Through the mountains, through the forest...

Day 1

Saturday

Meeting of the group at the airport of Irkutsk at 10.00. Day of the beginning of the journey and acquaintance with Baikal. Start it, we suggest from the village Listvyanka. Perhaps, one of the oldest settlements of Russians on the shores of the great lake, has turned into a tourist center, where each resident has several attractions, cafes and hotels, and several hundred tourists. Transfer to post. Listvyanka (65 km, ~ 1 hour).
On the way, we advise you to visit the architectural and ethnographic museum "Taltsy" (for an additional fee), where you can not only see the wooden architecture and life of the peoples of the Baikal region, but also taste real Siberian pancakes with oil in the "Trapeznaya".
We will make a sightseeing tour of Listvyanka with a visit to the observation deck at the famous Shaman-stone, listen to the romantic legend of Baikal, visit the functioning Orthodox Church of St. Petersburg. Nicholas the Wonderworker is the patron saint of all travelers and navigators. Those wishing to learn more about Baikal can go on an excursion to the Baikal Ecological Museum (additional fee), where many exhibits telling about the inhabitants of Baikal are collected, they can even be seen live in aquariums located in the museum. For tireless travelers, there is an opportunity to ride a boat along Baikal (additional fee), walk or on quad bikes (additional fee) along the forest shore of this picturesque lake. Pay attention to the purity of the water, the transparency of which can be assessed by looking at the water from the height of the coastal cliffs.
Hotel accommodation. Lunch at the hotel.
To finish the day is a visit to the souvenir market, adjacent to the fish rows, where you will be offered all the variety of Baikal fish prepared in different ways. We recommend dining in the cafe "Last century" (additional fee), the view from the window of which is wonderfully combined with the original menu, reflecting the whole flavor of Siberian and Baikal cuisine.
Meals: lunch.

Cities: Irkutsk, Listvyanka

Attractions: Shaman-stone, Baikal Museum

 

Day 2

Sunday

Breakfast at the hotel cafe. Day of moving on various types of transport: water, rail, road. And all this day to your left will be Baikal, so different, so big.
Transfer to the pier (~10 min). On a large ferry, you will cross the source of the Angara River and find yourself in the port of Baikal (~ 40 minutes) - a large railway and river port, which can not be reached by car. But from here begins to move on a special tourist train on the Circum-Baikal railway - "Golden buckle Trans-Siberian", a stunning engineering and architectural monument of the early 20th century. Transfer by tourist train to Pos. Sludyanka (~8 hours). Lunch on the train. The trip is accompanied by a story about the history of construction, unique features of the road. The number of tunnels and bridges on a fairly short stretch of the way is impressive when you remember the level of development of technology of that time – everything was built manually, capitally, for centuries.
By the evening you will be in the southernmost point of Baikal, at the foot of the majestic mountains of Hamar-Daban.
Upon arrival at the post. Slyudyanka, transfer to the hotel. Hotel accommodation. Dinner.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Listvyanka, Slyudyanka

Attractions: Circum-Baikal Railway (KBZhD)

 

Day 3.

Monday

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the beginning of the walking route. Exit up the Slyudyanka River to the tops of the ridge. The trail constantly winds from one bank to the other, crossing the river with baggage-bridges from poles and logs 15 times, passes by a marble quarry, Gorela and Cossack fields, gradually gaining an increasing height. Crystal waters of rivers, small waterfalls, rock cliffs, lush vegetation - all this is a real Hamar-Daban. Hiking lunch.
Climbing the foothills is not difficult, and the surrounding landscapes make you clutch at the camera every now and then, delaying the already low pace of movement. Day crossing is about 24 km. Stop for the night at the weather station, where there are places for installing tents, and for lovers of comfort there is an opportunity to spend the night under the roof of the houses of the camp and remove fatigue in the bath (additional fee).
Hot dinner at the stake.
Overnight in tents.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Slyudyanka

Attractions: Mount Hamar-Daban

 

