Experience the beauty of Russia’s Far East. Discover the unique art, history and culture of Irkutsk, Siberia’s second city. Gaze in awe at the breathtaking sight of Lake Baikal in early winter. Join us on the adventure of a lifetime.
Dive into the rich cultural fabric of Irkutsk as we tour the city, visiting everything from ancient churches and monasteries to a state of the art planetarium and the Eksperimentary Museum of Science. Experience the nightlife of Russia’s Far East. Spend a few days exploring the magnificent Lake Baikal, visiting its various villages and islands, including Stalin’s ‘fish gulag’ at Peshchanaya village. Enjoy a bonfire meal of salted fish and the traditional fisherman’s soup of Ukha whilst getting to know the local Shamanistic Buryat people, surrounded by this stunning scenery.
Show itineraryFriday 17th July – Ulan Ude
- The Lake Baikal tour kicks off today in Ulan Ude, the capital city of Buryatia in Eastern Siberia. We meet together at Hotel Marrakesh in the city at 10am. Important to arrive on time as it is a chance to get to know the group and talk through the itinerary for the Lake Baikal tour.
- Time for a stroll around Ulan Ude. We will pay a visit to the Lenin Head Statue which is three storeys high, before checking out Victory Park which is full of classic Soviet Statues.
- One of the best lunches in Ulan Ude is at Tengis Restaurant so we will get filled up here on traditional Buryat food.
- We will take taxis and head north out of the city to the incredible Ulan Ude Ethnographic Museum with over 11,000 outdoor exhibits.
- Back to the city for dinner at Restaurant Buryatia with a traditional Buryat performance. Further stroll around town to see the famous landmarks scattered around the area. If you have worked up a thirst we will get some beers in a local bar and then overnight at our hotel for an early train tomorrow.
Saturday 18th July
- We check out eary this morning to jump aboard train 069Я to Irkutsk. Some of Russia's most jawdropping scenery will be on full view along the way.
- We arrive in Irkutsk at 16:20 local time.
- First up is a walking tour of the 130th Quarter. We’ll visit churches and monasteries, the planetarium and public observatory, the Eksperimentary Museum of Science, the ‘Window to Asia’ exhibition and the House of Folk Arts, all built to celebrate Irkutsk’s 350th anniversary.
- Dinner at Rassolinik Restaurant.
Sunday 19th July
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Drive out to Listvyanka village on the shores of beautiful Lake Baikal to check out the fish market before scouring the souvenirs market for Soviet kitsch.
- We will have a picnic here with local produce and local vodka.
- Visit to Lake Baikal Museum, where huge aquariums are refilled with water from the lake.
- Our next stop is the Under the Open Sky Museum.
- Drive back to Irkutsk.
- Enjoy the full Russian night out with dinner at Nomad Restaurant in Irkutsk and few drinks.
- Stay overnight in Irkutsk.
Monday 20th July
- Early breakfast at the hotel.
- Depart for Olkhon Island, one of the largest lake islands in the world. It’s a 5-6 hour journey by bus and ferry, but the breathtaking scenery we’ll encounter shortens the road!
- Check in to our hotel on the island which is of typical Siberia style.
- Lunch Hotel Baikalov Ostrog.
- Visit Khuzhir village, the main settlement on the island and home to mostly Buryats, the native ethnic group.
- Trek to Burkhan Cape.
- Dinner and stay overnight in Khuzhir.
Tuesday 21st July
- After breakfast, we will jump on board a fleet of 4WD and drive up to the northernmost point of the island – Khoboy.
- Enjoy a traditional Buryat lunch cooked on an open fire of barbecued salted fish and Ukha which is a traditional fisherman’s soup from the area.
- Stop at the village of Uzury and chat with some of the people that live a traditional lifestyle by the lake.
- Head back to Khuzir and relax in a banya bath house (optional extra).
- For our last night on the island, we’ll eat dinner and keep warm with the help of an old friend – vodka!
- Overnight stay in Khuzir.
Wednesday 22nd July – Olkhon Island
- Off to the southern end of Olkhon this morning.
- Boat to Ogoy Island where interestingly a stupa of enlightenment for Buddhist Buryats is located.
- Island hopping around the Islet of the Small Sea. We will be able to checkout many beaches and cool landscapes.
- On to Khuzhir, stopping in many of the abandoned villages along the way, including Peschanaya, where one of the Stalin's gulags was located in the Prisoners would work in a fish processing factory her.
Thursday 23rd July – Olkhon/Irkutsk
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Travel back to Irkutsk by bus, with unbelievable scenery along the way.
- Arrive to Irkutsk in the evening.
- We have a farewell dinner in the 130th quarter and some well-deserved beers, more vodka is a certainty!
Friday 24th July
- Breakfast at our hotel and the conclusion of the tour.
- Connections by train and plane can be arranged by arranged where needed.
