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Bangkok & Pattaya

• Prices starting from $1799 or from $ /mo Interest-free payments also available
• 8 Days 6 Nights
• Tour code: ATP

Bangkok in a Beat

• Prices starting from $1599 or from $ /mo Interest-free payments also available
• 6 Days 4 Nights
• Tour code: ATT

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Making Memories that Last a Lifetime

Our tours cover the must-see sights and lets you sample local life and cuisine for an enriching travel experience—with flights, deluxe accommodations, transfers and well-paced itineraries included.

From stunning beaches to buzzing cities and historic wonders, Affordable World has the perfect tour for you

More choice. More freedom

We now offer our three private tour styles to explore the world with confidence— whether traveling with family, friends or a familiar, wider group.

Private Classic Tours

From $59 per person Our Private Classic Tours are a great-value way to turn select classic group tours into a private journey for a minimum of two people.

Private Flexi Tours

From $129 per person Our Private Flexi Tours let you turn our group tours into private journeys for a minimum of two people, and also give you the flexibility to set your own travel dates as you wish.

Private Tailor-Made

Create any your you like Our Private Tailor-Made Tours let you design your own unique journey or use an existing itinerary as a jumping-off point for a minimum of two people.

Private Classic Tour From $59 per person

Private Flexi Tours From $129 per person

Private Tailor-Made Create any tour you

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Find your tour

Have a dream destination in mind? Whether you want to follow your appetite to Tuscany or go wild in America’s greatest national parks, our guided tour packages will get you there.

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Answer six questions and we’ll narrow down our 175+ tours to just a few that are made for you.

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Group travel made easy

We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different.

That’s all it takes to secure a spot on one of our group tours when you sign up for AutoPay . Plus, you can pay in interest-free, monthly installments.

While you’re deciding what to take, we’ll be busy arranging your hotels, meals, tickets, and more tour essentials. That’s what going guided is all about .

Take off on your big adventure— but why stop there? Every trip you book with us earns rewards that you can use to keep expanding your horizons.

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What travelers are saying about our guided trips

Tips for planning tours & travel with us.

Here at Go Ahead, we make it easy to plan a tour. All you have to do is decide which of our travel packages excites you most, and when you’d like to travel. (A springtime escape to  Europe , anyone?) If you can’t decide, we’ll help you narrow down our vacation packages and find the perfect trip.

From there, we’ll take care of the rest. For travelers who book flights with us, our in-house team of travel experts will get to work finding flights with our trusted airline partners. And as you count down to tour, we’ll be busy booking clean, stylish, comfy hotels, planning meals at locally loved restaurants, and securing tickets to top museums, cultural sites, and, if it applies to your tour, special events.

Having our team of travel experts take care of every last logistical detail is one of  10 benefits of a guided tour versus independent travel .

When browsing our 175-plus vacation packages, here are a few things to keep in mind to help you find the just-right tours for travel to the places you’ve been dreaming of visiting.

• Your travel style.  Are you into wildlife, adventure, or food and wine? Do you want to take a deep dive into a particular destination or religion?  Want to experience a special event, or explore with a small group? We offer escorted tours designed around these  travel styles  and others so that travelers can have the experience that suits them best.
• Where you want to go.  Whether you’ve long dreamed of exploring America’s national parks, Scotland’s pristine landscapes, or Thailand’s golden temples, you can do it on our guided tours. Some of our itineraries are designed to offer travelers a deeper dive into a single country. Others take travelers to multiple countries in a single trip (think Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, or Portugal, Spain, and Morocco).
• When you want to go.  Sure, there’s nothing like Paris in the springtime. But maybe seeing the City of Light against a backdrop of fiery fall foliage is more what you have in mind. We’ll make that happen. We offer dozens of departures per tour, and in the case of some trips, we offer departures all year round. And, we make tours available for booking up to two years in advance. Having more time to pay, and more departure dates to choose from, are among the  eight benefits of booking a trip years in advance .
• Special or seasonal events.  Have you always wanted to see cherry blossoms blooming in Japan? Or sip hot, mulled wine while wandering around a European Christmas market ? Perhaps witnessing the Great Migration is at the top of your travel wish list. Events like these, and others, only happen during certain times of year, so be sure to check out tour packages for travel that occur at the same time.
• Duration.  Our tours range from six days to 22 days. Want to enjoy a quick break? Consider our shorter tours, which we offer in destinations such as Iceland, Spain, and Amsterdam. Have more time to spare? A 10-day trip to Scandinavia , or a 22-day tour of Australia and New Zealand , could be just the ticket.
• Who you want to travel with.  Many of our group trips are designed for groups of 15 to 38 travelers. (Think: more opportunities to make new friends.) If you prefer a more intimate experience, consider one of our Small Group Tours, which are designed for groups of 10 to 22 travelers. Want to explore solely with your friends or family? We happily craft Private Tours and Customized Tours for groups of seven travelers or more.

