Various religions and confessions coexist in peace in our region. The best presented of them are Buddhism, Orthodoxy and Shamanism. The tour is called so because we will discover in only one journey the coexistence of these three religions. At first we will visit orthodox Irkutsk and its churches, then the Olkhon island, this cradle of the shamanism in Asia, will cross the Baikal by ship admiring the splendor of the Large Lake, will reach Buryatya and its capital Ulan-Ude, will visit Buriat Datsans, center of Buddhism in Russia, will return to Irkutsk by land to discover the splendid village of Listvyanka.

We will also devote a whole day to discover the Buryat village of Arshan. Located at the foot of the Eastern Sayan, this village conceals several thermal sources. There we will also visit the Buddhist temple Datsan, the Kyngarga-river hidden in a mountain gorge and its waterfalls.

Day 1 Early morning arrival in Irkutsk. Accommodation at the hotel, rest. Lunch at the restaurant. City tour of Irkutsk (the Decembrists’ museum, historical centre, churches and wooden houses). The evening animated by a folk group. Overnight home-stay.

Day 2 Morning departure to the Olkhon island. Crossing the Siberian countryside we’ll see small provincial boroughs, breeding Buryat villages. Having passed the immense Siberian meadows we will find ourselves in the steppes which resemble the Mongolian landscape. Visiting a shaman we’ll discover shamanist practices. You will take part in a shamanic rite! Lunch at the Buryat restaurant (traditional six corner house) with the traditional cuisine: posy, chebureky, Buryat tea etc. Several times we will stop at picturesque places to make offerings to the spirits of the places. In the afternoon accommodation at the homestead of the Kuzhyr village. Discovering of Burkhan rock ("residence of God of the lake", one of the nine sanctuaries of Asia). Banya (Russian sauna) in the evening.

Day 3 After the breakfast excursion to the island by jeep. Discovering of cape Khoboy (northern point of Olkhon), sacred shamans’ place, a spectacular view on 360°. If you are lucky, you’ll see the seals of the lake – Nerpas. Lunch in the open air near the cape. Then we will go down again to the bay Uzury (East coast of the island) to admire abrupt cliffs and the Great Baikal. Return to Khuzhyr. Banya in the evening.

Day 4 Travel by jeep to the south and the east of the island. Discovering of ruins of the Kurykan wall which barred formerly the access to the sacred place. Passage on foot (2 km) through the taiga, lunch by the fire. Discovery of the salt lake Shara-Nur inside the island, which is famous for its water rich in radon. Return to Kuzhyr in the afternoon. At request: trekking through the picturesque steppe (2 hours of walk). Banya in the evening.

Day 5 Day devoted to the crossing of the Baikal in its broadest part. This marvellous cruise will really allow us to sail in the geographical centre of the lake. Boarding in the north of Olkhon we will sail for several hours before reaching Ust-Barguzin, village of fisherman located in the Barguzinsky gulf. Overnight home-stay in the village.

Day 6 Way to Ulan-Ude, capital of the Republic of Buryatya. 240 km of roads and tracks in taiga. During the road we will cross several Buryat villages. Accommodation at the hotel. Lunch at the restaurant. Visit to the Ivolginsky Datsan, Buddhist temples complex located in the extraordinary steppe outside the town. Discovery of Buddhist culture. This Datsan, the most important building for worship in Buryatya, is the centre of Buddhism in Russia. Dinner at the restaurant "Modern Nomads", traditional Mongolian cuisine, in the city. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7 Tour city of Ulan-Ude. Visit to the ethnographic museum in the open air: architecture and Evenk, Russian, Cossack and Buryat way of life, Lunch animated by a folk group at the restaurant with traditional Buryat cuisine, you will be served under the true yurts! Visit to the museum of the history of Buryatya. Dinner at the restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8 Morning departure by the Trans-Siberian Railway to the southern point of the Baikal. It is perhaps the most beautiful way of all the line of the Trans-Siberian from Moscow to Vladivostok! Going along the Selenga-river, the largest affluent of the lake, then the south-eastern shore of the Baikal we will arrive to Kultuk village where we will take the road to Arshan across the Tunkinskaya valley. Lunch on the train. Way by minibus from Kultuk to Arshan. Overnight at the guest-house.

Day 9 Morning visit to Buddhist temple, possibility of attending service. After a lunch of Buryat cuisine: ascent to the Peak Lyubvi (peak of Love, 400m high) and/or excursion to the waterfalls. In the afternoon return to Irkutsk by road through taiga. Overnight home-stay in Irkutsk.

Day 10 Early morning departure to Listvyanka. Discovery of village. Visit to the Baikal museum. Ascent to the Mount Chersky (30 min), panorama on the lake and Angara. Lunch at the restaurant facing the Baikal. Port of the village and typical saleswomen of omul. At request - tasting of smoked omul (endemic fish of the lake). Spare time for shopping, buying souvenirs sold in the mid-fish smokehouse. Accommodation at the guest-house with every convenience.

Day 11 Return to Irkutsk, visit to the Taltsy museum (50 km away from Irkutsk): traditional Russian wood architecture. Lunch at the museum. Visit to association of craftsmen of the region in Irkutsk. You will make a box in bark of birch yourself!! Exposure of their products of craft industry which you could acquire on the spot. Dinner prepared by these talented people! Overnight home-stay in Irkutsk.

Day 12 Transfer to the airport or the station. Departure.

Five departures will be organized in 2008 :