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Summer Buryat Discovery Tour with Lake Baikal Experience
Overview
An exclusive summer tour that offers the perfect blend of culture and nature. Our Buryat discovery tour allows you to learn more about the unique heritage of the people that call Siberia their home through nearby temples, village communities and natural landscapes. If you enjoy learning about local culture and are looking for a mix of culture and nature this summer, then this week-long tour is the one for you. This experience includes a tour to Ivolginsky Datsan, a trip to the Old Believer’s Village in Tarbagatay, an excursion to Atsagat Village, and an exclusive visit to the Ushkany Islands at Lake Baikal.
Buryat-Mongolian bow shooting at the “Steppe nomad” ethno-complex
City tour of Ulan Ude
Explore the memorial house museum of Agvan Dorzhiev
Exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Believer’s Village in Tarbagatay
Relaxation day in Gremyachinsk
Swimming in the hot springs near Snake Bay
Visit to Chivyrkuiskiy Bay
Visit to Ivolginsky Datsan
Itinerary
Ulan-Ude
Located to the East of Russia’s popular tourist destination Lake Baikal, Ulan-Ude is a city bustling with tourist activity and is the gateway for the Trans-Mongolian Railway that travels from Ulan-Ude to Beijing via Ulaanbaatar. The city’s close proximity to the Mongolian border and well-established transport links into Asia have allowed the city to form a unique cultural identity as the center of Buddhism in Russia.
Day 1
Arriving in Ulan Ude with City Tour
Welcome to Ulan-Ude! Your guide and driver will meet you at your scheduled point of arrival before enjoying a full city tour of the capital of Buryatia. You will get to see a variety of attractions as part of the tour including Soviet Square, Odigitrievsky Cathedral and Rinpoche Bagsha for panoramic views across the city.
Lunch
City Tour
Odigitrievsky Cathedral
Datsan “Rinpoche Bagsha”
Scenic Surrounds
Ivolginsky Datsan
Cultural Immersive Experience
Food & Drink Experience
Day 2
Visit to the Old Believer’s Village
After having breakfast at your hotel, your driver will take you off the beaten track to the Old Believer’s Village located a short distance away from Ulan Ude. Nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will learn more about the Yakut heroic epos “Olonkho” and the verbal art of the Old Believers in Trans Baikalia. You will visit the local museum before having lunch at the old believer’s house with an entertainment program. During lunch you will get to try an assortment of dishes from old Russian cuisine and participate in a folklore performance. After some free time to explore the village you will head back to your hotel in Ulan Ude.
Breakfast & Lunch
Old Believers Village
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Scenic Surrounds
Buryat traditions
Cultural Immersive Experience
Food & Drink Experience
Optional excursions
Day 3
Visit to the Ethno – Complex “Steppe Nomad”
Delve deeper into Buryat life with a visit to Atsagat Valley and the ethno-complex “Steppe nomad”. After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Atsagat Village, famous for the construction of Atsagat datsan in 1825. While in the village you will visit an Atsagatsky Datsan where you will get to hear the story of a thousand Buddhas, before getting the chance to talk to a philosopher-monk directly. You will also visit the memorial house – museum of Agvan Dorzhiev that includes various religious items, rare books, coins and ancient tankas (icons). You will also find a copy of the Atlas of Tibetan Medicine, one of the rarest books in the world.
Breakfast & Lunch
Atsagatsky Datsan
House-museum of Agvan Dorzhiev
Religious Buildings & Monuments
Ethno-complex “Steppe nomad”
Cultural Immersive Experience
Food & Drink Experience
Buryat traditions
Optional excursions
Travel to
Gremyachinsk (Buryatia)
A quaint rural settlement situated on the eastern edge of Lake Baikal, in the Republic of Buryatia, Russia. Gremyachinsk is best known for its secluded yet beautiful views of the lake and for its scenic nature trails. Although it has grown in popularity as a resort area over recent years, it has still retained its quiet and authentic charm and offers a glimpse of local life around Lake Baikal.
Day 4
Free time in Gremyachinsk Village
It’s finally time for you to travel to Lake Baikal. After breakfast, your driver will take you to your hotel in Gremyachinsk Village for the ultimate day of relaxation with magnificent views of the lake and surrounding forests. You will have plenty of optional activities you can get involved in from cycling and hiking to relaxing in a Russian Banya.
