By sea and land.

1st

Acquaintance with the nature of Baikal

10:00 Group gathering at the airport of Irkutsk.

Excursion to pos. Listvyanka (65 km) 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.

Meals included: lunch at the cafe.

2.

Olkhon Island, pos. Khuzhir, Cape Burhan

After breakfast, we take a bus to Olkhon Island on the road along the steppes past the ancient Buryat villages, through the picturesque spurs of the Baikal Ridge, the Siberian taiga, which are then again replaced by the Mongolian landscapes of the Tazheran steppe.

Olkhon is the largest of the 26 islands of Baikal, its geographical, historical and sacred center, even in its form resembling the outlines of the lake.

The crossing takes about 40 minutes. You will see both the “Small” and “Big” seas – two parts of Lake Baikal, separated by Olkhon, and the famous Olkhon Gate Strait, which runs between the island and the mainland.

Another 40 km along the island and you are in the village of Khuzhir - the capital of the island. We're staying at the campground.

In the evening, a walking tour of the surroundings: a walk around the village of Khuzhir, a visit to the sacred Cape Burkhan (Shaman-rock) - one of the 9 shrines of Asia, equally revered by shamanists, Buddhists and Lamaists.

For those who wish - an excursion to the local museum (for an additional fee), which presents a collection of ancient objects reflecting the life and culture of the islanders.

After a busy day of road impressions, first acquaintance with the island and walks in the fresh air, sleep in a cozy wooden authentic house will be deep and long.

Length: 320 km. En route: ~ 7 hours.
Meals included: breakfast in the hotel, lunch, dinner at the camp.

3

Car excursion to Cape Hoboi

All-day excursion to Cape Khoboy – the northern tip of the island, near the widest part of Baikal.

On the way you can see all the diversity of the Baikal natural landscapes concentrated on the island: steppes with deep gulfs, sand dunes, mixed deciduous forests with areas of relict spruce, picturesque rocks on the shore of marble covered with red lichens.

From the cape, which offers a panoramic view of the northern part of Lake Baikal, in good weather you can see the outlines of the Ushkany Islands and the peninsula of the Holy Nose.

A walk through the surroundings, during which the guide will tell you about the legends, traditions and customs associated with these places.

And if the local gods are quite complacent, they will give you the opportunity to see the unique Baikal seal - the only freshwater relative of the seal.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner at the campground, hot lunch at the stake.

4.

Independent walks around Olkhon

Today you have a free day, and everyone can choose entertainment to their taste.

If you liked to travel around Olkhon by car, we recommend you to visit (for an additional fee) Lake Shara-Nur (trans. from Buryat - "yellow lake"). It is the only lake on the island with mineralized water.

The lake surrounds a heterogeneous natural landscape, you can observe the life of wildlife - birds and animals. The water in the lake has healing properties. Mud from the lake helps with various diseases.

If, on the contrary, you want active recreation - we offer to ride around the Olkhon expanses by bicycle (for an additional fee).

Fans of laziness in the sun awaits the sandy beach of the Sarai Bay.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner at the camp.

5

Transfer to Barguzin Bay

Today you will have a short trip – on a plane with a small passenger capacity.

You will fly over Baikal from the west coast to the east. During the flight, you will see a magnificent panorama of the lake, with its valleys, wooded slopes and a network of intertwined rivers and streams.

You will find yourself on the shore of the Barguzin Bay - the largest Bay of Baikal.

The Barguzin River, rich in fish, flows into the bay, there are unique nature reserves nearby, and the Barguzin Valley, according to legend, is the homeland of the ancestors of Genghis Khan.

In the next three days you will discover this protected land, and for now we are located on a cozy tourist base on the coast.

Travel time: 1 hour.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner at the camp.

6

Acquaintance with the surroundings of the bay

In the next three days on the bay, everyone will be able to choose entertainment to their liking.

For the curious, numerous excursions are offered (for an additional fee): water, for example, along the Barguzin Bay, automobile - to the legendary Barguzin Valley or walking - along the St. Nos peninsula.

It is worth visiting the neighboring Chivyrkui Bay and the famous Snake Bay (for an additional fee) with a thermal spring.

Fishing enthusiasts, of course, will not miss the chance to explore the local fish stocks (fishing gear can be rented directly at the tourist base).

Fans of beach holidays will certainly appreciate warm water, lack of wind and water attractions (for an additional fee).

Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner at the camp.

7

Rest on the shore of Baikal

8.

Rest on the shore of Baikal

9.

Departure to Ulan-Ude

After a few days of rest in nature, it is time to return to civilization, especially since here it is very original and interesting.

By bus you will go to the next point of your trip – the city of Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia, called the “eastern gate of Russia”.

Upon arrival accommodation at the hotel

Length of crossing: 240 km.
Meals included: breakfast at the camp.

10

Sightseeing tour of Ulan-Ude

In the morning, a sightseeing tour of Ulan-Ude, during which you will see the old part of the city, merchant mansions with rich carvings, stone buildings of the XVIII-XIX centuries.

The tour goes outside the city and, having admired the endless Mongolian steppe, you find yourself at the main local attraction - Ivolginsky datsan - an active Buddhist monastery, the capital of Buddhism in Russia.

Lunch in a real Buryat yurt with real dishes of national Buryat cuisine.

Continuation of knowledge of the distant days of antiquity will be held in the Architectural and Ethnographic Museum of the peoples of Transbaikalia, acquainting visitors with the history of the settlement of the Transbaikal Territory, cultural monuments of the peoples inhabiting it since ancient times.

Back to the hotel.

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

11.

Excursion to Old Believer Village

A full-day excursion to the village of Old Believers (or family) - Russian Old Believers exiled to Siberia after the schism of the Russian Orthodox Church in the XVII century.

During the tour you will get acquainted with their original culture, customs and folklore, try traditional cuisine.

Continuation of knowledge of the distant days of antiquity will be held in the Architectural and Ethnographic Museum of the peoples of Transbaikalia, acquainting visitors with the history of the settlement of the Transbaikal Territory, cultural monuments of the peoples inhabiting it since ancient times.

In the evening, board the night train (4-seat coupe), which, rounding Baikal from the south, will take you to the city of Irkutsk in the early morning.

Overnight on the train.

Meals included: breakfast in the hotel, dinner in the village of the Old Believers.

12.

Return to Irkutsk, sightseeing tour of the city

The final day of the program and acquaintance with the ancient Siberian city of Irkutsk.

Sightseeing tour of the city: a visit to the historical center, the Angara River embankment, architectural monuments.

Excursion to the Znamensky Monastery with one of the most beautiful cathedrals of Siberia, known for its iconostasis and burials on the territory (the tombs of the Decembrists, Grigory Shelikhov, etc.).

Visit the central market and the souvenir shop.

The estimated time of the end of the program is 13:00.

Meals included: breakfast at the hotel.