tommy's living desert tour

Tommy’s Living Desert Tours

Tommy’s Living Desert Tours offer a unique opportunity to explore the enigmatic beauty of Namibia’s Namib Desert from Swakopmund. These guided desert tours are one of the most popular Namibian activities  and are suitable for the whole family. Guided by a team of experienced and passionate professionals, they unveil the hidden treasures of this barren landscape, focusing on the tiny creatures that call the desert home. These include various species of skinks, snakes, chameleons, scorpions, geckos, and lizards, many of which are endemic to the region. The desert is alive!

The tours are designed to be educational, exciting, and eco-aware, fostering a deep appreciation for desert ecology. Many tourists comment that a Swakopmund desert tour is the highlight of their stay in Swakopmund.

Their passion for the Namib Desert is unmatched, driven by over 20 years of experience in the industry. They are committed to making each tour an unforgettable experience, creating lasting memories for guests that will make them want to return again and again. This love and knowledge of the Namib Desert and their dedication to guest satisfaction set them apart from many other Namibian tour and safari companies.

Tommy’s Living Desert Tours offer other adventurous experiences besides the renowned Living Desert Tour. The Moon Landscape tour, just outside Swakopmund, and an adventurous half-day tour to the world-famous Sandwich Harbour.

Tommy Collard founded Tommys Tours and Safaris in 1997 and is regarded as one of the most passionate and knowledgeable desert guides around. His intimate knowledge for the Namib Desert and its creatures has been passed on to the team of expert guides he has trained. Guests can therefore expect an exciting and informative desert tour led by guides who display a deep interest about the desert and its inhabitants.

Desert Tours last between 4 – 5 hours and it is recommended that you bring along a hat and sunscreen. Refreshments are included.

Tours are done every day of the year except for the 25th of December and the 1st of January.

Exploring Namibia’s Sandbox with Tommy’s Living Desert Tours

As we made our way down the B2 highway and past a sea of sand dunes that is the Namib Desert  I couldn’t help but wonder how anything could survive it’s harsh conditions. We had just finished our day in Windhoek tour and made our way across the ever changing landscape to the coastal town of Swakopmund where, thanks to Tommy’s Living Desert Tours, I was about to find out just how wild that pile of sand is.

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Posh pick up

Our day with Tommy’s Living Desert tour started with a pick up from our awesome accommodations – The Swakopmund Legacy Hotel and entertainment center. Once the towns train station, today is an entertainment complex complete with a casino, restaurants, theatre, and a lovely pool courtyard for guests.

With accommodations this attractive it shouldn’t have been a surprise that are Tommy’s living Desert tour guide rolled up in a spotless Land Rover .

Once all the guest arrived an energetic and shoeless man appeared, as if rising from the sand, to greet us. Tommy, owner and head guide of Tommy’s Living Desert Tours, Is a quirky and eccentric fellow. I suppose you would have to be to play with snakes for a living . He dove into the sand and gave us a rundown on how Tommy’s Living Desert tour works and explained the research his company does as well as what to look out for while walking in the sand. The first being Wheel Spiders which he then dug up and showed us its intricate yet fascinating silk web.

Into the Wild

Before heading out in Tommy’s Living Desert tours custom Land Rover vehicles (more like modified tanks) Tommy and his assistant released a snake and a chameleon into the wild. Very little is known about these lizards so Tommy’s Living Desert Tour marks them with chips to track their behaviours. This is also done to prevent poaching, something I didn’t no was a problem but could quickly see why after holding a chameleon for the first time.

They. Are. Awesome.

Feeding Time

We bombed through the desert where we came across a few more chameleons including one large female and one baby. Tommy went on to explain how the  Tenebrionid   Beetle collects tiny drops of moisture on its back from the morning due to survive the harsh conditions of the desert. Fascinating.

Then he fed them to the chameleons.

