Journey to the Heart of Shamanic Khoomei

Two weeks of travels in Tuva with healing and study of shamanism and overtone throat singing

Dates: July 24  - August 7, 2010

 Republic of Tuva is one of the most unexplored and mysterious areas of Russian Federation. It is just another world – a virgin Siberian nature, fresh air, fantastic colors and unspoiled culture of local people.

have a spirit and as that are subjects of worship.A lot of Tuva territory has nearly no traces of civilization. Steppes stretch for hundreds of kilometers, seldom interrupted by single pointed mountains. Here you can meet a snow leopards and mountain yaks live.

Tuva is a unparalleled place in the world which gave birth to unique cultural and spiritual phenomena  - shamanism and throat singing. For this, Tuva was acknowledged as one of the most interesting and original touristic routes by Forbes Magazine.

From the ancient times up to 18 century in Tuva shamans were the only healers for the body, soul and mind of the nation. They have collected a vast experience both in the individual and group healing, because often had to carry out the healing rituals for the families and whole the villages. For this, shamans were in need of instruments, which would increase their energy and enable them to deliver it to every person. 

Nikolay Oorzhak, Renowned Tuvan Shaman and Master of Khoomei Throat  Singing, invites his students and spiritual seekers to experience deep immersion into the Tuvan shamanism and culture. If you are looking for a path of shaman or healer,  here is a chance to be initiated by the spirits of shamanic land and teaching of Un-Hun.

According to Nikolay’s philosophy, to become a shaman one should overcome the sufferings – caused by deceases, obstacles, laziness and ignorance.  That is why his teaching program in Tuva is not easy and not for everybody. It is for really motivated people, who are ready to come through hardships of living in the tents, purifying three-days fasting, walking on the mountains, nightly rituals in taiga and singing for several hours per day. But the rewards will be your healing, clarity in mind and understanding of your spiritual path.

Every day’s program includes:

• morning healing practice for three-four hours with  sound meditation, self-massage,  breathing exercises, dance of animals and birds and discussion of dreams,

• daily teaching on shamanism and throat singing or travel program,

• evening program at camp-fire: shamanic stories, throat singing, common music creativity,

• meetings with Tuvan musicians and shamans,

• personal conversations with Nikolay.

Preliminary Itinerary

Day 1 

During the day -  arrival of participants from different countries in Moscow, settling in hotel, free time.

Day 2

General excursion on Moscow:

City Tour round the most beautiful places of Moscow: Kremlin & Kremlin Cathedrals + Armory Chamber, the Cathedral of St.Basil the Blessed, the Tverskaya street, University located in Lenin's Hills considered to be the highest point of the city, Russian White House, Kutuzov street and the Victory Park with it's fountains and churches.

23.00 – flight to Abakan, the nearest airport to Tuva (since the situation with flights to Kyzyl is unstable and there is no guarantee that the flight will be available next summer).

Day  3

7.00 – arrival in Abakan, the capital of Khakasia. Breakfast.  Meeting the bus arrived from Kyzyl, which will transport us during the whole trip.

The ancient land of Khakassiya has a lot of archeological monuments and in this respect leaves behind Siberia and perhaps whole Russia. You will see a petroglyphic drawings representing sacred rituals, burial mounds and stone statues still worshipped by local people.  This area is full of mysteries and you can feel connection with great ancient culture.

We will make the  excursion to the National museum of Khakassia "Kazanovka", where you learn about the inheritance of ancient civilizations. This museum is situated under the open sky and includes mountains, canyons, caves, mixed forest and rare plants. There are more than 2000 archaeological monuments on the territory of the nature reserve, and every year archaeologists open 30-40 new monuments. In "Kazanovka" we have a chance to see rock paintings which are 3000-5000 years old. Archaeologists make copies of these paintings on paper for further studying and you can take these copies with you as souvenirs. We will see the sacred signs of the ancient shamans and a famous obelisk Akhtas, which considered has a strong healing power.

Accommodation in the yurt complex "Kyug". After the dinner we can have a chance to watch a performance of Khakasian Folk Ensemble (extra cost, subject of availability).

Day 4

In the morning we will visit to the place of archaeological excavations - the Valley of Kings. It is a Salbyk tract of a circle shape situated 75 km far from Abakan. There are more than 50 big burial mounds of the kings of tagarsk tribes, as well as common burial mounds on a large territory. Eight of them have the height of 9-12 meters and the biggest have more than 20 stone.

