The Eastern Tale of Baikal

Day 1

Arrival in Irkutsk. Gathering a group, meeting a guide.
Meeting at the airport at the entrance to the city, inside the airport building from 08.00 to 08.20.
Meeting at the railway station on the stairs at the entrance to the city, inside the station building from 09.00 to 09.20.
Tablet "Eastern fairy tale of Baikal".
Breakfast.
Sightseeing tour of the city.
The city was founded in 1661 by the service Cossacks of the explorer and the boyar son Yakov Pokhabov as a fortress - a wooden fortress at the place of the connection of two rivers: the rapid Angara and the staid Irkut. From this river came the name - Irkutsk. The tour introduces the most interesting places of the city, architectural and historical monuments and events. Your attention will be drawn to: The Eternal Flame, the Polish Church, the Savior Church, the Cathedral of the Epiphany, Kirov Square, next to it once adorned the Kazan Cathedral, the Znamensky Women's Monastery (there are graves of the Decembrists on the territory), a monument to Admiral Kolchak, the place of his execution. Karl Marx Street, merchants’ mansions, Okhlopkov Drama Theatre, Walk along the embankment of the Angara River, monument to Alexander III, White House, University, Local History Museum.
We will also walk through the modern 130th quarter, filled with the spirit of antiquity.
After the tour, check in to the hotel. Free time.
Guide: Yes.

Meals: Breakfast.

Cities: Irkutsk

Attractions: Spasskaya Church, Znamensky Monastery, monument to Alexander III, Siberian Palace, 130 quarter, Lower embankment of the Angara

 

Day 2

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Olkhon.
Among the three dozen Baikal islands, Olkhon Island, surrounded by many ancient myths and legends, stands out especially - the size, variety of landscapes, the grandeur of natural monuments and is considered one of the most beautiful places of Baikal.
Lunch at the cafe on the way alone.
Arrival at Olkhon, accommodation at the recreation center according to the booked option.
In the evening, a walking tour to Cape Burhan.
Cape Burkhan is a cape on Olkhon Island, on Lake Baikal, ending with the Shaman-Skala rock. At the foot of the rock there is a mysterious cave drawing and an inscription in Sanskrit. Shaman-rock, one of the nine shrines of Asia (previously called "stone-temple"), located near the village of Khuzhir, has become a kind of visiting card of the lake, one of the most famous images of Baikal.
Dinner.
Guide: Yes (local guide during the tour).

Meals: Breakfast, dinner.

Cities: Irkutsk, Khuzhir

Attractions: Olkhon Island, Cape Burkhan

Ponds: Lake Baikal

 

Day 3.

Breakfast at the recreation center.
A full-day tour of Olkhon to Cape Khoboy. Khoboi received its name for the most prominent part of the cape - a flat stone slab, shaped like a fang of an animal (Khoboi in Buryat - fang). The uniqueness and harsh beauty of Khoboy was appreciated by the ancient inhabitants of Olkhon, Khoboy was considered sacred and served as a place for religious ceremonies.
Guide: Driver.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch (picnic during the tour), dinner.

Cities: Hujir

Attractions: Olkhon Island, Cape Khoboy

Ponds: Lake Baikal

 

4th day

After breakfast, we will go by boat on a one-day mini cruise to the East coast of Baikal towards the Sveti Nos peninsula.
The peninsula of the Holy Nose is located in the Trans-Baikal National Park. On one side is the Barguzin Bay (the largest bay of the lake), on the other - Chivyrkuisky (one of the most cozy and picturesque corners of Baikal).
In the Chivyrkui Bay boat in the course of movement does not go, but it is possible to organize a tour for extra. pay on free days.
Accommodation at the recreation center / in the estate in the village of Maksimikha (comfort in the room).
Guide: No.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Khuzhir, Maximikha

Attractions: Holy Nose Peninsula, Barguzin Bay, Chivyrkui Bay

Ponds: Lake Baikal

 