For the Birds

It’s not often you drive through desert and find a bathroom but that is what we did next. Tommy’s Living Desert tour rents and places portable bathrooms at its snack stop. Nice touch. This is also where the bird show up. They have become so used to Tommy’s living Desert tour that they will eat (and shit) out (in) of your hand with a simple whistle.

Snake Whisper

At one point I thought that Tommy’s Living Desert tour used a bit of trickery to find its creatures. While walking around and listening to Tommy talk, his assistance always seems to find something interesting. Always when her back was turned . Hmmm. Horned Adder snakes, baby chameleons, and  Namib Dune Geckos . I was skeptical. That was of course until I watched Tommy jump out of a moving vehicle and wrestle up a snake, getting bit several times in the process.

Steve Irwin your heart out.

Science Lesson

Not everything on Tommy’s Living Desert tour was about snakes and beetles. At one point he stopped to inspect one of the many fields of black sand. Using the powerful magnet, Tommy demonstrated how this natural phenomenon is actually iron. Cool.

If snakes, chameleons, and strange science tricks weren’t enough, our time with Tommy’s Living Desert Tour concluded with a thrilling drive through the dunes. We were planning on renting ATVs and driving the dunes ourselves but after racing up and over the area with Tommy’s Living Desert tour we didn’t feel the need anymore. It was that great.

Tommy’s Living Desert Tour – a must do

Although my time in Namibia was limited, I’m so very glad I spent most of it with Tommy’s Living Desert tour. It was a day filled with adorable chameleons, amazing desert scenery, deadly snakes, and a man just crazy enough to tie it all together in a fun and educating way. For that I’m thankful for Tommy’s Living Desert tour and highly recommended.

I will never look at a pile of sand the same again.

Tommy’s Living Desert Tour Good to Know

What say you? Thoughts on Tommy’s Living Desert tour in Namibia? Let’s hear it!

For more reviews from Africa  and beyond see HERE .

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Ahhh this looks like a seriously cool trip! Namibia is creeping higher and higher on my travel list!

And it should! Such a wonderfully cool place!

AMAZING! Looks like so much fun. You really get to do the coolest stuff. Someday!

Cheers Haily! It was great and hope you get there someday yourself! Read my ebook if you think it is unreachable. It’s easier than you think!

Cool. Would love to try this someday.

You should Rob!

Chameleons really are great. Would love to see them in the wild!

They are so cool. Very chill!

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Tommy’s Living Desert Tours / Swakopmund

Experience a breath taking trip into the Namib Desert where Tommy will introduce you to the typical desert-life of the dunes around Swakopmund .

You will learn about plant life, minerals, all the animals around, and you will experience a dune-drive.

Animals which are possible (not guaranteed) to be seen are sidewinders, Palmato geckoes, Namaqua chameleons, Fitzsimons burrowing skinks, sand-diving lizards and scorpions to name just a few. This tour has been developed by Tommy himself over several years, and it is a unique 4×4 adventure drive which will prove to you that the desert is anything but just dry and empty! Kids are welcome!

Simply click on the title of the tour to book your seat.

RATES 2018-2019

Valid 1 st January, 2018 to 31 st December, 2019

* Unfortunately no credit card facilities.

* Namibia Tourism Board registration number:  TSO00197.

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Tommy’s Living Desert Tour, another kind of safari…

Last updated on February 14, 2024 by Claire Robinson - this article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I get a small commission ( more )

Tommy's living desert tour or how to encounter the small animals living in the sand dunes in Swakopmund! This was truly a unique experience, another kind of safari where you discover chameleons, lezards and snakes. Quite a change from the giraffes and elephants!

Navigate back to the complete  Namibia Travel Guide

INFO & REVIEW - Tommy's living desert tour

As my last day in Namibia arrived, I reached the coastal town of Swakopmund. It offers many activities and it was hard to reduce my selection. At the end I went with a 2 hour flight over Namibia and this other kind of safari in the desert nearby.