Then we go to Great Salbyksky Mound (V-IV century B.C.) - a pyramid of 30 meters high that was constructed over the grave of a noble family of Din. This mound is the evidence of the tagarsk country power. There are stone plates near the mounds, which weight is about 20-60 tons. The legend says that this is "the road of spirits" which leads the dead souls to the upper world. It said that right here is the place of power where the shamans get their energy.

After lunch the group is leaving for Tuva. On the border of Krasnoyarsk region and Tuva we will be met by Nikolay. This is a fascinating place where surrounding landscape changes dramatically. It seems that you have entered another planet and time- no civilization, endless steppes, and sole rocks. Nikolay will perform the ritual of introduction of the group to the Tuvan spirits and land.

The first place of power we visit in Tuva is a famous burial mound Arjaan-II. Several years ago this archaeological dig of the Scythian king and his wife became a sensation. It is one of the oldest Scythian burial mounds in the area from the Sayan range to the Danube and it dates back to VI century B.C.  Inside archaeologists found beautiful golden jewelery with the total weight more than 20 kg. Here we will perform a shamanic ritual of communication with spirits of ancestors.

Evening: arrival to  Kyzyl, settling in the camp (25 km far from town) - our main headquarters for the following weeks.

Day 5

Today we will explore the capital of Tuva - Kyzyl. The first sightseeing place is a stone globe - "The centre of Asia" monument. It is situated on the bank of Yenisei river, symbolizing the geographical centre of Asia. From here you can see an inscription on the opposite mountains - "Om mani padme hum" - the main Buddhist mantra. On the central square of the city we will see the pray drum, made and installed by Gyudmed monks using donation money of Tuva Buddhists.  Not far also the Buddhist temple, which harmoniously combines orient architecture traditions and modern construction technologies. Here you have a chance to hear a sermon of the lama.

Buddhism in Tuva exists in peace with shamanism. So it will be naturally for us after the Buddhist temple to go to the Shaman clinic and have a conversation with local shamans.   We will also visit the President of shamanic society Tos-Deer, Professor Kenin-Lobsan, acknowledged as “Living Treasure of Shamanism”.

After lunch we attend the National Aldan Maadyr museum of Tuva republic. In 2007 the museum was granted with unique archaeological objects which were found in the "Valley of Kings" - so called "Scythian gold".

At the evening we gathering for dinner and conversation at camp-fire, where Nikolay will give us introduction in  healing power of water fasting.  For recovery from diseases and for optimum health, your cells need to be detoxified from accumulated impurities. This bring our body in balance and mind in peace and clarity. After fasting your ability to experience the subtle energy raise and you will get much more deeper into study of shamanism. And only then we can sound pure like crystals!   

Day 6 

Today we start our healing study program. First day of fasting. From 7.00 to 10.00 – morning’s healing practice, followed by discussion of dreams. Understanding of sense of the dreams is very important for shamans as help us to understand the messages from our spirit.  Introduction into Khoomei. After several hours of rest time we will make a walking-tour on

Day 7 

Second day of fasting. From 7.00 to 10.00 – morning’s healing practice, followed by discussion of dreams.  Khoomei lesson. After several hours of rest time we will make a walking-tour on nearby taiga and mountains and communicate with spirits of Nature.  From  19.00 to 22.00  - evening program at camp-fire. 

Day 8

Third day of fasting. From 7.00 to 10.00 – morning’s healing practice, followed by discussion of dreams. Khoomei lesson. After several hours of rest time we will make a walking-tour on nearby taiga and mountains and communicate with spirits of Nature.  From  19.00 to 22.00  - evening program at camp-fire.  

Day 9 

Leaving the fasting. 6.30 – 7.00:  Breakfast. From 7.00 to 10.00 – morning’s healing practice, followed by discussion of dreams. Then we start the trip to the lake Dus-khol (70 km from camp) with overnight stay in tents. Here you can swim, sunbathe and cover yourself with healing mud. The lake is salty and the water is highly mineralized. The mud of the lake has healing power - scientists consider that the water of Dus-khol is similar to the water of the Dead sea.  We will perform the ritual of communication with spirit of lake to receive its power.

After lunch we continue our practice of throat singing. Lecture on shamanism and healing. Practice of balance in walking.  Study of shamanic dance. 

In the evening - program at camp-fire.  