For help narrowing our trips down to the perfect tour, try our  Tour Match Quiz  →

Our trips are bookable directly through our website. (Putting $99 down with AutoPay , our interest-free payment plan, is all it takes to secure your spot on tour.) If you have questions or can’t decide which tour is right for you, you can call us at 1-800-590-1161 . We’re here to help.

We offer more than 175 tour packages. They include:

• Guided group tours.  These trips are designed for groups of 15 to 38 travelers and include Multi-Country Tours , single-country tours, and City Stay Tours , which give travelers an opportunity to explore a particular city in depth.
• Small Group Tours.  A more intimate tour experience with a group size of just 10 to 22 travelers. Small group travel styles include Food & Wine Tours, Adventure Tours, and Safari & Wildlife Tours.  
• Special Event Tours.  Typically capped at 35 or 38 travelers, these trips are designed to capture the magic of special and/or seasonal events, such as Oktoberfest, Oberammergau, New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day, Sakura (cherry blossom) season, fall foliage, Christmas markets of Europe, Halloween, and more. Find the perfect tour for you by browsing our Special Event tours .
• Private and Customized Tours.  Have a particular interest you want to explore? We happily plan Private and Customized Tours for groups of seven or more travelers. 

The price of our trip packages includes:

• A specially trained Tour Director, who will accompany your group on tour, from the moment you touch down in your destination to the time you take off again for home
• Sightseeing tours with expert local guides
• Skip-the-line admission to all museums, cultural sites, and special events that are included in your itinerary
• Overnight stays in clean, stylish, well-located hotels that our own staffers have stayed in and vetted 
• Transportation in your destination via private, luxury coach (depending on which tour you book, you may also travel by train, ferry, or airplane on tour )
• Daily breakfast at your hotel (a relaxed, convenient way to fuel up for a full day of exploring)
•  Some lunches and dinners at local restaurants or hotels 
• Free time to explore local restaurants, historical sites—anything that piques your interest—at your own pace 
• Airport transfers for travelers who book flights with us

See the latest from our travelers @goaheadtours

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Ponant Arctic Spitsbergen tour was…

Ponant Arctic Spitsbergen tour was amazing. Ponant delivered in terms of seeing the wild life - Polar Bears, Walruses, Sea Lions and Birds. The food and wine and customer service was top notch. Working with Aga at Affordable Tours made it easy to get my questions answered.

Date of experience : June 02, 2024

European Tour

Affordable tours worked with us to make booking a trip to Europe. The company switched Travel agents on us 2 times before our trip and it was difficult to make sure everyone was on the same page because it felt like I had to explain things again and never was told about the last change to another agent until I checked Affordable Tours myself. I think there should be more follow-up and involvement with the customer. Affordable tours agents should proactively call and contact their clients to ask them if they have any further questions or concerns prior to their trip and NOT wait until the client contacts them for clarification. This is good customer service if this is done and keeps people coming back to use these services.

Date of experience : May 30, 2024

Great Way to Plan your trip

I have consistantly turned to affordable tours for my travel plans. My family and I have completed over 10 land and sea tours in Europe arranged by Affordable tours.

Date of experience : June 01, 2024

Great agent

Great agent , Maya to work with. have worked with her for several years and she follows up with everything. Very attentive to details. Affordable tours great service and deals!

Date of experience : May 27, 2024

Baltic experience

Great bus driver wi was very helpful, and tour guide giving detailed and interesting information. Excellent hotels except for Mercure.. which was a little sad and fixtures in the room weren't stable. Fabulous choice of cities to visit, and other stops between were excellent.

Date of experience : May 29, 2024

Great expertise in selecting Ireland Trip

I was so impressed with the knowledge of my representative in guiding me through the selection process for the tour I wanted. There are a large number of trips you can purchase to Ireland and she assisted in finding the one that best fit my needs. The process was very efficient and excellent information was provided by my rep.

