10 Tours in Irkutsk Oblast That You Shouldn't Miss

This authentic trip is for those travelers, who want to get acquainted with Asian traditions, with Buryats (local population), who have been shamanists since the old times and started to become Buddhists in the XVIIth century. You will have a chance to meet locals, ride horses and even to live in the gers (nomadic tents). You’ll also have a conversation to real shamans and try national food of Buryats. Living in civilized world, spending plenty of time with phones, laptops and other gadgets, we started to lose connection to the present moment. Vacation in the wild nature of Siberia with fresh air, surrounded by Baikal lake, will fill you with energy and restore health.

Inclusions: Lunch, Lunch, Tickets to the museums, Guides services for 11 days, Traditional ritual by shaman, Entrance tickets to the national parks , Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Accommodation is excluded. We can add it at your request depending on the type of roo you choose, Meals

Listvyanka is the best place to visit Lake Baikal especially if you are restricted in time.The minibus / private car will pick you up from the hotel and you will start your way to Listvyanka, which is 70 km away from Irkutsk. After a while there will be a stop and you will visit Talzy. It is an open-air museum of wooden architecture. The next stop will be at the rock of Shaman, the place which is full of legends and mysteries. Soon after this stop we will visit Baikal museum which discloses the secrets of water purity, flora and fauna of the lake. Then we go to the fish market where you can try Baikal omul. After all these cable way will bring you Chersky’s stone – the picturesque place at the top of 748m above sea level.

Inclusions: Private transportation, a bottle of Baikal water, Taltzy museum tickets

Exclusions:

You will be picked up from your hotel by a comfortable minivan. On the way to Listvyanka you will visit the wooden ethnography museum Taltsy and the Baikal limnology museum to find out more about the Siberian exploration by Russians, local people settlements, and scientific study of the lake. In Listvyanka you will rise by a cableway to an observation platform "Czerskiy Stone", with stunning views of Lake Baikal and the source of the Angara River. Then you can visit the famous fish market and taste endemic Baikal fish. What's included: - private transfer: Irkutsk - Listvyanka – Irkutsk - guide service during the tour - Irkutsk city tour around historical center of the town - tickets for a chair lift to the observation point "Cherskiy Stone" - tickets for "Taltsy" museum - tickets for Baikal Limnological Museum - free time to explore Listvyanka and visit a fish market - opportunity for customization

Inclusions: Private transportation, Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes, Guide service throughout the tour, Visit to an open-air Taltsy museum , Chair lift ride to an observation point, Visit to Baikal Limnological Museum

Exclusions:

You will be picked up from your hotel by a comfortable minivan. On the way to Listvyanka you will visit the wooden ethnography museum Taltsy and the Baikal limnology museum to find out more about the Siberian exploration by Russians, local people settlements, and scientific study of the lake. In Listvyanka you will rise by a cableway to an observation platform "Czerskiy Stone", with stunning views of Lake Baikal and the source of the Angara River. Then you can visit the famous fish market and taste endemic Baikal fish. We always take into account the interests of our clients and we are open to discussing the itinerary, time and any other details. What's included: - private transfer: Irkutsk - Listvyanka – Irkutsk - tickets for a chair lift to the observation point "Cherskiy Stone" - tickets for "Taltsy" museum - tickets for Baikal Limnological Museum - free time to explore Listvyanka and visit a fish market - opportunity for customization

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, Full day transportation, All Fees and Taxes, Bottled water

Exclusions:

Tunka Valley is called the land of Geser, Buryat (local people's hero), who fought against The Evil Khan, attacking the peaceful land. The guests like this area for untouched beauty of eternal snowy-peaked Siberian Alps mountains, green meadows, curing hot springs and tasty local cuisine. This is the place, where locals continue to live their cattle breeding lifestyle, some of them have yurts (gers), and if you stay for another day and go to the most remote areas at the border with Mongolia, you will see locals living the lives of their ancestors. Here a lot of local ethnic festivals are held, including ethnic dance, wrestling, horse riding and breaking the bones of animals contests.

