Altai and Buryatia. The Voice of Nomads Festival

Breakfast. 

Tour of the largest tourism center Turquoise Katun.

We will walk along the eco-trail of the Tavda caves karst complex. 

Tavda caves, vaults, grottos, arches – several dozen caves connect to each other, forming a large interconnected system in which it is easy to get lost. 

At different times, they served as housing for humans. 

During excavations, pottery items and other archaeological finds from the Iron and Bronze Ages were found in them. 

We will walk along the trail, visit several landscapes at once: mixed forests, meadow areas and rocky terrain. 

You will also see unique red book plants, breathe in the healing air of the mountains and the pine forest. 

We will dive into the study of the Ancestral Trail, visit six caves, grottos and arched vaults (1.5 hours, 2 km). 

We will continue our walk to the observation deck in Roerich Park, which offers a breathtaking view of the picturesque Katun River, tirelessly bubbling with its turquoise waves. 

These same waves carved the ancient grotto of Ichthyander into the rock. 

Free time.

Optional:

• beach holidays on Lake Turquoise Katun, sup-boarding (extra chargepayment);
• rafting along the Katun River, rafting will allow us to get closer to one of the Altai elements – water. As a sport, rafting was born in Altai and is interesting for both extreme sports enthusiasts and those who want to see the nature and the shores of Katun from an unusual angle (for an additional fee).payment);  
• a visit to the Bolshaya Tavdinskaya cave of the karst complex, which includes more than 200 grottoes, galleries, natural mines and natural voids (for an additional feepayment);  
• a walk to the apiary, where you can not only taste, but also buy the famous Altai honey, propolis, mead, honeycomb, perga, royal jelly and other bee products. The impression of the day is a restorative sleep on the hives. Closing your eyes, you will feel the monotonous vibration of a swarm of bees, the soothing buzz of bees, the smell of honey, honeycombs and something else subtly pleasant;  
• meditative relaxation on the pond, a sauna in Altai as a tradition: a visit to the sauna complex, a story about the ceremony of receiving wellness treatments, bath rituals, a steaming session (for an additional feepayment); 
• a walk with a dog through the "Altai jungle", where the silence and chirping of birds, the smell of meadow grass and endless contemplation of mountain landscapes, impressive views of Katun and the valley of the Taldushka river. 

Dinner in the style of a gastro-travel party: you will be able to participate in a unifying culinary master class. 

Tasting of local dishes (kurut – translated from the Turkic "dry" – salty cheese, boorsaki – a traditional dessert of nomadic pastoralists). 

On foot – 3 km, by car – 15 km. Meals – breakfast, dinner.

Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport (45 km). 

Departure is at 10:50 a.m. (the ticket is purchased independently, not included in the tour price).

Hello or sayn bayna, Buryatia! 

15:50 Arrival in Ulan-Ude. meeting, transfer to the Buryatia 3* hotel or similar – 15 km. 

Placement. 

Lunch.

Transfer to the international music festival “The Voice of Nomads” – one of the largest open-airs beyond the Urals.

A special attraction is given to it by the site on which it is held – the ethnocomplex “Steppe Nomad", spread out in the picturesque Buryat steppe surrounded by hills. 

At the festival, you will really feel like nomads, because nomads are not only nomadic peoples, they are all those who strive for freedom, who do not stand still and constantly look forward. 

And it is for such people that the “Voice of the Nomads". 

You will be able to move from site to site, dissolving into the amazing world of music – both fashionable, modern, ethno-futuristic, and traditional, folk. 

More information about the festival and its participants – unfamiliar and already popular - can be found at the link.

At the end, transfer to the hotel. 

Accommodation: Buryatia 3* hotel in Ulan-Ude. 

On foot – 4+ km, by car – 170 km. Meals – breakfast, lunch.

Breakfast. 

Together with the guide, we will walk to the Museum of History located 260 meters from the hotel. Khangalova. 

The only absolute copy of the Atlas of Tibetan Medicine of the XVII century is kept here (the original is located in Lhasa, is inaccessible to foreigners and has never left the country). 

A unique set of illustrations and the key to the medical canon "Zhud Shi", according to which more than one generation of Tibetan doctors studied. 

Then we leave for Ivolginsky datsan (30 km) – the largest Buddhist monastery complex in Russia – “Gandan Dashi Choinhorlin". 

It is located in a picturesque valley at the foot of the Khamar-Daban ridge and is one of the main points of attraction for pilgrims and tourists in Buryatia. 

