This itinerary will take you to Lake Baikal’s most interesting places to enjoy its stunning scenery in all the diversity and to get to know the history and modern culture of the people inhabiting the area. You will have a 2-days boat trip on Baikal and explore the very heart of the Lake - the Olkhon Island, you will visit Buryatia’s villages at the foothills of the East Sayan mountains and taste waters of its healing springs, have a journey on the train along the most picturesque CircumBaikal railway and walk in the beautiful Sandy Bay. And you will have plenty of time to enjoy activities of your choice and discover the grandeur of Baikal on your own!
Day 1
Morning arrival in Irkutsk from Moscow, meeting and assistance at the airport or railway station. Time to take a cup of Siberian tea with a strong aroma of taiga herbs. Transfer by mini-van to Arshan settlement (135 km, 2 hrs), kind of a spa resort among locals. Our way lies through the lovely Tunka Valley surrounded by mountain ranges from both sides, the largest national park in Russia. Stops on the way at the sacred sites of Buryats and for a snack. Accommodation in Arshan, in the guesthouse, dinner and overnight. Check-in at a hotel or guesthouse, accommodation in twin rooms. Dinner.
Day 2
(Thu, Sun)
Breakfast. Have a walk to the legendary spring of Arshan venerated by shamans and Buddhist alike for the healing properties to taste the mineral water from different springs and tie a ribbon on a tree according to the Buryat tradition. Walk to a 6m high waterfall to have a dip in its cold waters and further to a small pass to enjoy a wonderful view of the Tunka valley. Return to the pension, lunch. Free time for walks to explore on your own the village and the Kyngarga river valley. Dinner and overnight.Day 3
Breakfast. A full-day trip by a mini-van to Nilova Pustyn’ village famous for its radon spring, located at the foothills of the majestic East Sayan mountains. Visit the Buryat Lamaism datsan (temple) 4 km away from the settlement to listen to the legends and history of the place. Return to Arshan, on the way drop by Zhemchug where one can take a mineral and mud bath or have a horse ride (at your own expense). Lunch in a café. Dinner and overnight in Arshan.
Day 4
Early breakfast and departure from the hospitable place for new impressions and experiences. Transfer by bus (110 km, 2 hrs) to the quay in Kultuk settlement, the southernmost point of Baikal Lake. Board the tourist train to go along the most picturesque railway of Russia built along the southern shore of Baikal under the last Russian tsar. Listen to the history of Russia of those times passing through the rock galleries and long tunnels of Primorsky mountain ridge. Several stops for short walks and lunch as a picnic on the way. Arrive in Port Baikal by train and set off for further exploration of South Baikal area. Departure by the ferry boat across Litvyanichny (Larch) Bay of Baikal (45 min) for Listvyanka Baikal. Check in at a private cottage not far from the lake’s side, dinner and overnight.Day 5
Breakfast in the guesthouse. Then, by mini-bus we’ll go on a guided excursion to Baikal Ecology Museum. Our professional guide will tell you many interesting facts about the lake. After the museum we can take a walk on a survey platform of Chersky rock. Visit by bus to the open air Taltsy Ethnography Museum to get to know the traditions of Siberian wooden architecture in 17-19c. Free time to explore on your own Listvyanka village with its St Nicholas church, a small gallery and local souvenir market. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6
Breakfast and preparation for departure. Short transfer to the peer. Board a motor boat for a 9 hours (aprox.120 km) voyage along the western shore of Baikal to Peschanaya (Sandy) Bay, past Bolshye Koty village (once upon a time the center of the gold rush), fishermen settlement Bolshoe Goloustnoe. Learn on the way about Baikal and its endemic flora & fauna. Lunch aboard. Arrival in Peschanaya Bay, one of the most wonderful places of Baikal and the warmest bay on the Lake. Have a walk on the shore to see the walking trees and enjoy the views of the wild Babushka Bay. Continue by boat to the north, to the heart of Baikal – the Olkhon Island, a land of steppe and forest. On the way passing by Bugul’deyka village and Krestovsky Cape once inhabited by the ancient Kurykany civilization, the white rock of Sagan-Zaba with its petrogliphs depicting deer, hunters and shamans. Follow the change of the landscape from taiga forest to steppe. Lunch, aboard. Dinner and overnight aboard (possibly in tents).Day 7
Breakfast. Weather permitting, stop at Khorgoy Cape to see the remnants of fortification wall remaining from the Kurykan times. End of the boat trip in Khuzhir, the central settlement on the Olkhon Island in the afternoon. Transfer from the quay to a guest house, accommodation in twins. A walk around Khuzhir towards the Shamanka Rock believed to be inhabited by the Spirit, a ritual site with Baikal and Mongolia shamans. Visit to the Local Lore museum to listen to the story of the island formation and the worship of locals. Return to the guesthouse. Free time for enjoying Baikal and its 4-km long sandy beach. Russian steam sauna Banya, dinner and overnight.Day 8
Breakfast. Departure by a Russian 4x4 car for a full day exploration of Olkhon Island. Our way to the northernmost point of the island - Khoboy - passes through the light forest, mud tracks, and sandy dunes. Admire the spectacular view of the widest part of Lake Baikal from the Khoboy rock. Lunch of delicious fish soup and fish cooked local style. Continue the way to the Uzury village and along the eastern part of the island. Return to the guesthouse. Time at leisure, banya, dinner and overnight.
Day 9, 10
Free days to discover your own Baikal. You can sunbathe on the sandy beaches, walk in the scenic surrounding area. Optionally, at your own expense you can hire a kayak to make a tour of the Small sea (part of Baikal separating the island from the mainland) or a mountain bike or a horse to explore the Island on your own. According to your interests, you can opt for a 4x4 ride to the mud lake Sharanur or Tashkiney, or try fishing incl Baikal outing by boat for taking part in fishing together with locals. (3 meals a day and overnight in the guesthouse)Day 11
Breakfast, farewell to the sunny island and transfer (30 min) to the ferry for crossing the Small Sea and returning to the mainland. Continue by bus to Irkutsk (5 hrs). Lunch in a roadside café at your own expense.
Arrival in Irkutsk, check-in at a 3 star hotel in twin rooms. Free time to explore the charming city on the river bank. Dinner in one of the city restaurants at your own expense, overnight.
Day 12
Breakfast, check out. Transfer to the airport / railway station and departure for Moscow.
Have a good flight and hope to see you again on other tours with RussiaDiscovery!
The Tour Operator reserves the right to introduce alterations to the itinerary due to weather conditions or other factors out of control by the Tour operator.