REVIEW FOR TRAVEL PLANNING ADDICTS - Tommy's Living Desert Tour

First of all, I have selected myself and paid fully for that tour . This review is based on my own experience in November 2012.

• ​Tour: Tommy's Living Desert Tour
• Organisation: no hiccups, it all went smoothly
• Guide: this is the awesome part, he is really amazing and knowledgeable and experienced. I was very impressed with his capacity to find the tiny animals.
• Ambiance: people looking at white sand trying to spot a 1m white snake, crazy fun ambiance!
• Vehicle: in good conditions. We were more than normal size and he hired a 4WD driver and his car to take us on top of the bus
• Food: morning break was OK
• General evaluation: I do recommend strongly to do this tour
• Don't forget those are wild animals and sightings are not guaranteed...

The search for animals in the sand

The safari with giraffes, elephants, lions and all are thrilling but watching Tommy’s barefoot in this sand dunes and desert findings us very small animal was a delight.

This is the search area scenery and Tommy searching barefoot. You just wonder on Earth he can find those tiny spots in the sand… well 20 years of experience can help.

The chameleon

From the distance, what they pointed to us looked like a big rock and I still did not believe it was an animal until I was standing 2 meters away. Meet the Chameleon:

My favorite was the snake we found. It moves very fast and is almost the color of the sand. Sometimes it leaves small traces, so Tommy was following them for a long time and for almost a kilometer I think until we spotted it. It moves quite fast so once Tommy places it back on the sand we saw it moving sideways and disappear in the sand.

The Geckos 

We found several geckos and were able to look at them up-close. Some has fun getting some new hearings as they bit wuite hard. When we left it in the sand, we discovered how he makes its way through the sand. Fascinating to watch.

Video of the geckos getting in the sand:

And more fauna and flora...

There were more animals and plants to discover, but not aas fascinating

The bonus pleasure of 4Wdriving in the sand dunes 

Want to see more of namibia.

Discover more things to do with photos and planning information in my online Namibia Travel Guide .

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Tommy’s Tours and Safaris Swakopmund

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• +264 64 461038
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• Longitude: 14.526176
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Tommy’s Tours and Safaris

The Living Desert Tour, originally developed by Tommy himself in the 1990’s, is a unique 4x4 adventure drive through the dunes outside Swakopmund, Namibia. Just the drive in the dunes is an amazing experience, but Tommy will show you a lot more than sand. The tour takes you from the vegetated, life-rich eastern side of the dunes, right through the dunes to the Atlantic Ocean on the western side of the dune belt.

Tommy introduces you to some of the fascinating, hidden life in this apparently barren landscape that is part of the Namib Desert. Here you can find creatures endemic to the Namib: the sidewinder (Peringuey's Adder), the Palmato Gecko with its transparent skin and beautiful colours - we dig into the dune side to find this nocturnal desert-dweller. We track the large Namaqua Chameleon, and watch it enjoy brunch. Then it's a dash to catch the swift sand-diving lizard.

We find out how the area's plants and small animals survive the harsh climate, and how they obtain water for life. You will also track a FitzSimon's Burrowing Skink across the dune face, in hopes of catching this legless lizard. Along the way, Tommy will explain the variety of dune colours. At the end of the tour, weather permitting, you will experience a 'roaring' dune.

Other characters to be found in the dune belt are the 'dancing' White Lady Spider; the Parabuthus Villosus black scorpion; the occasional horned adder or sand-snake; desert wasps, fish-moths, crickets and several beetle species, and many more.

A Living Desert Tour with the enthusiastic Tommy is educational, fun and an unforgettable experience. You will see the desert and dunes with new eyes. The photographic opportunities are endless too: make sure those batteries are charged before you leave!

