LAKE BAIKAL and Irkutsk

Day 1

Arrive to Irkutsk*

Meeting upon arrival, transfer to the hotel

O/n: Empire Hotel *** or similar

MEALS: -,- , -.

*On Siberian map Irkutsk appeared in the middle of the XVII century. Irkutsk has a great number of monuments of wooden architecture. There are about 500 architectural monuments in the city, among which historically constructed ensembles are depicted. The greatest interest has the ancient part of the city including Church of the Savior and Znameniye Cathedral

Day 2

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to the railway station

8:00 Board special tourist train to Circum Baikal Railroad*.  Lunch and dinner on the train.

19:30 arrive to Port Baikal, ferry boat to Listvyanka

Transfer to the hotel

O/n:   Krestovaya Pad Lodge*** or similar

MEALS: B, L, D.

* The Circumbaikal Railroad “a golden buckle on a silver belt of Russia,” is an outstanding landmark to the construction and engineering art. It was built around the south of Lake Baikal more than a hundred years ago to bridge two ends of Trans-Siberian Railroad. It contains 40 tunnels and 16 separate galleries, 470 viaducts, bridges and pipes. Apart from that there are about 280 separate complexes of supporting walls for different purposes. In the background one can see breathtaking huge capes and cliffs, picturesque valley of the rivers.  No doubt, the tunnels and the galleries are the most impressive and tremendous amongst the engineering constructions of the Old Railroad.

Day 3

Breakfast at the hotel

Enjoy a morning cruise on the lake (2 hours)

Lunch at a local restaurant. With traditional Baikal food

Listvyanka city-tour: Visit Baikal Museum* with the aquarium with Baikal fish and freshwater seals - Nerpas, Shaman Rock**, St. Nicholas church and a Fish Market.

Transfer back to Irkutsk

Dinner at the hotel

O/n:   Krestovaya Pad Lodge *** or similar

MEALS: B, L, D.

* Listvyanka is the village in the South-West of lake Baikal. The village dates back to 1701, when it became one of the first settlements of Russian people on the shores of Baikal. The image of the port village of Listvyanka was changed in the end of 19 century in connection with the construction of Tran-Siberian railroad.  Today, the majority of population in Listvyanka is involved in tourism.

** Baikal museum is a splendid museum where different material evidences, exhibits, in short all the information about lake Baikal is kept, studied and exhibited: origin of the lake; representatives of the endemic flora and fauna from the surface of the lake to the maximum depth; excellent model of the bed of Baikal.

*** Shaman Rock is a natural boundary between the deepest    lake in the world and the only river that flows out of the lake - the Angara river.  Many local legends are attributed to this place. The rock is believed to be the house of one of the Buryat gods.

Day 4

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to Irkutsk

Stop at the museum of Wooden Architecture en route*

Lunch at the family

An opportunity to explore the dacha garden and kitchen garden, to learn about the agriculture in Siberia and to try home-made preserves and pastry.

Short overview tour of Irkutsk

Dinner

O/n: Empire Hotel*** or similar

MEALS: B, L , D.

*On the Museum of Wooden Architecture "Taltsi" territory there are 13 architectural complexes with 36 wooden buildings. Some of them have exhibits which can help you understand the agricultural and cultural peculiarities of Transbaikal people of XIX-XX centuries

** The Shugantsev family lives 20 km from Irkutsk city center towards Listvyanka, in a nice forest area. The couple and their son run a beautiful wooden house and a big garden with goose farm and apiary. All buildings are constructed by themselves. Family visit includes greeting by the family, introduction and stories, visiting all corners of their property and traditional Russian tea ceremony with tea and home-made preserves.

Day 5

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to Ust-Orda settlement (60 km, 1 hour)

Visit the Buryat Museum in Ust-Orda.

A greeting concert of Buryat music and a Shaman rite ceremony**

Lunch with traditional Buryat food.

After the lunch transfer back to the city.

Transfer to the Hotel

Dinner

O/n:  Empire Hotel*** or similar

MEALS: B, L, D

*Ust-Orda village is a place where indigenous, Buryat population lives. The Ust-Orda Museum has a rich collection of exhibits on the Buryats’ history and culture. ** Meet local Buryat shamans to learn about ancient shaman traditions and the current state of shaman religion.  You will also participate at one of the traditional shaman ceremonies

** Meet local Buryat shamans to learn about ancient shaman traditions and the current state of shaman religion.  You will also participate at one of the traditional shaman ceremonies.

Day 6

Breakfast at the hotel

City 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.

Lunch in the city

Continue the city tour with the Decembrist’s House Museum**

Time for independent dinner at 130th block.***

Dinner

O/n:  Empire Hotel*** or similar

MEALS: B, L, D

* Decembrist House Museum is connected with the family of Sergey Volkonsky, one of the Decembrists leaders. They lived for 30 years in Siberia, 17 of them they had been living in Irkutsk in this house. Original things of the Volkonsky family and other Decembrists are kept in the museum       

**Irkutsk Sloboda or locally called “130th block” is a restored area of Irkutsk Wooden Houses is one of the highlights of Irkutsk. Being situated near the most beautiful church of Irkutsk, The Exaltation of the Cross Church the area offers a number of beautifully restored wooden houses, a monument to the coat of arms of Irkutsk, several observation spots, gift shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants.

Day 7

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to the airport

Included services:

- Accommodation in Irkutsk and Listvyanka, ( 3-star hotels, twin/double rooms);

 -Meals, according to the program (B, L, D), soft drinks, water included;

-Transfers according to the program. 45 seat bus with microphone and a\c. Korean made

- Included excursions according to the program (except those marked in the itinerary with extra costs);

- Museum admissions and entrance fees;

- guide assistance;

Not included services:

-Extra excursions en route

-Extra services, not mentioned in the program or marked as “extra charge”