Active-sightseeing tour

ACTIVE-SIGHTSEEING TOUR

“Legends of Tore-Khol Lake”

(07 days/08 nights, period: June-August)

Arrival dates for 2015:

June, 08 – June, 14

July, 01 – July, 07

August, 01 –August, 07

Tore-Khol Lake is unique one because it is the only lake with fresh water in Ubsunur Hollow – a real pearl among sands. One part of the lake is located in Mongolia. Around the lake you can see scarce and endangered species of plants which are usual only for this territory (endemics). There is a chance to observe different kinds of birds, which have been registered in Red Lists of Russia and Tuva. During this tour you will learn a lot of legends about these unique lands.
NB! Lake Tore-Khol is located on the border with Mongolia. The tour participation requires a special permit, for which the tour operator has to apply one month before the starting tour (citizens of ALL foreign countries have to pay special attention to this rule)

Meeting Tuva
Day 1	Meeting point of the group is the airport or bus terminal of Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva republic. Transfer to the yurts camp “Biy-Khem” (25 km far from Kyzyl) Free time, walking around or going up the hill to observe the Biy-Khem valley, evening bonfire.   * Accommodation at yurt camp. Dinner.	Additional extra paid services: Air tickets to Kyzyl (from Krasnoyarsk or Novosibirsk) Bus transfer from Abakan to Kyzyl (by shared taxi 4 pax or private minibus) Performance of Tuvan throat singing “khoomei”. “Khoomei” is a fantastic ability of the Tuvan people (and some other Siberian nationalities) to emit simultaneously two or three sounds of different tone and to sustain the same sound for 25-30 seconds without taking a breath. If you close your eyes it is hard to believe that the sounds are emitted by a person and not by a musical instrument.
To Tore-Khol lake
Day 2	Early morning departure to the south, to the Tore-Khol lake, one of the most beautiful, but at the same time remote lakes in Tuva (250 km). The way to the lake goes across the Ubsunur Hollow. Arrival to the lake, accommodation in a tent camp. Swimming in the lake, evening bonfire, dinner. * Accommodation in tents. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.	Ubsunur Hollow is one of the unique places of Inner Asia, where the nature has created a kind of “landscape parade” here. During one day the tourists will have an opportunity to see sand deserts, steppe with high grass and a forest-steppe. There are dry tundras with marshes and forests on the mountain peaks turning into eternal snow on the mountain Turgen-Ula. In the Ubsunur Hollow you will see the northernmost deserts in the world as well as southernmost tundras laying between mountains. Sand shores and clean water of Tore-Khol lake are waiting for you.
Relaxing on the lake
Day 3	Day at the lakeside, swimming, walking, rest. In summer upper level of lake’s water is warmed up by the sun. In the middle of August water temperature rises to 21°C with the air temperature of 32°C. *Accommodation in tents. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.	The Tore-Khol lake is unique because it is the only fresh trans-border lake in Ubsunur Hollow – it is a real pearl of sands.  It’s an oligotrophic lake and is the most unproductive of all the lakes of Ubsunur Hollow, it contains comparatively inconsiderable percentage of oranogens and bacterias. That is why the lake is so pure, clean and transparent, it is also rich with oxygen. The lake water area’s square is approximately 100km^2, attitude elevation – 148m.
Meeting the nomads
Day 4	Departure to the river Tes (55km) There is a yurt of a nomadic family standing on the river bank. Tourists will meet the nomad and his family. Acquaintance with a Tuvan family leaves a strong impression and can change your outlook. Rest, swimming. *Accommodation in tents. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Mountain Kezhege
Day 5	The group will visit Kezhege mountain. After that returning to Kyzyl and yurt camp. Dinner with traditional Tuvan food. * Accommodation at yurt camp. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.	This mountain awes local people, drivers try to drive carefully not to destroy any little bush or other plant because they believe the spirits will get cross. Kezhge is a spiritual ancestral mountain which has a shape of a circle, in the centre of the circle there is a stream. There is only one narrow crevice where a man can hardly shove along separates this circle. Inside the circle there are several stone altars with porcelain figures and items of Buddhist culture. Additional extra paid services: A real Tuvan tea ceremony. During this ceremony you will hear a story about the methods of making Tuvan tea, of brewing Tuvan national tea with milk and salt, you also will hear different legends and parables about tea. To make lives of our guests brighter and happier and as white as milk we offer you to attend this Tuvan tea ceremony and the spirits of heaven and earth then will support you in your life. Together with tea you will have a taste of Tuvan culture, you will see an amazing land of steppes and spaces of Tuva.
Day trip to Kyzyl
Day 6	Excursion to Kyzyl, the capital of Tuva. Visit to geographical center of Asia. Visit to Buddhist monastery where you will have a chance to hear a propagation of a real lama. During the city tour tourists will also visit local sight – “pray drum”. Visit to a shaman clinic. Visit to the workshops of local craftsmen who will tell the secrets of making Tuvinian national musical instruments, shaman’s drums and jewels. Lunch at the restaurant. Visit to Republican Regional Museum of Tuva (excursion to the Skythians Gold exhibition) Gift shops, suburbs of Kyzyl. Returning to the yurt camp. Dinner with Tuvan cuisine.  * Accommodation at yurt camp. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.	Additional extra paid services: Kamlaniye of shamans
Farewell to Tuva
Day 7	Breakfast, transfer to Kyzyl, end of the tour * Breakfast	Additional extra paid services: Air tickets from Kyzyl (to Krasnoyarsk or Novosibirsk) Bus transfer from Kyzyl to Abakan (by shared taxi 4 pax or private minibus)