Journey to Olkhon, the Ushkan Islands, and Buryatia

Day 1 Ogoy Island

After meeting at the Irkutsk airport, you will go to Baikal Lake on a comfortable minibus. The route will pass through the historical lands of the Buryat people. You will meet old ulus and villages, sheep flocks, and herds of wild horses.

You will stop at the Zolotaya Orda (Rus. for Golden Horde) ethnographic center, to get acquainted with Buryat culture and have lunch. You can join a master class on cooking buuz (a traditional Buryat dish) and learn the national Buryat dance yokhor. You will also visit real yurts, listen to throat singing performed by local folklore ensembles, and try traditional local dishes.

Further, the road will go through forest and steppe areas and lead you to the shore of Baikal Lake, where a boat will be waiting for you. On it, you will go to Ogoy Island, where the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment is located. Here you will get acquainted with the basics of Buddhism, tie a khadak (ritual ribbon, traditional for Buddhism and shamanism), and make a ritual circumambulation of the stupa.

Then you will go to Olkhon Island, the center of Baikal shamanism. Arriving in Khuzhir village, you will be accommodated in the hotel and have dinner (paid extra). After, you can relax or walk along the Saraysky beach, the most beautiful on the island.

Day 2 Olkhon Island

After breakfast, you will be taken to the northern part of Olkhon Island to get acquainted with its nature and legends. The road will pass through the forest, sandy beaches, and dunes with pink sand. On the way, you will make stops at the viewpoints.

You will visit Khoboi Cape, the northernmost point on the island. The guide will tell you a beautiful legend about this place. Then you will descend to Pesochnaya and Uzury bays, and visit Shunte Cape, called the Cape of Love.

Lunch will be held in the open air. You will taste Baikal fish soup and tea with taiga herbs. In the evening you will return to the hotel. After dinner (paid extra) you can meet sunset at Burkhan Cape, one of the 9 sacred places in Asia. Considering it is home to Khan Huute Baabai, the main Baikal spirit.

Day 3 The Ushkan Islands

After breakfast, you will go by boat to the other shore of Baikal. You will pass along the rocky shores of Olkhon, cross the lake, and find yourself on the Ushkan Islands, one of Baikal's most unique and hard-to-access corners.

If the weather is good, you can watch the Baikal seal here. It is one of the few species of freshwater seals and the only seal living within 5000 kilometers of the ocean. On the islands, seals form giant rookeries, and on a sunny day, you can see dozens of these unique animals basking on coastal rocks. On one of the islands, there is a convenient approach and special structures to observe the seals without fear of scaring them away.

You will have a picnic lunch in the reserve, and then continue your way to Monakhovo village. There you will transfer to a minibus and move to Gremyachinsk village, located on the very shore of the lake. Here you will check in to the hotel, have dinner, and rest.

Day 4 Rest day

You can spend this day as you wish. Go for a walk along the eastern coast of Baikal, sunbathe, and swim in the lake. Or take part in one of the additional activities: excursion to the Barguzin Valley, fishing in the Chivyrkuisky Bay, or rafting on the Barguzin River. You can also relax in the spa complex (see the list of additional activities in the Common questions block).

Day 5 Ivolginsky datsan

After breakfast, you will leave Baikal and go to the capital of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude city. For lunch, you will stop at a restaurant of Buryat cuisine.

Then you will go to Ivolginsky datsan, Russia's main Buddhist monastery and a monument of history and architecture. The monastery complex is a graceful ensemble of temples, dugans, stupas, and prayer drums. In this datsan, the imperishable body of Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov is placed. You can learn more about Buddhism, communicate with real lamas, and buy incense and amulets.

Toward evening you will return to the city, check into your hotel, have dinner (paid extra), and relax.

Day 6 Meet the Old Believers

After breakfast at the hotel, you will go to the Old Believer village of Tarbagatai. On the way, you will see the world's largest Lenin's head and visit Rinpoche Bagsha datsan. Here a large bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha was installed for the first time in Russia.

Reaching Tarbagatai village, you can experience Siberian village life. You will get acquainted with the canons of Old Believership, and visit the museum and the local church. For lunch, you will come to Old Believers' family's house and taste traditional drinks and local cuisine.

In the evening you will return to the hotel in Ulan-Ude, have dinner (paid extra), and rest.

Day 7 Departure

After breakfast, you will be taken to Ulan-Ude airport, from where you will fly home.