4th day

Tuesday

Breakfast at camp. Leaving all the equipment in the base camp, lightly make a radial exit to the top of Chersky peak, 2090 m. From the weather station along the serpentine, there is a rather steep climb to the alpine meadows, from where wonderful views of the Hamar-Daban and Eastern Sayan ridges open. Rising above the boundaries of the forest, through the hols we go to a narrow rocky isthmus (Zhandarmsky pass). Then a fairly simple path along the rock ridge to the very top. In good weather, Baikal is clearly visible from the peak, and at the foot lies Lake Heart, so named for its shape.
Descent to camp. Hiking lunch.
For those who still have the strength and desire, there is an opportunity to go down to Lake Heart, visit the Visitor Creek, enjoy the picturesque views of the cascade of waterfalls of the Podkomarnaya River.
Hot dinner at the stake.
Overnight in tents.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Attractions: Hamar-Daban mountain range, Chersky Peak, Heart Lake

 

5th day

medium

Breakfast at camp. Descent from the base camp along the familiar path is much easier and faster. After the mountainous landscape and air, even the uncrowded Slyudyanka seems fussy and smoky. Hiking lunch.
Transfer to Arshan (~3 hours). And again moving along the hot asphalt of the road, passing along a wide valley between two mountain ranges: on the left - Hamar-Daban, on the right - Eastern Sayan. In this unique Tunkin valley you can see young volcanoes and old Buryat yurts, gray peaks of Tunkin Golts against the background of a piercing blue sky.
After driving 120 km, we get to the village of Arshan, located at the foot of the overhanging mountain peaks, which makes it seem immersed in eternal shadow. Hotel accommodation.
After accommodation in the hotel, you can independently or with a guide (additional fee) explore the village: visit the healing mineral springs (take a mug or even a plastic bottle with you), the picturesque mountain river Kyngargu, walk through the park of the Arshan resort with its natural monuments, pick up a souvenir in the entertaining market, where souvenir rows coexist with sellers of local medicinal herbs literally from all diseases.
Dinner at the hotel.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Slyudyanka, Arshan

Attractions: Hamar-Daban mountain range, Eastern Sayan Ridge, Tunkin Golts Ridge, Tunkin Valley

 

Day 6

Thursday

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion program. Today we continue to explore the picturesque surroundings and get acquainted with the amazing Tunkin valley. During the day, you will not only see almost the entire valley, but also visit the iconic places of the three religions, which are specially combined with the locals. Orthodoxy will be represented by the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, shamanism – the sacred place of Tamkha-Baryash, where they ask for protection from the gods during their journey, Buddhism – the main datsan of Tunka, located near the resort village of Nilova Pustin, also known for its radon springs. And during road crossings, the guide will not let you get bored, telling about the history of Tunky, the richest natural world, traditions and legends of these places. Lunch at the cafe.
Back to the hotel tonight. Dinner.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Arshan

Attractions: Tunkin Valley

 

Day 7.

Friday

Free day in the village of Arshan, accommodation and meals in the hotel.
We continue to explore the surrounding area. Arshan. For those who want to relax after an active route, we suggest visiting and taking a bath with water from the healing springs located in the pos. Pearls or Nilova Desert (for an additional fee).
Those who want to explore the natural sights and beauty of the Tunkin Valley can go on a guided hike to the “Peak of Love”, located at an altitude of 2124 m.
Meals: breakfast, dinner.

Cities: Arshan

 

8th day

Saturday

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Irkutsk by bus or taxi (210 km, ~ 5 hours).
A stop for photography on the observation deck of Kultuk, from where a fascinating panorama of southern Baikal and the mountains of Hamar-Daban opens. On the way – stop for lunch in a roadside cafe (for an additional fee).
And then to the suburbs of Irkutsk – Kultuksky tract with its serpentine mountain road, which inspires admiration and horror at the same time.
Upon arrival in Irkutsk – the end of the program at the railway station, the approximate time is 13.00.
Meals: breakfast, lunch.

Cities: Irkutsk, Arshan