We were so lucky to have Linh Nguyen!

Our travel agent Linh Nguyen was professional, plesant and knowledgeable. We had many concerns and she addressed them all in a timely fashion. She responded quickly and offered valuable advice that made our trip fabulous!

Date of experience : May 08, 2024

I have worked with Steve Warren many…

I have worked with Steve Warren many times in the past and he has always been very receptive helping and assisting me with my travel plans. I will continue to use him in the future and have recommended him to others.

Date of experience : June 05, 2024

Our Affordable Tour Representative Dawn…

Our Affordable Tour Representative Dawn Crowley makes our Travel process so easy! She is responsive, very helpful, and a pure pleasure to work with.

Date of experience : June 07, 2024

Working with Holly was the best

Working with Holly was the best! Above the call of duty. Genuinely helpful, professional and delightful! This is my second trip with this company and I highly recommend them.

Booking with affordabletours.com

Darlena, our travel agent, has made booking this vacation pretty easy to plan. Hoping all goes as smoothly when we get to Scotland.

Affordable Travel hires great people

Affordable Travel hires great people, like Linh Nguyen, who goes out of her way to provide service, help, and advice. She has booked two tours for us...and if and when we choose to do a third tour with Affordable Travel we will most definitely ask for her help and service once again.

Date of experience : May 28, 2024

Harry Little

Harry Little, gave me exceptional service. I was very pleased with affordable tours. Will book another tour with Harry Little.

Great communication

My experience with Affordable Tours has been very pleasant. From the time I booked the tour to the time we started our tour; the communication was flawless. Questions I had was addressed in a timely manner which put my first time experience with them at ease. Thank you to my travel representative Aurora who handheld me throughout the whole process with care.

Date of experience : May 19, 2024

Had a good experience with affordable…

Had a good experience with affordable tours. Only issue was change in agents multiple times.

Exceptional Tour Group. Steven Warren was very helpful in…

Steven Warren was very helpful in working with me to plan our trip. He answered my questions very promptly and professionally. He was pleasant to correspond with and made every step so easy. We are excited and so ready to go and want to thank Steven for all his help and working with us to book our flight that fit our travel time. Everything was taken care of for us and making payments was so easy. Wonderful experience and would certainly recommend your services and will be happy to let you know how the trip goes

Date of experience : May 22, 2024

Wonderful experience

We had a wonderful agent Maureen. She made the experience an easy and wonderful one. When my husband had medical issues and we had to cancel our trip 5 days before we were to leave, she had all the info we needed to file for our trip insurance. She was very supportive and wrote several times to inquire about his health. Would definitely use her again if Bob can travel.

Date of experience : May 13, 2024

AFT and Ambra are Awesome!

I have worked with AFT on all off my recent international trips. I found the interactions positive and professional. Agents such as Ambra respond promptly, clearly and are willing to interact with a "personal touch" i.e. I feel I am not just some random person on the other end of the line. I especially like the extra discounts offered and when agents such as Ambra work to find and apply any and all possible discounts. The more discounts i.e. "Affordable" a trip, the more trips I can "Afford" to take!! Thanks. I have recommended your agency to others and look forward to working on my next trip. (Note: Ambra is again working to help me on another trip this October). Please keep up the good work and especially securing discounts for your clients.

Date of experience : May 21, 2024

Our latest Canada land tour and Alaska…

Our latest Canada land tour and Alaska cruise was a very nice experience specially when arrange by a professional representative. I strongly recommend Sarah and will ask again her assistance in all future trips.

Date of experience : May 07, 2024

Maureen has been there from start to…

Maureen has been there from start to finish assisting us all the way to its fruition. She has exceeded my expectation and met our travel needs until all our questions are answered. She’s d very knowledgeable on travel requirements, documents and spot on in giving us suggestions to our satisfaction. I will seek her services the third time around.

Date of experience : May 14, 2024

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Fun, Easy & Affordable Group Tours

Choose from more than 80 trips across 50 countries around the world

Why choose Expat Explore Travel’s group holidays?

We provide unbeatable value on our range of fun and affordable guided tours worldwide

Our family of tour leaders, drivers and local guides are with you every step of the way

Price includes hotels, private transport, a range of meals and unforgettable travel experiences

Explore the world with us!

With tours to the top travel destinations around the globe, you can truly see the world for less. 

Europe Multi-Country

Discover the countless wonders of Europe, including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, the Swiss Alps and more.

