Discover the Tuva Republic

• Ush-Beldir Nature Park is home to about 130 glacial lakes. The park lies in the far east of the Tuva Republic, on the border with Mongolia.
• The Shu area encompasses taiga, glaciated ridges of the Western Sayan Mountains, and numerous rivers and lakes.
• In Kyzyl, you will find, among other places, a National Music and Drama Theater, a Buddhist temple, and Arat Square.
• The Uvs Nuur Basin is a transboundary World Heritage site shared by Mongolia and Tuva.

Ush-Beldir brings lakes and geology together. The nature park lies along the border with Mongolia; its approximately 130 glacial lakes offer a glimpse of the alpine landscape. Thermal waters are another defining feature: high-temperature mineral water emerges from around a dozen springs and boreholes at elevations of 1,120 to 1,127 meters. The park describes the water as nitrogen-bearing. These details describe a natural phenomenon, not a specific bathing or treatment service.

In the Shu area, taiga, glaciated ridges of the Western Sayan Mountains, and numerous bodies of water converge. The local population has revered this natural complex as a sacred site since ancient times. Annual mountaineering meets are held on peaks in the area for athletes from the Siberian region, with up to several hundred climbers taking part.

The Dustug-Khem spring is located near the mouth of the Tustu-Khem River. The nature park describes it as a local healing spring and its mineral water as having healing properties. The spring has long been known to tourists and is visited by them.

The wider region also includes the transboundary Uvs Nuur Basin. Its landscape includes cold desert, desert steppe and steppe, various types of forest, wetlands, freshwater and saltwater systems, as well as dunes and tundra. Peaks reach about 4,000 meters above sea level, rising above Uvs Nuur, which lies at an elevation of around 800 meters. The ecosystems provide habitats for argali, Siberian ibex, Pallas’s cats, and the globally endangered snow leopard. The basin is a shared World Heritage site of Mongolia and Tuva, not an exclusively Tuvan area.

Kyzyl offers a variety of places where you can explore cultural history. The National Music and Drama Theater of the Tuva Republic was founded in 1936 and is named after actor and playwright Viktor Shogzhapovich Kok-ool, a Distinguished Artist of the RSFSR. The Buddhist temple Tsechenling has eight stupas, each symbolizing an important event in the life of Buddha. In Arat Square, a fountain complex was carved from agalmatolite in the traditional Tuvan style by local stonecutters in 1984.

The history of political repression is also present in Kyzyl: the museum dedicated to it is housed in a building that was home to the NKVD special commandant’s office of the Tuvan People’s Republic in the 1930s. Prisoners were held in the basement. Those interested in traditional crafts can also find courses for children and adults in Kyzyl. The Center for the Development of Tuvan Traditional Culture and Crafts offers them year-round, covering blacksmithing, wood and stone carving, traditional musical instrument making, and sewing national clothing. Check the latest schedule before visiting.

A center for Tuvan culture in Kyzyl focuses in particular on khoomei throat singing and also offers courses in traditional crafts. Its courtyard features a traditional Tuvan yurt, where workshops are held on traditional cuisine, folk games, and other aspects of the culture. For courses and workshops, it is a good idea to check the latest dates in advance.

The Taiga area is home to a ski station of the same name. Taiga is also a popular recreation area for residents of Kyzyl, the capital of the Tuva Republic. The archaeological site known as the “Valley of the Kings” is located there, on the banks of the Uyuk River. Numerous Scythian-period burial mounds define the site, which is considered a unique archaeological monument of southern Siberia. Taiga therefore combines recreation, winter sports, and an archaeological landscape; this does not confirm that the ski station is currently operating.

A notice from the nature park states that a one-time permit is required to visit most protected areas. According to the notice, permits for the Taiga, Shu, Ush-Beldir, and Shanchy areas could be requested through the nature park’s website. Check the park’s latest permit guidance before your trip, as the notice does not confirm current access.

For information on individual subregions, you can also visit Kyzyl City, Kyzyl, Turan, and Piy-Khemsky District. Discover more destinations: Zabaykalsky Krai, Novgorod Oblast, Magadan Oblast, Murmansk Oblast.

Where are the glacial lakes and thermal waters?

Ush-Beldir Nature Park is home to about 130 glacial lakes. High-temperature mineral water also emerges there from around a dozen springs and boreholes at elevations of 1,120 to 1,127 meters.

What cultural sites are there in Kyzyl?

The sites described include the National Music and Drama Theater, Tsechenling Temple, Arat Square, and the Museum of the History of Political Repression. Cultural centers offer courses and workshops on crafts and Tuvan culture; check dates in advance.

Do you need a permit to visit protected areas?

A notice from the nature park states that a one-time permit is required for most protected areas. As the notice does not confirm current access, check the park’s latest guidance before your trip.

For the main travel overview: Russia.