Baikal Winter Stories. The Enigma of Buryat Land.

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This tour program is designed for those who would like to experience the magnitude of Lake Baikal, to take gigabytes of photos of winter landscape, to see  beautiful grottos decorated with icy stalactites and stalagmites, to learn about Buryat people  and their faith as well as Old Believers.

Day 1
 

Arrival in Ulan- Ude  at the airport or the train station
Meeting with a guide and a driver and transfer to Ivolginskiy datsan ( 30 min drive) which is the center of Buddhist life in Russia. You will see the complex of buildings which make the monastery and  university and learn more about Russian Buddhists.
Breakfast there. Like Buddhist you will make the ritual goroo –  a spiritual walk around datsan, visit the main temple and smaller ones.
 

Transfer to Ust- Barguzin with multiple stops on the way to enjoy Buryat scenery, stretch your legs,  step on the glittering surface of Baikal, see the Lighthouse and visit the oldest Baturinskiy convent and have lunch.
Arrival in Ust- Barguzin.
 Overnight stay in a guest house.
 Free time and dinner

Day 2
 Breakfast.                                                                                                           
 

Day tour to Chevyrkuiskiy Bay. You will be driven by 4X4vehicle to see multiple frozen lakes,  islands with ice caves and grottos.  You will visit hot springs  in Zmeevaya Bay and might even take a bath with the view on Baikal.
Picknic lunch.

Then you will go to fisher´s village where you might try ice fishing. You will learn the intricacies of this trade, get into the yurt, try to make a hole in the ice with an auger and learn about various baits, which ones are best for which fish.
Night in a guest house in Ust- Barguzin and dinner.


Day 3
Breakfast in a guest house
 

Day tour to Barguzin Bay to see  glitering surface of the lake, stunning  landscapes  of pininsula Svyatoy Nos  and endless territory of the Big Sea of Baikal. and take myriads of pictures.
 Lunch provided.
Night in a guest house in Ust- Barguzin and dinner.

 There are various option to personalize your trip:

1. Take  a ski trip to taiga on ski skins ( skis topped with fur). Such skis are used by hunters. Learn about flora and fauna of the region. Learn to read footprints of  wild animals and maybe see some.
2.  Barguzin Valley trip. Barguzin valley goes alomg the Barguzin river surrounded by two mountain ridges. During this trip  discover 3000 year old petrogliphs, see some Buryat sacred places, visit the oldest village on the east shore of  Baikal.
Day 4
 Breakfast at the guest house.

Transfer to the village Tarbagatay- center of Old Believers. After the split in the Orthodox Church in Russia the 17th centure some people continued to practice  Orthodox religion in the old way, preserving their customs and traditions. Despite being prosecuted by the state, they managed to preserve their  lifestyle and their values.Learn about the life and traditions of Old- believers in the museum, participate in the folk program and be treated with a delicious traditional lunch.
Picturesque view from the mountain Omulevaya.
 Transfer to Ulan –Ude ( 1 hour)
 Short Sightseeing tour of Ulan- Ude to see the biggest head sculpture of Lenin and the central streets of the city. The guide will give you recomendations where to dine.
Check-in the hotel  and dinner on your own


Day 5
transfer to the airport/ train station
morning flight to Moscow/ take train to continue your journey

Tour duration: 4 days/4nights
Included: accommodation, transportation, English- speaking guide, entrance fees to museums/ national parks, excursion of authentic Old-Believers village and  concert, meals as per program

Excluded: airfare, insurance

 

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