Immersion in Baikal

Immersion in Baikal

Lake Baikal is the cleanest reservoir of fresh water on the planet (20% of all drinkable water on Earth is contained in that lake).

It is also the deepest and the oldest lake in the world, and certainly one of the most beautiful. It is more than 600 km long, and locals consider it as a sacred Sea. Lots of legends are associated with this mysterious place, and you will certainly learn quantities of interesting stories during your trip!
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Join Immersion in Russia for this unforgettable experience, a trip of a lifetime on the Trans-Siberian railway with the frozen Baikal Lake for your destination!

Throughout your trip, you have the opportunity to learn the Russian language, as you will be accompanied by a native russian teacher.

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1: Trans-Siberian Train

Stop At: Yaroslavskiy Train Station, Komsomolskaya Sq., 5, Moscow 107140 Russia
The great departure
Meeting at the Moscow Yaroslavsky railway station. You will be introduced to your professional guide and Russian teacher at the railway station who will accompany you throughout your whole journey.

Boarding in the Trans-Siberian train to Irkutsk.

Day 1 - 3 / mornings & afternoons
Russian classes
Everyday in the train, while enjoying across the windows the magical beauty of the Russian's countryside, a Russian native professional teacher will give you intensive lessons of Russian.

Day 1 - 3 / evenings
Russian culture
In the evening, while drinking your tea from the famous Samovar, our guide will tell you more about the Russian culture, its rich history and strong traditions.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Day 2: Trans-Siberian Train

Stop At: Kazan Cathedral, Kazanskaya Sq., 2 Metro Nevskiy Prospect, St. Petersburg 191186 Russia
Day 1 - 3 / mornings & afternoons
Russian classes
Everyday in the train, while enjoying across the windows the magical beauty of the Russian's countryside, a Russian native professional teacher will give you intensive lessons of Russian.

Day 1 - 3 / evenings
Russian culture
In the evening, while drinking your tea from the famous Samovar, our guide will tell you more about the Russian culture, its rich history and strong traditions.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: Day 3: Trans-Siberian Train

Stop At: Novosibirsk Museum of the Railway Technology, Razyezdnaya St., 54A, Novosibirsk 630055 Russia
Day 1 - 3 / mornings & afternoons
Russian classes
Everyday in the train, while enjoying across the windows the magical beauty of the Russian's countryside, a Russian native professional teacher will give you intensive lessons of Russian.

Day 1 - 3 / evenings
Russian culture
In the evening, while drinking your tea from the famous Samovar, our guide will tell you more about the Russian culture, its rich history and strong traditions.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Day 4 : Arrival in Irkutsk

Stop At: Irkutsk Regional Memorial Decembrists Museum, Volkonsky House, Volkonskogo ul., d. 10, Irkutsk 664007 Russia
Breakfast & check-in at the hotel

City tour
Upon your arrival in Irkutsk, you will be met by your local guide who will take you for a sightseeing tour of this mythical city.

Once called the “Paris of Siberia”, Irkutsk is one of the main historical and cultural center of Siberia. You will walk through the city center and have a look at the main monuments of Irkutsk: the Church of the Saviour, the Church of the Epiphany, various old typical wooden houses, and the Angara Quay with the monument of the Tsar Alexander III who launched the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Lunch

Irkutsk Decembrists Museum
After the Lunch, you will visit the Museum of Decembrists where you will get acquainted with the history and life of exiled nobles, visit the famous "130th quarter" – a unique area of recreated merchant mansions and traditional Siberian architecture.

Dinner
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: Day 5 : Listvyanka

Stop At: Listvyanka Market, Gorkogo, 111/3 Next to Hotel Priboy, Listvyanka 664520 Russia
Breakfast

Transfer to Listvyanka
It is a village located on the shore of lake Baikal at the source of the Angara river. It is the only river originating from the lake among the 336 rivers that flow into it.

On the way we will visit the ethnographic open-air Museum "Taltsy". The exhibits of the museum are the original wooden buildings of the peoples of Siberia built in XVII – XIX centuries.
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Lunch & check-in at the hotel
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Listvyanka village
Walking around Listvyanka, you will have a fascinating and informative excursion to the Baikal Limnological Museum. We will see aquariums with Baikal seals and other inhabitants of Baikal.