Inclusions: Lunch, Private transportation, Guide's services

Exclusions:

Do you want to go for a real adventure on ice in Siberia? If that’s so, our tour "Grand Crossing of Lake Baikal” was made just for you! Cross the deepest part of the legendary Lake Baikal and find yourself 40 miles (60 km) away from any human habitation. Drawing on our years of experience, we created a brand new tour, for those like you who wish to experience genuine adventures.

Inclusions: Dinner, Lunch, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Dinner

Exclusions: Personal expenses and tips, visa fees and travel insurance, airline tickets

Circum-Baikal Railway is a unique monument of the engineering minds of late XIX century. Used to be the the most expensive part of the Transsiberian railway, now it is still the most interesting and beautiful one, became a part of Baikal National Park. Visit of this part of railway will give you an understanding of architecture and construction solutions of that days, and the feel of unique nature of the lake. You will go downhill through taiga forest, following the river of Angasolka till its connection with the lake. It is a small village there, used to build for railway workers. Then you will follow the tracks, touching stones in the tunnels built in early 1900s and feeling the breeze of the lake. After the walk we will have a lunch and enjoy the view of the Southern Baikal from the viewpoint. We highly recommend this tour to everybody who is interested in the Transsiberian railway!

Inclusions: Local taxes, National Park fees, Local guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Food and drinks

The Trans-Siberian Train- a term that thrills adventurers of all kinds. Of the different branches of the Trans-Siberian Train, the Trans-Mongolian is the most traveled route, mainly due to the fact that in one journey one could explore three different countries, and three different distinct cultures. But long train rides over the vast open Siberian taiga and tundra might just not meet the preferences of many travelers. We have thus designed a trip that focuses on the true real gems of this long train ride. Our journey begins by Lake Baikal of Russian Siberia, on to the land of the Mongol Nomads, and ends in Beijing, the Chinese capital. Featuring two of the most spectacular sections of the Trans-Mongolia railway, and with enough time to explore at ease the unique culture and spectacular sites along the route, this is the perfect trip for those wishing to combine an iconic train ride with up-close encounters with local cultures.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Lunch, Lunch, Lunch, Breakfast, Lunch, Lunch, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Dinner, Dinner, Accommodation at hotels selected including breakfast, Train tickets for the train rides segments indicated in the program on a half-compartment basis, Transfers by private A/C vehicles at each train stop, Meals as indicated in the program, English speaking guide at each train stop, Entry fees for all shows and sightseeing as per program

Exclusions: International airfare to Irkutsk, and from Beijing, Travel Insurance, Russian Tourist Visa, Mongolian Tourist Visa, Chinese Tourist Visa, Food, meals or drinks aboard the train, Excess luggage, Gratuities

Ethnographical tour around the Lake Baikal area, an exiting visit to the region where Shamanism is still practised. It is a brilliant way to experience the Buryat people’s traditional hospitality and cuisine, to enjoy their dancing and music. You are invited to take part in the original ceremony of "meeting-and-greeting" guests at a Buryat dwelling, view the folk art, make offerings to the local spirits, and feel like a medieval nomad. • Guaranteed skip-the-line entrance

Inclusions: Round-trip private transfer, Professional local guide, Folk program, Visit to Shaman, Buryat national lunch, Guaranteed skip-the-line entrance

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified

During the walking tour guide will show you around the area, where 350 years ago the city was founded. You will be introduced to the history of Irkutsk and see its main sights: beautiful churches, historical buildings and monuments. HIGHLIGHTS • Immerse yourself in the life and history of Irkutsk and Siberia • Visit the site of the ancient city entrance • Discover the legends of underground streets in the city centre • Explore the Old Town of Irkutsk and see it from the inside • Observe the unique character of the old Siberian city • Stroll through the narrow wooden streets of the city • Take a trip to ancient Russia and feel its atmosphere

Inclusions: Professional English-speaking guide assistance. Other languages upon request

Exclusions: Hotel pick and drop off, Any entrance fees, Transport, Food / Drinks, Gratuities