BAIKAL ENERGY

BAIKAL ENERGY

1. Theme

SIGHTSEEING & FIRST SIGHT

EHTNOS & LOCAL MINORITIES

RAILS

CRUISES & WATER TRIP

GASTRONOMY

2. Region, city, itinerary

Irkutsk – Ulan-Ude – Circum Baikal Railway – Slyudyanka village – Ulan-Ude – Ivolginskiy datsan – Ust-Bargizinsk – Chovyrkuiskiy bay – Olkhon island – Khizhir village

3. Seasonality

May – September

4. The complexity, style of the tour

Easy, comfortable

5. Accommodation

Hotel

6. Number of days

7

7. Number of people

No limits

8. Booking conditions

10-14 days before the tour start

Day 1

At arrival to Irkutsk transfer from airport to Listvyanka village. Accommodation in a hotel / cottage in Listvyanka. Lunch. Guided tour of Listvyanka, visit to the Baikal Museum of the Limnological Institute.

Irkutsk is the administrative center of the Irkutsk Region. It was founded in 1661. It is located 66 km from Lake Baikal at the confluence of the Irkut and Angara Rivers. The name of the city comes from the Irkut River, which flows into the Angara River. The Baikal Museum is the only museum in the country, the exposition of which introduces the history of the study of Lake Baikal, its flora and fauna world.

Day 2

Today we will have a fascinating trip along Circum-Baikal railway. Lunch with a beautiful view from the train window. Excursion to the Mineralogical Museum in Slyudyanka village. After dinner, we will continue our train journey from Slyudyanka to the capital of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude.

The Circum-Baikal railway is a historical railway, formerly part of the Trans-Siberian railway, a unique monument of engineering art, one of the picturesque sights of the Baikal region. It runs along the the southern tip of lake Baikal from Baikal village to Slyudyanka village. Slyudyanka is located on the western tip of lake Baikal, 110 km from Irkutsk. The unique building of the railway station is the only one in Russia entirely made of unpolished Baikal marble. Mineralogical museum named after Zhigalov — the famous museum representing minerals and rocks of the Baikal region.

Day 3

Arrival in Ulan-Ude. Transfer to the hotel "Buryatia". After breakfast we take a trip to Ivolginsky datsan. Tour of the temple accompanied by a guide huaraca, prayer service attendance. Visit to the business and information center of the Khambo-Lama Itigelov Institute.

Lunch at local restaurant. Walk along local "Arbat" (Lenin Street). Visit to the Center of Tibetan Medicine (optionally).

Ulan-Ude is the capital of the Republic of Buryatia. The city was founded in 1666 as a Cossack winter quarters on the right bank of the Selenga River at the confluence of the Uda River. Ulan-Ude is translated from the Buryat language - "Red Uda". Ivolginsky Datsan is a Buddhist monastery, located 35 km from Ulan-Ude. Until recently, it was the only functioning monastery not only in Buryatia, but also in Russia. From recent time a Buddhist relic is kept in datsan – the imperishable body of Pandido Hambo-Lama Itigelov.

Day 4

Early departure to Ust-Barguzin (260 km, 5 hours on the way). Accommodation at cottages. Lunch. Excursion to the Barguzin Valley (5 hours). Banya, dinner, overnight.

The name of the valley, as well as the name of the Barguzin river, comes from the name of the bargut tribe, which once inhabited the valley - the northern edge of the country of bargujin-tukum. Here is one of the main shrines of the northern buddhist world - mount baraghan.Ssuva castle is a picturesque group of rocks, reminiscent of the ruins of the castle, with huge stone towers up to 50 m. height. Not far from the village of Yarikta, we’ll see the face of the goddess Yanzhima – the patroness of mothers and children.

Day 5

A trip to Chivyrkuysky bay, boating, lunch at the floating base, a visit to Zmeinaya bay. Return to Ust-Barguzin.

Chivyrkuysky Bay is one of the most beautiful and popular travel destinations on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal. It has several cozy, picturesque bays. In Zmeinaya bay there is a hot spring, which you’ll have a chance to try.

Day 6

Departure by boats from Ust-Barguzin Olkhon island (Khuzhir village). Transfer Khuzhir estate "Pearl of Olkhon"(or camping-hotel "Olkhon"). Accommodation. Dinner.

Olkhon Island is the largest of the islands on the lake Baikal. Olkhon is a sacred place of the Buryats, according to legends, the gods of the earth and heaven, the patron spirits of the Buryat clans live here. The island is the center of the Kurumchi culture of the VI-X centuries.

Breakfast. Walking tour with a local guide in Olkhon with a visit to the local museum and Shamanka rock. Lunch. Excursion trip with a local guide to Cape Hoboy with a picnic.

The most famous natural monument of lake Baikal - Shamansky cape (or cape Burkhan) refers to natural and historical monuments. Burkhan is located in the middle part of the northern coast of Olkhon on the outskirts of the village of Khuzhir. The image of the cape has actually become the hallmark of Lake Baikal. Cape Khoboy-translated from Buryat "fang" - is a sacred place of prayers and rituals.