Day 1: Arrive in Moscow. Transfer to the Hotel***. Dinner at the restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing tour of Moscow, including visit to the Red Square. Lunch at the restaurant in downtown. In the afternoon cruise by ship of river Moskva (1-2 hrs). (lunch and dinner today are not included in tour price)

Transfer to the airport, take an evening flight to Irkutsk (about 5-hrs flight).

Day 3: Arrive in Irkutsk. Check-In in daytime-hotelrooms, rest, breakfast. Car (bus) transfer to the Olkhon island (about 5-6 hrs with stops) – the largest island of the Pribaikal’sky National Park and the sacred shamans’ place. It stretches northward from the south, and two straits (the Maloye More and the Olkhon Gate) separate it from the western bank of the lake. Lunch at the restaurant on the way.

Arrive in the village of Khuzhir. Overnight accommodation in the private hotels with local families (cosy wooden houses in traditional style, delicious home made cuisine, facilities outside).

Day 4: Excursions in Khuzhir. Visit the museum of local lore and the Shaman Cape (a ''calling card'' of Lake Baikal, which, according to the legend, was a home to the Great Host of Olkhon Island (the patron of shaman religion). Learn about traditional way of life of local people, enjoy majestic rocks and wonderful beaches. Overnight, as per Day 3.

Day 5: Transfer to the Uzur valley. Make a stop on the way for a 2-3-hrs walk in the picturesque Peschanka (''Sandy'') bay. Excursion to the Cape Hoboi, the northernmost section of Olkhon island from where a breathtaking view opens to both shores of Lake Baikal. Visiting legendary Three Brothers Rock and Love rock – 150 – meters cliffs with amazing panoramas. Overnight accommodation in the tented camp near the Baikal shore.

Day 6: Trekking along whimsical rocky bays. Siberian larch-trees, flowers, numerous butterflies, birds and funny gophers and majestic views of the Baikal sheer coast. Overnight in Uzur, as per Day 5.

Day 7: In the morning, take a motor boat (''Yaroslavets'') to the Baikalo-Lensky Nature Reserve. Enjoy a lot of magnificent rocks and cliffs with caves on the Baikal shore, alpine meadows and alpine tundra, mountain taiga forest. Various vegetation zones are well presented there. Arrive on the Cape Pokoiny (''Quiet''), a coastal center of the Nature Reserve. Overnight in the tented camp.

Day 8: In the Baikalo-Lensky nature reserve. Trek 12 km along a picturesque trail in the Nature Reserve across the Pokoinitsky Mountain Pass (1500 m above the sea level) to the direction of the source of the river Lena. There are some cedar pine trees that are more than 500 years old. Enjoy a wonderful view of Baikal and the upper reaches of the Lena River. If the weather is good, it is possible to see the Svyatoi Nos Cape on the opposite shore of Baikal, in the Zabaikal’sky National Park. Descent to the tundra zone of the Nature Reserve. In the afternoon, return back to the shore of Lake Baikal, overnight like the day before in the tented camp.

Day 9:. Transfer by motor boat across Lake Baikal to the famous Ushkanii Islands with the biggest rookery of endemic Baikal seal, where early in summer hundreds of animals get together. Further transfer by motor boat to the Chivyrkuisky Gulf (about 1 hr). Overnight stay in the tented camp in the nice bay surrounded by mountains.

Day 10: Early morning departure to Barguzinsky nature reserve - the oldest in Russia, which was established to protect the most valuable sable from extinction (5 hrs). Arrive in the village of Davshe – the field stationar of the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve. Visit the museum of local lore, talk with local scientist about the sable research, possible hike along the ecological trail. Overnight in tents or in wooden houses (rustic facilities), relax in thermal spring.

Day 11: Transfer by motor boat to the mouth of the river Shumilikha (about 1,5 hrs). Quite often it is possible to see bear footprints on the sandy beach and observe ospreys and white-tailed sea eagles, rare birds enlisted in the Red Data Book.

Trek on the ecological trail along the river Shumilikha to the picturesque mountain lake – this route is one of the most beautiful in Baikal. During one day only, you will have an opportunity to see all nature zones of the Barguzin ridge. Along the route, sandy and stone beaches give way to the dwarf cedar thickets. Steep slopes of the Baikal shore are covered with mountain taiga forest with pines, mighty cedar pines and fragrant firs. There is a plenty of edible berries and mushrooms. The mountain peaks are covered with stony golets where you can observe rare mammals, black-capped marmots. In the afternoon, after rest on the mountain lake, the group descends back to the Baikal shore. By the evening, transfer by motor boat to the Chivyrkuisky Gulf. Overnight there in the tented camp.

Day 12: Transfer by motor boat to the Zmeevaya Bay. Take a bath in thermal spring. Continue by motor boat to Monakhovo, meeting with our car. Drive to Glinka at the Barguzinsky Gulf. The last dinner at the camp fire – with tasty dishes, songs and exchange of impressions.

Day 13: Leisure time and short hiking excursions in Zabaikalsky National Park. Red sand, yellow poppies, whimsical pine-trees and funny striped chipmunks have become the visiting card of the park. Bathing and rest on the wonderful sandy beach. Car transfer to the village of Ust’-Barguzin. Dinner and overnight in private hotels (spacious wooden houses, facilities inside, Russian steam bath is available) with local families will give you a wonderful opportunity to learn about local traditions. The hosts were trained in the course of special projects of the US Agency for International Development.

Day 14. Bus transfer (5-6 hrs) to Ulan-Ude, a capital city of Buryatia Republic. Excursion to the Ivolginsky Datsan (the biggest Buddhist temple) and short sightseeing tour of the city. Take a night train to Irkutsk.

Day 15: Arrive in Irkutsk early in the morning. Bus transfer (68 km) to the village of Listvianka located on the Baikal shore. An excursion to the Baikal museum where you will learn about the history of the lake studies, its geology, plant and animal life. Visit to the Taltsy Architecture and Ethnography Complex, which houses more than 8,000 exhibit items dating back to the 17th century.) Shopping. Return to Irkutsk. Overnight at a hotel (facilities inside).

Day 16: Transfer to the airport early in the morning. Departure to Moscow. Arrive in Moscow, transfer to the international airport, departure for the flight home. (B)

Notes

All visitors should have good trekking boots, warm sleeping bags, sleeping maths (inflatable ones are more comfortable than caremaths), warm and waterproof clothing, good raingear – please see the detailed list of equipment. Extensions:

• Ecotours to Tunkinsky National Park and Baikalsky Nature Reserve in Buryatia;

• Ride on the historic Circum-Baikal Railway, built in the beginning of the last century;

• Excursion to the Mineral Museum in the village of Slyudianka,

• Horseback riding and fishing trips,

• Rest in a comfortable hotel in one of the most picturesque bays of Pribaikalsky National Park.