Irkutsk is a unique, ancient city, the capital of Eastern Siberia. The proximity to Lake Baikal makes it a real tourist center, every year thousands of Russian and foreign tourists visit Irkutsk. Irkutsk was founded in 1661 on the banks of the Irkut River, from which the name of the city originated. In 2011, Irkutsk celebrated its 350th anniversary.

The favorable geographical position of Irkutsk at the intersection of many trade routes largely determined its history and development. The city became a kind of “window to the East”, all expeditions organized to the Far East, Mongolia, China, Alaska were formed in Irkutsk. From here began the settlement of the banks of the Amur.

In the 1840s, Irkutsk became the gold industrial center of Eastern Siberia, and Irkutsk merchants became the richest in Siberia. The conduction of the trans-Siberian railway through Irkutsk led to the strengthening of the economic and cultural ties of the Siberian city with European Russia, and its role as the administrative center of a huge region increased.

Nowadays, Irkutsk is among the largest cities of the Russian Federation and has the status of one of seven cities with unique historical and cultural heritage. Over 600 thousand people live here. This is an administrative, business, industrial, scientific and educational center, in which more than 10 thousand enterprises of various sizes are concentrated, a branch of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a network of research institutes, universities and universities, which train about 100 thousand students.

Irkutsk is a multinational city in which representatives of over 100 nationalities live.
Irkutsk is a Siberian city in which ancient lacy wooden houses coexist with modern high-rise buildings. There are drama and musical theaters, a theater for young spectators, a philharmonic with a symphony orchestra, and an organ music hall. In one of the oldest Russian museum in Irkutsk, there are rich archaeological and ethnographic collections. For about 120 years, an art museum in Irkutsk, created on the basis of a private collection, has been operating. The works of Irkutsk writers Konstantin Sedykh, Alexander Vampilov, Mark Sergeev, Valentin Rasputin are known not only in Russia, but throughout the world.

This cape is considered a symbol not only of the island, but of the whole Baikal.
This place is also called the Shaman Rock due to the fact that since ancient times shamans conducted their rites here. In the rock there is a difficult-to-see-through cave in which the shaman disappeared, and then appeared from the opposite side in front of the amazed crowd. For a long time it was impossible for ordinary people to come here, and especially for women.

This place has a special energy and is considered one of the places of power on Lake Baikal.

An unforgettable, fascinating excursion to the island of Ogoy, which is located in the center of the Small Sea. On this island is a Buddhist shrine, erected in the summer of 2005. It is one of the Enlightment shrines, in which various Buddhist relics and a bronze statuette of Dakini Troma Nagmo, considered to be the mother of all Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism. A special flavor of the Small Sea is given by its islets with nesting sites of the silver-colored gull. The sacred cape Burkhan, when viewed from the sea, will sparkle with new colors.

The route passes through the northern part of the island, through the most picturesque places of Olkhon, which remain in the memory for a long time. Here are very interesting objects for photographing. On the way, a beautiful panorama of the Small Sea and the Primorsky Range opens.

We are passing the village of Peschanka, once a fish receiving station turned into a camp for prisoners. To date, there are only the skeletons of the building and the barracks, and a few houses. Sandy Bay is remembered for its sandy dunes, reminiscent of the ocean coast and trees - stilts, the roots of which were exposed from the constant winds and create fanciful shapes.

From Khoboy, a sacred place revered by shamanists, you will be able to see panoramic views of the Baikal Range with Cape Ryty, the Holy Nose Peninsula, and the Barguzinsky Bay. In good weather, the Ushkany Islands are visible. On the site from Cape Khoboy to the village of Uzury there are several amazingly beautiful places where you could feel unity with nature and it's primeval essence. Uzury is a cozy bay on the east side of Olkhon. In Uzur, you have a picnic on the edge of the forest near a small lake with floating birds. Traditional Baikal fish soup on the fire with a smoke and omul on the "crooks" pleasantly stimulates the appetite.