Day 10              

6.30 – 7.00:  Breakfast. From 7.00 to 10.00 – morning’s healing practice, followed by discussion of dreams. After that we start trip to the mountain for healing Tos-bulag mineral spring with overnight stay in tents. According to tradition, we will perform a ritual of communication with a spirits of spring and mountain.

After lunch we continue our practice of throat singing. Lecture on shamanism and healing. Study of shamanic dance. Practice of shamanic massage.

In the evening - program at camp-fire.  

Day 11

6.30 – 7.00:  Breakfast. From 7.00 to 10.00 – morning’s healing practice, followed by discussion of dreams. Then transfer to the main camp.

After lunch we continue our practice of throat singing. Lecture on shamanism and healing. Study of shamanic dance. Practice of shamanic rituals.

In the evening - program at camp-fire.  

Day 12 

Journey to Southern Tuva

After  early breakfast we starts long way to the Tere-Khol lake, one to the most beautiful, but at the same time hard-to-reach lakes in Tuva (250 km from camp, almost on the border with Mongolia). The lake is attractive with its sand shores, clean water and mountain air. The way to the lake goes across the Uvs Nuur basin - the unique place as you can see a so called "landscape parade" here. During one day we  will have an opportunity to see sand deserts, steppe with high grass and a forest-steppe. There are dry tundras with bogs and forests on the mountain peaks turning into eternal snow on the mountain Turgen-Ula.  We will arrange a tents and make a walking-tour on nearby area.

Excursion to the sands of the Tsugeer-Els. You will enjoy the impressive panorama of the sandy deserts and will meet some of the desert inhabitants. A tour to the mountain part of the nature reserve. You will have a chance to observe a rare mountain goose colony. You will see a multitude of waterfowl, as well as raptorial birds – steppe eagles, falcons and others. Over 100 rare ancient burial mounds and petroglyph cliffs are located here.

In the evening - program at camp-fire.  

Day 13

We will get acquainted with a family of a real nomad and will have a chance to lunch in the yurt. The nearby Kezhege mountain has a shape of a circle, with a stream in the centre. "Kezhege" means "A man's plait" in Tuvan.  The mountain is considered a protector of  shamans treats by local people very carefully, being afraid of the mountain spirits. 

On the way back we will see a big hill with an external ring. Near the hill is a monument called "khereksuo", translated from Mongolian as "Kirgiz nest".  It is a stone with ancient drawings of deer.

On arrival to camp - evening program at camp-fire.   

Day 14

Departure to Abakan.  Free time. Overnight stay in hotel ** (double rooms).

Day 15

9.00: Departure from Abakan to Moscow

10.00 (time zone shift): Arrival to Moscow.

During the day:  Departure from Moscow

 * * *

• It is also probable that during the stay we will have a chance to attend one of two main festivals in Tuva – music folk festival Usuu-Huree or Naadym -   traditional national tuvan celebration of cattlemen. The program of Nadym includes "huresh" - national tuvan fighting, horse racing, and archery. There is also performance of throat singers, horse and camel races, bow-fire and the splendor of national costumes and cuisine.  Exact dates of festivals are usually announced in Junuary.

• We reserve the rights to change the program according to actual local situation and weather conditions.

Lodging and Food:

At the camp we will stay in is a mix of yurts (“Tuvan tipi”) and tent.  Outdoor facilities.  Food will be prepared by local cooking team and is sure to give you a real taste of traditional Siberian cuisine! It is generally meet-based, so if you vegetarian please let us know in advance (sorry, we are not able to provide a special diet like gluten-free, etc.) .

Price:

preliminary 2300 euro per person.  Price can slightly vary depending on actual cost of local flights and service (can be higher for those who book late).  The difference may be announced up to 60 days before beginning of travel as the supplementary invoice and can be paid by the bank draft or in cash on arrival.

Price includes:

• accommodation in hotel ** in Moscow and Abakan (double rooms), and in the yurt's complex "Kyug"

• airplane tickets Moscow - Abakan – Moscow

• bus transfer Abakan – Kyzyl – Abakan

• accommodation in yurtas or tents at the camping (by three-four persons per yurt/tent)

• full board

• local transportation and guide services

• Russian-to-English translation

• entrance fees

• teaching and training on shamanism and throat singing

• visa support letter

NOT included: international airplane tickets to Moscow and back (each participant is responsible for timely purchase of  its own tickets), insurance, optional expenses.

                   TRAVEL AND PAYMENT INFORMATION