Tour condition: Grade B
Activity: ice-fishing, dog sledding, snowmobile

ITINERARY

Day 1. Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. Your first night in Moscow. 

Day 2. Check-out from the hotel. We will have time to explore the major highlights of Moscow – the city of great Russian history and culture. We will visit the St. Basil's cathedral, Red Square and the world-renowned Lenin Mausoleum. After this a short bus tour around Moscow is waiting for us. Our tour guide takes you to the “Sparrow Hills” with an observation platform which provides a fantastic panoramic view of Moscow and then through the main streets of Moscow - huge, busy and elegant at the same time. Transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Irkutsk.

Day 3. Arrival in Irkutsk. Our guide will meet you at the airport. Transfer to hotel and breakfast. City tour around Irkutsk. You will learn about the discovery of Siberia by Russians and the development of the city and see the most interesting sights and peculiar features of one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Siberia. Most of the city’s brick mansions and grand public buildings, varying in architectural styles, were constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. You will see the beautiful Russian Orthodox churches and a Polish Cathedral, as well as many traditional wooden houses decorated with handmade carvings. Overnight in a hotel. Dinner at your onw expense.

Day 4. After breakfast transfer by small four wheel drive bus to Listvyanka. The motorway from Irkutsk to Lake Baikal goes through a picturesque taiga forest with rolling hills. After about an hour we will arrive at a viewpoint facing Shaman Rock, at the mouth of the Angara river. On our way, we’ll stop to visit a Museum of wooden architecture in Taltsy. This open air museum has a large collection of authentic wooden houses, filled with traditional handmade furniture. The oldest buildings on the site are the Spass Tower of Ilimsk Fortress (1667) and the Kazan Chapel (1679), which is an active church. All the houses were brought here from local villages. The museum shows the way of life during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, both in Russian villages, and in the local Buryat and Evenk settlements. The small, but lively and tourist-friendly village of Listvyanka is located on the shore of Lake Baikal, 70 km from Irkutsk. Accommodation in a comfortable 3* hotel. Theoretical introduction and briefing. (dinner at your own expense).

Day 5. After a theoretical introduction to off we go! Your first day of dog sledding starts with a 20 km-long trip from Listvyanka village to Chernaya valley. The route runs through a mountain range down to the frozen Lake Baikal. Lunch. Return to Lystwanka village. Accommodation in a comfortable 3* hotel. (breakfast, lunch, dinner at your own expense).

Day 6. After breakfast we will pack our personal belongings and load everything on sleds in preparation for the Trans-Baikal snowmobile trip across the frozen lake. We’ll head to western coast to Vydrino village. In late afternoon you arrive to a place called the Warm Lakes – a beautiful area located at the very foot of Khamar-Daban mountain range. Overnight in cozy 2-4 bed log cabins. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day 7. After an early breakfast our guides will share some of the secrets of ice fishing on lake Baikal with you. This will not be enough to guarantee a good catch. Baikal is a magic place and one should first perform a short ritual to ask the local Spirits for help. We will spend the morning fishing. After a delicious lunch of freshly caught fish, we will set off for Listvyanka village on dog sleds. Overnight in cozy 2-4 bed log cabins. (breakfast, lunch, dinner). 

Day 8. After breakfast drive to Sludyanka village. Visit to mineralogy museum. Dinner and overnight at homestay. 

Day 9. After breakfast we will take legendary Circum Baikal train to travel from Sludyanka to Irkutsk. Train stops at the most picturesque sites giving you opportunity to enjoy Siberian winter landscape. Lunch on train. Upon arrival to The Port of Baikal transfer to Irkutsk. Check in hotel. Free time. (breakfast, lunch). 

Day 10. After breakfast. excursion to Ust-Ordinski Buryat autonomous region, settlement Ust-Orda. We will have an unique chance to learn more about local traditions and culture. After tour you will have traditional Buryat lunch. Return to the hotel. Optional visit to concert or ballet in Irkutsk theater. (breakfast, lunch).

Day 11. Early morning transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Moscow. It will still be morning when you arrive in Moscow, because of the time difference. Transfer from the local airport to the international airport.

 Major Highlights of this Tour: 

• Red Square
• Lake Baikal
• The wooden and stone Russian architecture monuments in Irkutsk, including historic Orthodox churches;
• The open-air Museum of wooden architecture in Talzy which is located in a picturesque forest on the bank of Angara river, 47 km from Irkutsk and 23 km from Lake Baikal. It represents settlements of the local Baikal people - Evenks, Russians, Buryats - and gives an overview of the traditional life style in Siberia in the 17-19th centuries.
• Dog-sledding, ice-fishing, snowmobile safari and mountain ski in the beautiful winter surroundings of Russian Siberia.

Optional: If you take a flight to the UK in the late evening you can enjoy Moscow for one more day. At your request we can organise for you one of the following activities:

• If you are an art-lover, then you will be impressed by the world famous masterpieces displayed in the Tretyakov Gallery and in the Pushkin Museum;
• Another option in Moscow would be a visit to the large and interesting Izmailovo Park, where you will find traditional wooden houses and churches as well as authentic Russian souvenirs;
• You can also visit the Novodevichy Convent, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Convent was used by women of the Tsar’s family and of the aristocracy. Many members of the Tsar’s family and some very famous Russian artists, writers, politicians have been buried in its cemetery. The Convent provides an example of the highest accomplishments of Russian architecture with rich interiors and an important collection of paintings and artefacts.

Some places you visit in this journey are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Please click here to view the UNESCO review page:

• Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow
• Lake Baikal

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