The Vasyugan Swamp lies in Tomsk Oblast and is described as the largest swamp in the world. The river system also gives the region a distinctive geographical framework: it lies entirely within the Ob River basin. The river crosses the oblast from southeast to northwest, dividing it into two almost equal parts. Moorlands, museums and cultural venues offer different perspectives on this vast travel destination.
Moorlands with clear visitor requirements
At the Vasyugansky State Nature Reserve, all excursions take place only by prior arrangement and accompanied by reserve staff. Check the current arrangements before your visit. This requirement is important if you want to include an excursion in your travel plans.
One specific option is the 27-kilometre swamp vehicle and hiking route “Zov bolotnoy tishiny” in Bakcharsky District. It is intended for visitors aged 12 to 70. The combination of two modes of transport sets this route apart from a simple walk; check the current visitor arrangements with the reserve before your trip. The Bakchar Nursery is also listed as a visitor destination in Bakcharsky District, Tomsk Oblast.
Museums and everyday life of the southern Selkup
On Lake Oskino in Parabelsky District, the “Chumel Chvech” Museum introduces visitors to the culture and everyday life of the southern Selkup group who live there. Visits must be arranged in advance. Among the museum’s first buildings are residential and everyday structures: a half-dugout with a pyramidal roof used until the 17th century, the “chulmat” log house, a clay oven, a stilted storehouse and a Russian log house with a vegetable garden. Here, you can encounter different architectural forms in their cultural context.
Opened in 2017, “Tropa okhotnika” displays traditional traps for animals and birds. These include a sable trap and a bear trap, a snare for partridges and a trap for capercaillies. The exhibition also includes a hunter’s shelter, a cone gatherer’s shelter and the temporary half-dugout “karamo”. Contact the museum directly for current visitor arrangements.
Kulai culture: exhibition, history and bronze casting
The Kulai Culture Museum dedicates its exhibition to an ancient cultural and historical community. Artefacts from this community were first discovered near Mount Kulaika; it existed from the 5th century BC to the 5th century AD. A guided tour of the permanent exhibition covers the archaeological Kulai culture and the world of the Kulai people, who lived in what is now Tomsk Oblast during this period. Tours can be booked for groups of 2 to 25 people during opening hours; check the current arrangements before your visit.
The forms of bronze casting characteristic of the Kulai culture also offer a concrete insight into its craftsmanship: they are classified as flat openwork, flat solid and hollow forms. The Kolpashevo Local History Museum focuses on the material and spiritual culture of the population in the north of the oblast. Its main collection includes, among other things, artefacts relating to the Selkup, Khanty, Evenk and Russian old-timer communities.
Crafts, festivals and Cossack culture
At “Okolitsa” Park, you can view the work of artisans all year round. Special event areas showcase regional traditions shaped by Russian, Tatar, Chinese, Uzbek, Selkup and other cultures. The rural park is also a traditional venue for the International Folk Arts and Crafts Festival “Prazdnik Topora”.
The festival has been held in Tomsk Oblast since 2008. At the “Okolitsa” Nature Park, it features four competitions for artisans, a large decorative and applied arts fair and a concert programme. Hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators from across the country and neighbouring countries come together for the event. The specific dates and programme vary from year to year; check the dates for your travel period.
Another cultural perspective is offered by the “Bratina” Park of Cossack Culture and Everyday Life in the village of Krivosheino. It explores the distinctive culture, customs and everyday life of the Siberian Cossacks. The themes found across the oblast thus range from archaeological finds and historic architectural forms to crafts, festival culture and living traditions.
Discover more destinations: Seversk, Kaftanchikovo, Tomsk, Tomsky District, Svetlyy, Asino, Strezhevoy, Semiluzhki, Bogashevo, Rodionovo, Barabinka, Tomsky District, Tomsk, Kargasoksky District, Asinovsky District, Alexandrovsky District.
For the overview of the wider region: Russia.
