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If you are going to make a visit to Siberia, you found the right place to start your journey!
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Buy at amazon.com Trans-Siberian Handbook by Bryn Thomas
This new edition of the guide to the world's longest rail journey is packed with practical information on planning the trip and booking tickets. Background information is also included on Siberia's infamous past and the history of the railway. 30 color photos
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Special ecotour 'Baikal Photo 2000'. - July 19-August 1 / 16-29 August
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Shaman Rock. Olkhon Island.
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Up to 10 +1pax
1st departure / 2nd (optional)
19-21 July / 16-18 Aug Ulan Ude Hotel Geser / homestay
21-22 July / 18-19 Aug Ust Barguzin Homestays
22-24 July / 19-21 Aug Chivirkuy Bay Camping barge 2
24-25 July / 21-22 Aug Ushkaniye Islands Camping (tent camp) 1
25-27 July / 22-24 Aug Olkhon Islands Homestays 2
27-29 July / 24-26 Aug Bol. Goloustnoe Homestays 2
29-30 July / 26-27 Aug Port Baikal The Pine Guesthouse 1
30 July-1 Aug / 27-29 Aug Irkutsk Hotel Angara /homestay
Welcome to take part in our featured type "Baikal Photo tour 2000". This tour is a unique sojourn which has been available for number of years being developed and widened constantly. We strive to show the most picturesque places, to visit historical sites and the most attractive beauties of the region. The route starts in Ulan-Ude and goes along the lands of Zabaikalsky and Pribaikalsky National Parks. We'll make a tour to Barguzin town, the oldest settlement in Siberia, detour Uskany Islands famous as a spot for wresh water seal called "nerpa" explore Chivirkuisky bay with it's gorgeous surroundings. The area is abondant with wildlife and shallow coves of bay are densely populated with different kinds of fresh water fish, including the unique Baikal omul and sig. At night at the break of the Bay wild animals (wild deers and bears) come out to water small desert coves, learning their tracks on the sand.
Barguzin. Sunrise on river.
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We will spend some days on board special 40-foot boats, exploring the southern lengths of the lake. We will visit Olkhon Island-with a microclimate similar to the steppes of Mongolia-and there we will be able to view the peaceful pastoral scenes of the Siberian outback, and also see a variety of Siberian birds that nest in the cliffs of the island. You'll get acquinted with a local shaman who will initiate you into his belief and show some old rituals.
Then we move to Kadilnaya bay in Pribaikalsky National Park. You'll have a nice spot to hike along the shore. You'll be suggested to try delicious samples of Siberian kitchen and visit a real Russian kind of sauna called banya. The tour ends in Irkutsk, the biggest and one of the oldest city of Eastern Siberia, previously capital of the whole Siberia. Nowadays it's a large modern city with a lot of patterns of old architecture.
Olkhon Island.
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Objectives for the Ecotour
1) Saving the park and protected area of Russia.
This trip is to be hosted by Zabaikalski and Pribaikalski National Parks. We seek to support the growing understanding of local residents that the lake can be of great economic value if kept in pristine condition. We have already arranged dozens of ecotours to the lake. We strive to help feasibly to protect recreational lands along Baikal shore as to provide their sustainable development in unstable political and financial conditions in Russia.
Therefore, much of the work to protect these pristine natural areas is no longer funded, and the future of the parks is in jeopardy. Your participation in this trip will help the parks survive. All profits will be donated to the parks and local environmental groups. As a non-profit organization.
2)
Giving you the chance to view, photograph and understand the significance of some of the most prestine regions of the planet.
We hope that during this 14 day sojourn you'll understand that Siberia is one of rare places on the earth with pristine nature. Local people still live measured style of life pacing the tempo with the rhytm of nature. You will experience their hospitality and feel the warmth of their hearts they keep open for any stranger guest. They say people is the main treasure of Siberia. And probably you'll guess why these residents call Baikal "Sacred Sea".
Anyone in general good health with a calm and flexible attitude can enjoy this expedition. For one day of the trip, participants should be prepared to hike for a distance of 2-3 miles, some of which is uphill (less than 300 meters). Altitude should not be a problem since we will not exceed 000 feet. Participants should enjoy camping in rugged conditions (backpacking style) for several nights.
The tour can optionally be completed with day hikes if required. We keep enough flexibility within the schedule as to provide detours in particularly interesting places.
Accommodations are provided in hotels in towns, in small lodges or private homes in Zabaikalski National Park, on the boat or on the beach while traveling on the lake, and in tents in the Barguzin Valley. Anyone with a calm and flexible attitude and a spirit of adventure can enjoy this expedition.
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Day 1. - Wed - 19 July Arrive Ulan Ude
arrival; met & transferred to Hotel Geser or homestay,
Chance to take shower, freshen up on arrival, Welcome Dinner at the local restaurant,
Overnight - Geser Hotel or homestay.