Chivyrkuisky Bay is one of the most picturesque and favorable places for recreation on Baikal, it belongs to the territory of the Trans-Baikal National Park. The picturesque beauty of these places make holidays in Chivyrkuy Bay more and more popular. Here you can take a few exciting excursions, swim in the hot spring of Snake Bay, see the protected corners of Lake Baikal.

In addition, there is excellent fishing in the Chivyrkuy Bay! Experienced fishermen claim that you can catch a pike up to 10kg.!

Formerly, the bay was called Kurbulik, and today's name was given to the bay by the Bolshoi Chivyrkuy river, which flows into it from the north. Translated from the Evenk "Chivir" means to move, squirm.

The area of the Chivyrkuisky gulf is about 270 sq. Km. From north to south, the bay is stretched for nearly thirty kilometers, about ten in width. The bay has shallow depths, at the entrance it is about 600 meters, in the central part of the bay there is a depth of 10-20 meters, and in the bays there are mostly no more than five meters.

In the Chivyrkuisky Bay there are several picturesque warm bays: Krutaya, Snake, Ongokonskaya, Krokhalinaya. Warm water that warms up to 20-22 degrees, golden sandy beaches, a large number of sunny days make Chivyrkuisky Bay one of the best places for summer holidays on Lake Baikal. In addition, the coves of the Chivyrkuisky Bay are closed from the wind, which makes the rest particularly comfortable.

Snake Bay is located the same hot spring, the water temperature in which from 40 to 50 degrees. The composition of its waters is hydrocarbonate-sulphate-sodium with hydrogen sulphide content. It is recommended to take baths for the treatment of sciatica and rheumatism. The name of the source was due to the large number of snakes who once lived here in large numbers and which are now almost gone.

 There are 7 islandsIn the Chivyrkuy Bay: the Great Baklany, the Big Kyltygei, the Small Kyltygei, the White Stone, St. Helena, the Dead Church and the Gingerbread. The largest island is the Great Baklany. All islands are declared protected areas of the Trans-Baikal National Park, and access to them is limited.

Glorious Chivyrkuysky Bay and its fishing. Knowledgeable fishermen come here in summer and in winter. There are a lot of common fish in the bay, as well as pike of especially large size.

Ivolginsky shrine "Khambyn Sume" - a large Buddhist monastery complex, the center of Buddhism in Russia, located in the expanses of the steppe at the foot of the Khamar-Daban ridge 30 kilometers from Ulan-Ude.

Here is the residence of Pandito Hambo Lama, the head of the Buddhists of Russia. When datsan opened the Buddhist University, where the training of novice huvaraks is conducted. The altars and interiors of the temples of the complex are decorated with authentic works of art.

Shrine was opened in 1945 as the only Buddhist spiritual center in the Soviet Union.

In 1991, the Dashi Choinhorlin Buddhist Institute was founded here, which prepares lamas to serve in shrines. In 1999, the institute received a license from a higher education institution, training here lasts five years. Currently, there are about 100 Huvarak students in four faculties: philosophical, tantric, iconographic and medical.

Now the shrine hosts khural services dedicated to the most important events in Buddhist history, daily rituals in honor of the advocates and guardians of the teachings, sahuusans, and other rituals that help and protect believers from various negative forces. Ivolginsky shrine is the center of Buddhism in Russia, attracting many pilgrims and tourists from all over the world.

Arrival in Irkutsk in the morning at 7:30. Breakfast, early hotel accommodation in Irkutsk. After a little rest, we go by minibus to Listvyanka (at about 10 o'clock). On the way, we will visit the open-air architectural and ethnographic museum - Taltsy. Here you will be able to see old wooden buildings, get acquainted with the life of the indigenous peoples of the Baikal region. After Taltsy we go to Listvyanka. Lunch at one of the village cafes. After lunch we will visit the Baikal Museum, here you will meet the underwater world of Baikal. After visiting the museum, we will climb to Cherskiy stone, where there is a good observation deck, which offers a wonderful view of Baikal. Return to the hotel.

Breakfast, check-out at 12 am.
This is the ending of the tour, see you nex summer!