We will start the tour from the sacred circle – goroo, rotating prayer drums – khurde, which will allow you to tune in to a calm mood and accumulate the necessary virtues to enter the temples.

You will be able to get to a meeting with a living legend – the sacred Hambo Lama Itigelov, who is in a state of “somati”. 

According to Tibetan monks, a person can enter the state of “somati" by being completely freed from negative psychic energy.

Additionally, at the end of our stay in Ivolginsky Datsan, those who wish can get an audience with practicing lamas, astrologers, healers, and touch upon issues of spiritual perfection and the pursuit of truth. 

Upon returning to Ulan-Ude, we go for a walk through the historical center of the capital of Buryatia, a region where Buddhist culture, Old Russian traditions, the history of Genghis Khan, Tibetan relics, and the power of the spirit of ancient shamans are combined. 

It is not for nothing that it is called the capital of Russian Asia. 

At one of the highest points of the city, where the Rinpoche Bagsha Buddhist center is located, we will explore the panorama of Ulan-Ude and the Selenga Valley surrounded by mountain ranges covered with taiga. 

You can walk along the Path of Long Life, ring the Big Buddhist Bell of the Four Seals, read the wise sayings of Abbot Yeshe Lodoi Rinpoche, light a zuula candle, visit a meditation area, get rid of the hustle and bustle and unnecessary worries. 

Transfer to Lake Baikal in Goryachinsk. 

You will travel along the ancient Barguzin highway along the eastern coast of Lake Baikal. 

Taiga, mountain ranges and endless landscapes of the Itantsin valley. 

Accommodation in the eco-hotel “Sosny".

Accommodation: eco-hotel “SOSNY”, built from environmentally friendly materials, which allows you to maintain a unique microclimate in the rooms and promote the best sleep and rest for guests, the rooms are equipped with furniture, beds and orthopedic mattresses, as well as premium bedding. 

The design of the rooms and public areas is designed in the style of a chalet, which gives a feeling of comfort and coziness to guests.

On foot – 5+ km, by car – 250 km. Meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Breakfast. 

Transfer to the village of Turka to board a boat for departure to Olkhon Island.

Having traveled about 60 km by boat along Lake Baikal from the village of Turk, we arrive in the area of Uzura — a gentle fall facing the northeastern shore of the island. 

You will visit the most beautiful places of Olkhon – the famous Cape Khoboy, the observation deck “Shunte levy” or “Rock of Love”, Cape Sagaan Khushuun (from Buryat "white ledge, cape"), the sculpture of Dasha Namdakov "Keeper of Lake Baikal". 

Since ancient times, people have believed that these places have a special power, fulfill desires.

It offers breathtaking views of the great Siberian Sea.

Lunch-picnic on the island. 

Upon return from Olkhon, transfer to the eco–hotel “Sosny" or similar. 

Accommodation: eco-hotel “SOSNY” in Goryachinsk.

On foot – 4+ km, by car – 40 km. Meals – breakfast, lunch.

Breakfast. 

After walking along the shore in the morning, we say goodbye to Lake Baikal and leave for Ulan-Ude (260 km).

We check into the Buryatia 3* hotel or a similar one. 

You can devote the second part of the day to leisurely walks around the city to feel it once again. 

Or visit local museums that hold the most interesting collections of historical and artistic objects. 

Or plunge into the abyss of shopping for necessary, and sometimes just cute little things to remember, each of them is a piece of the culture that you met on this journey. 

Do not forget to bring fragrant and delicious souvenirs for yourself and your loved ones, they will help you remember and share your impressions about the unique character of Buryatia. 

By purchasing souvenirs, you will not only preserve the memories of the trip, but also support local artisans and entrepreneurs. 

Let each item you purchase remind you of the adventures and people you have met. 

Accommodation: hotel Buryatia, 3* in Ulan-Ude. On foot – 2+ km, by car – 175 km. Meals – breakfast.

Breakfast. 

07:30 Transfer to Baikal airport.

So it's time to say goodbye. 

We thank you for sharing this amazing journey with us, for your attention and participation in every moment of our tour. 

We hope that the trip to Altai, Baikal and Buryatia has become a time of magic, a time filled with amazing meetings and incredible experiences and that each of you has found something special in this journey that will leave a mark in your heart for many years to come. 

May your memories of Altai, Baikal and Buryatia be filled with warmth and joy, may they always inspire you to new discoveries and adventures. 

Have a good trip and see you again!

By car – 15 km. Meals – breakfast.