Tunka Valley and Eastern Sayan. Buryatia Tour

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We invite you to explore the world of wildlife, ancient Buryat culture and breathtaking landscapes in the Tunka Valley on the border of Russia and Mongolia. We will conquer two peaks in the Sayan Mountains, walk along the ancient Okinsky trail, which was used by Mongols and Soyots, deep into the Sayan Mountains, and also be able to skate and spend the sunset in the upper reaches of the Irkut River.

The tour involves prolonged physical exertion — climbing mountains in low temperatures.

Location

Russia, Irkutsk

Contact the tour coordinator

Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

Rising to the Peak of Love

The ascent is technically simple: we walk along the trail, admire the views of the Tunka Valley from the observation decks.

Safety on the route

We will have professional guides and instructors with extensive experience and special training.

Sacred peak of Munku-Sardyk

We will climb to the top of 3491 m — a historical, sacred and simply incredibly beautiful place.

Non-touristic route

While thousands of people are exploring the ice on nearby Lake Baikal, it's rare to see another group in the Tunka Valley.

A comfortable climate

The peculiarities of the local climate and the Siberian anticyclone leave the mountains of Eastern Sayan accessible for climbing even in winter

Combined climbing

The ascent to Hulugaisha Peak will begin with a drop-off by car, and then we will move up the old road.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival. Irkutsk — Arshan
Pick-up from 07:45 to 08:00 in Irkutsk, near the Central Railway Station (3/1 Chelnokova Street).
Transfer by minibus to the village of Arshan (Republic of Buryatia) with a stop on the way for breakfast with a view of Lake Baikal (in Angasolka or Kultuk).
Upon arrival, accommodation at the campsite, equipment delivery and introductory instruction on its use and safety during the tour.
After that, a walk to the waterfalls on the Kyngarga River and dinner at a Buryat cuisine restaurant.
Overnight in Arshan, in the immediate vicinity of the place of tomorrow's departure on the route.

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Day 2 - Climbing the Peak of Love
The second day is dedicated to climbing the peak of Love with a total climb (from the hotel) of 1200 meters.
The ascent is technically simple: we walk along the trail, admire the views of the Tunka Valley from the observation decks.
The forest thinns and disappears almost at the very top, revealing a panoramic view of the Tunka Chars, a mountain range that leads East Sayan into the Tunka Valley.
After descending from the mountain, we will go to the hotel to change clothes and go to the restaurant to replenish the calories spent.
We will spend the night in Arshan again in the same hotel.

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Day 3 - Arshan village — the White Irkut River
Today our way lies from the village of Arshan to the Bely Irkut River.
The border zone begins in Mondy, but no passes are required: entry is by internal Russian passports.
We will immediately stop at the guest house and check in so that we can be expected to check in in the evening.
The next stop is the gorge of the Bely Irkut River, from where there is a climbing trail to the highest point of the Sayan Mountains — the peak of Munku Sardyk (3491 m).
And we are a little to the right — along the ancient Okin trail, which was used by Mongols and Soyots, deep into the Sayan Mountains.
The place is historical, sacred and, in the end, just incredibly beautiful.
The climb from the parking lot is 450-500 meters, and the route takes up to 3 hours.
If we have time and energy left, we will skate and spend the sunset in the upper reaches of the Irkut River, on the mountain road leading to Orlik, a remote settlement in the heart of the Sayan Mountains.
We will return to Mondy for the night, cook dinner (there are no restaurants here) and go to rest: tomorrow we will have another ascent.

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Day 4 - Hulugaisha Peak Climbing
The start of the climb to Hulugaisha Peak will begin with a drop-off by car: it's a long way from the village itself, and we can't manage in one day.
The climb is not difficult: we are moving along the old road, which in Soviet times geologists used to bring equipment to the mountain.
In the circus below the top, the old road gets lost in the rocks, and we continue to follow the markers.
The last 150-200 m of the set is a steep climb that turns into a ridge.
The very peak at Hulugaish is plateaued with magnificent views of the Tunka chars and Munka Sardyk, at the foot of which we visited yesterday.
At the end of the route, we will get back in the car and go down to Mondy: a hot shower, an equally hot dinner and an exchange of impressions about the day.

