This tour is a great chance to take a look at the Southern corner of Baikal, to take a short walk along famous Circum Baikal railway and to see Tunka Valley - a land populated by the Buryats, indigenous people of Siberia. Visiting Buddhists stupas, taking a hot mineral shower and seeing magnificent Sayan Mountains makes this tour interesting for almost everyone. This tour is suggested as additional tour to Listvyanka or / and Olkhon island trips.

Description of the 2 day tour to Arshan (winter and all year round).

Day 1

You'll be picked up from my hostel (or train station or any other place in Irkutsk) at 10 am. Vehicle: a 8 sit minibus or a car. Distance between Irkutsk and Arshan is 250 km (150 miles) one way.

We drive the road M55 which goes thought the hilly area. It can not be driven quickly in winter. So, to cover those first 100km safely we would need at least 1.5 - 2 hr. Then, in the end of this snaky road, from the top hill, we see the Southern End of Baikal lake, and the village called Kultuk ("End, Corner" in Buryat). This village was founded by Russian Cossacks in 1640s.

After lunch in a road cafe (not included in to the tour price!), we drive down to the lake, park our car by the old Kultuk train station, and start walking along the Circum Baikal Railway. We will be walking as far as the first tunnel and return the same way. It is the 10 km / 2 hr walk.

Then, we will be continuing our tour. After a short while, we'll see the 200 km long Tunka Valley. The valley is 50 km wide, stretches along the Mongolian border. Northern edge of the valley is guarded by the magnificent - 3000 meters high - Sayan Mountains.

We reach Arshan by late afternoon. Arshan is a small resort town. The Buryats call Arshan any mineral water source. There are two arshans in Arshan - the testy cold one and less testier but probably more healthy warm source of free mineral water.

Accommodation in Arshan: The Maryina Roshcha Hotel is a two-storeyed wooden cottage decorated with traditional Russian carving. The hotel disposes of 24 comfortable rooms. Every room has a TV, a refrigerator, a kettle. The hotel has a conference hall suitable for holding of workshops and conferences. There is a café, a playground, a charsoal brazier on the territory of the hotel.

We go for introduction walk around the town after check in.

Dinner

Great finalizing of the day - Banya What is Banya and What To Do There (PAID EXTRA. Arranged upon request!)

Day 2

Breakfast.

We continue exploring the village and its surroundings. First we visit small Buddhist Temple, which is nicely tucked among the cedar trees. Then we walk up to Kyndarga River ("Drum River" in Buryat) to its first waterfall. The waterfall is not big but looks impressive despite of the graffiti around it.

On our way to the waterfall, we walk though the market where local and Mongolian products can be purchased.

Lunch

Then we return to the car and drive to another village (35km) to take an open air hot shower. It is an overflowing well head with the capacity of 25 liters per second +45C degrees highly mineralized water.

After the relaxing shower, we head back to Irkutsk. En route: stop for dinner (not included in to the tour price!)

Prices from 5500 R |Currency converter|

Price depends on the number of people. Min number of people for the tour is 3. Ask the final price!

Prices include all services, pointed in the itinerary:
Private car or van transportation with the driver, 1 night accommodation, meals as noted (Day 1: D, Day 2: B, L), local guide-interpreter services.

To book a tour please contact Jack Sheremetoff