Photo tour

The tour program:

Today is the first day of the tour, and you are welcome to start it with exploring lake Baikal in Listvyanka settlement.  This is perhaps one of the oldest Russian settlements on the shore of the great lake. Lately it has turned into a tourist centre with the number of sights, cafes, hotels and tourists exceeding the number of residents.

We invite you for a sightseeing tour of Listvyanka, during which you will visit an observation platform next to the famous Shaman-Rock, hear a beautiful legend and visit the acting Russian Orthodox church of St.Nicholas-the-Miracle-Worker – the patron of all travelers and sailors. You may also have an excursion to Baikal Ecological museum (for extra charge) with an exposition telling about the flora and fauna of Baikal, including aquariums with the lake’s live inhabitants. Tireless travelers may have a boat ride on Baikal, hiking or ATV tour along the picturesque shore (for extra charge). Watching the water from the coastal cliffs pay attention to its unmatched transparency and purity!

Besides, you may visit the spectacular open-air market, where the locals sell souvenirs alongside with home-made specialities of Baikal fish. 

After breakfast you will set off on a trip to Olkhon. Your way will head through vast steppes, ancient Buryat villages, over the magnificent Pribaikalskiy range’s spurs covered with the Siberian taiga forest which then change to Mongolian-type landscapes of the Tazheranskaya steppe.

Crossing the ice of the famous Olkhon Gate Strait separating Olkhon from the mainland.  It will take you about 40 min. to get to the island; on the way you will see both the Maloye (Lesser) and the Bolshoye (Larger) Seas – two parts of Baikal split by Olkhon. 

Arrival at Olkhon island – the biggest one out of 26 Baikal’s isles; the lake’s geographic, historical and sacral centre, which resembles it even by shape.

A 40-km transfer on the island – and you reach its capital – Khuzhir settlement. After the long impression-filled trip to Olkhon, you will have a sound sleep enhanced by the health-giving atmosphere of a wooden house.

Today we invite you to start exploring the vast spaces of Olkhon with a walking sightseeing tour of the outskirts: Khuzhir settlement, sacred Burkhan cape (Shaman-Mount) – 1 of the 9 Asian shrines, equally worshipped by Shamanists, Buddhists and Lamaists.

Although Olkhon is just an island, the distances here are quite long, making most of the local excursions last practically the whole day. So, we invite you to spend this day exploring the legendary Khoboy cape – the island’s northernmost point, which is located at the widest place of Baikal.

On the way you will see all the diversity of Baikal’s natural landscapes concentrated on the island.

The cape gives a splendid panoramic view of Baikal’s northern part, and if the weather is fine, one can make out the outlines of the Ushkanyi Isles and Svyatoy Nos Peninsula.

It is really worth having a walk here, during which the guide will tell you the legends, and describe traditions and customs connected with this place. 
Today you will get back to the mainland. After breakfast at the lodge the bus will take you to the mainland. After crossing the Olkhon Gate Strait again you will put up at one of the cozy and hospitable lodges on the shore of the Maloye Sea. 

A day at leisure. 

The week has passed in the blink of an eye still leaving impressions and memories for years. The way to Irkutsk will give you some time to range them.

 The highway will take you again over the picturesque Pribaikalskiy mountain range covered with the pristine forest thicket, and closer to Irkutsk populated localities will help you to gradually get ready for returning to the everyday life. 

Today is the final day of the tour, and we offer you to explore Irkutsk – ancient Siberian city.

During the city sightseeing tour you will see the historical centre, the place, where over 300 years ago Irkutsk was founded, the Angara river’s embankment, the most prominent monuments of architecture and, of course, Znamensky (Holy Sign) Russian Orthodox convent with one of the most beautiful Siberian cathedrals noted for its iconostasis and graves on the territory (graves of the Decembrists, Gregory Shelikhov and others). After the sightseeing you will have some time for shopping at the central market and a souvenir store.  

Tour price includes:

- accommodation at hotels and lodges in Irkutsk (2 nights), on Olkhon (3 nights), Maloye Sea (2 nights), on twin-sharing basis;
- meals as per program;
- all transfers and excursions as per programme, except for those specified for extra charge;
- guides’ services*;
- museum entrance fees as per programme, except for those specified for extra charge.

Special notes:

• The tour is led by Russian-speaking guides; bilingual guides or interpreters are provided for extra charge upon request
• Check-in time at hotels is 14:00. Check out time at hotels is 12:00. Earlier check-in and later check-out are charged for according to the hotel’s accommodation rates.