UK & Ireland

Experience up to five must-see countries included in our unforgettable UK, Great Britain and Ireland tours.

From the canals of Venice and history of Rome to the sunny beaches of the south, Italy will take your breath away!

Spain & Portugal

Visit two of Europe’s most romantic and scenic countries with these unforgettable Spain and Portugal tour packages.

Eastern Europe

Immerse yourself in the old towns, cobblestone streets and historic architecture of Eastern Europe’s top destinations.

All Christmas & New Year Tours

Explore Europe over the festive season, including the UK, Ireland, Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal and beyond!

Scandinavia

Experience the stunning landscapes and modern cities of Scandinavia. Visit Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland!

Croatia, Greece & Turkey

With sun, sea and stunning sights, Croatia, Greece and Turkey tours should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Immerse yourself in local cultures on Expat Explore’s single and multi-country rail tours through Europe.

Amsterdam to Budapest Rail Explorer

Explore the many highlights of Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Budapest on this scenic rail tour.

Italy Rail Express

Experience La Dolce Vita in incredible Italian destinations such as Naples, Milan, Florence, Pisa and Venice.

Milan to Amsterdam Rail Express

Discover the top destinations and attractions from Milan to Amsterdam, including the Black Forest, Alsace and more.

Prague to Budapest Rail Express

Visit the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria while enjoying ample free time in each destination to explore.

Tick astounding attractions off your bucket list on guided tours through Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia!

On our Japan tours, be astounded by Japan’s natural beauty, modern cities, ancient wonders and hidden gems!

From Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, journey through the historic sights and breathtaking scenery of Vietnam.

Most famous for the incredible Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia tours offer history, adventure and cultural wonders.

South America Tours

Explore South America’s top destinations, including Brazil, Peru, Argentina.

Bask in Brazil’s beauty, capture the iconic Christ the Redeemer, and stand in awe at the Iguazu Falls.

Tango to the heartbeat of Argentina! Experience São Paulo, and let Buenos Aires take your breath away.

Soak up the scenery in Peru! Marvel at Machu Picchu, traverse the Sacred Valley, and discover vibrant Lima.

Middle East Tours

Travel to the Middle East and explore the ancient history, vibrant culture and awe-inspiring experiences!

Africa Tours

Discover the spectacular scenery of South Africa and the ancient wonders of Egypt on our Africa tours.

Egypt tours offer a fascinating insight into ancient civilization. Visit iconic landmarks, cities and the Great Pyramids!

Encounter the Jordan River Valley, Jerash, Mount Nebo and visit Petra, one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.

South Africa

From safari to surf, scenic drives, adventure and wilderness, allow us to introduce you to South Africa's unrivalled diversity.

Explore Turkey (Türkiye) and be enchanted by Istanbul, Pamukkale, the fairytale Cappadocia, and much more!

USA & Canada

Discover the USA and Canada through city tours, historic sites, nature walks and iconic local cuisine.

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Travel Inspiration

Get excited to travel! Read stories from our travellers, plus discover useful travel tips, trends and destination information! 

See what other travellers who have been on tour with us have to say about their travel experiences.

Expat Explore offers great value for all they provide on their trips. Some of the nicest people I know I’ve met on Expat Explore tours. The tour leaders are friendly professionals who know their jobs inside and out and are great travelling companions as well. Expat Explore does all the work, including great bus drivers, hotels, breakfasts, and many dinners, while customers like me just sit back and enjoy some of the best experiences of a lifetime!

I actually did a little bit of travelling before the tour began without an organised tour and at times it got really stressful. I was a lot more tired and there is a lot of work to be done outside the sightseeing. I will definitely be back with Expat Explore. I find comfort in knowing I only have to make it to the coach each day. If the rest doesn’t go to plan, that’s ok because I’ll be on the bus experiencing it with everyone else.

Going somewhere new can be scary because you don’t always know what to expect and there may be language barriers. Travelling on a tour just makes the most sense and is also more affordable. To recreate the same itinerary ourselves would have been more expensive. Group rates are awesome! You always have something to do and plenty of free time to do your own thing. You also meet great people along the way. We also felt very safe with a tour leader.

A few years ago, a family member told me the story of two South Africans who had started a travel company together in London with the aim of making travel more accessible. The story made an impression on me and, not long after, I booked my first tour with them. Choosing Expat Explore this time around was a no-brainer. In fact, we’d settled on Expat Explore before deciding on a destination!

