Classical Tour
(7 days, 6 nights, from: 1 June – 15 October)
Description
Shamanism is one of the most ancient religions ever practiced by human civilization. Central and Northern Asia has been "A Selected Land of Shamanism religion" from times immemorial. Shamanistic belief of the Buryats - indigenous people of Lake Baikal area - is the faith and worship born with them in this land and preserved throughout thousands of years. Modern shamans live among ordinary people as faithful guardians of their ancient religious and cultural customs. The shaman rites and rituals proved their efficiency throughout the centuries: Buryats from Lake Baikal area still refer to shamans to solve their health problems as well as major life issues.
The Island of Olkhon on Lake Baikal, which is the main travel destination of the itinerary, is traditionally considered to be one of the few strongholds of Shamanism in Siberia.
The magical land of Lake Baikal, the Great Siberian Taiga, and the Sayan Mountains have given birth to the unique culture that is world-renowned for its traditions and epic poetry.
If you want to explore Lake Baikal in a different way - see its gorgeous landscapes, visit sacred Shaman sites, see shaman rites, discover some secrets of this ancient Siberian religion and learn how Buryats see the world and how this shapes their relationship with Nature, and meet a practicing Shaman - then The Path of a Shaman - is what you need and we welcome you to join us!
Tour Program
| Day | Program | Notes |
| Day 1 | Arrival to Irkutsk. Meeting and assistance in the airport. A city tour with a visit to the Cathedral of the Holly Sign (*) and the historical museum followed by lunch in a restaurant.After the tour a restful drive to Listvyanka settlement. En route to Listvyanka settlement stop by the sacred "obo" - worshipped by the shamanism believers (here we shall make a symbolic offering to the local spirits). Arrival and check in hotel. A guided tour to the Baikal Ecology Museum followed by a sightseeing tour of Listvyanka village including a visit to the St Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church. Dinner and overnight. | * Apart from ornate and rich iconostasis the cathedral is famous with its graveyard where you can see the tombs of Decembrist Mukhanov, Beschasnov, Trubetskaya and Russian Columbus Shelekhov. |
| Day 2 | After breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer (2 hours drive) to Ust-Orda settlement (the center of the Buryat Autonomous District). Upon arrival in Ust-Orda a guided visit to the Buryat Ethnography Museum followed by lunch of Buryat national cuisine.Transfer to Yelantsy settlement (2-hour's drive) where you meet with a local practicing Shaman (*). He will join you for a short trip to the local shaman's sacred site of ancestors and together with him we proceed to a picturesque Aya Bay of Lake Baikal noted, besides its unique caves (**) and sand beach, for ancient rock-drawings (2500 years old) that depict animals and shamans. After dinner you will have a chance to see a special rite of purification and worship of the ancestor spirits, which is performed by the shaman. This overnight in tents you'll have a chance to experience the positive energy of lake Baikal. | * The shaman Valentin Khagdaev achieved the 5-th degree in the shaman's
hierarchy of Khesete-boo divination techniques. ** The caves are regarded to be the oldest in Siberia (2 billion years old), with one cave thought to be the largest among those located on the lake's shore. |
| Day 3 | After breakfast visit Narin -Yalga mountain that is famous for ancient rock-drawings and the "rock-altar" that the shamans use for sacrifices. Our next destination is the Yerd mountain where in the year of 2000 the former all-Buryat tradition, the so-called Festival of Yord Games, was reestablished. You will have a chance to take part in Yerd-round Yohor dance.And one more mountain for today - the sacred Murtyl- Khada, from top of which opens an outstanding view of the lake and the valley of the Anga River. On the top of this mountain there is an ancient fireplace where in the past during the holy shaman festivals big fires were burnt.Lunch served at the cafeteria in Yelantsy settlement. Transfer to the MRS station (45 km drive) for a ferry ride across the Olkhon Gates Strait to Olkhon Island - the biggest one on the lake and its sacral center. Transfer to one of the Green Express yurt-camps, located on the coastline in a picturesque surrounding. Accommodation in felt yurts that are similar in structure and design with Mongolian gers (***). Dinner and overnight. | * The Yerd Games used to be the biggest ritual holiday of Buryats-Shamanists
bringing together thousands people of various tribes including shamans.