FULL DAY COMBINATION LIVING DESERT-WELWITCHIA/MOON LANDSCAPE TOUR

See all the desert that the area has to offer in this full day tour, by doing a Living Desert Tour in the morning, Welwitchia/Moon Landscape in the afternoon. The ever-popular Welwitschia/Moon Landscape drive takes us inland to the "Moon Landscape" and the Swakop River Canyon with its amazing rock formations; the Oasis Goanikontes, flora such as the Welwitchia Mirabilis plant, Tsamma, 'Living Stones'; sightings of wildlife, lichen fields, and much more.

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Welcome to Namibia

Welcome to Namibia - A country with vast open spaces, a rich cultural history and a diverse environmental mix.

Namibia is a proud country and well known for it's friendly people, wildlife and interesting floral kingdom.

Visitors, be prepared to expect the unexpected.

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When booking accommodation on Discover Namibia you are using Nightsbridge, the establishment's own booking system.

On-line accommodation availability checks and bookings directly with the establishments are therefore possible.

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LIVING DESERT ADVENTURES

Discover the little 5.

ABOUT OUR LIVING DESERT TOUR

Our Living Desert tour, also known as the "Little 5" tour, explores the local dune belt between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. While conducting tours, we take special care not to cause any damage to the dune ecosystem. During our tour we will discuss topics such as endemic fauna and flora, conservation and geology. Plenty of time will be made available for frequent stops to take photos of the dunes and the surrounding environment.

We will continuously stop to look for animal tracks on the dunes (locally known as 'reading the bushman newspaper'), to determine which creatures were active the previous night. Wherever possible, we will try to catch some of these amazing, specially adapted, dune animals, in order to photograph and learn more about them.

Our guides will take great care to share their wealth of knowledge on the desert and the unique adaptations that the animals and plants use to survive in this harsh, sensitive ecosystem, which depends on the life-giving fog that rolls in daily.

Special attention is given to keep the desert in pristine condition, and much care and respect is exercised while handling the delicate desert animals.

Some of the amazing endemic species that can be found on this tour include the web-footed Namib dune gecko, shovel-snouted lizards, snakes, chameleons, skinks, scorpions and a variety of beetles and insects, including numerous plants that survive in this barren habitat.

TOUR DESCRIPTION

The tour starts at 08h00 and ends between 12h00 and 13h00.

We will fetch you at your guest house between 08h00 and 08h15 and drop you at your guest house after the tour (pickups only in Swakopmund).

Please identify your guest house when booking.

If you stay outside of Swakopmund, we will arrange a pickup point.

Tours are done in English and German, or a mix of both languages, depending on the nationality of the tourists.

If everybody on the tour is German, then we can offer a German-only tour, otherwise the tour is in English with German translations.

Please take note of our group size – we start with a minimum of two people and accommodate a maximum of 16  people on a tour. Our guide team consists of four guides. 

Larger groups up to 30 people can be booked on request.

RATES    (valid from 01/11/2023 to 31/10/2024)

Our tour costs N$850 per person in cash on completion of the tour.

We also accept the equivalent amount in Euro or USD

We do not have a credit card facility

CHILDREN POLICY

Children 12 years or younger pay half price –  N$450 .

Young children should be well behaved and under adult supervision.

CANCELLATION POLICY

No cancellation fees will be charged due to Covid-19-related cancellations. (Subject to change)

Should you want to cancel this tour, then please let us know well in advance so that we can sell your seat to somebody else.

A last minute cancellation (within 48 Hours), no-show on the day of the tour, or an incorrect booking from your side, will result in 100% cancellation fees.

Breakfast and lunch is not included. Please have a good breakfast at your guest house before the tour.

Soft drinks and water are included on the tour.

Dress warmly if it is cold, and remember a hat, sun block and sunglasses.

Walking shoes or sandals are fine, and you can walk barefoot if the sand is not too hot.

Remember your camera and a macro lens if you have one – pocket cameras have a macro lens built in already.

Modern mobile phones can also be used to take great pictures which can be used instantly on social media.

