Through the mountains, through the woods.

1st

Sightseeing tour of Listvyanka

10:00 Group gathering at the airport of Irkutsk.

Excursion to pos. Listvyanka is perhaps one of the oldest Russian settlements on the shores of the great lake. From time immemorial Listvyanka was the Gate to Baikal. Now it has turned into a tourist center, with equipped sights, museums, cafes, restaurants, hotels and riding centers.

In Listvyanka, we will make a sightseeing tour of the village with a visit to the observation deck to 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 (for an 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 (for an additional fee) along the forest shore of this picturesque lake.

This busy day will end with 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 assure you that you will not resist the temptation to try Baikal delicacies.

Return to Irkutsk. Hotel accommodation.

Length of crossing: 65 km. Travel time: ~ 1 hour.
Meals included: Lunch at the hotel.

2.

Travel to Slyudyanka on the Circum-Baikal Railway

Transfer to the marina.

On a large ferry, you will cross the source of the Angara River and find yourself in the port of Baikal, a large railway and river port that cannot be reached by car.

From here begins the transfer on a special tourist train on the Circum-Baikal railway - "Golden buckle Transsib", a stunning engineering and architectural monument of the early 20th century.

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.

On arrival at the post. Sludyanka transfer to the hotel.

The length of the crossing: car ~ 10 minutes, by ferry ~ 40 minutes, by tourist train ~ 8 hours.
Meals included: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the train, dinner at the hotel.

3

Climb to the Hamar-Daban weather station

Transfer to the beginning of the walking route.

Exit up the river Slyudyanka 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.

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.

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).

Day crossing: about 24 km.
Meals included: breakfast in the hotel, hiking lunch, hot dinner at the stake.

4.

Climbing Chersky Peak

Leaving heavy equipment in the base camp, lightly make a radial exit to the top.

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). Next, a fairly simple path along the rock crest to the peak (2090 m).

In good weather, Baikal is clearly visible from the peak, and at the foot lies Lake Heart, so named for its shape.

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.

Descent to camp.

Meals included: breakfast in the camp, hiking lunch, hot dinner at the stake.

5

Return to Slyudyanka, departure to Arshan

Descent from base camp along the familiar path to the pos. Slutty.

Moving along the hot asphalt of the road passing through 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 towering mountain peaks, captivating the eye.

After accommodation in the hotel, you can independently or with a guide explore the village: visit the healing mineral springs, the picturesque mountain river Kyngargu, stroll through the park of the resort "Arshan" with its natural monuments, pick up a souvenir on the entertaining market, where souvenir rows coexist with sellers of local medicinal herbs literally from all diseases.

The length of the move: ~ 3 hours.
Meals included: breakfast in the camp, hiking lunch, dinner in the hotel

6

Thematic tour of the Tunkin Valley

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 religions, which are combined in a special way among local residents.

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.

During the road crossings, the guide will tell about the history of Tunka, the richest natural world, traditions and legends of these places.

In the evening, return to the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast in the hotel, lunch in the cafe, dinner in the hotel.

7

Survey of the surrounding area. Arshan

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 included: breakfast and dinner at the hotel.

8.

Return to Irkutsk

After breakfast, fees and room vacancy.

Transfer to Irkutsk.

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 estimated time of arrival is 13:00.

Length of crossing: 210 km. Travel time: ~ 5 hours.
Meals included: breakfast at the hotel.