Pearl of Baikal

Day 1

Arrival in Irkutsk. Group gathering (from 08.00 to 08.30 at the airport (inside the airport building, near the entrance to the city), from 09.00 to 09.30 at the railway station (inside the station building, near the entrance to the city, in the first entrance (suburban ticket offices) with the sign "Pearl of Baikal").
When late to the gathering place of the group, the tourist gets to the group along the route independently, at his own expense.
After breakfast, the guide will conduct a sightseeing tour of the historical part of Irkutsk.
After getting acquainted with Irkutsk, we will offer you a trip to the "gates of Baikal" - to the village of Listvyanka.
Just 65 km from Irkutsk, on the shore of Lake Baikal, a five-kilometer strip stretches the village Listvyanka. Listvyanka is one of the most visited and popular areas on the shore of the famous lake and a starting point for most travelers from different parts of the world. From here begin both short water walks along the Larch Bay, and multi-day cruises on the lake, trips along the Circum-Baikal Railway, there are hotel complexes, mini-hotels, a private residential complex, various tourist display facilities, restaurants and cafes, fish markets and souvenir shops.
Objects to visit and meet on this day will be the following:
The architectural and ethnographic museum "Taltsy" is a unique collection of historical, architectural and ethnographic monuments of the XVII-XIX centuries The museum is located on the picturesque bank of the Angara River in the Taltsinsky tract, on the 47 kilometer of the Baikal tract. Here, four historical and cultural zones of the Baikal region are retrospectively recreated: Russian, Buryat, Evenki and Tofalar. Around the museum, masters are united who have the skills of weaving, weaving from a vine, making products from birch bark and clay. Several peasant houses are adapted for workshops, in which craftsmen share the secrets of craftsmanship and demonstrate their products. In Talts there is its own stable, you can ride in a man's wheelchair, walk on stilts, swing on the Siberian swing (for a surcharge, for cash).
The source of the Hangar and the observation deck at the Shaman-stone. The source of the Angara River is the widest and largest in the world (863 m). In winter, up to 15 thousand waterfowl live in the polynya with a length of 5 to 15 km. This is the only ice-free winter in North Asia. There is also an observation deck, which overlooks the source of the Angara and the legendary Shaman-Stone. Shaman-Stone is a surface ledge of the Angara Threshold. In good weather, only its top is visible above the water, but under the water at the mouth of the river there is a rocky massif, thanks to which the source of the Angara never freezes in winter. Many beautiful legends and legends are associated with this place, and the stone itself is considered one of the symbols of Baikal, which the locals still endow with miraculous power.
Baikal Museum. The exposition of the museum, which tells about the origin, life and research of Lake Baikal, began to be created in 1925. Today it is based on Baikal fish, birds and animals, samples of bottom sediments and Baikal minerals, models, various exhibits found during scientific field expeditions.
Since June 2004, the museum has a truly unique structure - a limnological aquarium, which provides visitors with the opportunity to look into the underwater world of Lake Baikal and see with their own eyes live omules, grays, breams, sturgeons, film, nalima, carp, catfish, pikes and carp, as well as crustaceans, sponges and mollusks. Today, the Baikal Aquarium is the only one of its kind, because no aquarium in the world has such a low temperature of 4 degrees. Water is pumped four times a day from a depth of 500 meters by a special pumping station built near the museum. All 11 aquariums are designed in such a way that it is possible to carefully consider the underwater inhabitants of Lake Baikal, including seals, for which almost ideal conditions are created - two communicating rooms with an artificial ice, through a hole in which seals can escape to the air.
The local market. At the local market, located in the very center of Listvyanka near the central pier, you can buy souvenirs for yourself and as a gift to loved ones: Baikal stones with the image of the seal - the symbol of Baikal, beads and other products made of semi-precious stones, birch and wooden products, souvenirs of ceramics, soft toys, badges, magnets, etc. Here you can buy and taste the famous Baikal delicacies of various methods of cooking (hot or cold smoking, salted or dried) - omul, whitefish, garius and even golomyanka - transparent fish with a peculiar taste. Fish are smoked immediately - a few smokers are a hundred meters from the market. Its delicious taste and aroma fish owes to the fact that smoke it on chips of alder and aspen. In addition to fish, on the market you can taste pilaf from huge cauldrons, just cooked on an open fire barbecue and hot lavash.
As you can see, the program of the first day is so busy that the return to Irkutsk is scheduled for later in the evening. Accommodation in a hotel room with amenities.
Meals: breakfast, lunch (late picnic).
Guide: Yes.

Cities: Irkutsk, Listvyanka

Attractions: Spasskaya Church, Znamensky Monastery, monument to Alexander III, 130 quarter, Architectural and ethnographic museum "Taltsy", Shaman-stone, Baikal Museum

Ponds: Lake Baikal

 

Day 2

Breakfast. Departure to the Small Sea (transport - minibuses).
The Small Sea is one of the most famous and unique corners of Baikal. Warm bays and coves, ancient rocks and sandy beaches, as well as the unique vegetation of the Tazheran steppes create an atmosphere of detachment from civilization and leave indelible impressions for a lifetime.
Upon arrival, accommodation at the tourist base. Lunch.
Excursion along the coast of the Small Sea.
In Buryat, the Small Sea sounds like Narin Dalai, which means the Narrow Sea. This narrow strait is separated from the “Big Baikal” by Olkhon Island. The climate of the coast is ideal for recreation: there is very little rainfall and most of the time it is sunny. This part of the lake (including the island of Olkhon) is all the natural zones of the coast of Baikal, replacing one another: it is steppe expanses, chic sandy and pebble beaches, steep cliffs, mountains and taiga ... during excursions you will see how beautiful and diverse the nature of the Small Sea is. The guide will tell you legends and interesting facts about Baikal, about its flora and fauna, about Olkhon Island, about the Olkhon Gate Strait. You will see the Strait of Olkhon Gate, Cape Mare’s Head, Ogoy Island...
Dinner.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Olkhon district

Attractions: Small Sea

 

Day 3.

