Irresistible Magnetism
of Buryatia

After breakfast, we drive out of the city to Atsagat Buryat village. It’s a yurt complex where you can get to know with ritualistic Buryat culture. The Buryat people preserved their legends, revere ancestors’ spirits, and honor shamans, and they are very welcoming and tolerant towards other cultures and the foreigners due to their Buddhist character. In Atsagat Buryat village you will listen to Buryat legends, try horse riding and archery, take part in ritual funny games, and in traditional lunch with dishes of the Buryat cuisine.

The excursion also includes a visit to Atsagat datsan, a local Buddhist temple, and the museum of Agvan Dorzhiev, the first non-Tibetan teacher of Dalai Lama 13th. In the afternoon, we return to Ulan-Ude and you have free time to explore the city on your own or have a rest before dinner.

Today we are going to Ivolgisnky datsan, one of the most famous Buddhist temples of Buryatia. It is the residence of Pandito Khambo Lama, the Head of Russian Buddhists. Here also the imperishable body of Khambo Lama Itigelov is kept, who was buried and then exhumed in 30 years with no signs of decay or decomposition.

After visiting colorful datsan, we go on the excursion to the Old Believers village. After Church reformation carried out in the 17th century, some Russian Orthodox refused to accept New rituals of the Orthodox Church, and they were exiled to Siberia. Such people got the name of Old Believers. There they settled down villages where they managed to save their culture, singing art, and religion as they were centuries ago. The Singing art of Old Believers is listed in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. We enjoy the singing performance of Old Believers, and also visit a local church and museum, and have lunch at the family.

In the afternoon you will be transferred to Ulan-Ude and have free time before dinner.

Lake Baikal is waiting for us! Today after check-out we depart to Gremyachinsk village located right at the shore of the great Siberian lake.

On the way to the Baikal, we also visit Sretensky female Monastery,  the first and the only female monastery in Buryatia. Located in a picturesque place, its white stone church of the 19th century is beautiful like a white swan. If you need a moment to be by yourself, to clear your head, to ask for what you desire, you will have an opportunity to do it here in this Holy place.

On arrival at Gremyachinsk village, we have accommodation at the hotel and lunch. After lunch, we go on a guided tour to the Turka village with a visit to the natural monument of the Stone Turtle, the territory of the Baikal harbor, and the Lighthouse.

In the evening we come back to Gremyachinsk village and have dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Get ready for an amazing day close to Nature! We go on a full-day excursion to the Chivyrkuisky Bay, one of the most artistic sites on the Lake Baikal. It belongs to the Zabaikalsky National Park which is one of the few natural ecosystems in Russia that fully meets the criteria of UNESCO specially protected natural areas. UNESCO defines these areas as «unique, well preserved natural ecosystems and landscapes located in a compact territory, of a sufficiently large surface area».

The Chivyrkuisky Bay is shallow, up to 10m in-depth, and due to this, it is the warmest place of the Baikal, ideal for swimming. It’s the second-largest bay of the Baikal, there are seven islands and small bays in the harbor, and it is very rich in fish. On the shore of the bay called Snake Bay, you can enjoy hot springs.

A full-day excursion to the Barguzin valley is waiting for us today.  The Barguzin valley is a burial site of Genghis Khan. There are practically no roads here, but taiga, sections of the desert, and high-mountain tundra, so it is increasingly used for test drives of off-roader vehicles. This legendary place attracts adventure seekers. The excursion consists of two parts. In the morning after breakfast, we head to the first Russian town in Transbaikalia – an outpost of Russian Cossacks – Barguzin. Formerly this town supplied with sable fur both the Russian Empire and Europe. It also was a place of exile of Decembrists.

After lunch, we go on the second part of the excursion through the Barguzin valley. It is a sacred Buddhist place called “The sign of Yanzhima”. Yanzhima is a fertility goddess whose image was found on the stone. Many couples who couldn’t have children come to this stone and could give birth and have children after the visit. Notably, nearest to the sign village Elesun was registered in the eighties by Guinness World Records as a place with a high birth rate. “The sign of Yanzhima” is situated in the forest among rocks in 1,5km from the nearest village.

This day will be used for having a rest after our intensive excursion program.

After breakfast and check out, we will return to Ulan-Ude. On arrival, we will have lunch and accommodate at the hotel. In the afternoon you will have free time and we recommend you to look for some souvenirs.

Farewell dinner is waiting for us in the evening.

Now you can explore the city by yourself and do some last-minute shopping. Then you will be transferred to the airport. Now it’s time to say goodbye to Russia. Hope to see you again!