Auto trip around Khakassia
in the first half of May

Abaza - Safronovsky Kurgan Complex - Abakan

Abaza is a small town on the Abakan River, the outskirts of Abaza are places rich in taiga and mountain ranges. The most advantageous views of the city and its surroundings open from the Chalpan rock, which we will definitely climb. Having enjoyed the panorama of the city, the cedar forest and the Abakan River, we leave Abaza and head to the Safronovsky Kurgan Complex. The Kurgan Complex was created 2500 years ago, its characteristic feature is a large number of images on the stones: anthropomorphic figures, birds, animals, mythical creatures, family signs - more than 500 drawings in total. After visiting the Safronovsky Kurgan, we have 145 km of road to Abakan, where we will stop for the night.

Abakan - Borodinskaya Cave - Salbyksky Kurgan - Lake Ulug-Kol - Abakan

Today we will go to Borodinskaya Cave. It is equipped for visiting and is famous for the largest stalagmite in Siberia. The total length of the cave passages is 1816 m, and the galleries go underground to a depth of 86 m. The cave consists of a system of large grottoes and is a horizontal gallery that connects these grottoes with each other. The largest grotto, called Grandiose, has dimensions of 60 m by 135 m and a height of up to 46 m. ​​

After visiting the cave, we go to inspect the largest burial mound in southern Siberia - Salbyksky Kurgan. The mound is considered the burial place of a powerful leader of nomadic tribes of the 5th-4th centuries BC. It is also considered the most ancient cult place of the Tagar culture. The burial mound is considered a place with special energy, and Khakass shamans still conduct religious ceremonies on the territory of the burial mound.

Then our path lies to the shores of Lake Ulug Kol. This picturesque lake is a specially protected natural area and is famous for the special mineral composition of its water, therapeutic mud and a large flock of birds. In addition to all of the above, the lake is very picturesque - from the mountain it seems azure-blue with a white coating of salt on the edge of the lake and on the ground, and upon closer inspection, the water is transparent and slightly greenish. The mountain range located nearby adds beauty to the landscape. After walking along the lake, we return to Abakan.

Abakan - Oglakhty - Boyarskaya Pisanitsa - Shira

Our route lies in the ecological and excursion complex "Oglakhty" of the "Khakassky" Nature Reserve, located 55 km from Abakan. Oglakhty is a mountain range on the left bank of the Krasnoyarsk Reservoir. It received its second name, Forty Teeth, due to its characteristic shape. Here, on the rocky ledges, many petroglyphs were found. We will climb the 955 steps with viewing platforms and examine the largest cluster of petroglyphs in the region. After visiting the Oglakhty complex, we will continue to explore the topic of petroglyphs by visiting another cluster of rock paintings - the Boyarskaya Pisanitsa, located on the Boyary Ridge, 95 km from the Oglakhty complex. About 20 points with petroglyphs were discovered here. The largest clusters are called the Small and Large Boyarsky Pisanitsas. The Small one consists of 44 images, while more than 130 were found on the Large one. The age of the object is attributed to the 7th - 3rd centuries BC. Boyarskaya differs from other petroglyphs by the presence of a plot - it depicts the life of the village. Dwellings, animals, and household items are clearly depicted. People in the drawings are busy with work - grazing cattle, cooking, hunting.

After examining the petroglyphs, we head to the Shirinsky district of the republic, famous for its lakes. We will travel about 120 km and stay for a few days at a recreation center on the shore of one of the lakes, from where we will make radial trips to the surrounding attractions.

Mount Semiozerka - Sunduki Nature Reserve

We will visit the observation deck on Mount Semiozerka - the only place from which seven, and maybe more, Shirinsky lakes can be seen. You can climb almost to the top of Semiozerka by car. After looking at the views of the lakes, we go for a walk and enjoy the nature in the Sunduki Nature Reserve. Sunduki is a picturesque mountain range, a complex of five low mountains, named after the shape of the top of one of them, which resembles a chest. This is a monument of historical and cultural heritage, which, according to scientists, was used in ancient times as an open-air observatory.

Chebaki Fortress

We set off on a journey 80 km from our base to take a walk to the Chebaki Fortress, located on the bank of the Black Iyus River, on Mount Sve-Takh. Such fortresses are among the most spectacular archaeological sites in Khakassia. These archaeological sites are located on mountain tops throughout the Minusinsk Basin. The Chebaki Fortress is part of a system of 45 virtually identical fortresses built in the Bronze Age. It had two lines of walls built from powerful sandstone slabs, some of the masonry has survived to this day quite well. In addition to examining the remains of the fortifications, we will enjoy picturesque views of the surrounding area from Mount Sve-Takh.