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Day 5 - Departure
We are returning to Irkutsk without haste: we will stop for a photo and, of course, have lunch with a view of Lake Baikal.
We will be in the city from 16:00 to 18:00.
Those who wish will have time to look at the market and stroll around Irkutsk: the atmosphere of the Siberian capital reigns here and there is much to see, from colorful life to unique architecture and rich history.

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Difficulty

Does not require specific skills, but one must be in a good physical shape

Tour organizer's comments

Requirements for the preparation of participants: The tour involves prolonged physical activity: climbing mountains at low temperatures. The participant must have good physical fitness and no contraindications to this type of outdoor activity. Participants must follow the recommendations of the organizer regarding the selection of personal clothing and equipment for the tour.

Accommodation

Camp Site

4 nights

Comfort

Basic+

The tour provides accommodation at camp sites.

The cost of the tour for 1 person is 69,200 rubles.

2-, 4-bed heated rooms with a shower in the room or a shower on the floor (with a bathroom on the floor).

Tour conditions

Group

From 6 to 12 tourists

Minimum age

14 years old

Duration

5 days 4 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Irkutsk

Included in price

meals: breakfast from the 2nd to the 5th day of the tour, dinner on the 3rd and 4th days of the tour, walking snacks on hiking routes (thermos with tea and coffee, cheese and sausage sandwiches, cereal bars) on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th days of the tour;
Irkutsk — Tunkinskaya Valley — Irkutsk minibus transfer;
accommodation at campsites (2-bed heated rooms with in-room shower or on-floor shower);
rental of specialized equipment: group thermoses, kittens ice shoes;
group first aid kit extended;
the work of instructors-guides.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Irkutsk and back;
accommodation in Irkutsk before and after the tour;
meals not specified in the program. The cooking is organized by the instructors-guides with the help of the tour participants. Other meals are organized by the arrival of the group at catering establishments, where each participant chooses what they want and pays for it themselves.;
insurance;
skate rental (we recommend that you take your own skates, which were tested at your home rink).

It's important to know

Each participant of the Tunka Valley and Eastern Sayan tour must have the following set of equipment and clothing. The organizers reserve the right not to allow participation in the tour in the absence of the specified equipment or its analogues. Optional equipment is marked in the list accordingly.:

Clothing is mandatory:

headdress covering the ears (windproof);
fleece tube scarf (aka "buff");
thermal underwear (trousers and a long-sleeve T-shirt) made of merino wool or polartec fleece;
fleece hoodie (fleece density from 300 g/m2), or a jacket made of softshell or windstopper with fleece lining;
winter jacket (with a hood and covering the ass), you can have a down jacket;
wind and moisture-proof membrane jacket;
winter pants (similar to a jacket in terms of thermal insulation properties), ski pants;
gloves (thick fleece or ski gloves);
tops (these are special mittens worn over gloves, most often made of windproof fabric with insulation);
underwear (can be made from merinos wool merino sheep wool);
insulated socks (preferably fleece or special ones for trekking);
trekking boots (always with a high top that fixes the ankle!!!);
leggings;
head lamp;

Equipment is required:

sun protection;
sunglasses or a ski mask with a high degree of UV protection (at least UV 3);
sunscreen;
hygienic lipstick;
thermos flask from 0.5 liters (it is a thermos flask, not a thermocup) for individual use;
backpack from 70 liters (or suitcase with dimensions up to 85x45x28 cm);
running backpack 20-30 l;

Here is a list of optional but recommended gear.:

rubber slippers for bath/shower;
swimming trunks/bathing suit;
bath/shower towel;
tourist seat (foam pad, podpopnik, hoba — whatever they call it);
chemical heating pads for heating the body and batteries of electronic equipment;
trekking poles;
electric shoe dryers;
ice skates (for skating on ice);
change of clothes for staying at the hotel.

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification

$954

31 Jan – 4 Feb, 2027 5 days 4 nights

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$954

27 Feb – 3 Mar, 2027 5 days 4 nights

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No need to pay now

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