BDW2. Mysteries of the Sacred Lake Baikal
Type: Discovery
Duration: 7 days
Season: February
Dates: 18-24/02/2012
Recommended Group Size: 1-10 PAX
Transportation: airplane, car/minibus, "Khivus" motor boat
Itinerary:
Day 1 (18//02/2012).
Arrival in airport of Irkutsk. Transfer to the Zvezda hotel ***. Accommodation. 13:00 Welcome lunch at the hotel. Irkutsk city sightseeing tour: you can see the most interesting places of the city (squares, parks, churches, embankments, the oldest brick building of Irkutsk – The Church of Our Saviour (17th century), Kirov Square – place at city centre where Yakov Pokhabov's Cossak detachment established wooden fortress in 1661), “Block #130” specialy built for the 350th anniversary of Irkutsk city. In the evening free time for individual walks by snow-bound streets of the city. (L)
Day 2 (19/02/2012).
Breakfast. “Taltsy” open-air ethnographic museum tour. Museum is located at the picturesque Taltsy Tract at the Angara River shore. Tourists can see more than 40 samples of East Siberian wooden architecture. Chance to take part in traditional Siberian winter activity (“amusement”) - descent on the skins from snow hills. Transfer to Listvyanka settlement located at the Baikal Lake shore (70 km). Accommodation at the Baikalskiye Terema hotel ***. Baikal Ecology museum tour. At the museum aquariums you can see fishes of the Baikal Lake, famous nerpa (Baikal seal) and dive to the bottom of lake by virtual bathyscaphe. After museum you can visit local market where you have a chance to purchase souvenirs made by Siberian skilled workmen with stone, wood, birch, glass and to taste smoked Baikal Lake fish (omul, grayling, whitefish). Lunch at local restaurant. Walking tour (about 40 minutes) for the Tchersky Stone panoramic platform (700 m high). 5-km dog sledding is possible for payment on spot. Return to the hotel. Free time. Visit of banya (Russian traditional bath-house) at the hotel is also possible for payment on spot. (BL)
Day 3 (20/02/2012).
Breakfast. Transfer to the quay. Start of 3-day ice safari by “Khivus” motor boat. Transfers by this hovercraft are the most safe. In the beginning of your ice safari you will visit tunnels of
Circum Baikal Railroad (the most picturesque part of Transsiberian Rail Road where tourists have a chance to watch rail road engineering works of the beginning of the 20
th century), then you will stop at
the Peschanaya (Sandy) bay (80 km from Listvianka) where you can see two majestic stones: the Grand Belfry and the Small Belfry. Picnic lunch at the Krestovsky Cape.Visiting of the
Sagan-Zaba cliff with ancient rock drowings. Coming in the Olkhon Island approximately at 20:00. Accommodation at cottages at the Zhemchuzhina Olkhona (Olkhon Pearl) tourist base
(out-door toilet without heating!). Dinner. (BLD)
Day 4 (21/02/2012).
Breakfast. Fullday tour with picnic lunch included to the Khoboy Cape – top Northern point of the Olkhon Island (one of the most picturesque places at the Baikal). En route you will see sacred site Obo-Serge (“obo” means “conglomeration of stones” in Buryat language, in shamanist tradition this is sacred place where traveller has to pray for local spirits and present them gifts) and visit picturesque Sagan-Khushun Cape – there is one of the rare places in the rocky Northern part of the Olkhon Island where you can directly reach the lake shore. Dinner at the tourist base. (BLD)
Day 5 (22/02/2012).
Breakfast. Fullday tour with picnic lunch included to the Ogoy Island. Visiting Buddhist stupa (a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship) built in 2005.(BLD)
Day 6 (23/02/2011).
Breakfast. Transfer by coach to Irkutsk (about 6 hours). Lunch for payment on spot at one of the local cafes is possible. Accommodation at the Zvezda hotel ***. Farewell dinner. (BD)
Day 7 (24/02/2012).
Breakfast. Check-out by 12:00. Transfer to the airport or railway station.(B)
Legend: B – breakfast, L – lunch, D - dinner
Costs netto – winter 2012:
668 EUR per person for joining in a fixed group.
Included:
-
TWN accommodation in STD rooms
-
meals per program: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
-
all transfers per program
-
excursions (entrance fee per programme is included)
-
service of English-speaking guid
-
Not included:
Supplements:
All the costs are valid at the date of publication and are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking.
Tour will be arranged for minimum tour capacity of 5 pax.
Comfortable and warm foot-wear and clothes are recommended.
The above day-by-day order of programme might be changed.