info@baikalnature.com

Three Religions

Destination: Lake Baikal
Easy - nothing more than normal walking while sight-seeing
Moderately Easy - 1-3 hours of physical activity daily
Moderate - 3-5 hours of physical activity daily
Challenging - 5-7 hours of challenging physical activity daily
Extreme - 7+ hours of challenging/extreme physical activity daily
Difficulty
Basic — most of nights in tents or rooms with shared WC, some nights in comfortable rooms.
Standard — most of nights in comfortable rooms, some nights in tents or rooms with shared WC.
Upgraded — all nights in comfortable rooms.
Comfort
Minimum age of the participant of this trip
9 Days
Highlights
  • Tour with primary focus on the acquaintance with culture and spiritual life of the region
  • Crossing of the lake in its widest and deepest part
  • Possibility to see all types of the Baikal landscapes
  • Acquaintance with the Republic of Buryatia and Olkhon island
  • Participation in the shamanic ritual
  • Comfortable accommodation all tour long
  • Private boats and transports
  • Tasting of the local cuisine
Tour Overview

Lake Baikal is one of the most amazing Russian destinations. For travellers this great lake offers not only hundreds of natural sites. Also the Baikal region is considered as a confluence of different religions. The most spread of them are the Orthodoxy, the Buddhism and the Shamanism. Our itinerary is about them all. You will get acquaintance with the way they remain intact in the spirit of peaceful coexistence and how they are intimately entwined in the life of local people.

Besides the acquaintance with the culture, we have included the nature discovering of Lake Baikal. For realizing the true strength and immensity of the lake, it’s necessary to cross it in its deepest and largest central part. The landscape changes: taiga-covered hills, desert steppes, sand dunes, mountain valleys and, of course, the sheet of the purest Baikal water lay going directly to the horizon.

We propose you to go for this tour in the best period of summer season when the water reaches the highest temperature, the sun is bright and the rains are rare. For getting acquaintance with the Baikal culture in all of its aspects, you will stroll about the old streets of the Irkutsk city, listen to the chime of the Orthodox Churches, visit the Buryat region and the Buddhist spiritual centre - Ivolginsky datsan, and participate in the true shamanic rite. You will visit Olkhon Island, this cradle of shamanism in Asia, where every sacral place keeps hundreds of legends and beliefs.

This tour is accessible for everybody:  you can go alone, in pairs or with your whole family independently of the age. All over the itinerary there will comfortable accommodations. In Ust-Barguzin we propose to spend a night in the local family for steeping in the real everyday life of the Baikal village. All services of the tour are private: we don’t use the scheduled bus or boats.

We want you to discover the lake in all its wide diversity – natural and cultural! If you visit Lake Baikal, you would definitely come back!

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Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Discovery of the Irkutsk city
    Irkutsk
  • Day 2
    Taltsy museum and first meeting with lake Baikal
    Irkutsk — Listvyanka
  • Day 3
    Meeting with a shaman and road to Olkhon island
    Listvyanka — Olkhon island
  • Day 4
    Ogoy island and Buddhist Stupa
    Olkhon island
  • Day 5
    Sacred site for shamans
    Olkhon island
  • Day 6
    Baikal crossing from west to east
    Olkhon island — Ust-Barguzin
  • Day 7
    Barguzin valley and the Dancing Goddess
    Ust-Barguzin
  • Day 8
    Centre of the Russian Buddhism and Buryat capital
    Ust-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
  • Day 9
    Return to Irkutsk
    Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
  • 10:00
    Individual transfer from the airport to the hotel (private car)
    *The indicated time is approximate. It can be changed according to the time of your arrival.
  • 12:00
    Accommodation in the hotel
    For tourists arriving early in the morning, check-in from 06:00 at no extra charge. Rest after the flight.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the restaurant of the city
  • 14:00
    Excursion in the city centre of Irkutsk
    Excursion with the guide in the city centre of Irkutsk. You will visit the most worth seeing places of Irkutsk: the Decembrists' museum, Orthodox churches, quay of the Angara river, wooden houses, central markets. You will feel the particular atmosphere of the city. You will have an opportunity to listen to the bells ringing in the Church of the Saviour. Also, we will visit the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and the Church of the Epiphany.
  • 19:00
    Dinner in a restaurant Not included
  • Overnight at the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Angara
Chambre twin confort
Note