5th day

Breakfast.
A full-time trip to the Barguzin Valley.
Barguzin valley, unique in beauty of landscapes, richness of natural complexes, history, culture, is considered one of the most unique tourist destinations of the Baikal region. Visiting archaeological and natural monuments: on the way from the pos. Suvo in pos. Bodon is the shrine of the Barguzin valley - the stone Bukhe-Shuloun (Bull-stone), the spirit of which is considered the master of the entire valley.
15 km from the pos. Suvo is a landscape monument of nature Ininsky stone garden. When crossing the r. Inu on the right and left of the river on flat terrain rise above the ground large stone blocks. Ininsky Garden of Stones is a unique phenomenon of nature. Mount Barkhan-Uula (Baragkhan) is one of the main shrines of the Barguzin valley and the Barguzin ridge. The name of this mountain is mentioned in ancient Buryat myths as well as in ancient Tibetan texts.
Lunch is on its way.
Back to the campground, dinner.
Guide: local.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch (during the tour), dinner.

Cities: Maximikha

Attractions: Barguzin Valley, Ininsky Garden of Stones

Ponds: Lake Baikal

 

Day 6

Free time.
For an additional fee, you can book excursions (the cost of the excursion is indicated indicative and can be changed):
Water excursion "Chivyrkui Bay": from 3000 rubles. per person.
You will find an unforgettable boat trip along the Chivyrkui Bay, swimming in the thermal waters of the Snake Bay.
About the Chivyrkui Bay we can say that this is one of the beautiful creations of nature, the pride of Baikal. The name Chivyrkui comes from the Buryat "sheber" - "more frequent, dense forest, thickets", "sheverkhuu" - "overgrown with dense forest". The rugged shores of the bay are densely overgrown with forest and have many bays and picturesque capes.
Snake spring, located in the bay of the same name, which is closed from the north by a high mountainous Cape Goryachinsky. The water in the spring is close in composition to the Pyatigorsk springs. The source itself is two wooden log cabins, each of which can accommodate several people.
Water excursion "Ushkany Islands": from 5000 rubles. per person.
Endemic nature. The opportunity to see the Baikal seal on the rookery.
Strict attendance. Applications are in advance. On the rocky beaches of the Ushkany Islands, seals rest in their natural habitat Here they gather up to several hundred.
In addition to this amazing spectacle, there are many more natural wonders in Ushkany: dwarf birch with black bark, pine with a ornate trunk shape, as well as trees that are more than 300 years old!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Maximikha

Attractions: Chivyrkui Bay, Ushkany Islands

Ponds: Lake Baikal

 

Day 7.

Breakfast.
Free time. Room release.
Lunch.
Departure to Ulan-Ude, 235 km from Maximik.
Accommodation in the hotel (comfort in the room), rest.
Dinner (at your own expense). Free time.
Guide: Yes.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Cities: Maximikha, Ulan-Ude

Ponds: Lake Baikal

 

8th day

Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to pos. Ivolginsky. Excursion to Gandan Buddhist Monastery Dashi Choihorling, the center of Buddhism in Russia.
At the foot of the Hamar-Daban ridge, on the steppe expanses, in a quiet tract, 30 kilometers from Ulan-Ude, is the spiritual capital of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia - Ivolginsky datsan.
At datsan, the Buddhist University is opened, where the Huwaraks-obedients are trained. The altars and interiors of the temples of the complex are decorated with authentic works of art. Datsan is protected by the state as a monument of cult architecture. Its complex is represented by the main temple "Sogchen", temples "Choeryn Dugan", "Sakhyusan Sume", "Maanin Dugan", "Maidarin Sume", "Devaazhin", "Jud Dugan", as well as the Palace of the Twelfth Pandito Hambo Lama Dashi Dorjo Itigelov. Several times a year there are days of worship of imperishable Lama Itigelov.
On the territory of the monastery there are educational buildings of the University, sacred stupas-Suburgans, a hotel for guests, a museum of monuments of Buddhist art, various office buildings and houses of lamas. Ivolginsky Datsan is the center of Buddhism in Russia, visited by many believers, pilgrims and tourists from all over the world.
During the tour you can visit the Lama, buy Buddhist souvenirs.
Back in town.
Lunch.
City centre tour. Free time.
Guide: Yes.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Cities: Ulan-Ude, Ivolginsk

Attractions: Ivolginsky datsan "Khambyn Sume"

 

9th day

Breakfast at the hotel. It is possible to release rooms at the estimated departure hour at 12.00.
Transfer to the airport or railway station.

Meals: Breakfast.

Cities: Ulan-Ude