Where Truths and Legends Intermingle…

The tour gives a bright overview of the history, culture, customs and traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Baikal region.

The tour program:

Arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to the hotel, check-in*, time at leisure.

A sightseeing tour of Irkutsk, during which you will see the historical centre, the Angara river’s embankment and the most prominent monuments of architecture. A visit to the Ferris Wheel, from the height of which a panoramic view of the entire central part of Irkutsk city opens. Excursion to the Znamenskiy 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).

Lunch at a restaurant in the city centre.

Excursion to the Decembrists’ museum telling about the Revolt of December 14, 1825, its participants and their life in the Siberian exile.

Return to the hotel. Overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. Departure for a whole-day excursion to Baikal lake (65 km).

En route – visit to “Taltsy” Open-air ethnographic museum, a marvelous reconstruction of the everyday life of Siberian people of the 19th – early 20th centuries, which will take you back to the atmosphere of that time.
Arrival at Listvyanka settlement located on the shore of Baikal lake.

A stop at the Shaman-rock observation platform next to the Angara’s outflow, where you will hear a beautiful local legend and learn some curious customs connected with this place.

Lunch at a local restaurant (specialities made of Baikal fish).

Excursion to Baikal Ecological museum with a splendid exposition on the lake’s flora and fauna including aquariums with live inhabitants of Baikal. Upon request – virtual submerging to the lake’s bottom (for extra charge).
Walking tour around the settlement; visit to the functioning Russian Orthodox church of St. Nicholas-the-Miracle-Worker (the 19th century) and the local fish market.

Return to Irkutsk. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. Departure to Ust-Orda settlement – the capital of the Ust-Ordynskiy Buryat Autonomous Okrug. En route – a stop at the Buryat “obo” – a holy place for worshipping local deities and spirits, where you will have a chance to practice this specific rite yourself.

Upon arrival – excursion to the Local Lore Museum with an exposition displaying the history of the peoples who have inhabited the region since the Paleolithic era. Here you will get acquainted with the customs, traditions and beliefs of the Western Buryats as well as with the natural and geographic peculiarities of the area.

A Buryat folklore concert, during which you will hear Buryat songs accompanied by national musical instruments, learn the traditional round dance – Yokhor, meet with a real shaman and take part in an ancient ritual.
Lunch of national Buryat cuisine.

Return to Irkutsk. Overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport or railway station. Departure.

* NOTE: сheck-in/out time at hotels is 12:00. Earlier check-in and later check-out are charged for in accordance with the hotel’s rates.

Number of people	Price per person, RUR
3-5	27 000
6-7	23 000
8-11	22 000
12-14	21 000
15-20	20 300
21 and more	19 000