0.5 h transfer  (6km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 10:00
    Transfer to the Listvyanka village
    Meeting with your guide and driver and departure to the Listvyanka village situated on the board of Lake Baikal near the moth of the river Angara.
  • 11:00
    Excursion to Taltsy museum
    Visit to the open-air museum Taltsy, discover a typical Siberian village of XVIII-XIX century. The museum has become the place of the conservation of the monuments of the popular culture.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the restaurant
    We will have lunch at a restaurant of Baikal cuisine overlooking the source of the Angara River.
  • 14:10
    Lift on the Chersky rock
    You will take the chair lift to the Chersky rock 728 metres above sea level. There is a breathtaking panorama: Listvyanka village, Angara river's source and the skyline flowing with the Baikal waters.
  • 16:00
    Arrival to Listvyanka
    Accommodation in the hotel. Rest.
  • 16:30
    Walking in the village
    Walking with your guide, visit of fish and souvenir markets. Free time. Optionally you can go to the nerpenarium (seal park show) or take a boat excursion (extra charges). For those who wants it's possible to visit the The Church of St. Nicholas that was built in the beginning of the XIX century.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk — Listvyanka
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel "Undina", Listvyanka
Twin room
Note

1 h transfer  (69km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 10:00
    Departure to the Olkhon island
    Leave for the Olkhon island by the private car. We will stop to blandish the local spirits, to ask their benevolence during the trip.
  • 12:10
    Excurion to the ethnographic museum and meeting with a shaman
    We will get acquaintance with the culture of the Baikal Buryats. We will take part in the rite of purification, get acquaintance with the local spirits and ask them to bless our travel.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the cafe en route
    You can taste the national dishes of the Buryat cuisine.
  • 17:00
    Arrival to Khujir
    Check-in in the resort. Free time. Discovery of Burkhan rock. Walking around the village, visiting port.
  • 19:00
    Dinner in the resort
  • Night in the resort
  • 09:00
    Breakfast at the resort
  • 10:00
    Transfer to the port of Khujir village
    Embarkation on the boat. Navigation in the Maloye More strait.
  • 12:00
    Visite of the sacred water source Surkhaytor
    We will go on shore and will walk to the sacred water source . This source was divided by one powerful shaman into parts: male and female. The water of the source is of a high silver-ion concentration and it is considered as healing.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    Picnic with hot tea on board.
  • 14:00
    Excursion to Ogoy island
    Ogoy island is a the biggest island of the Maloye More strait. The island is considered as a "pure" place: people have never lived there and the is no negative energy. There is a Buddhist Stupa - the stupa of Enlightenment.
  • 16:00
    Return to Khujir
    Transfer to the resort and rest.
  • 19:00
    Dinner at the resort
  • Overnight at resort
Photo of the day
Route
Olkhon island
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Nabaymar
Chambre twin confortable
  • 09:00
    Breakfast at the resort
  • 10:00
    Olkhon island excursion
    After breakfast excursion by 4X4 (UAZ) to Khoboy Cape, the northernmost point of Olkhon, sacred place of the shamans. The trip will allow you to discover the beauty of the Maloye More (Small Sea) and its islets, also places of worship of shamans. Stroll towards the cape.
  • 13:00
    Outdoor lunch
  • 14:00
    Stroll and return trip
    Return to Khuzhir. Visit of the hamlet of Uzury on the east of the island. The road passes through steppes, beaches and taiga.
  • 19:00
    Dinner at the resort
  • Overnight at the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Olkhon island
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Nabaymar
Chambre twin confortable
Note

