Tuva - Introduction
Tuva and the Sayan Mountains are a relatively new location for us, they alsohave so far had few visitors and are touristically "unspoilt". Our treks hereare fully horse supported and have a slightly exploratory character although wehave now operated in the area since 1999.  Located in southern Siberia and on the northern edge of Mongolia Tuva extendsfrom the coniferous forests of the Taiga in the north to the rolling Steppes inthe south. Nowhere else in the world is so far from the sea; its capital Kyzylhas a monument proclaiming it to be the very centre of Asia. Tuva is a countryof great variety with almost every type of landscape: luxuriant meadows, greentaiga, boundless steppes, medicinal springs, beautiful lakes, rushing mountainrivers fed in spring by melting snows, dusty semi-desert and snowy chains ofmountains. The high peaks and alpine lakes of the Sayan Mountains in southwest of Tuvagive rise to the tributaries that merge to become the mighty Yenisei, one ofSiberia's, major rivers flowing over 2000 miles north to the Arctic Ocean. The mountain ranges that form its natural borders have long protected andisolated this region. Moreover, the Soviet Union kept Tuva closed to theoutside world for nearly half a century, and most of this country is stillremote and difficult to access. So far few foreigners have been to this remoteland. Predominantly, Tuvans are cattle-breeding nomads. For millennia they havetended to their herds of camels, reindeer, yaks, sheep and goats. Traditionallythey live in yurts, felt covered circular tents, that are easily moved todifferent locations as they follow the seasonal pastures. The Tuvan people have a mixed ethnic heritage reflecting the ancient powersthat dominated this part of Central Asia. It is said that Tuva was the birthplace of Ghenghis Khan and that Ghenghis Khan's mother was a Tuvan. It is thecradle of the Turkic language and its culture is strongly related to Mongolian.They have persisted in speaking their own language of Turkic origin even whilethe Mongols, the Manchu's and other groups ruled them. Even now after decadesof domination by the Soviets they still remember their sacred traditions fromtheir main religions: Buddhism and Shaman. Shamanism was widely practised in Tuva until the forties and fifties when theSoviets enforced their campaign to eradicate religious practice. This brought amodern infrastructure of roads and systems of public education, medical careand communications to this remote part of Asia . Now after almost fifty yearsof communist rule interest in these ancient customs is growing. In Kyzyl we will spend a day toabsorb some of the local customs, meet Lamas, Shaman doctors, to visit theNational Museum and to see rock paintings and archaeological sites of ancientsettlements and burial mounds outside Kyzyl. The trekking area consists ofseries of narrow, sharp-topped ridges and of flat-topped, ridges between 2000and 3000m high with steep slopes and strongly eroded upper sections. The trek will pass through dense coniferous taiga of cedar, silver fir andpine, sparse larch forest and boulder fields on some of the plateaux. There arepasses to cross, non are steep, and rushing rivers to crosswith the help of bridges, fords and perhaps even the horses. Most of the riverslie in deep valleys with many rapids.  See also our"Mongun-Taiga" trek to the highest summit of Eastern Siberia.  | Tuva Summary
Email for further information | trip price
 Grade
Some long days and steep paths. Trails followed but not waymarked nor welltrodden for the most part. Weather, clothes, equipment
Not extreme at this time of year, day temperatures in the mountains approx+20°C. Warm clothes required for evening and nights. Full, lightweight,waterproofs required as some rain should be expected. Waterproof, strongwalking boots with good ankle support are essential.Walking poles can be very useful especially for river crossings and boulderfields. Itinerary
Fly from Moscow to Abakan. Arrive in Abakan at about midnight. Hotel in Abakan. Drive (the entire day) via Ak-Dovurak and Teeli to the start point of the trekin Tuva. Camp not far from the Shivilig medicinal spring. We walk through alpine meadows then by a good horse trail over a small forestedpass to an open high-altitude steppe surrounded by colourful mountains. We forda 70cm deep river with a help of horses. Camp by the edge of the steppe zonenear the entrance to a narrow river canyon in a fir-tree grove. Around one maysee ancient rock paintings, Scythian burial mounds, Turkic stellas (stonepoles). 15km walking. 4 hour walk up to the top of Mount Chailag-Mongulek, 2677m, to see severalancient burial mounds yet to be excavated. Tuvans say the God of the Salchak'sclan is hidden here. We gain about 650 m altitude and have good views ofKhemchik Valley. 2 hour descent to camp by the Suglug-Kholash river. We walk by opened highlands of Kamenisty Ridge around the Kurgag KholashValley. The day is long about: 7-8 hours walking. Camp by Syr-Buziun River.Horses take a shorter but less picturesque route to the campsite. Walk 30 min. down the valley with a possible visit to a local yurt. Walk about3 hours up to the Tarbagannyg-Oy Ridge by a good horse path through a larchforest. From the top of the ridge we can look back on the route taken so far.Descend towards the Khemchik Valley, 2h.30mins. Camp in a grove by the Khemchiktributary. Cross the Khemchik by a bridge. This is the second biggest river in Tuvaafter the Yenisei. Walk up by the Khemchik Valley to where the Chohon-Khemriver flows into it. Camp by the river. Walk up by the Chohon-Khem River. Camp in its upper reaches. Note: Day 7 andday 8 can be combined in which case day side trip can be arranged to apicturesque valley below a 3,087m summit. Walk over the Shivitig Pass, 2,918m. Down along the Chinge-Khem river to thefoot of Perevalny Pass, camp. Walk to the top of Perevalny Pass, 2740m. 3-4 hours uphill. Now along the topof Dagyr Dag Ridge with excellent panoramas. Camp in an open area by ChalamalygPass. Continue walking by Dagyr Dag Ridge down to camp in the upper reaches ofChek-Oi River. 2 hours walk down to the Khemchik Valley. Meet vehicle and drive to Kyzyl(circa 8 hours). Hotel in Kyzyl. Day in Kyzyl. We will visit the National Museum, Shaman Clinic and attend aconcert of throat singing. Night in hotel. Drive to Abakan for flight to Moscow. Arrive in Moscow at about 14:00. Driveto hotel with a tour of the city on the way. Dinner. Hotel. Breakfast. Trip ends. Flights
INCLUDED:
Internal flights; One night in a hotel in Abakan upon arrival (incl.breakfast); Transport fromAbakan to the trekking area; Transport from trekking area to Kyzyl andKyzyl-Abakan. Vehicle for food re-supply on trek (once); Food on trek and allnecessary utensils; Horses to carry all communal and personal equipment (duringthe day you only carry a small day-sack with a water bottle, rain jacket,camera, etc.); English-speaking guide; Cook and assistant; All tentage; In Kyzyl: 2 nights in hotel, 3 meals a day, local English-speaking guide,museum entry fee, visit to shaman clinic, concert of throat singing.
On the way back from Abakan to Moscow we provide a transfer from the airport tohotel with a tour of the city on theway, dinner and overnight in a hotel (Izmaylovo) with breakfast. NOT INCLUDED:
Flights, visas, extra drinks, tips, international airport transfers in Moscow.On the way from Moscow to Tuva no services in Moscow are included.The servicesrequired on the journey in, in Moscow need to be discussed and quotedseparately.
For prices and dates seePrices  |