Afterwards you will take the funicular to the observation deck called "The Stone of Chersky" with a breathtaking view of the ice-bound Baikal and the source of the Angara river, which does not freeze even in the strong Siberian frost.

Dinner
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 6: Day 6 : Snow-Mobile Expedition

Stop At: The Great Baikal Trail, Listvyanka Russia
Breakfast

Snowmobile tour in the Russian Taiga
In the morning, you will meet with a guide and go on a snowmobile / skidoo tour in the Russian Taiga around the Lake.

The route will take you to the recreation center “Priyut Staratelya” when you will have a lunch break.

You will continue further to the “Bolshiye Koty” village. Which is on the shore of the Lake. On the way, you will also have the opportunity to ride your snowmobile on the frozen lake as well! The ice is 1 .5 meters thick, so you don’t need to worry!

You will then come back to your hotel in Listvyanka village.

Dinner
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 7: Day 7 : Crossing the lake

Stop At: Museum of History of Ulan-Ude, Lenina, 26A, Ulan-Ude 670000 Russia
Breakfast

Crossing of the Lake
You will get to cross the lake with an hovercraft! The crossing will be from the Listvyanka village to Tankhoy on the other shore. The complete crossing lasts about 1 hour, but you will of course get the opportunity to stop by, right in the middle of the lake for some ice walking and pictures sessions!

From Tankhoy to Ulan-Ude
Upon your arrival to Tankhoy, you will be taken in charge by a minibus, which will first stop in a National Park and then arrives in Ulan-Ude, the capital city of the Republic of Buryatia, where you will have a nice dinner
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 8: Day 8 : Old traditions

Stop At: Ivolginsk Datsan (Buddhist Monastery), Ivolginsk 671050 Russia
Breakfast at the hotel.

Russian classes

Ivolginsky Datsan - Spiritual Capital of Buddhist Russia
A sightseeing tour for you will be held by lama datsana. In the datsan you will do a goroo, a prayer tour around datsan. You will then visit the main temple Tsogchen-Dugan.
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Tarbagataï Village
A sightseeing trip will take you to visit the old believers (staroobryadtsy) of Transbaikalia in the village of Tarbagatai. You will visit the ancient Orthodox Church of Holy Christ and the museum of history and life of the old believers of Transbaikalia. There will also be a performance of a local folklore band.

Dinner (traditional cuisine of the old believers).
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 9: Day 9 : Ust Barguzin National Park

Stop At: Barguzinskiy Datsan, Ust-Barguzin Russia
Early breakfast at the hotel.

Russian classes

Lunch
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Ust-Barguzin Village
Departure to the village of Ust-Barguzin (270 km from Ulan-Ude). On the way you will visit the Baturinsky convent, the Baikal lighthouse in the village of Turka, the natural monument "Cherepakha" (“Turtle”)
Upon arrival accommodation at guest houses (in families of local residents).

You will then have the possibility to enjoy a traditional Russian Banya (bathhouse).
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 10: Day 10 : The Frozen World

Stop At: Barguzin, Baikalskaya, 107, Irkutsk 664047 Russia
Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to one of the most beautiful places on Baikal – Chivyrkuysky Bay.
You will have a car excursion around the Chivyrkuisky Bay, visit the Zmeyeviy thermal spring, the islands of the bay and take excellent photos in the ice Baikal grottoes.

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Under-Ice Fishing
Then we will participate in under-ice fishing by pulling Evenk fishing tackles. Under-ice fishing for grayling in a fishing Yurt camping. Brave adventurers will have a chance to swim in the hot springs of Zmeinaya Bay.

Lunch (picnic) at the fishing house in the Katun village.

Transfer back to Ust-Barguzin

Dinner
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 11: Day 11 : Goodbye Baikal ! See you soon !

Stop At: Museum of History of Ulan-Ude, Lenina, 26A, Ulan-Ude 670000 Russia
Breakfast at the hotel

Check-out at the hotel

Transfer to Ulan-Ude, and last visit of the city center with a visit of souvenir shops

Lunch

Transfer to the airport

Flight from Ulan-Ude to Moscow (5 h)
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.