This Festival culminated in the performance of the so-called "Yohor
Dance", which wouldn't start until the number of people dancing round
the mountain was enough to enclose the mountain in a circle. ** - Nearly a half of The Yerd Mountain is said to be composed of the stones brought here by people to build up the so-called " shaman's stairs" determining their hierarchy position. During the Yerd Games Festival the most powerful shamans would sit near the top: the more shaman's power and might a shaman had, the higher step of this stairs he occupied. *** Each yurt is designed to accommodate 2 or 4 people, sanitary facilities outside - toilet & shower. |
| Day 4 | Breakfast. Trip by van to Khuzhir - the largest settlement of islanders. Visit to the local Ethnographic Museum (*) where your guide will tell you many interesting stories about the legendary and mystic Olkhon Island.A walking excursion to the Cape of Burkhan to see the famous Shaman Crag (**) highly worshipped by both shamanists and Buddhists. In the old times the Crag's cave was place for rites and shaman's rituals- "camlanies". Later on it was considered as the Altar of Buddha, which was regularly visited by lamas from all 34 Buddhist Datsans of TransBaikal area.Lunch back at the yurt camp. Then free time for your leisure. Dinner and overnight in the yurt-camp. | * The museum contains an interesting collection of exhibits, including
such relics as the battle breast plates once belonging to the legendary
warriors of Genghis-Khan ** Crag of Shaman - one of the 9 sanctuaries of Asia, was once called the Temple of Rock, and is believed by shamans to be a place of residence of their major deity - Khan Khute-baabay, who descended from Heaven to Earth to rule human destinies. At the foot of the Crag there is a mysterious rock drawing and an inscription in Sanskrit. |
| Day 5 | Breakfast in the yurt-camp. Then a full-day trip to the Khoboy Cape (*) - the northernmost point of the Island and one of its main attractions - the Khoboy Crag. The Crag itself reminds of a female's head and bosom and is famed for a number of legends associated with it. This place is also considered to be an appropriate spot for meditation. Lunch will be served here as picnic.Before dinner you return to the yurt-camp. Farewell Dinner near a campfire. Overnight in the yurt camp. | * The Cape is located opposite the widest part of Baikal (79,8 km). There's a special site (a small platform) that was used for meditation and performing "tailagans" - gatherings of shamans. From the cape one can often see Baikal nerpas - fresh-water seals, the lake's only aquatic animals |
| Day 6 | After breakfast - departure to the ferry station to cross the Olkhon strait and then transfer to Irkutsk with a short stop near a sacred " obo" to do a symbolic offering and say " farewell" to the land of shamans. Upon arrival in Irkutsk - transfer and check in at the hotel. Free time to explore the city on your own. Overnight at the hotel. | * - "Obo" is considered to be residence of "ezhins" - guardian spirits relating to nature and forefathers. Shamans used them as their allies; a place for simple offerings, also. |
| Day 7 | Breakast. Transfer to the airport. | Best of Luck! And thanks for staying with us on Holy Lake! |
Tour budget
Based
on double occupancy
Single supplement USD 118
| Number of PAX in a group | 1 | 2-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 |
| Cost p/p in USD | 1472 | 919 | 724 | 634 |
Includes:
· Transfers on arrival and departure;
· Ground and water transportation as described in the itinerary;
· All accommodations based on double occupancy as described in the itinerary;
· All meals described;
· Rent of tents, sleeping bags and other camping outfit and gear;
· All excursions, entrance fees, and visits as described in itinerary;
· Bilingual local guides throughout your stay.
Price does not include:
International and internal airfare; passport and visa fees; medical and trip insurance; evacuation costs; airport taxes; excess baggage charges; photography and video fees; food and beverages not included in the group meals; tips to drivers or guides; items of a personal nature, including alcoholic beverages, laundry and telephone calls; optional tours; other items not specifically mentioned as included.
Please note that every effort will be made to adhere to the above pricing currency fluctuation beyond our control can affect final costs
Notes
1. Overall route length - 800 km.
2. Recommended number of travelers - 8-10 people.
3. All-weather trucks we provide are reliable and operated by professional drives.
4. Each of the trucks is designed to carry 3-4 participants.
5. No special training required. Only one overnight to be spent in tents.
6. Meals are cooked over campfire or on gas stoves.
7. Your safety: all gear and outfit are state-certified for safety and camping standards.
8. Climate conditions: Occasional rains and low temperatures at night are possible. Due to the changeable weather the tour itinerary may be slightly altered.
9. It is required that customers have waterproof raincoats and warm clothes.
10. You may customize the tour and get an additional tour in Moscow. This price to be stated separately
11. Moscow-Irkutsk and Irkutsk-Moscow plane tickets are not included due to the various incoming flights time and destinations. They are provided upon request on each group individually hence the price of the tour to be affected.