After visiting the fortress, we will stop by to look at an unusual architectural monument for Khakassia - the mansion of the gold miner K.I. Ivanitsky in the village of Chebaki. It is unique not only for the republic, where interesting examples of wooden architecture are almost never found, but also for Siberia as a whole, since such estate complexes in remote villages were very rarely built. The building, unfortunately, is closed to visitors, but even an external inspection makes an impression, this tower looks very unusual against the backdrop of the Khakassian nature.

Natural complex "Ancestral Trail"

A picturesque hiking route awaits us in the Togyz-Az mountain range, in the spurs of the Kuznetsk Alatau, on the right bank of the Bely Iyus River. The route runs along the ridge, from where a picturesque view of the valley opens up. The path passes under stone arches, through rocks, winds, descends and ascends along grottoes and caves, along steep banks, past failures and cliffs. Togyz-Az translated from Khakass means "nine mouths" - this is the comparison given to the grottoes located in these rocks. If you look at them from the opposite bank of the Iyus, you can see bizarre stone creatures with surprisedly open mouths. The name "Ancestral Trail" is associated with the discovery here of traces of the most ancient human cave sites in Siberia, more than 24 thousand years old. Ancestors came to the numerous grottoes here to perform rituals, worship the gods, and communicate with spirits. The sacredness of this place contributed to the emergence of its second name - the Shamans' Path.

Tuimsky Sinkhole – Shirinsky Pillars

We will visit two more interesting places. Let's start with the Tuimsky Sinkhole, formed after the explosion of a mountain where minerals were mined at the beginning of the 20th century. The diameter of the sinkhole reaches 200 meters, at the bottom there is a lake with emerald water. From the top of the cliff to the water is about 120 meters. If you look closely, you can see adits and rails for trolleys. After examining the sinkhole, we will visit another natural attraction, the Shirinsky Pillars or Stone Forest – a cluster of unusually shaped stones that are “scattered” over several kilometers along a forested slope. After a day full of impressions, we will spend the final night at the Shirinsky Lakes.

Shira - Abakan

We leave the Shirinsky district and return to Abakan, 165 km of the road awaits us. In Abakan, those who wish can visit the Khakass National Museum of Local History. The museum is famous for its collection of stone sculptures, which contains more than 60 menhirs of different eras, shapes and sizes. The central place in the exhibition is occupied by a stone stele about 6 meters high. In addition to stones, the museum presents exhibits from different eras: from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages - weapons, jewelry, household items and cult.

Home

Transfer to the airport and flight home.

A significant part of the program involves walks in nature, including along mountain and steppe trails, so it is worth taking care of comfortable clothes and shoes for mountain walks, a raincoat and insect and tick repellent.

The tour is quite active and eventful, therefore it requires discipline and personal involvement in the process from the participants.

During the trip by car, delays and unforeseen circumstances are possible - car breakdown, river flooding, road and bridge repairs and, as a result, the route may be adjusted depending on the current situation. Changes are discussed with the participants, but the final decision is up to the tour organizer, since he is responsible for the program and the safety of the group.

Air tickets (or train tickets) to Abakan and back are purchased by the participants themselves. It is better to do this in advance, since at the last moment there may not be any seats, or the price will increase significantly.

Arrival in Abakan and departure from it earlier or later than the dates specified in the program is paid by the participants themselves, including transfer to / from the airport, as well as accommodation in hotels / hostels on days outside the tour dates.

1. If you are interested in this tour, leave a request using the form below or call the numbers listed, we will contact you and answer all your questions.
2. To reserve a place, you must make an advance payment of 30% of the tour cost. The advance payment is refundable 45 days or more before the start of the tour and non-refundable, unfortunately, less than 45 days before the start of the tour, if the refund is due to your refusal to participate (for any reason). If the tour does not take place due to our fault, due to the group not being formed, or due to force majeure, the advance payment will be guaranteed to be returned to you in any case.
3. The advance payment is made through the Payment section on this website. The final payment can also be made via the website, but not less than 5 days before the start of the trip, or in cash on site, on the first day of the tour.