Activities in Siberia
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Dungur Shaman Centre
Visiting a shaman is fascinating if you have a translator and a tangible 'problem' to have examined. This might be a medical, mental or emotional purification or perhaps seeking 'luck' with your travels. Less authentic 'shaman shows' are organised for tourist groups.
Dungur Shaman Centre is one of several options.
reviewed
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Petr Ishkin
Witty, widely travelled schoolteacher Petr Ishkin speaks great English and enjoys voluntarily helping foreign visitors find their feet during his free time. Two more email addresses for him are petr_great@hotmail.com and petroishkin@yahoo.com.
reviewed
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Throat-Singing
Throat-singing is Tuva's great draw, yet finding performances is rather haphazard. Sometimes they're listed on www.tyvantranslator.com. If not, try asking at the National Theatre.
On the 1st floor of the sizable Cultural Centre, the Khöömei Centre can help arrange throat-singing lessons - to find it, walk between the cloakroom and snack bar and keep going. However, to simply hear a sample try going up to the 3rd floor from here (by the back rather than the main stairs) to a room where Tuvan musicians practise most afternoons around 14:00. Alternatively, contact Aylana Irguit or Aldar Tamdyn, who can usually arrange a short demonstration of the various styles. Around US$20…
reviewed
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Baikal Dog Sledding Centre
From December to March the Baikal Dog Sledding Centre offers thrilling dog-sledding on forest tracks. The shortest run, 3km with three dogs, costs R700, but whole multiday cross-Baikal expeditions are possible with bigger dog-teams. The owners’ sons speak English.
reviewed
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Sibalp
Focusing on Altai exploration trips for small-groups and independent foreign travellers, this is a helpful, personal travel service that can also arrange English-speaking homestays and city tours in Novosibirsk. Multilingual staff will meet clients at their hotel.
reviewed
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k2 Adventures
Uniquely experienced for extreme rafting and mountaineering expeditions on the toughest rivers and peaks of Siberia and Central Asia. Igor speaks English and can meet you in town, saving you a 6km trip (marshrutka 335 to bus stop Magistralnaya).
reviewed
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Travel Trophy
Increasingly popular rafting-and-camping trips start at Kur-Kechu, descending the potentially dangerous Ilgumen Rapids. Travel Trophy charges US$800 for a 10-day trip. Readers have praised its high standards.
reviewed
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Tos Deer Shaman Centre
Riverfront totem poles and reception yurts make Tos Deer Shaman Centre the most photogenic. If someone has stumped up the cash, there might be sunset ceremonies here but shamans are touchy about (unpaid) photography.
reviewed
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Khöömei Centre
On the 1st floor of the sizable Cultural Centre, the Khöömei Centre can help arrange throat-singing lessons – to find it, walk between the cloakroom and snack bar and keep going.
reviewed
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Altour
Specialist for, as one reader put it, ‘really mad, high-adrenaline experienced rafting adventures’. Not for beginners in other words. Office entered through VIP-Tur at the rear of a big apartment block.
reviewed
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MorinTur
Focuses on east Baikal, offering various ice and fishing adventures, a horse-sledge trip, seal watching, rafting in the Barguzin Valley and climbing on Svyatoy Nos (Holy Nose) Peninsula.
reviewed
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Altair
Helpful travel agency. Offers a wide range of tours and English spoken. Virtually all of Novosibirsk's many travel agencies offer packaged or tailor-made trips to Altai.
reviewed
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Bars Travel
Runs various Altai tours for Russian groups with three-day hiking trips (R4685 including food, transport and two nights’ accommodation) departing most Fridays.
reviewed
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Alash Travel
Offers full-scale rafting and climbing expeditions, and can arrange horse-riding trips between Tuva and Altai. English spoken by some guides but not in the office.
reviewed
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Baikal Naran Tour
Director Sesegma (aka Svetlana) is infectiously passionate about Buryatiya, offers horse-riding adventures and has dozens of fascinating one-off ideas.
reviewed
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Sibir Altai
Packages Altai trips for local tourists, sold through numerous regional travel agencies. Minimal English. Runs direct weekend buses to Turbaza Katun.
reviewed
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Altour/Class 5
Specialist for extreme white-water rafting expeditions. Not for beginners. Office entered through VIP-Tur at the rear of a big apartment block.
reviewed
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Adyg-Eeren Shaman Centre
Adyg-Eeren Shaman Centre looks like a used-car lot but in one room there is a stuffed bear and all the shamanic accoutrements.
reviewed
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Kurort Arshan
Basic institutional sanatorium with various sized buildings spread through the forest, used mostly by those seeking a cure at its hot springs.
reviewed
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Bely Parus
Yacht club Bely Parus hires out windsurfers (ails parusniye), water-skis (vodnye lyzhi) and wet suits.
reviewed
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Eco Tuva
Enthusiastic tour agency offering horse-back trips with throat singing and yurt stays as well as week-long tours coinciding with Naadym.
reviewed
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STA-Novosibirsk
Hike-and-raft adventure tours are sold by STA-Novosibirsk.The company can also assist with booking accommodation.
reviewed
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Acris
Offers trips to Altai, including Mt Belukha, and can help sort out a range of awkward permits. The staff speak English.
reviewed
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Buryat-Intour
Can arrange bird-watching in the Selenga Delta, monastery visits and city tours. Also sells air tickets.
reviewed
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Alie Parusa
Good for Sheregesh and the Altai. Some English spoken.
reviewed