7 h 4x4  (80km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast at the resort
  • 09:40
    Transfer to the port
  • 10:00
    Navigation to Ust-Barguzin
    Boarding on private boat. We will sail above 1.5 kilometres abyss for several hours before reaching the village of Ust-Barguzin. During this cruise, we can admire the picturesque views of Lake Baikal and of Svyatoy Nos peninsula.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    Picnic (lunch box) on board.
  • 14:00
    Continuation of the navigation
    Crossing of Lake Baikal in its widest part. This great cruise will really allow us to sail in the geographical centre of the lake.
  • 16:00
    Arriving on the island
    Accommodation in the guest house of the locals.
  • 19:00
    Homemde dinner
    The hostess will serve dinner round cooked from fresh local products.
  • 20:00
    Russian banya
  • Overnight in the guest house
Photo of the day
Route
Olkhon island — Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Full-day excursion by Russian 4x4 (UAZ)
    By the prairies of the Barguzin valley, we will go to the Barguzin Datsan where in 2005 the image of the Saint Yanjima was appeared on the big bowlder near the Datsan of Barguzin in the Siberian taiga. Now, this place became the pilgrimage destination of the faithful and tourists.
  • 13:00
    Lunch (picnic)
  • 19:00
    Homemade dinner
  • Night in a guest house
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
  • 09:00
    Homemade breakfast
  • 10:00
    Transfer to Ulan-Ude
    Departure to Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic, by private car.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    In the cafe of buryat dishes
  • 14:00
    Excursion to the Ivolginsky datsan
    Visit of the Ivolginsky datsan, serving the most important place of worship in Buryatia and the centre of Buddhism in Russia, located outside the city in a beautiful steppe.
  • 16:00
    Walking city-tour
    We leave our luggage in the office of the railways station and go for a walk along the centre of Ulan-Ude city - the capital of the Republic of Buryatia
  • 22:30
    Departure to Irkutsk by night train
    * Train, 2nd class compartment, 4 berths
  • Overnight in the train
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
Accommodation
Overnight in the train
The 2nd class compartment
Note

4 h transfer  (268km)

  • 07:00
    Arrival to Irkutsk
    Transfer to the airport. End of the programme.
Photo of the day
Route
Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
Note

4 h   (268km)

Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • English-speaking guide
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Excursions and visits as per itinerary
  • Reserves and national parks entrance permissions
  • Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
  • Banya
  • Boat trip
  • Letter of invitation
  • Meals according to the program
  • Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
Price does not include
  • Medical insurance
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Optional activities
  • Airline tickets
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

The departure is guaranteed for the group of 4 participants. If there are less persons in the group, the price can be recalculated. The price includes breakfast on Day 2-8, lunch on Day 1-8 and dinner on Day 3-6. Banya (Russian sauna) is included on Day 6. Single supplement – 15 800 RUB / pers.

Reviews
4.67
4.67
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Carlo
From 6 August 2015 to 14 August 2015
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Un voyage très bien organisé de bout à bout et vraiment intéressant avec un très bon mix d’aspects culturels et naturels. Vivement conseillé (le voyage et Baikal Nature)
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:
5.00
5.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Владислав
From 23 July 2023 to 27 July 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Замечательный тур! Очень понравилось всё, начиная от организационных моментов, заканчивая самим путешествием, замечательным гидом Егором, удивительно живописными местами, супер устойчивыми байдарками и разнообразной погодой.
4.33
4.33
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
3.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Vanessa
From 21 February 2023 to 25 February 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tourVoyage au lac Baïkal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Un grand merci à Maria qui a su nous sortir de situations parfois vraiment très délicates
4.33
4.33
Total score
4.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Valérie
From 21 February 2023 to 25 February 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tourVoyage au lac Baïkal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
This guest did not leave a comment.
5.00
5.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Emile
From 19 August 2022 to 27 August 2022
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
First I would like to thank Irina for not canceling the trip because I was the only person that arrived to Siberia for the tour. I would have been disappointed but I would have understood why it would be canceled. I have a special thank and appreciation to the guide Dima. The man has tremendous knowledge about geography, plants, local history, GREAT COMMUNICATION, and GREAT SERVICE, GREAT SURVIVAL
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BaikalNature's reply
Thank you so much for the kind words and trust that you showed us by taking part in this tour!
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