7 days
Fixed dates
8 people
from 8 years
Basic
Guest house or camp site, Hotel
Russian
Gastronomy, Excursion tours, Ethnic tours
A route of 1200 kilometers, 14 of the most iconic locations on Lake Baikal and 7 days of a grand journey that cannot be forgotten! History, culture, religion, traditions, myths, rituals - and all this against the backdrop of landscapes that make your heart beat faster. We will travel a long way from Irkutsk to Ulan-Ude, learning a lot of new things and seeing the secluded corners of the amazing Baikal.
You will be immersed in the eclectic culture of the region: mysterious shamanic beliefs, Buddhism and the culture of the Old Believers are intertwined on Baikal. We have included exciting activities in the program that will allow you to experience each of these separate worlds, which are so different and at the same time so closely connected here at the sacred lake. You will make a ritual walk around the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment and visit the famous datsans. You will visit the rock where the first Baikal shaman received his powers, and hear the cosmic sounds of traditional musical instruments of the steppe nomads. You will visit the Old Believers and learn about their way of life and traditions... All this will happen against the backdrop of the delightful Baikal nature: endless water surface, blue sky, beautiful hills, taiga, hidden bays. You will walk around Olkhon Island, marveling at the diversity of its landscapes, bask on the sandy beaches, swim in the invigoratingly cool and clear waters of Lake Baikal. You will see the eastern shore of the lake, which is not open to every tourist: after all, many programs are limited to the more famous and accessible western coast.
And on this journey you will get acquainted with two of the most important symbols of Baikal. Firstly, you will see huge nests of cute seals while visiting the remote and inaccessible Ushkany Islands. Secondly, you will enjoy aromatic and satisfying national cuisine: have lunch in traditional cafes and have picnics, and also learn how to sculpt the famous Buryat buuz yourself!
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.
The park hotel is located in a pine forest, just 100 meters from the shore of Lake Baikal. Rooms full of natural light in warm colors, a well-kept park area for quiet walks, barbecue areas for evening relaxation and a restaurant serving Russian and European cuisine. There is also a bathhouse on site - you can book a visit in advance and relax after an active day.
Comfort and homeliness in the very center of the city. The European-style rooms are equipped to international standards, from personal amenities to an ironing station and free Wi-Fi. The hotel restaurant is decorated in national style and serves traditional Buryat and Siberian cuisine.
We meet at the Irkutsk airport. Our first stop is the colorful ethnocomplex “Golden Horde”, where your immersion into the local culture will begin. You will see a vibrant folklore program and hear the sound of traditional musical instruments of the steppe nomads: their mysterious and deep voice seems to be born from the majestic nature of the ancient lake. You will also enjoy a culinary master class, where you will create Buryat buuzes under the guidance of an experienced chef. After a hearty lunch of national dishes, transfer to Lake Baikal and the first meeting with its endless expanses of water. We take a speedboat to Olkhon, landing on the uninhabited island of Ogoy on the way: this is a sacred place filled with light energy. Here is the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment, during a ritual walk around which you can make your deepest wishes. Upon arrival in Olkhon, you will check into a hotel and have free time in the evening.
Today we will explore the island of Olkhon, which is considered sacred. Its landscapes are surprisingly diverse: taiga, sandy beaches, rocky ledges and green capes... You will visit Cape Khoboy, from which magnificent views open, and you will most likely get to know the most famous representatives of the local fauna, funny sockeye salmon resting on heated stones off the coast . At lunchtime we will have a picnic and taste fish soup made from freshly caught fish. Then you will have an unforgettable walk through the most secluded and beautiful places of Olkhon: Pesochnaya Bay, Uzury Pad and much more... Everyone will be able to cool off right in the Baikal water by swimming, so don’t forget to bring your swimsuits! We will meet the sunset on the Shamanka rock, where, according to legend, the main spirit of Baikal lives.
We leave Olkhon and head by speedboat to the hard-to-reach Ushkany Islands - here are some of the largest seal beds on the lake. If the day before you were not lucky enough to see seals from Cape Khoboy, then meeting them here is guaranteed! Having landed on one of the islands, we will take a quiet walk, learn many fascinating stories about these places and have a picnic lunch in the protected area. Then we will continue our journey on a speedboat, enjoying the fresh breeze, the glare of the sun on the waves, the endless surface of the water and the power of Lake Baikal. As you approach the eastern shore, you will see amazing panoramas that not all tourists see - many routes are limited only to the western coast of the lake. After landing on land, we transfer to minibuses and head to the luxurious park hotel in Gremyachinsk.
You can decide for yourself in which mode you want to explore the eastern shore. Stay in silence alone with your thoughts and feelings (and the territory of the park hotel is very conducive to this!), devote a day to a beach holiday, ride bicycles along forest paths or relax in the sauna - or maybe all at once? You can also go on a boat trip or go fishing in the Chivyrkuisky Bay, or go on an excursion to the Barguzin Valley.
Today we leave the eastern shore of Lake Baikal - we will spend the next two days in Ulan-Ude. After lunch at a colorful restaurant with traditional cuisine, we head to Ivolginsky Datsan, the center of Buddhism in our country, founded in 1945. On the territory of the datsan there are ten separate dugan temples, and the most important shrine here is the incorrupt body of the Khambo Lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov. Regardless of how you feel about religion, the tour will be educational, and when you leave, you will feel peace and tranquility. Upon returning to the city, you have free time, which you can devote to an independent walk around the capital of Buryatia.
We invite you to visit the Old Believers, in the settlement of Tarbagatai! Here, for many generations, the usual way of life has been preserved and traditions are carefully preserved. You will walk around the village and chat with hospitable local residents, go to a museum and church, take part in a folklore program, have lunch with an Old Believers family, tasting their homemade dishes. Then we return to Ulan-Ude: you should definitely explore this charming and atmospheric city! During a walk with a guide, you will see an unusual landmark - the largest head of Lenin in the world, and look into the datsan of Rinpoche-Bagsha. Dozens of fascinating and curious stories, unusual architectural structures and centuries-old wisdom of Buddhism - the capital of Buryatia will be the final bright touch of a rich program.
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport. See you again!
The program is designed for children aged 8 years and older. Special prices apply for travelers aged 8-12 years.
Breakfast is included in hotel rates. We will have lunch in restaurants or have picnics (also included in the price). Dinners are on your own.
By land we travel in comfortable Mercedes or Toyota Hiace minibuses, and by water in fast and reliable Yamaha FR boats.
The price of the tour does not include air tickets and entertainment on the fourth day of the program: at your choice, it can be a visit to the spa and bathhouse, excursion, fishing, boat trips, bicycle rental and much more. We will be happy to help you select and book a suitable activity.
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