Breakfast
Gremyachinsk beaches
Free Time
Lake Baikal
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Travel to
Ust Barguzin
An urban settlement located in the Barguzinsky District of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia. Ust Barguzin was founded in the 17th century at the mouth of the Barguzin River on the shores of Lake Baikal. Despite its proximity to Lake Baikal, the town remains largely untouched by tourist activity and is home to a local population of around 7000 people.
Day 5
Exploring Chivyrkuiskiy Bay and the Ushkany Islands
Today you will enjoy a spectacular day of sightseeing in one of Lake Baikal’s most picturesque locations. Your full-day excursion will explore the islands of Chivyrkuiskiy Bay where you will get to watch the Baikal seals, swim in the hot springs near Snake Bay, and enjoy lunch from the boat deck.
Breakfast & Lunch
Chivyrkuiskiy Bay
Prominent Landscape
Baikal seals watching
Ushkany Islands
Scenic Surrounds
Free Time
Day 6
Heading back to Ulan Ude
After having breakfast in your hotel, you will start off on the journey back to Ulan Ude where your tour ends. You will have plenty of time in Ulan Ude to do some last-minute exploring or shopping before heading home.
Breakfast
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Breakfast
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Departure Transfer
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More information
What’s included
Accommodation as part of the tour- Airport / Railway Station Transfers
- All tours are COVID-19 secure and offer flexible booking options. Visit our Covid-19 information page to find out more
- English speaking guide (German, French, Spanish, Chinese or Japanese available on request)
- Entrance fees to museums, attractions and parks
- Food and drink (as mentioned in the tour itinerary)
- Russian Tourist Visa Invitation
- Transport (as specified in the tour itinerary)
What’s not included
International train / plane tickets- Optional excursions and activities
- Outdoor equipment such as bikes and walking sticks
- Personal costs (souvenirs, additional snacks etc)
- Tips for drivers/guides/in restaurants
- Travel / medical insurance
- Visa processing
Travel Tips
All travellers are asked to check the vaccination requirements before travel. Visit our Vaccines and Health page to find out more- Any dietary or allergy requirements will need to be disclosed before the start of the tour
- Carrying a water bottle with you is recommended
- Medication should always be taken with you and kept on your person
- Please ensure that you keep any personal documents and valuables on your person at all times
- WIFI will be available at most of the hotels, although mobile coverage may vary in rural areas
- Your local guides will recommend stops where you can go souvenir shopping during your tour
Special notes
There are no special notes for this tour
Suggested reading
Enrich your travel experience with our list of top recommended books from specialist travel guides to compelling novels. Whether you are looking for something to pass the time on the train, or want to get to grips with the local history, reading is essential to turning your trip into a fully-fledged experience.
Russia: Lonely Planet
The ultimate guidebook to Russia that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Russia is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to this vast country from how to get around, the best places to eat in its most popular cities, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights, currency and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as the Moscow Kremlin, Lake Baikal and the Romanov sites, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Sacred Sea: A Journey to Lake Baikal
Sacred Sea follows a man’s 25,000-mile pilgrimage from the US to the natural paradise of Lake Baikal in the heart of Siberia. Veteran environmental journalist Peter Thomson sets off from Boston with his younger brother on a spiritual journey of self-healing in search of connection, permanence, restoration and hope. Travelling by raft, train and ship, this transformative journey is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance nature can have on healing in a time of need.
Siberia: A Cultural History
A mysterious and wholly undisturbed land situated in what is now the heart of Russia, Siberia has been steeped in myth and intrigue from the West, yet this vast frozen tundra with endless forests has been a sanctuary to the wildlife, fauna and local communities that call it home. Siberia is a cradle of civilisation, the origin of several ancient Turkic empires, and home to many indigenous cultures who would later travel to the Americas and beyond. Tracing the history of this little-known region, Haywood provides a glimpse into the historic landmarks and natural phenomenon of the region as well as the culture of its largest cities, Irkutsk, Tobolsk, Barnaul and Novosibirsk.
Travel Like a Local – Map of Ulan Ude
Head off the beaten track and discover the real Ulan Ude with this useful guide. Fox has produced the ultimate guide on how to fit in with the locals, uncovering the best hidden bars and restaurants, navigating the busy tourist hotspots, and discovering lesser-known backstreet marvels only known to those that live nearby.
Visa Information
