5 days
Fixed dates
10 people
from 6 years
Basic
Guest house or camp site, Hotel
Russian
Gastronomy, Excursion tours
Nature and history, culture and gastronomy, tranquil boat trips and mesmerizing throat singing, touching the sacred secrets of Buddhism and shamanism - during the five days of the tour you will be completely immersed in the atmosphere of Baikal and will understand why tourists return here again and again.
The tour includes the most interesting locations of Lake Baikal and many unusual activities: from shamanic songs to meeting the abbot of a Buddhist datsan! You will go up to the Chersky Stone observation deck to take a look at Baikal and the source of the Angara, see the legendary Circum-Baikal Railway from the most favorable angle - from the water, during a refreshing ride on a speed boat. You will be able to wander through the mysterious ancient tunnels of the Circum-Baikal Railway and take the best shots against the backdrop of its beautiful bridges. We will visit Ogoy Island at the Stupa of Enlightenment and explore Olkhon Island: from the northernmost point, Cape Khoboy, to the mystical Shamanka rock. You can’t do without the main symbol of Lake Baikal, the cute seals basking on the coastal rocks. You will also hear throat singing, witness ancient rituals and the traditional dance “Yokhor”, hear the sounds of the Cosmos in the sound of the shamanic instrument khomus. There will also be plenty of gastronomic discoveries and pleasures on the tour: hearty Buryat cuisine, picnics in nature with the most incredible views, a master class on sculpting real Buryat buuzes.
To add a personal touch to the adventure, we've set aside one day for fun activities of your choice. You can sunbathe on a sandy beach and swim in the cleanest lake in the world, experience beauty in an art gallery, meet and talk with a shaman, ride horses or bicycles along the most picturesque routes. Whatever your choice, we are sure: when leaving Baikal, you will leave a piece of your heart here!
Accommodation in modern and spacious Deluxe Twin rooms with views of Lake Baikal. The hotel is decorated in restrained, calm colors, here you will find high-quality service and beautiful scenery. Since the hotel complex is located on a hill, the panoramic views from the rooms and grounds are very impressive.
The complex is located on the first line of Saraisky Bay on the legendary Olkhon Island. An ideal location to feel the special energy of these places: cozy rooms decorated with wood, a closed area for quiet walks, a cafe with a terrace and panoramic windows overlooking the lake. The most popular location of Olkhon, Cape Shamanka (Burkhan), can be easily and quickly reached on foot.
We meet at Irkutsk airport until 9:00. A day full of impressions lies ahead, which begins with a sightseeing tour of the city. Irkutsk has a rich 350-year history: it is the concentration of Siberian culture and one of the most important centers of wooden architecture in Russia. Then we go to the main goal of the trip - the amazing Lake Baikal. Let’s get to know it from a height of 300 m by taking a cable car to the best observation deck “Chersky Stone”. We will have lunch at the restaurant, continuing to enjoy the amazing panoramic views. After lunch, we check into the hotel and go on our first boat trip on the lake: on a high-speed boat we will pass the legendary Circum-Baikal Railway. This scenic route looks even more beautiful from the water! We will make stops to walk along the shore, take photos at elegant railway bridges and even go into mysterious tunnels. In the evening, return to the hotel and free time.
After breakfast we leave the hotel and go to the Golden Horde ethnocomplex. Baikal is not only amazing nature, but also a very interesting culture, many authentic details of everyday life and, of course, delicious cuisine. In the ethno-complex you will see a vibrant folklore program with a colorful ritual of purification by fire, listen to mesmerizing throat singing and appreciate the sound of the shamanic instrument khomus, and also take part in a master class on sculpting buuz. We have lunch at an ethnocafe and head to the Small Sea, a strait separated from the main part of Baikal by the Olkhon Island. We board a speedboat. If weather conditions allow, on the way to Olkhon we will make a stop on the mysterious island of Ogoy, where the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment is located. Upon arrival on Olkhon, we check into a hotel complex located on the very shore of a secluded bay.
Our first destination is Cape Khoboy, the northernmost point of Olkhon. This is an ideal observation deck from where views of the endless expanses of Lake Baikal open. There is a legend that it was here that the first Buryat shaman received his power. And indeed, the energy of this place is simply incredible! In addition, cute Baikal seals often bask on the rocks surrounding the cape, so you will have a chance to watch these funny animals in their natural habitat. We will have a picnic in a picturesque place, and then go to the Shamanka rock (aka Cape Burkhan). Here, at one of the nine shrines of Asia, you will encounter a fabulous Baikal sunset. If you haven’t fallen in love with these places yet, we guarantee that after such a spectacle your heart will forever be given to Baikal!
Choose an activity you like! Spend the day in a calm environment, swimming in the cold but gentle waters of the cleanest lake on the planet, relax in the bathhouse and spa, or engage in active sports: ride bicycles, go horseback riding, cross the surface of the water on a spa board or kayak. Other entertainment options include a visit to an art gallery and a creative master class, a meeting with a real shaman, and an excursion to the South of Olkhon.
We leave the hotel and cross the Olkhon Gate Strait at the ferry crossing. Then - a transfer, during which you will see the magnificent Tazheran steppes, and lunch at a cafe of Buryat cuisine. In the afternoon you will experience the Buddhist traditions of the region. We will visit the datsan in the village of Ust-Orda, where you will have an audience with the Shireete Lama and will be able to ask any questions you may have. Upon arrival in Irkutsk, we can take you to any hotel, train station or airport. See you again!
This tour is suitable for children aged 6 years and older.
Breakfast in hotels and lunch along the route - in restaurants or as a picnic in nature.
Mercedes minibuses with comfortable seats, air conditioning, unobtrusive music and drinking water. Since the group sizes are small, we may make stops along the way at your request.
The tour price does not include air tickets and entertainment on the fourth day of the program. You can also order and pay separately for a visit to the bathhouse during your stay at the hotel.
Ask questions to the tour coordinator
Tour from an official tour operator from the Rostourism register
