Through the mountains, through the forest. Hiking with excursions

A day of traveling by various types of transport: water, rail, and automobile.

And all this day, Baikal will be on your left, so different, so big.

First, you will cross the source of the Angara River on a large motor ship and find yourself in the port of Baikal, a large railway and river port that cannot be reached by car.

But from here begins the journey on a special tourist train along the Circum–Baikal Railway - the Golden Buckle of the Transsib, a stunning engineering and architectural monument of the early 20th century.

The trip is accompanied by a story about the history of construction and the unique features of the road.

The number of tunnels and bridges along a fairly short stretch of the route is impressive when you recall the level of technology development at that time – everything was built manually, thoroughly, for centuries.

By evening, you will find yourself at the southernmost point of Lake Baikal, at the very foot of the majestic Khamar-Daban Mountains.

Transfer to the marina (~10 min.). Ferry transfer to Baikal port (~ 40 min.). Transfer by tourist train to the village of Slyudyanka (~8 hours). Upon arrival in the village. Slyudyanka, transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the train, dinner at the hotel.

Tour of the Circum-Baikal railway.

Exit up the Slyudyanka river to the peaks of the ridge. The trail constantly winds from one bank to the other, crossing the river with hoarding bridges made of poles and logs 15 times, passes by the marble quarry, Gorelaya and Kazachaya glades, gradually gaining more and more height. Crystal waters of rivers, small waterfalls, rocky cliffs, lush vegetation – all this is a real Hamar Daban.

Climbing the foothills is not difficult, and the surrounding landscapes make you grab your camera every now and then, delaying the already slow pace of movement. The day trip is about 24 km.

Stop for the night at the weather station, where there are places to set up tents, and for comfort lovers there is an opportunity to spend the night under the roof of the campsite houses and relieve fatigue in the sauna (extra charge).

Transfer to the beginning of the walking route.

Overnight in tents.

Meals included: breakfast at the hotel, camping lunch, hot dinner over a campfire.

Leaving our heavy equipment at the base camp, we make a light radial exit to the top. From the weather station, there is a fairly steep climb along the serpentine to the Alpine meadows, from where you can enjoy wonderful views of the Khamar-Daban and Eastern Sayan ranges. Having risen above the borders of the forest, through the char we come to a narrow rocky isthmus (Gendarmsky Pass).

Then there is a fairly simple path along the rocky ridge to the peak (2090 m). In good weather, Lake Baikal is clearly visible from the peak, and Lake Heart, named so for its shape, lurks at the foot.

Descent to the camp. For those who still have the strength and desire, there is an opportunity to go down to Lake Heart, visit the Visitor's creek, and enjoy the picturesque views of the cascade of waterfalls of the Yarnaya River.

Overnight in tents.

Meals included: breakfast at the camp, hiking lunch, hot dinner over a campfire.

The descent from the base camp along the familiar path is much easier and faster. After the mountainous landscape and the air, even the sparsely populated Mica seems fussy and smoky.

And again, moving along the hot asphalt of the road passing through a wide valley between two mountain ranges: on the left – Khamar-Daban, on the right – the Eastern Sayans.

In this unique Tunka valley, you can see young volcanoes and old Buryat yurts, the gray peaks of the Tunka Loaches against the piercing blue sky.

After driving 120 km, we get to the village of Arshan, located at the foot of towering mountain peaks, fascinating to the eye.

After accommodation at the hotel, you will be able to explore the village on your own or with a guide (extra charge).

Visit the healing mineral springs (take a mug or even a plastic bottle with you), the picturesque mountain river Kyngarga, stroll through the park of the Arshan resort with its natural monuments, pick up a souvenir in an entertaining market, where souvenir rows side by side with sellers of local medicinal herbs for literally all diseases.

Transfer to Arshan (~ 3 hours).

Accommodation at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast at the camp, hiking lunch, dinner at the hotel.

Today we continue to explore the picturesque surroundings and get acquainted with the amazing Tunka Valley.

You will also visit the crater of the extinct volcano Talskaya Vershina, see the cone of Chersky volcano and Kovrizhka.

You will hear about the distant past of the Tunka Valley from the time of the Jurassic period, as well as exciting legends about the ancestor of the Buryat tribes of Bukhara-noyon, the beautiful Kyngyrga.

The Tunka Valley is often called the "Land of healing narzanes" because of the abundance of mineral springs, which in their healing properties are not inferior to the famous waters of the Caucasus and the Carpathians.

The methane baths of the Pearl spring are unique in their chemical composition.

The hospital is located in a picturesque location on the right bank of the Irkut River.

You can swim in the pool with mineral water (for an additional fee), drink healing phyto-tea, and taste Buryat cuisine (for an additional fee).

And later in the evening, before returning to Arshan, we will have an excursion to the maral farm.

Marals are primarily known for their horns, which are used to make various medicines, vitamins, cosmetics, etc.

You will be told about the features of harvesting antlers and their benefits for the body.

The deer on the farm are mostly wild, but some individuals have already been tamed, and anyone can pet and even feed them.

Return to the hotel.

The excursion program.

Accommodation at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast at the hotel, dinner at the hotel.

Tunka Valley tour.

We continue to explore the surroundings of Arshan village.

Those who wish to explore the natural sights and beauties of the Tunka Valley can go hiking with a guide to the "Peak of Love", located at an altitude of 2124 m.

Accommodation at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast and dinner at the hotel.

I really don't want to return to the usual urban life, hustle and bustle, so the fees are delayed.

But the time is coming, the bus is waiting, it's time to leave.

The road to Irkutsk is filled with memories of the time spent, funny and amusing incidents, interspersed with exclamations of surprise from the views outside the bus window. On the way, stop for lunch at a roadside cafe (for an additional fee).payment).

And then to the very suburbs of Irkutsk – the Kultuksky tract with its serpentine mountain road, which inspires admiration and horror at the same time.

Upon arrival in Irkutsk, the program ends at the railway station.

Transfer to Irkutsk by regular bus or minibus (210 km, ~ 5 hours).

Meals included: breakfast at the hotel.

The program ends at ~15:00.