Baikal Ring

"Baikal Ring"
Program: Irkutsk - Listvianka - Olkhon Island - Ushkany Islands - Chivirkuy Bay - Ust-Barguzin - Ulan-Ude
Visit the most exiting places of Baikal lake
within
8 days 7 nights

Day	Day's programme	Overnight	Meals included
1 Day	Arrival in Irkutsk Meet our guide Lunch break after landing and arrival into the city Departure to the lake Baikal, Listvianka settlement (67 km, 1 hour drive) Visit the museum of Wooden Architecture en route Arrival to Listvyanka Touring Listvyanka: visit the Baikal museum with the aquarium with Baikal fish and freshwater seals – Nerpas and St. Nicholas church, Shaman Rock and a Fish Market At sun set take the ski-lift to the Cherskiy hill for a view on the Circum-Baikal Railroad and the Angara river outlet Dinner in the local restaurant Return to Irkutsk	Hotel in Irkutsk	LD
2 Day	Breakfast at the hotel Irkutsk - Ust Orda - Olkhon Island Half day morning tour of Irkutsk: Visit Church of the Savior, War memorial, Angara river embankment, Cathedral of Our Lady of the sign, Monument to the Emperor Alexander III on the embankment. From times immemorial bell chimes were a living attribute of Orthodox Church services. One cannot image all the functions, attributed to bell chimes! They were known as a good incantation, bearing mystical and symbolic properties. The bell chimes were an inalienable element of musical surrounding, existing in all towns and villages of vast Russia. Transfer to Olkhon island (app 6 hour ride) with visit Ust-Orda Stop at Ust-Orda Buddhist monastery to meet lamas Lunch at at a Buryat ger café (Buryat cuisine – soup, salad, pozy (nomadic dumplings), tea, welcome shot of vodka) with folklore show at the Golden Horde Buryat complex - Ethno Park Golden Horde is located in a picturesque area on the road to Lake Baikal. In the Ethno Park you can taste dishes of national Buryat cuisine and visit the most beautiful carved yurt in Russia. Made of valuable wood, the yurt is a unique object reflecting the national culture and religious values of the Buryats. After lunch we drive to the Olkhon Gate straight and cross it on ferry Olkhon Island the “heart” of Baikal is the biggest island of Baikal. The island is 72 km (45 miles) long and 15 km (9,5 miles) wide with a population of 1500 people. The major occupations are fishing and cattle breeding. The Island's aboriginal people are the Buryats. The "capital" of the island is Khuzhir. Scientists still debate whether "Olkhon" is translated as "little forest" or "dry" as both names fit well. Olkhon is the geographical, historical and spiritual center of Baikal, the heart of many legends and fairy tales and is believed to be the home of many Baikal spirits.Olkhon is the only anciently populated island. It is famous of its historical and cultural memorials that are known as «Mongolian errections» Drive to Khuzhir Village. Arrive at Khuzhir settlement - "the Capital" of the island Olkhon Khuzhir (meaning “alkali soil” in Buryat language) is the biggest settlement on the inhabited island of Olkhon. The majority Of the island population lives here (1200 people out of the total 1500). Most of them are the Buryat people, involved manly in fishing and sheep breeding. Observation tour round the village, visiting local lore museum Transfer to the hotel Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant	Hotel in Khuzhir	LBD
3 Day	Breakfast at the hotel Olkhon Island - Capes of island by 4WD UAZ Visiting Shaman cape, Sagan-Khushun or Three Brothers cape, Sandy Bay Shaman Cape is one of 9 Asian relics. Used to be known as «Stone temple». The Cape is considered to be the residence of the top ranked celestial Hute-Baabay Khan who has come down to earth to manage human beings lives Touring Olkhon Island with a trip to the Northern cape Khoboi** on 4WD UAZ van (up to 7 pax) Traditional Baikal picnic-lunch on the cape Continue exploration of the Island with stops at picturesque capes Transfer to the hotel Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant Khoboi cape (from Buryat language «Fang“) is the most northern cape of Olkhon island. From the sea the cape resembles the side face of a woman who is looking afield. Local legend says that it is the petrified Buryat lady who asked the celestials to present her with the better castle than her husband was presented with. For her anger and envy she was fated to be a stone till there would be evil and rancor. Sagaan-Khushuun cape is located near the famous Khoboi cape, but unlike the nethermost Khoboi capem this cape is a solid rock of pink and white marble. The cape is known as an archeological site with remnants of constructions dating to the V-X centuries A.D. Uzury bay is the only inhabited bay on the eastern shore of Olkhon island. It has breathtaking view on the open Baikal area and the meteorological station. The rest of the day is free	Family run Hotel	BLD
