Day 1
- Arrival in Irkutsk, meeting with the guide
- Transfer to city center
- Beginning of the city tour round Irkutsk
You will have a chance to get acquainted with history, culture and traditions of the oldest and most beautiful cites of Eastern Siberia – Irkutsk!
The tour starts in the historical center of Irkutsk, where Irkutsk was founded in 1661: Historical center → Square of Three Churches (Church of Our Savior, Epiphany Cathedral, Polish Roman Catholic Church) → War Memorial and Eternal Flame → Bridge of Love and Embankment of the Angara River → Triumphal Arch → Sign of the Cross Convent
- Visit to Museum of Regional History in Irkutsk – excellent opportunity to find out numerous interesting facts about exploration of Siberia and to see ancient artifacts dating back to the Stone and Bronze Age
- 13:00 – 14:00 p.m. Lunch in one of local restaurants
- Continue city tour.
In the second part of our city tour guests will walk along the main street of the city – Karl Marx with elegant merchant houses of the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries, visit Central Market, Monument to Alexander the III (the most beloved Russian Tsar among Siberians) and have an evening walk the wooden district with lovely wooden houses and numerous souvenir shops
- 18:00 – 19:00 p.m. Dinner in one of local restaurants
- Round 19:30 p.m. Arrival in one of hotels in Irkutsk and check-in
- Night in Irkutsk
Day 2
- Breakfast in hotel’s restaurant
- 07:00 a.m. Check-out and meeting with the guide at the reception
- Transfer to the Railway station in Irkutsk
- 07:51 a.m. Boarding on the Train and Beginning of the full-day tour along the Famous Old Baikal Railway: Irkutsk → Sludyanka→ Port Baikal → Listvyanka
Old Baikal Railway (Baikal Loop) is one of oldest and most beautiful parts of the Trans Siberian Railway. It’s righteously regarded “The Golden Buckle of Russian Railway”!
It’s an integrated historical, architectural and engineering-landscape monument of federal significance.
Our train will stop in the most beautiful sections of the route and guests will have an opportunity to visit the tunnels, take photos of the Old Railway or just to relax on the shores of mighty Baikal. This relaxing and pleasurable trip is quite popular among both foreign and local guests.
- Lunch in the train
- Round 17:30 p.m. Arrival in Listvyanka Village and transfer to one of local hotels
- Check-in in the hotel in Listvyanka
- Dinner in hotel’s restaurant
- Night and rest in Listvyanka Village on the shores of lake Baikal
Day 3
- Breakfast in hotel’s restaurant
- 10:00 a.m. Meeting with the guide at the reception of the hotel
- 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Excursion with Museum of Baikal Flora and Fauna, where you will learn a lot of interesting facts about formation of lake Baikal, its Flora and Fauna. Baikal is mysterious in many aspects and it’s still keeping many secrets unsolved… During your visit to Museum, you will have a chance to get acquainted with this marvelous living mystery
- 11:30 a.m. Arrival to the pier in Listvyanka and boarding on our cruise-ship
- Departure to Bolshie Koty Village (about 1.5hrs by a private cruise-boat)
Bolshie Koty is a small Russian settlement located on the shore of Lake Baikal, 18 km westwards from Listvyanka Village on the territory of Baikal National Park.
One can get to Bolshie Koty village only by water in summer and along the ice-road in winter. Thanks to such inaccessibility there are not many tourists in Bolshie Koty and you can enjoy the beauty of Baikal Nature without noise and crowds of tourists round you!
- Round 12:45 p.m. Arrival in Bolshie Koty and walk to the house of local farmers, where traditional lunch will be arranged for you
- 13:00 – 14:00 p.m. Lunch in the family
- 14:00 – 18:00 p.m. Free time in Bolshie Koty Village: one can walk in the forest and distress from hustle and bustle of city life, the other can have a refreshing swim in clear waters of Baikal or just sun-bath on the shore enjoying the Lake view. Our guide will always be at your assistance and will give you the most suitable recommendation what is worth visiting in Bolshie Koty Village
- 18:00 p.m. Departure back to Listvyanka with a public speed boat
- 18:30 p.m. Arrival to the pier and transfer to hotel in Listvyanka
- Dinner in hotel’s restaurant and Night in Listvyanka
Day 4
- Breakfast in hotel’s restaurant
- 09:00 a.m. Check-out and meeting with the guide at the reception
- Beginning of the sightseeing tour round Listvyanka Village and in the surroundings: Visit to the Church of St. Nikola’s Church – protector of travelers and children and free time at local fish & souvenirs market, where you can get some small and lovely hand-made presents to remember your trip to Lake Baikal
- 10:10 – 12:30 p.m. Trip by a cable cart to Observation Platform Chersky Cliff , where from the height of about 700m you can enjoy a breath-taking view onto Lake Baikal and the surroundings
- 12:30 – 13:30 p.m. Traditional Siberian Lunch with Baikal delicacies, such as hot-smoked Baikal fish and many other traditional dishes
- 14:00 p.m. Departure back to Irkutsk
- 14:30 – 16:00 p.m. En route – stop and excursion in the open-air museum of wooden architecture “Taltsy”
There are only 3 museums of this type in Russia: 2 of them are situated in the European part of the country and show life of Russians only, while “Taltsy” Museum is unique and one-of-its-kind!
Here guests can learn a lot about life not only of Russians, but also of numerous local nationalities, such as Buryats, Tofolars and Evenks. Spectacular views and fresh Baikal air will only add more charm to your trip and will raise your spirits!
17:30 p.m. Return to Irkutsk and stop in wooden district of Irkutsk with lovely wooden houses and numerous souvenir shops
- 18:00 – 19:00 p.m. Farewell Dinner in one of traditional Russian restaurants with Folklore concert
- Round 19:30 p.m. return to hotel in Irkutsk and check-in
- Night in Irkutsk
Day 5
- Breakfast in hotel’s restaurant or breakfast boxes
- Meeting with the guide at the reception of the hotel and check-out
- Transfer to the airport / train station in Irkutsk and Departure