I absolutely LOVE Expat Explore for the ease provided in regards to transportation to each and every location. Expat Explore is able to squeeze in the most activity possible for your time there! Forever grateful to Expat Explore for the unique opportunity to immerse into a country’s culture with thoughtful itineraries and memorable experiences that push outside one’s comfort zone.

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Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA)

We are a Member of ABTA, membership number Y6593. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Read More

Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT)

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Expat Explore Travel, membership number 5517. Read More

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Holidays to Africa (51 available)

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Coastal Cities & Cultural Treasures

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South Africa & Zimbabwe

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China 360: Cities & Guilin Mountains

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Escorted Eternal Cities

Treasures of Anatolia

Self-Guided Japanese Adventure

Grand Tour & Kasbah Route

South Africa

Cape & kruger explorer.

From Sacred Valley to Lake Titicaca

Mesmerizing Peruvian Dream 360

Great Pyramids & Full-Board Nile Cruise

Amazon & Island Hopping in Galapagos

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Enjoy life-changing experiences with total peace of mind. We adhere to ATOL’s code of ethics and offer cancellation cover as standard. That's why our customers consistently rate us with an Excellent score.

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Multi-country tours

Explore our multi-country tours. Let yourself be surprised by our extended version top sellers.

Argentina & Brazil

Latin capitals & iguazu falls.

Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand

Southeast asian odyssey.

Peru & Ecuador

Incas, amazon and galapagos.

Brazil, Argentina & Chile

Cities, falls & glaciers of south america.

Portugal & Spain

Lisbon, fatima, porto & barcelona.

Jordan & Egypt

Hashemite kingdom, pyramids & nile cruise.

Portugal & Morocco

Cultural treasures, bazaars & kasbahs.

Peru, Argentina & Brazil

Cities, falls and wonders, our most popular last minute getaways.

Destinations to savour this summer

Self-Guided Rome, Amalfi Coast & Sicily

Uncover america.

America is Amazonian rainforests, monstrous glaciers, vibrant streets bursting with Latin flair, and turquoise seas lapping pristine sands.

From the Iguazu Falls to Patagonia

South American Cities & Wonders

Brazil, Argentina, Peru & Ecuador

Ultimate south american odyssey.

Essence of Argentina

Buenos Aires & Iguazu Falls

Chile & Argentina

South american capitals & mendoza, exoticca travel stories.

Creating unforgettable memories, one traveler at a time

Machu Picchu · Peru

The trip was amazing...

The guides were informative and made interesting stops along the way during our transfers. We added the tour of the Sacred Valley and saw the Temple of the Sun, which was a highlight after being at Machu Picchu the previous day. We saw even more of the Inca's amazing architecture and terraces.

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Travel to Asia

Take the plunge and travel to these far-off countries. Find pristine beaches, unique mountains, prehistoric rainforest and some of the world's most vibrant cities.

Saudi Arabia

Arabia 360: art, skyscrapers & deserts.

Vietnam & Cambodia

From ha long bay to angkor wat.

South East Treasures and Paradise Beaches

Mekong Delta Cruise & Khmer Temples

Hong Kong, Vietnam & Cambodia

Skyscrapers & temples of south east asia.

Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Thailand

Mekong treasures: river cruise & temples.

Great Wall, Warriors & Shanghai

Hong Kong & China

Hong kong and continental china, discover africa.

Africa flows from bustling cities to vast plains dotted with spritely gazelle, earth-shaking grey giants, and majestic lions.

Savannah, Safari & Maasai Mara

Kenya & Tanzania

From the maasai mara to the serengeti.

Nairobi, Wildlife Safari & Nyahururu

Jewels of Morocco: The 360 Experience

Full-Board Nile Cruise & Great Pyramids

Pyramids, Nile Cruise & All-Inc. Red Sea

Explore europe.

Europe spoils with its dizzying array of cultural hotspots, fabulous fjords, snow-covered peaks and achingly romantic squares bathed in history.

Switzerland

Escorted alps and cities of switzerland.

Ancient Ruins, Mykonos, Paros & Santorini

Glaciers, Waterfalls & Hot Springs

Cultural Treasures & Algarve Escape

Between the Balkans and the Adriatic Sea

Exploring oceania.

Cities & Natural Wonders of Australia

The Ultimate Australian Tour

New Zealand

Unveiling new zealand's wonders.

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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