly, the cold won’t scare you. And, considering the sunny weather, you can even forget about the cold at all.

However, you need to keep in mind that ski tourism is one of the most difficult sports. Low temperatures require you to make decisions quickly and accurately and to move actively along the route. Great attention is paid to the outfit: outer clothing, and especially ski because without it you will not be able to make a single step on a snow cover. But the most important thing is that ski trip is only possible if lead by a professional athlete; no other options, like instructor-guide, will be suitable here. Each route must be coordinated with EMERCOM at its start and finish, and all participants of the trip must be insured in case of emergencies.

Ski tourism is extremely good for your health. It is a true, pure and undiluted elixir of health. Active movements in winter conditions provide an excellent tonic effect because it activates the endocrine system and improves metabolic processes. In the cold, the defense mechanisms of the body start working, which increases immunity and resistance to colds and viruses. Furthermore, the cold air, as opposed to the hot one, is several times richer in negative ions, which are more biologically active. There are less dust and gas impurities - they are successfully absorbed by the snow. Add to this the healing phytoncides of conifers – and voila, your health cocktail is ready. Skiing provides an excellent exercise, develops flexibility and coordination. In just three hours of skiing, a person makes almost three thousand repetitions of abdominal exercises! Cardio develops endurance, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Your mind also unloads, exhausted by the everyday office life and multi-level tasks. You just go and admire the wonderful pictures of the sleeping winter nature. Eyes get free from the blur, and you start to notice the details - the traces of animals on the snow, the frost pattern on the branches. Depression, stress, melancholy, and a feeling of hopelessness all go away. You get a new taste for life!

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Bicycle tours

Biking can be divided into two categories: amateur rides and pro biking tours. While the amateur ride is simple to just arrange with your friends in search of adventure, the professional bike tour is a serious route under the guidance of experienced instructors. Biking tours are the paid trips, i.e. trips, where you can buy a ticket to join. The bike tour routes are repeatedly explored and inspected by the guides of travel agencies, hotels are booked, first aid kit contains the necessary medications, and all the necessary wrenches are in the repair kit. Often there is also a support vehicle. You will only need to spin the pedals, see the sights and socialize with new people. In a word – have fun.

The 2 or 3 days long trips often gather up to 30 people. If you join such bicycle trip, you will meet the people you will love to talk to and to plough the wild Siberian nature together.

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Horseback riding and equestrian tours

Equestrian tours will make you forget all the hassle of city life. Plunge in the days of nomadic tribes, feel at one with nature – travelers can experience it all in the equestrian tours. After all, horseback riding lets you feel like you fly above the ground without taking off from it. The Altai horses will become your faithful companions in this exciting journey. These amazing, noble animals, impressively sturdy and rugged, are the best means of transportation in the mountain-taiga paths of Altai midlands.

Escape from the color monitors into the ‘unreal world’ of nature! The equestrian tourism routes, offered by Siberian horse riding clubs, are designed for people with different backgrounds and are perfectly suited to fit both beginners and experienced horse-riders. The equestrian tour is always led by an instructor guide assisted by a groom. The tour routes run through different climatic zones: along the way you can meet the mighty cedar trees, dwarf birch, colorful flower meadows, wild forest, hills and steppes. There are routes of medium and high complexity for experienced riders. Before the trip, participants are instructed on riding a horse. During the tour, the guides will let you into the secrets of communication with the horse, as well as the stories and legends of the places which you will ride through. Equestrian tourism is a great chance to make new friends or share some interesting stories with your companions. All the way through the tour, the food is cooked at the campfire, and the accommodation is in tents.

Equestrian tourism in Siberia is waiting for you! Have a nice trip!

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Skiing & snowboarding

Someone is waiting for a summer to go to the sea, someone would rather take a trip in the desert, but there are people who are looking forward to the winter, preferring to rest at ski resorts. For the true fans of this type of relax, for those who love snowboarding and skiing, Siberia is one solid skiing area where you can enjoy your ski or a snowboard almost anywhere. In Siberia, there are trails of various difficulty levels, surrounded by beautiful nature and unique landscapes. The infrastructure is presented with excellent ski bases and resorts, whose recreation conditions and level of service are not inferior to many well-known European resorts.