Days 3-6: Accommodation at the camp. Three meals a day.
Two car excursions on the schedule of the camp: (1. Tour to Mount Tanhan; 2. Valley of Stone Spirits) - excursions included in the tour can be changed to others according to the schedule of excursions at the camp.
Also on one of these days, a full-day tour to Olkhon Island will be held.
Route: tourist base - ferry crossing through Olkhon Gate - Zagli - Mare's head - Cape Burkhan - Peschanoe - Sagan-Khushun - Khoboy - tourist base.
Our way we start from the camp, move to the ferry on Olkhon Island.
The Strait of Olkhon Gate separates Olkhon Island from the mainland, its length is about 8 km, its width is about 1 km.
Further, as we move towards the centre of the island, we will see:
Zagli Bay (Tashkai Bay). The sunniest place in the Irkutsk region. The number of sunny days is 3 times higher than in Irkutsk, and is 2200 hours per year (on the Riga coast – 1830 hours per year).
Cape Mare's head. The shape of the cape resembles the head of a horse drinking water from Baikal. There is a legend about the soldiers of Genghis Khan, who allegedly stopped at this cape and left behind a huge vat.
Cape Horgoy. Here is the highest point on the Hadai Mountain. It offers a wonderful panorama of the southern part of the island, and on the pass - about in honor of the hedgehog - the spirit of the pass, where you must stop and throw a coin.
Finally, we have a wonderful view of the “business card of Baikal”, one of the nine shrines of Asia – Cape Burkhan or Shamanka Rock.
Shamanka was the most revered holy place on Lake Baikal, where sacrifices and vows were made since the appearance of the first shamans. The cave of the cape was considered the residence of the aegin - the owner of the island. In the rock nearest to the shore, shamanic rites took place in the through cave, and later after the lamaization of the Buryats, it contained the altar of the Buddha.
North of Cape Burkhan is the magnificent sandy beach of Sarai Bay, which stretches for 3 km between Cape Burkhan and Pos. Harans. Sand ramparts hide cozy glades in the depths of the shore, surrounded by pine forest.
Then we move to the north of the island to Cape Hoboy. On our way - the Peschanoe tract (miniature of the famous Sand Bay). Constant winds blowing from the sea carry sand from the shore and form sand deposits, which are called “moving sands”. At the edge of the forest, you can find stilt trees that rise above the sand 30 – 40 cm at their roots. Their height is much smaller than that of the famous stilt trees in the Bay of Peschanoy.
Sagan-Hushun - "white cape" - extremely picturesque rocky promontory length of about 1 km. The rocks of Sagan-Khushun are included in the list of natural monuments of Baikal. This place stands out among the monotonous coast with spectacular pyramidal rocks, known among the local population as the “Three Brothers”, the legend of which you will learn during the tour.
And here before us is the main purpose of our trip - Cape Khoboy.
Cape Khoboy is a sacred place, a place of power and powerful energy, the northernmost cape on the island of Olkhon. In its appearance, it resembles a sharp fang (just “fang” and is translated “oboe” from Buryat). Cape Khoboy is located near the widest place of Baikal (79.5 km), and only in good weather from it you can see the opposite shore, the mountainous contour of the St. Nos peninsula. On the cape there is a platform where all-Olkhon shaman tailagans are performed.
After lunch (picnic) we go back. Moving to the campground. End of the tour.
On free days for an extra. Additional car, water, walking tours and tours on ATVs are possible (all additional excursions you can order and pay in advance, but the order of the excursion can be changed due to weather conditions, the composition of the group).
Detailed description of all possible excursions in the file at the end of the program.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Olkhon district

Attractions: Small Sea, Olkhon Island, Cape Mare's Head, Cape Khorgoy, Cape Burkhan, Saray Bay, Peschanaya Bay, Cape Sagan-Khushun, Cape Khoboy

 

4th day

Rest at the campground. Three meals a day.
For an additional fee, car, water, walking tours and quad bike tours are possible.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Olkhon district

Attractions: Small Sea, Olkhon Island

 

5th day

Rest at the campground. Three meals a day.
For an additional fee, car, water, walking tours and quad bike tours are possible.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Olkhon district

Attractions: Small Sea, Olkhon Island

 

Day 6

Rest at the campground. Three meals a day.
For an additional fee, car, water, walking tours and quad bike tours are possible.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Olkhon district

Attractions: Olkhon Island, Small Sea

 

Day 7.

Breakfast. Free time.
At 12:00, the group meets. From 13.00 to 14.00 a minibus / bus will come for you.
Departure by minibus to Irkutsk.
Arrival in Irkutsk (approximate time of arrival in Irkutsk 19.00-20.30, place of the end of the tour: bus station / sports palace Labor / central market - depending on the route of the minibus).
Additionally, it is possible to book a meeting in Irkutsk and transfer to the railway station / airport (1000 rubles / car).
Attention! It is highly recommended to take tickets for the return trip home after 22.00, as there may be a delay.
Meals: Breakfast.

Cities: Irkutsk