Russia Trekking, in agreement with Tofalaria – Natural Federal Reserve (Map) located in eastern Sayan Mountains, is in charge to select a limited number of visitors, true lovers of pure and wild nature, for exploring one of the most untouched and amazing locations in Siberia. Tofalaria region is added to the other destinations in Siberia of Russia Trekking: Altai mountains, Putorana plateau and Kamchatka peninsula.
The Tofalaria Reserve was founded first during the imperial period in 1914 and then specifically in 1971 to preserve the sable and other animals used for furs along with the brown bear and noble deer. Located in central Siberia, about 500 km north of Mongolia, this area has heretofore been untouched by foreigners and Russians alike. With its 1.327 sq km of Taiga it is unaccessible by road. In fact, travelers will be brought in by boat and out by helicopter on their excursions into the park. Tofalaria is also an extraordinary botanical garden, as wide as the Italian Gran Paradiso, Gran Sasso and Aspromonte ranges put together.
Visitors will explore the protected area guided by local Rangers who strive to assure the minimum impact on a wholly preserved environment as delicate as Tolfaria. Travelers will experience firsthand patrol rounds, take in the natural beauty of Bears’ Lake, the Kinzelyuk Waterfalls, the Strelka Camp at the confluence of theSmall and Big Agul rivers and the plateaus of the Sayan Mountains bordering the Irkutsk andKrasnoyarsk regions.
Being totally absent of any type of road or path, the transportation facilities are helicopter, motorboats, horse and fan boat Piranha. This special boat is used by Rangers to go up rivers in any season. The overnight is organized in tents and the typical refuge in wood endowed by a Russian sauna (banya).
In order to receive supplies and to transport the guests back to the known world, a large cargo helicopter is used. In about two hours and with a stunning view it flies from the Bear’s Lake to reach Krasnoyarsk.
The itinerary will go up the Agul River from Nova Marishka village that is inhabited by the so called Old Believers. They are an old community of orthodox believers that separated from the main Russian one in 1666.
The village is about 180 kms far from Krasnoyarsk and it is run with a minivan. The itinerary along the river, initially smooth and surrounded by flat taiga becomes more and more wild. Hills grows around and are totally covered by birches and then beeches trees. After about 200 kms with some rapids on the way you will reach the Strelka Camp that represents the entrance of the Reserve of Tofalaria.
Fishing in lakes and rivers, but also berries and fruits of the taiga contribute to the Siberian culinary experience guaranteed by the chefs of Russia Trekking around the fire camp. The daily fresh fish catch is cooked in different tasty ways included the smoked one done at the camp fire. With such particular technique the fish cooks very slowly and acquires a unique taste. Another amazing Siberian recipe is based on the crude fish seasoned with onions and aromatic herbs that astound for its original approach. Various are the products of taiga that can be tasted. Just to list some: the pine nuts of pine cedar, the tea produced with a specific mushroom that grows on the birches trees, the berries that grows everywhere in the taiga, the mushrooms, the honey gathered by the local people.
On the east side, outside the Tofalaria Reserve, there is the village of Gutara. The village is not connected by any road and it is inhabited by the people of Karghasi. The Stalin politics obliged of nomad origin to not move anymore with their reindeer herds making impossible their breeding. From a population of about 2500 inhabitants it has reduced to about 700 people. The Karghasi now lives on site and bases its sustenance with the gathering of the taiga products, fishing and hunting. In the village lives also about hundred horses, cows and still some reindeers.
Picture: Kinzelyuk Waterfalls. One of the highest in Russia and between the highest in Asia. The water falls from the homonym lake at 1.600 asl for about 328 meters in a smaller lake in the valley. To reach the stunning view of the waterfalls from the Bear’s Lake you need about 4 hours of trekking ( Map )
Picture: a particular of the Bear’s Lake (Medvezhyie Osero). The Lake is at about 1.300 msl and far about 260 km from the last village reachable by road. The lake can be reached by fan boat or in Helicopter. The water is totally pure coming from the mountains around and the backdrop and the beaches have granitic nature. There is not water suspension giving to the water a crystal effect. (Map)
Picture: The refugee on Bear’s Lake built on a precise interlocking of logs. This is build on two floors, it has several beds and a kitchen area. It has a dependance used as sauna and a dressing room. In the late afternoon the stove is lighted on to heat the sauna for a healthy after dinner.
Picture: The historical 18 meters long russian helicopter Mi-8, based on a original military project, has become a multipurpose transportation facility that permits to load an important weight of passengers and luggage.
Picture: a Piranha fan boat 7,5 meters long. Project and russian manufacturing big huge fan mounted on a japanes engine permits to travel on few centimeters of water and also on ice in winter. It has six sits in the cabin a two on bow bridge. It can reach the 40 km/h speed.