Beginners, professional skiers and snowboarders, heli-ski fans, freestylers, back country skiers, freeriders – everyone will find perfect facilities in Siberia. They meet the highest international standards not only for snowboard and ski, but also for half-pipe, big cross-country, cross-board, slalom, biathlon. Siberian nature is striking for its beauty, it helps forget about the stress and problems, feel a surge of strength and get loaded with life energy, which is carried in a real winter recreation.

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Hunting

Siberia has always been famous for its hunting and fishing. It has everything you may need – thick taiga with bears, wild boars, deers, fur-bearing animals, and various birds; rivers full of all kinds of fish. Hunting enthusiasts can experience all the excitement and bring out the best properties of a trapper when hunting wild boar or elk, when at any moment they can get one on one with the beast. By the way elk, one of the largest animals found in the hunting grounds in Siberia, has an average of about 250 kg, although there are considerably larger specimens. Wild boar’s body may have a length of 2 meters, the height at withers of 1.5 meters, and body weight of 270 kg. One of the most popular kinds of hunting is fowling – shooting duck, woodcock, goose, partridge and other birds.

There are various ways of hunting, but of course, every hunter has his own way that brings him more luck. You will have the opportunity to learn a lot about hunting in Siberia, as well as personally plunge into the primeval impassable Siberian taiga.

Cities of Siberia host many exhibitions, forums and other sites where hunting, fishing and sports tourism professionals can meet. These are: The International Tourism Fair "Yenisei", exhibition "World of Sports. Hunting. Fishing”, All-Russian Fair "National Hunting and Fishing", "Tourism. Sport. Recreation" and "Hunting. Fishing".

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Winter fishing

What can be peculiar about winter fishing in Siberia? You don’t have to be an expert to say – the climate, of course. Siberia is primarily associated with heavy frosts and huge snowdrifts. Depending on the region, the winter temperature in Siberia can drop below fifty degrees centigrade. But that is not a trouble for real fishermen because a huge variety of all kinds of fish are splashing in the lakes and rivers of Siberia. That is why neither frost nor serious distances nor the almost complete absence of roads in the forest are not hindrances for the avid fishing fan. Taiga hunting cabins, bass, pike, rudd, Siberian pelmeni – these are just some of the features of Siberian fishing, which attract anglers from all over the world.

The winter fishing has a lot of advantages as compared to the summer one. The first is a complete absence of mosquitoes and gnats. Because in summer it really hassles even the local fishermen, not to mention those who come from other places to go fishing in this wonderful region. The second advantage of the Siberian winter fishing is the accessibility of many spots because everything is frozen. So, the areas that in summer can only be reached by helicopter, in winter can be driven to by a snowmobile. And, which is equally important, you can drive almost straight forward. In winter, you will need much less gear (unlike the summer), which simplifies the transportation.

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Russian bath

The story of the bath is very interesting, because the tradition of bath sweating has ancient roots and is still popular. In Russia, bath has always been highly respected and esteemed. There’s an idea that the Russian bath is the most ancient one. References to it can be found in the works of Slavic oral lore, as they were pagans, and attached great importance to the forces of fire and water. Many peoples of Siberia, the Urals and the Volga region had their steam houses. In our days, for example, you can find hunters’ houses in the forests which are built according to the steam houses principle.

It is worth noting that the Russian baths have always impressed foreign visitors. They never could understand why someone would pour kvass or ice water on himself, why people would beat each other with brooms, why someone would sponge himself down with snow. The invitation to the bath sweating was always like a voluntary torture to all visitors. However, after going to the real Russian bathhouse the guests felt fine; and the impressions were so strong that the rumors about the miraculous effect of the procedure quickly spread throughout the world.

Today, everyone knows Russian baths. They are popular in our country and abroad. And their beneficial properties and health-improving effects are recognized by the whole world. In fact, many health-improving properties largely depend on the correct broom steaming, so stop hesitating – it is time to go straight to the bath. See you there :)

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