Half of Lake Baikal in 10 days

Today, after breakfast, we are going on an exciting journey along the Circum-Baikal Railway.

We will certainly drive through the entire KBZHD, walk through the shortest and longest tunnels, plunge into the atmosphere of tsarist times. 

The tour will take place on an excursion train. 

A hearty hot lunch awaits you on the way.

With new knowledge, emotions and photos, we arrive in Irkutsk and check into a hotel. 

A tour of the historical center of Irkutsk (duration about 2 hours). 

You will visit the places where the history of the city originates, see the first churches, merchant houses, get acquainted with the unique architectural style "Siberian Baroque", walk along the embankments and hear a lot of useful and interesting information.

Accommodation: Angara Hotel, standard room, double occupancy.

Meals: breakfast, lunch.

Breakfast. 

We will go to the heart of Lake Baikal – Olkhon Island. 

For lunch we will stop at a cafe where you will get acquainted with the national Buryat cuisine.

Accommodation in the village of Khuzhir. 

In the evening we will walk along the shore of Lake Baikal. 

You will see the famous Shamanka rock (Cape Burkhan). 

Photos will not be able to convey all the magic of Olkhon, which can be felt only by visiting here. 

Shamans all over the world consider this revenge sacred. 

Dinner in a cafe /restaurant (to your taste).

Accommodation: hotel "Baykalov ostrog", standard, double occupancy (Olkhon).

Meals: breakfast, lunch.

Breakfast. 

Free day. 

You can spend this day in our hotel, which is located on the first coastline, take advantage of free options: kayaks, sup boards, beach. 

We offer to visit the excursion "Islands of the Small Sea" for an additional fee.

Let's go conquer the Baikal expanses of the Small Sea. 

We will definitely visit Ogoy Island, where the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment is located. 

The tour will take place by boat. 

It is believed that Buddhist stupas are designed to dissolve all negative obstacles in the world, favorably contribute to the prosperity of the area where they are built, and benefit people, especially those who visit these stupas consciously. 

Dinner in a cafe /restaurant (to your taste). 

Accommodation: hotel "Baykalov ostrog", standard, double occupancy (Olkhon).

Meals: breakfast.

After a hearty breakfast, we will board UAZ SUVs and go to explore the island of Olkhon. 

You will visit the "Edge of the Earth". 

This is the northernmost cape of the island – Khoboy. 

The coast is cut off all along by steep rocky ledges in the sea. 

But the cliffs rise above all in the north of Olkhon. 

To get there, you need to overcome the steppe landscape with incredible ascents and descents, very similar to roller coasters, sandy tract and impassable taiga.

Beautiful views will accompany you the whole trip. 

We will make many stops for photo shoots and walks. 

Lunch cooked over a campfire will complement the feeling of unity with nature. 

You will learn a lot about Lake Baikal, hear fascinating legends, get acquainted with the traditions and customs of local residents. 

After the tour, a significant event of this trip awaits you – the crossing of Lake Baikal. 

In the north of the island, in the town of Uzura, we board a ship and set sail.

Baikal is only called a lake. 

But by nature it is a real sea. 

We have about 80 km to go. by water. 

On the way we will admire the beauty of Lake Baikal. 

And we will "anchor" in the evening of the same day on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal. 

Dinner on the ship. 

Transfer to the hotel in Ust-Barguzin village. 

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Accommodation: Sindbad Hotel, standard, double occupancy (Ust-Barguzin).

Breakfast.

We are waiting for an excursion to the Barguzin Valley*. 

This is an off-road adventure through the picturesque mountain valley of the Barguzin River far from civilization. 

There are many things here: stone gardens, a lake-marsh complex — the kingdom of cranes, ancient rock paintings. The pristine nature framed by mountains will be remembered for a long time. 

Lunch with a family of local residents in the village of Suvo.

The trip will last until the evening, when the jeeps, tired but full of impressions, will take you back to Lake Baikal.

*A full circular tour of the Barguzin Valley is only available for a group of 15 people. If the group is not recruited, then an excursion to the Barguzin valley will be conducted only to the temple of the goddess Yanzhima.

Accommodation: Sindbad Hotel, standard, double occupancy (Ust-Barguzin).

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Breakfast.

The exploration of the eastern shore of Lake Baikal continues. 

And the hero of this day is Chivyrkuy Bay, a habitat for many birds. 

The second largest on Lake Baikal — Chivyrkuysky Bay is picturesque with sandy coves, rocky cliffs and islands.

You will be taken by car to the shore of the bay, where you will be transferred to a boat to get to the most secluded places. 

You will visit the Serpentine Bay, where you will swim in the thermal springs. As well as in many other, less well-known, but no less beautiful bays of this large bay. 

We cook lunch over a campfire. 

The trip is designed for the whole day. 

Accommodation: Sindbad Hotel, standard, double occupancy (Ust-Barguzin).

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After breakfast, we will head to Ulan-Ude.

The scenic road runs first along the shore of Lake Baikal, and then passes through the pass. 

You can have lunch at the cafe to your taste.

The afternoon is devoted to Buddhism. 

You will visit the Ivolginsky Datsan, the center of Russian Buddhism. This is a huge complex where you can learn everything about the teachings of the Buddha.

Transfer to Ulan-Ude. Accommodation at the hotel.

Evening walk-tour of Ulan-Ude. 

Transbaikalia is interesting not only by nature, but also by its rich history. 

Accommodation: Buryatia Hotel, standard room, double occupancy (Ulan-Ude).

Meals: breakfast.

Breakfast.

Transfer along the scenic road along the southern part of Lake Baikal (by transport or by train).

We arrive in Slyudyanka, a village on the southern shore of Lake Baikal. Here you will be greeted by a train station made entirely of marble.

Today we will go along the Tunka valley to the mountain village of Arshan. 

And for the night we will stay at a hotel at the foot of the majestic Sayan Mountains.

Accommodation: Irkut Hotel, standard room, double occupancy (Arshan).

Meals: breakfast.

After breakfast, breathing in the mountain air with a full chest, we will go to taste the mineral waters flowing directly from the bowels. 

The springs are located close to each other, but the water in each of them is completely different in taste.

Next to the mineral springs, the mountain river is noisy with a ten-meter waterfall. 

And to the side there is a Buddhist temple — datsan. 

We will visit all this splendor before lunch. 

You can have lunch in a cafe to your taste.

And then you will relax in the thermal pool.

Transfer to Irkutsk, accommodation.

Accommodation: Air Harbor Hotel, standard room, double occupancy (Irkutsk).

Meals: breakfast.

Breakfast. 

Self-service transfer to the airport.