Treasures of Lake Baikal: a journey from Irkutsk to Ulan-Ude

Today you will immerse yourself even more in the atmosphere of Olkhon Island. 

After breakfast, you will go on an excursion to the picturesque part of the island – to the north, to Cape Khoboy. 

The cape is located in the very north of the island. 

Its name is translated from the language of the local population as "fang", and indeed, the rocky steep shores in these places resemble animal fangs. 

And together with the amazingly blue water surface, they create beautiful bright natural paintings. 

Being near the edge of the cape, Lake Baikal seems endless, its greatness and spaciousness are felt! 

You will also visit Cape of Love (or Cape Shunte-Left). 

Locals say that childless couples used to come to the cape, and after the rituals and prayers, they soon had children. 

It is believed that the cape has not lost its magical power to this day. 

The cape is distinguished by the characteristic shapes of the rocks, and the views from there are fascinating! 

As part of the tour, you will capture Cape Sagan-Khushun (or "Three Brothers"), a sheer cliff of snow–white marble. 

A beautiful legend about the three brothers is associated with this cape – they will definitely tell it to you, and being there, listening to the legend, you feel like a participant or at least a witness of the events described. 

After that, you will go further along the island: there are picturesque steppes around and suddenly an almost eight–meter bronze sculpture in the form of an unusual tree appears in front of your eyes - this is the creation of the famous sculptor Dasha Namdakov "Keeper of Lake Baikal", his gift to Lake Baikal. 

The sculpture is located at some distance from the roads, on a hill. 

It looks extremely authentic and majestic! 

In the middle of the day, you will strengthen your strength by eating a fragrant lunch against the backdrop of beautiful Baikal nature! 

The tour takes place with stops in the most beautiful places where you can take wonderful photos for memory. 

After returning to the hotel, you can devote the evening to rest. 

Gain strength, tomorrow you will fly over Lake Baikal. 

You will see: Cape Sagan-Khushun; Cape of Love; Cape Khoboy; sculpture by Dasha Namdakov "Keeper of Lake Baikal".

Included in the price: accommodation; breakfast; excursion; picnic lunch; group transfer; permission to visit the national park.

Today we are leaving Olkhon in a small aircraft and heading across Lake Baikal to the capital of Buryatia – Ulan-Ude! 

Upon arrival, your journey through colorful Buryatia begins. 

After arriving in the city, we will meet you and go to get acquainted with the center of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia – Ivolginsky Datsan, located 36 km west of Ulan-Ude. 

Ivolginsky datsan is a monastery–university in the Buddhist tradition, it is a whole complex, which includes many buildings. 

It is the only university in Russia where philosophy and traditional Tibetan medicine are studied.

But this is not the only reason this complex is interesting. 

The story of the Buddhist leader of the early 20th century, Hambo Lama Dashi–Dorjo Itigelov, brought widespread fame to datsan.

After his death in 1927, his body continues to be "alive" to this day: the joints remained mobile, and the skin was soft. 

Even after examining the body, scientists were unable to explain this phenomenon.

You will have a unique opportunity to see it with your own eyes! 

As soon as you enter the building where the decayed body of Hambo Lama Itigelov is located, goosebumps run over your skin, you feel the incredible energy of the place.

After visiting the Ivolginsky datsan, we go to get acquainted with the capital of Buryatia – the city of Ulan-Ude. 

It is a major cultural, scientific and industrial center of Eastern Siberia. 

It is the center of Buryat culture, Buddhism and Orthodoxy. 

The tour will be accompanied by a guide. 

Today we will visit Sovetov Square, the main square of the city, and see the symbol of the city – an unusual monument to Lenin in the form of a head.

The height of this sculpture reaches 7.7 meters, and the whole exceeds 42 tons. 

Another recognizable symbol of the city is the magnificent palace, where the opera and Ballet Theater is open. 

This is the pride of the republic, because there is no opera house of this level in the Far East anymore. 

Classical performances are regularly held here. 

You will see the Arc de Triomphe – it is visible from afar. 

It was erected in the XIX century in honor of the visit of the future Emperor Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich. 

The arch has an interesting history – after its destruction in 1936, it was restored in 2006. 

And now the guests of the city like to be photographed against its background. 

Arbat, the main pedestrian street of the city, is very close by. 

The most beautiful merchant houses have been preserved on the Arbat, and here you will see unusual modern sculptures. 

You will visit the large trade center of the XIX century – the living rooms. 

They were first built of wood at the end of the XVIII century.

You will see the first stone building in Ulan-Ude — the Cathedral of St. Odigitrievsky Cathedral, made in the style of the Siberian Baroque. 

Saint Hodegetria is the patroness of merchants and travelers, it is very symbolic for all guests of Buryatia to visit here!

In the evening you will go to the hotel. 

Tomorrow we will continue our journey, be sure to gain strength. 

You will see: Ivolginsky Datsan, Lenin monument, St. Odigitrievsky Cathedral, Sovetov Square, Triumphal Arch, Arbat, living rooms.

Included in the price: guided tour, accommodation, group transfer, breakfast, airfare.

We set off very early in the morning after breakfast. 

The first point of our trip today is Monakhovo, where we will transfer to a boat and go towards the Ushkany Islands.

The Ushkany Islands are an archipelago, a very special place, because here is the largest seal rookery on Lake Baikal, in summer you can see hundreds of these animals here. 

It consists of 4 islands, namely Large, Thin, Long and Round. 

An eco-trail has been laid to the rookery near the island of Tonkiy and a camouflaged observation deck is equipped for observing Baikal seals. 

You need a special permit to visit the island, you just can't get here! 

Upon reaching the place of observation, it is necessary to observe silence – seals can be very timid! 

But it is here that they like to bask on the rocks, bask, because this is the perfect place to see what seals are like in their natural habitat. 

The total time spent on the island is about an hour, after which we go further to the Holy Nose Peninsula.

This is the largest peninsula on Lake Baikal. 

Once the Holy Nose was an island, but gradually the sandy isthmus was washed away by water, connecting it with the land. 

This isthmus separates two large bays – Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuysky. 

Chivyrkuy Bay has a shallow depth – from 9 to 11 meters, so it warms up well. 

Here we will reach the Serpentine Bay, which is known for its healing hot springs, similar in composition to Pyatigorsk water. 

We will make a stop in the bay, if desired, you can visit the springs.

The recommended total time in the water is no more than five minutes.

A trip along the Chivyrkuy Bay is a real "exhibition" of incredibly beautiful natural objects along the way.

Many picturesque islands, shores, and the water surface amaze with their colors and picturesqueness! 

In the evening we will return to Monakhovo, where we will transfer to a car that will take you to Ulan-Ude.

You will see: Ushkany Islands, the Holy Nose Peninsula, Chivyrkuysky Bay, Serpentine Bay, Monakhovo, Barguzin Bay.

Included in the price: breakfast, accommodation, visit to the observation deck on the Ushkany Islands, guide, boat, picnic lunch, group transfer.

Today will be the final day of the tour. 

If you wish, you can take a walk around the city – there is something to see in Ulan-Ude. 

Here we say goodbye to you. 

We believe that during the days of the tour you have fully experienced the energy of Lake Baikal.

Now you have an idea of Lake Baikal from two sides – Irkutsk and Buryat! 

Included in the price: breakfast, hotel until 12:00.