Hike and Drive: the Circum Baikal Railway and the Siberian Switzerland.

Itinerary

Day 1: From fabulous Irkutsk to the scenic Tunkinskaya Valley.

Stop At: Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk, ulitsa Nizhnyaya Naberezhnaya, 2, Irkutsk 664011 Russia
Today, our journey begins! However, we can't leave Irkutsk City without visiting its historic center, where we will learn some curious facts about Siberia, see the iconic buildings of the town, and have lunch at an atmospheric Russian-style cafe. On the way from Irkutsk to the Tunkinskaya valley, we will see the diversity of the Baikal Region, Russian countryside, swells of Siberian steppe, taiga forest and many other things. We will make a few stops to welcome local spirits by a special ritual, and drop by several sacred places of the Buryat people. Then, in the second part of the day, we will explore the Eastern Sayan Mountains on a half-day guided scenic car tour. Whether you are looking for breath-taking mountain vistas, ghost towns, rugged alpine terrain, thundering waterfalls or fields of colorful alpine wildflowers, then this is the recipe for an amazing and memorable experience.
Duration: 9 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 2-star hotel

Day 2: Colorful climbing to the Peak of Love (the Eastern Sayan Mountains)

Stop At: Love Peak, Arshan Russia
Today will be devoted to colorful climbing to the Peak of Love (2,124 m). According to Buryat belief, the peak helps to find happiness and harmony in one’s life. During the climb, you will enjoy views of Taiga Forest, mountain panoramas, and a pleasant physical workout on the way. At the top, you will have a view of the extraordinary beauty of the entire Tunkinskaya valley and the opposite mountain range. At the end of the day, we will get acquainted with the Russian Banya and enjoy our dinner at a cozy cafe.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-star hotel


Day 3: Picturesque hike on the Circum Baikal Railway.

Stop At: Circum-Baikal Railway Steel, Kultuk Russia
Today we will discover Lake Baikal and an open-air monument of engineering ideas on it which is the Circum Baikal Railway! The Circum Baikal Railway is rightfully considered the most beautiful part of the Trans-Siberian Railway. An open-air museum with its numerous tunnels, bridges, viaducts, and protective walls has become one of the most favorite destinations on Baikal. We will get acquainted with one of the most scenic parts of this railway on a pleasurable hike. During the hike, we will see a few tunnels made at the beginning of the 20th century, graceful bridges over the rivers and a couple of protective walls. To get the most of this day, we will enjoy a picnic lunch on the shore of Lake Baikal, surrounded by its impassable mountains and cozy bays.
Duration: 9 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.