Day 2 - Thu - 20 July Ulan Ude
Breakfast at the hotel, depart on city tour of Ulan Ude including Lenin Head, Buddhist monastery Datsan, Ethnographic Museum Lunch -- at Buryat cafeteria, Village of Old Believers with concert of folk songs, Dinner - with a family in village, Overnight - Geser Hotel or homestay
Day 3 - Fri - 21 July Ulan Ude - Ust Barguzin
Breakfast at the hotel, depart by van for Ust Barguzin, Stop along Baikal coast near Turka for picnic lunch en route, Arrive late afternoon/early evening - check-in to homestays, Dinner - in the homestay
Overnight - in private homes (2-3 pax/home)
Day 4 - Sat - 22 July Ust Barguzin - Glinka - Krokhalinaya
Breakfast, depart by vehicle for the foot of the Holy Nose, Glinka (1 hour drive), Day hike to top of Holy Nose Peninsula for tremendous view, of both Chivirkuy and Barguzin Bays, town of Ust Barguzin
Hike takes approx 5 hours roundtrip and is uphill, Lunch - prepared back at Glinka
Afternoon - drive to Monakhovo, Switch to boat for ride to Krokhalinaya Cove Dinner and overnight - at the barge hotel
Day 5 - Sun - 23 July Krokhalinaya cove - around the bays
Breakfast at the barge, full day exploration of the area by boat, St. Helen Island, hiking around the island (lazy walk up and down the hill - total 1 hour), Lunch - traditionally cooked omul
Afternoon - boat ride to Ongokon Bay for more exploration, Neighboring cove to Zmeevaya,
boat ride to Zmeevaya Bay, relax in hot springs, Return to our barge by boat, Dinner - at the barge
Siberian songs and local stories by Alexander (the Natl Park Ranger), Overnight - barge hotel
Day 6 - Mon - 24 July Ushkaniy Islands
Breakfast at the camp, depart for Ushkaniye Islands, Short hiking, approx 1 hour, watch seals
Lunch - picnic lunch on the island, Afternoon - continue exploration of islands
Dinner - maybe with ranger's family, Overnight - on boat or in tents
Day 7 - Tue - 25 July Ushkaniy - Olkhon Island
Breakfast at the camp, depart for Olkhon Island by boat, Hiking on the island
Visit to Shaman rock, Shaman ceremony, Lunch - on the boat
Dinner - in private homes, Overnight - in private homes
(Complex of wooden houses which belong to Nikita Bencharov; meals are in big host house)
Day 8 - Wed - 26 July Olkhon Island
Breakfast at the homestay, depart for full day exploration of Olkhon Island,
Exploration around Shaman rock up the north to Sarai sandy beaches (3-4 hours),
Lunch - picnic lunch, Hiking on the island, optional horseback riding; hike to village of Kharanzi
Meet local Buryat family. Transfer back to Khuzhir by boat, Dinner - in private homes
Overnight - in private homes
Day 9 - Thu - 27 July Olkhon Island - Bol. Goloustnoe
Breakfast - in the homestay, depart by boat for Bol. Goloustnoe (193 km, approx 10 hours by boat )
Stops at the Sagaan-Zabaa cliff (ancient drawings), Dain-Khoshun (ruins of ancient settlement)
Aya bay and Ulaan-Uir cape (mount of 100 minerals), Lunch - on board picnic, Dinner - in private homes, Overnight - in private homes (of Natl Park Ranger and school teacher. ranger is Victor Vorotinzev and teacher Ludmila Sigaeva)
Day 10 Fri - 28 July Bolshoe Gouloustnoe area - Pribaikalsky National park
Breakfast at the homestay, depart on full day hiking in the area, 4km ecological trail along the shore from Pad Semyonikha to Pad Ushkania. Trail designed by Hank Birnbaum, American environmentalist
working in Pribaikalsky Natl Park as a ranger; he will accompany us on the tour Path is good and is equipped with descriptions in English of the scenery, nature, flora and fauna of the Natl park
Lunch - picnic lunch, Return to Bol. Goloustnoe, Dinner - in private homes
Overnight - in private homes
Day 11 - Sat - 29 July Bol. Goulostnoe - Port Baikal - Old Believers
Breakfast at the homestay, depart for Port Baikal by boat (50km, about 3 hours), Hike up to lighthouse hill in Port Baikal, Lunch - on the boat (say goodbye to boat crew) Arrive The Pine Guesthouse, Dinner and overnight and banya - at the guesthouse
Day 12 - Sun - 30 July Old Railway - Irkutsk
Breakfast at the homestay, depart on the old railway to Sludyanka, Day of exploration including stops for photos barbeque on the beach, Time TBA, arrive Sludyanka van to Irkutsk (2hrs), accommodation in hotel or homestay
Day13 - Mon - 31 July Irkutsk
Breakfast at hotel/homestay, city tour incl. Central churches, Decembrists museum, Limnological museum of Baikal, lunch in Russian Zaimka, Wooden Architecture museum. Overnight in hotel/homestay. Farewell dinner
Day 14 - Tue - 01 August departure
After breakfast transfer to airport.
We are always ready to answer any of you question about the tour, send an e-mail to us with the question you interested in and a qualified specialist will answer them.
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