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The program
is estimated for 15 days.
Today
tourists from all over the world come to Siberia and Lake Baikal.
But there are still a lot of spots known only by true connoisseurs
and experts on Lake Baikal. One of such spots is the Tazheranskaya
Steppe. The Tazheranskaya steppe , undoubtedly, will conquer you
with the vast and originality of the relict landscapes. You can
get to know the monuments of the ancient civilizations: petroglyphs,
defensive installations, prehistoric altars. Also, you can learn
about the aboriginal religion - shamanism, that is. You can also
go hiking and visiting beautiful Baikal caves. Some of them have
been known to the human being for thousands of years, legends have
been composed about them, and shamans nowadays hold there rituals
here. Some others were discovered by speleologists not so long ago,
and they startle people with unusual beauty of the grottoes, tiff
crystals and bizarre ice sculptures. 
The
other part of the tour takes places in the mounts of the Vostochnye
Sayany, in a surprising area called the Tunka Alpes. You can go
hiking on mountain paths and canyons, ascend the mountain peaks,
have some medicinal water from the well-known mineral sources of
Arshan, visit the Buddhist Datsan.
Also,
you can go on a tour of an age-old Russian village, in the Tal'tsy
ethnographic museum.
The program
of the tour:
1st day - arrival in Irkutsk. Accommodation at the Baikalhostel.
(Accommodation in some other city hotels is also possible at extra
charge.) A tour of the city, exploring the history and architecture
monuments, a visit to the history museum.
2nd day - transportation by minibus from Irkutsk to Lake
Baikal, the Khally area (210 km). A hike to the Sagan-Zaba bay
(1 km). Arranging a tent camp. A lecture on an ancient history
and religion. Viewing the unique petroglyphs, whose age is about
2500 years. Going sightseeing (karst holes, "Indian" Rock, a site
for holding shamanistic rituals, minor caves).
 3d
day - a hike through the pine forest to the Begul bay (12
kms). On the way you can see remarkable "hip pines" which are
not encountered in other areas. Arranging a tent camp.
4th day - a hike across the steppe from the Begul to Ust'-Anga
(5 km), viewing the "Kurykanskaya Stena" archeological monument
(about 2000 year age) on Shibetae mount, the Ust'-Anga bay natural
monument, a tour of Erd sacred mount (2,5 km). Arranging a camp
on the Anga riverbank.
5th day - a hike across the steppe from the Anga river
to the Aya bay (10 km), local sightseeing on the way (including
the karst arch and minor caves). Arranging a camp on the Aya karst
plateau.
 6th
day - training on rocks, visiting the Aya cave. The latter
is the longest cave on the Baikal coastline. Its length is 1300
m. A tour of the Aya bay, bathing (the water temperature is about
+16 Degrees Celsius).
7th day - descending into the Vologodskogo and Oktyabr'skaya
caves. Walks, viewing the well-known petroglyphs in the Aya bay.
8th day - transportation by minibus from the Aya via Yelantsy
to Irkutsk (260 km). Visiting the museum of local lore in Yelantsy.
9th day - a tour of the "Village of Tal'tsy" ethnographic
museum where surprising samples of age-old wooden architecture
have been collected. Transportation by minibus from Irkutsk to
Taltsy (47 km) .
10th day - transportation from Irkutsk to Arshan (210 km).
A hike to the "Tunkinskiye Gol'tsy" mounts (6 km). Visiting the
well-known mineral water sources. A good path ascends the hill
along the Kyngarga river to the highest peaks. On the way you
may see a spot, especially honored by the local Buryats, "a sacred
waterfall". A night in a tent camp.
11th through 12th day - walks around the picturesque environs,
easy climbing the mountains, from where dazzling panoramas of
the Sayany mounts open up at dozens of kilometers. Spending a
night in a tent camp, cooking on a fire.
13th day - returning to Arshan, visiting the Buddhist Datsan.
Going back to Irkutsk by minibus.
14th day - day-off, city walks.
15th day - departure.
The services,
included in the tour cost:
- Accommodation at the Baikalhostel
- All the transfers according to the program
- Qualified guides and interpreters accompanying you
- The necessary safety, speleological outfit and equipment, special
gear to visit caves
- Present-day double or triple tents
- The equipment for the base camp
- Three hiking meals a day according to the program
- Charges for visiting the national parks
- Tours of the museums according to the program
Extra services
- Renting sleeping bags, hiking rugs.
Cost of the tour
| Group |
1
pers.
|
2
pers.
|
3-4
pers.
|
5-8
pers.
|
| Cost
(per person): |
1478
ˆ |
944
ˆ |
841
ˆ |
738
ˆ |
*The tour is in action from June, 1 till September, 15
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