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Baikal Winter Stories. The Enigma of Buryat Land.

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Go to less touristy places on Baikal
Learn about Buryat people and its region
Explore caves and grottos and take advantage of photo opportunities
Skate on the glittering surface of Baikal
Learn about ice fishing and experience it if you wish
Plunge into the hot springs with the view of Baikal
Learn about peaceful coexistence of various religions: Buddhism, Shamanism, Old- Believers

Tour cost: upon request
Tour duration: 4 days/4 nights

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, to include the visit the oldest Baturinskiy convent and walk along embankment to see the Lighthouse in Goryachinsk where you can also 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. You will also have a few stops at various observation spots to enjoy and meditate
Picknic lunch.

Have a stop at one of the yurts where locals do fishing. Learn the intricacies of this trade, 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 Valley which goes alomg the Barguzin river surrounded by two mountain ridges. During this trip you will see the village with cozy wooden houses covered with snowdrifts like in the fairytale, see some Buryat sacred places,like the image of goddess Yanzhima and the newly built datsan, see intricately nature-designed rocks which have animal looking shapes.
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. ( Half day trip)
2. Enjoy snowmobile safary ( half day trip)
3. Stay overnight in a yurt camp, enjoy Russian banya, jump into the ice hole made on Baikal lake, relax in warm water pot under the starlit sky and hear the voice of Baikal. This night will be something special to remember.This option is available for the group of 6 and more people.

Day 4
Breakfast at the guest house.

Transfer to the Old Believers' village. After the split in the Orthodox Church in Russia in 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, visit Old- believer's church and be treated with a delicious traditional lunch and a folk programm.
Have a stop at the mountain Omulevaya for the picturesque view.
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 delicious lunch there, meals as per program

Excluded: airfare, insurance

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