Journey to Olkhon and Buryatia

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1 Active trips and adventures in Russia More info: Journey to Olkhon and Buryatia Find your inner harmony in the Buddist stupa of Enlightenment, swim in the crystalclear waters of the world's deepest lake, count all the seals on Cape Khoboy, try sagudai and Buryat buuza, and sense the coolness of Sarma, the Baikal wind.

2 Experiences you'll have Tour of Baikal and Buryatia Lake Baikal New This is a journey for those who want to learn the history and culture of people of Baikal, to learn about the shamanism of the west coast and the Buddhism of the east coast. In this journey, you will: Difficulty Group size Duration 9 days swim in Lake Baikal cross the lake on a boat visit places of power see incredible sceneries meet Baikal seals learn the customs of the Buryat enjoy the starlit skies Tanzheran steppes and Siberian taiga, sand dunes and picturesque rocks, Buddhist rites and shamans' sacred places Baikal will open its deepest scenic corners to you and tell you its ancient legends. 3 nights 5 nights from rub Itinerary Day 1 The journey begins in Irkutsk, and you have to get there on your own. Our guide will meet you at the airport. The group meeting is scheduled for 9:00; please take that into account when buying your tickets. We are ready to help you with the purchase of tickets.; if necessary, leave a comment in your application. You will go to the center of Irkutsk for accommodating in a hotel and having some rest. After lunch where you will taste meals of Siberian cuisine, you will have a city tour. You will visit the historical part of the city, see the old district, explore numerous churches and walk along Angara embankment. In the evening you will go back to the hotel. Day 2 After breakfast, with minibus you will go to the centre of Baikal Maloe More. The way is going through historical lands of Buryats. You will see old nomad camps and villages, flocks of sheep and wild horses. For lunch you will stop in an ethnographic centre "Zolotaya Orda" (Russian for Golden Horde). Here, you will learn about Buryat culture, test your strength in Buryat wrestling and talk to a shaman. Cooking buuz (a traditional Buryat meal) altogether, learning national dance named Yokhor, unique throat singing and nomads tents are waiting for you. Then the rout will go through forests and heaths and will bring you to Baikal, to the village of Sakhyurta. Here, you will stay in the tourist base "Veter Stranstvyi ". After dinner, you will have rest. Day 3 Today you will board a high-speed boat to go to Maloe More with a landing on the island of Ogoy where the stupa of Enlightenment is found. After getting acquainted with Buddhism, you will have a trip to Olkhon Island, which is the center of shamanism.

3 In the village of Khuzhir you will stay in a tourist base. You will take a walk to the most beautiful beach on the island Sarayskyi beach. In the evening you will learn a lot about shamanism, the main religion of Buryats in Baikal area. You will listen to stories of assistant of shaman in a nomads tent near Baikal. He will tell you about the difference between white and black shamans and will answer your questions. After the lection you will say good-bye to the sun on Cape Shamanka. This cape is one of shrines of Asia. It is considered to be a house of the main Baikal spirit Khan Hute Baabai. Day 4 After breakfast, you will learn the legends of the island of Olkhon a car will take you to its north. The road will go through forests, sand beaches, and dunes. On the way you will have stops on viewing points. You will come to Cape Sagan-Khushun and then to the northernmost Cape Khoboy. Then you will go down to see Peschanaya Bay and Uzury Bay, after that, you will make a stop on Cape Shunte. During picnic, you will enjoy the view of Baikal and taste tea with herbs and fish soup cooked from Baikal fish. In the evening you will go back to the tourist base. You can have a walk to Cape Shamanka and enjoy the sunset here. Day 5 After breakfast, you will travel with a high-speed boat to another shore of Baikal. Your destination today is Ushkan Islands. Here, you can see the biggest population of ants. If weather is good you will also see Baikal seals. This is a rare type of freshwater seals. They have rookeries here and you have a chance to observe dozens of these animals enjoying the warmth of sun. You will have lunch in the nature reserve and then continue your journey. Next destination is Civyrkuiskyi Strait. Sandy bays and picks of Barguzin Range this amazing landscape is on your program. With a minibus you will come to the village of Maksimikha (70 km) located on a shore of the lake. Here, you will stay in a hotel and have rest. Day 6 Today you will go to the scenic Barguzin Valley with a minibus. You will learn the history and culture of these places by visiting the Palace of Yanzhima Goddess. She is a patroness of art, science, children and mothers. Pilgrims from all over the world come to this place. After that, you will visit the sacred Suvo Saxon Castle near the village of Suvo. There is a beautiful view of the valley and Barguzin Range.

4 After lunch in a local café, you will have a trip to one of the oldest villages in the region Barguzin. Here, you will witness the mixture of cultures and times. Then, you will go back to the tourist camp, have dinner and rest. Day 7 You will leave Baikal and start a journey to the city of Ulan- Ude, the capital city of the Republic of Buryatia. The route goes along the coastline of Lake Baikal, then through the real Siberian taiga. Upon arrival to Uland-Ude, you will accommodate in a hotel and have lunch. After that, you will have a city tour and visit the historical part of the city and the Soviet Square. You will see the biggest head of Lenin in the world and ethnic sculptures on the bridge across Selenga river. After the city tour, you will go to the Ivolginsky Datsan. This is a large Buddhist monastery where you will see the intact body of Hambo Lama Dorzho Itigelov. Here, you will learn more about the religion and communicate with lamas. In the evening you will come back to the hotel, have dinner and rest. Day 8 After breakfast you will go to the village of Tarbagatai, where you will learn what it is like to live in a Siberian rural area. You will listen about canons of the Old Belief, see traditional clothes and taste meals of semeiskaya cuisine. In the evening you will go back to the hotel, where you will have dinner and discuss the journey. Day 9 You will be brought to the airport, from where you will go home. In Irkutsk you will stay in Irkut hotel for one night (double rooms with two single beds) On Maloe More you will spend a night in a touristic centre Veter Stranstvyi (standard rooms with facilities) In Khuzhir village you will live in a tourist centre Usadba Nabaimar for two days (rooms with shared facilities on the floor) In the village of Maksimikha you will spend two nights in Lukomore hotel (standard rooms with facilities) In Ulan-Ude you will in Baikal Plaza hotel for two nights (standard rooms with facilities) FAQ Booking

5 Booking Lake Baikal New Difficulty Group size Duration 9 days from rub What's included in the price: Meeting at Irkutsk airport, transfers as per program Accommodation at Veter Stranstvyi tourist centre (1 night), Usadba Nabaimir tourist centre (2 nights), Lukomorye hotel (2 nights), Irkut hotel (1 night) and Baikal Plaza hotel (2 nights) Meals provided by the program Professional Baikal guide's services Rent of high-speed boat Rent of an off-road vehicle (Nissan Safari 1993) Tours and excursions provided by the program Lection about shamanism 3 nights 5 nights Extra charge: Flight to Irkutsk, starting at rubles for a round-trip ticket Tobacco, alcohol and souvenirs 27 jul 2019, sat 5 aug 2019, mon from rub Best price Personal Discounts for Gift guarantee tours regular clients cards