Toilets – it is advisable to go to the toilet before you are picked up for the tour, as there is no toilet on our tour. If you do need the toilet we will provide you with a scenic, hygienic, panoramic natural dune toilet at your request.

!! FOR SHORT NOTICE OR URGENT BOOKINGS PLEASE WHATSAPP OR CALL +264 81 128 1038 !!

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• Living Desert Tour
• Combo Living Desert / Sandwich Harbour

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Browse Walks in Elektrostal’, Moscow Oblast, RU

The world is a beautiful place filled with wonderful people and amazing experiences. Let's share that with each other.

• Moscow Oblast
• Elektrostal’

Exploring the History and Culture of Elektrostal: A 2-Hour Walking Tour

This two-hour walking tour of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia, will take you through the city’s vibrant streets and squares, giving you a chance to explore the city’s unique culture and history. The tour will begin at the Elektrostal City Hall (Address: ul. Lenina, 1, Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia; Latitude/Longitude: 55.814092, 38.445045). Here, you can admire the building’s impressive architecture and learn about the city’s history. Next, you will head to the Elektrostal Museum of Local Lore (Address: ul. Lenina, 2, Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia; Latitude/Longitude: 55.814092, 38.445045). This museum is home to a variety of artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the city’s past. From there, you will make your way to the Elektrostal Central Market (Address: ul. Lenina, 3, Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia; Latitude/Longitude: 55.814092, 38.445045). Here, you can browse the stalls and pick up some souvenirs or local delicacies. Afterwards, you will head to the Elektrostal Cathedral (Address: ul. Lenina, 4, Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia; Latitude/Longitude: 55.814092, 38.445045). This beautiful church is a great place to admire the city’s architecture and take in the atmosphere. Next, you will make your way to the Elektrostal Art Gallery (Address: ul. Lenina, 5, Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia; Latitude/Longitude: 55.814092, 38.445045). Here, you can admire the works of local artists and learn about the city’s art scene. Afterwards, you will head to the Elektrostal Park (Address: ul. Lenina, 6, Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia; Latitude/Longitude: 55.814092, 38.445045). This park is a great place to take a break and relax in the shade of the trees. Finally, you will make your way to the Elektrostal Shopping Center (Address: ul. Lenina, 7, Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia; Latitude/Longitude: 55.814092, 38.445045). Here, you can find a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as a cinema. Along the way, you can also stop at some of the city’s interesting shops and eateries. For example, you can visit the Kofein Coffee Shop (Address: ul. Lenina, 8, Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia; Latitude/Longitude: 55.814092, 38.445045) for a cup of coffee and a snack, or the Kvartal Pub (Address: ul. Lenina, 9, Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia; Latitude/Longitude: 55.814092, 38.445045) for a beer and some traditional Russian food.

Elektrostal’ Moscow Oblast Russia Tour Companies

Walking in Freedom Ministries

Walking in Freedom Ministries also conducts training seminars for pastors, leaders and prayer teams to equip them to effectively minister restoration and new life to those the Lord has placed under their care. Their ministry has touched and changed hundreds of lives through truth, love, compassion and the power of the Holy Spirit, and many of them are now experiencing abun ... More dant life in their families, churches and workplaces. The mission of our Lord Jesus Christ has never changed, and Walking in Freedom Ministries, Inc. is dedicated to carrying on that same mission today. Through individual and small group ministry, they speak God's truths into their lives and invite the Holy Spirit to do a deep work of healing and restoration.

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Mumbai City Tours and Travel: Slum Tour Dharavi wants to provide much deeper insight into Mumbai's daily lives, cultures, contrasts, and the people. Inspired by HIP HOP Culture, in the past years, we arranged recreational B-boying (Break Dance) classes & other educational classes for the children on weekends. Now, we are planning to work on more such projects. Support our ... More community by being a part of Tribevibe and create social changes in the area with us.

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

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Pages:  379-406

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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