Have you ever thought of Russia as a Buddhist country? Probably, not. But in Buryatia region there is a center of Buddhism – Ivolginsky datsan and the residence of Khambo-lama. Moreover, this place is full of unique national traditions that are very different from everything you have seen so far. Suffice it to say, the Buryats still keep the secrets of shamanism and practice it in their daily life. Meet the locals and discover their unusual traditions.
Moreover, you will have a chance to admire the beauty of the lake Baikal and learn a lot about the history of the region.
Arrival at the Baikal Airport, meeting with a guide at the airport. Transfer to Ulan-Ude. Check-in at the hotel. Free time. Meeting with the guide in the lobby of the hotel. Excursion to the Museum of History of Buryatia, which contains unique cultural monuments of the peoples of Buryatia, the Central Asian region, as well as historical and ethnographic documents on the indigenous clans and tribes of Siberia. Lunch. Transfer to the Ivolginsky datsan (Buddhist temple) – the center of Buddhism in Russia and the residence of the Khambo-lama. You will visit several temples, including the main one – “Sogtchen Dougan”. Before departure, you will have free time to visit the ethnic Art Gallery of the peoples of Asia, to buy souvenirs, medicinal herbs and religious accessories. Transfer to the village of Old Believers (“starovers”) Tarbagatai (30 km). Here, we will visit the Old Believers “Semeiskie” (a community of about 200,000 people in Transbaikalia, who have lived in the Selenga River Valley for about 300 years). At the entrance to the village of Tarbagatai, we will stop at the mountain “The Sleeping Lion” to admire a beautiful panorama of the valley. Transfer to the hotel. Free time.
Breakfast in the hotel. City tour “Ulan-Ude in the panorama of three centuries”. During the tour, we will visit the Kurbatov merchant gallery, the Odigitria cathedral in Ulan-Ude – the first stone building of Verkhneudinsk (the previous name of the city), the Revolution Square, the Verkhneudinsk fair and the place of foundation of the city. We’ll visit the Soviet Square with the republic’s “zero kilometer” and take pictures of the world’s largest monument to Vladimir Lenin (shaped like a huge head). The final destination of our tour is the observation platform near the Buddhist center, with a magnificent view of Ulan-Ode and its surroundings. Departure for the village of Atsagat. Lunch. Visit to the ethnocomplex “Steppe Nomad”. Here, we will discover many interesting things about the traditions and way of life of Buryats. Transfer to the hotel. Free time.
At an additional cost:
Excursion to the Buryat Opera and Ballet Theatre (by reservation). The Theatre is built in the unique architectural style. During the excursion you will get a detailed knowledge about the theatre building, its auditorium and interesting decorative elements, and even get an access behind the scenes of the theater – where you can reveal the secret of creating shows, costumes and decorations. The Theatre has an extensive history which dates back to the 1920s.
Excursion to the Ethnographic Museum of Transbaikal Peoples – an open-air museum located in a large park. You will see real residential buildings of all the local peoples and ethnic groups, surrounded by various natural landscapes that are characteristic of Buryatia.
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure. Bus transfer to the Tankhoi village. On the way, we will visit the Orthodox monastery. Lunch. Arrival at Tankhoi. Excursion to the Visitor Center “Baikal Zapovedny”, where we will visit exhibitions presenting the life of the lake. Visit to the aviary complex “The Barguzinsky Sable”. Dinner. Free time.
Breakfast. Excursion to the Bird Banding Station. Transfer to the central mansion of the Baikal Nature Reserve. Excursion to the Great Baikal Trail, which passes through a picturesque region with diverse flora and beautiful landscapes. Lunch. Free time.
Breakfast. Free time. In the afternoon, departure for Ulan-Ude. On arrival, accommodation at the hotel, free time.
Breakfast in the hotel (early in the morning). Transfer to the airport, flight to Moscow.
*Please, take note that we reserve the right to change the order of visits.
Level 1 (easy)
Cruise
Level 1 (easy)