4 Day	Breakfast at the hotel Olkhon Island - Sailing to Ushkanie Islands with seals - Ust Barguzin Transfer to the pier to board our private boat Half day cruise to Ushkanie Islands to watch famous Baikal seals rookery The Ushkanye Islands - the total area is 10 km2. The Ushkanye islands are a group of four islands in the central part of Lake Baikal, a handful of stones on the lake's smooth surface. The islands are Bolshhoy (big), Tonky (narrow), Dolgy (long) and Krugly (round). As a matter of facts, those four islands are the top of the Akademichesky mountain range and they continue rising out of the lake. The origin of the Ushkanye islands is still a controversial question! There is unusual and original flora and fauna at the island, for example larches with stout, «bottle-shaped» trunks, birch-trees with dark bark and so on. Besides, there is a special continental mild climate here and the humidity is very high, especially in the summertime - 90-97%. Archeologists found three caves at Bolshoy Island, where primitive people of Neolithic period used to settle for a long time (approximately 5000-4000 years ago). Now the islands is a part of the Zabaikalsky national park. Lunch as picnic Sailing to the Chivirkuysky bay On the way-stop to explore Snake bay natural hot springs on Holy Nose peninsula Transfer to Ust-Barguzin*** overland Accommodation at the homestay or a small hotel Dinner, bathhouse at the homestay Holly Nose is the biggest peninsula of Lake Baikal. It is the branch of Barguzin mountain range, the highest point is 1878 meters. The isthmus that connects the peninsular with the main land separates two most beautiful Baikal bays. Ust-Barguzin is the largest village on the way to Zabaikalsky National Park. It is situated in the delta of the Barguzin River, which flows into Lake Baikal.	Family run Hotel (Homestay)	BLD
5 Day	Breakfast at the homestay Full day automobile touring to Barguzin Valley with lunch Tour to Barguzin valley is the adventurous full day automobile trip to the northern steppes of Asia. After breakfast, the travelers get on a car and start driving towards the valley. The road passes by the picturesque coniferous forest and the shore of the Barguzin River – one of the biggest Baikal tributaries. The valley is located at the scenic place - between Ikatski and Barguzinski mountain ranges. Barguzin valley is famous for its natural and historical monuments. Dinner at the homestay Barguzin valley is the northern steppes of Asia. The valley is situated at the picturesque place — between two mountain ranges: Ikatski and Barguzinski. It is famous for its natural and historical monuments. The tour begins with Petroglyphs (rocky paintings, age 3000), continuous to the Suvinski Castle an architectural miracle created by nature forming a picturesque group, reminding castles ruins with huge stone towers and narrow rocky ravine between them with the length about 200m and height 50m. There are a lot of nests of doves and swallows in the rocks.	Family run Hotel (Homestay)	BLD
6 Day	Breakfast at the homestay Ust Barguzin - Ulan-Ude Drive to Ulan-Ude Lunch at the city restaurant Visit Ivolginskiy Datsan (Buddist Temple) Tour to the Old Believers village Dinner with folk performance Transfer back to the hotel Dinner at the homestay Barguzin valley is the northern steppes of Asia. The valley is situated at the picturesque place — between two mountain ranges: Ikatski and Barguzinski. It is famous for its natural and historical monuments. The tour begins with Petroglyphs (rocky paintings, age 3000), continuous to the Suvinski Castle an architectural miracle created by nature forming a picturesque group, reminding castles ruins with huge stone towers and narrow rocky ravine between them with the length about 200m and height 50m. There are a lot of nests of doves and swallows in the rocks.	Hotel in Ulan-Ude	BLD
7 Day	Breakfast at the homestay Excursions in Ulan-Ude Tour to Atsagatsky Buddhism monastery, visit the museum, meet Buddhist monk Atsagat datsan is located against the picturesque mountains and is famous by one of its monks Agvan Dorzhiev. The monastery keeps his house and has the museum which exhibits the exposition devoted to his achievements. Tour to Buryat village, lunch You have an opportunity to visit an authentic Buryat village and have a lunch in a traditional dwelling of nomads – a felted yurt (or Ger). You’ll be met by villagers, dressed in national costumes, will be shown the interior of the dwelling and told about the history and traditions of the Buryat people by themselves. In every Buryat village there is a special place, usually at the top of some hill, where the villagers come to pray. This is where you will be taken to make an old ritual for having a good luck and lucky way. You’ll see both- traditional summer house of the Buryat people and a winter house. Besides, you’ll also try your hand in traditional cooking and Buryat sports. The folk songs will create an atmosphere of joy and leave a pleasant impressions and good memory about the place. After lunch transfer back to Ulan-Ude Explore the city-center with Lenin’s statue, old merchants’ houses, and market*** Historical center of Verkhneudinsk (nowadays Ulan-Ude), merchants' houses of the XVII-XIX centuries, churches and the biggest Lenin's monument in the world.	Hotel in Ulan-Ude	BLD
8 Day	Breakfast at the hotel Transfer to airport or railway station. Good bye, see you soon!		B