Things to do in

Siberian Federal District

Day 1: You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Irkutsk at 09:00 and drive through vast open spaces, the so-called Buryat Steppes, where you will eventually see herds of cows and horses on green fields. You’ll see wooden polls with colorful ribbons along the road. The island still remains being a truly shamanic place. Those polls are the ‘borissa‘ – horse tethering post – a mark, where travelers have to stop (or slow down) and drop on the ground a little item (usually coin or piece of material) to show their respect to the spirit of this area. In fact, dropping a coin is a routine daily ritual conducted every time you pass though this place. You will go off the beaten track to see the Yord Mountain and a viewpoint at Aya Bay. Have lunch in a cafeteria (not included). Arrive to Skahurta village / ferry point. Afterwards, head to the main town of Khuzir by late afternoon. Have a walking excursion around the village, see the famous Burkhan's Rock and walk on ice. Day 2: This excursion will be a great way to explore the northern part of the island. Total driving mileage for this day will be 70 kilometers. You will be driven along the eastern shore of the island. Your drive will be combined with stops to observe the cliffs and landscapes and of course, to take photos. You will be visiting the most famous cliffs of the island: Three Brothers and Khoboi/ Tusk. From Khoboi cliff, you will be able to see an amazing 300 degree panorama of the lake and its widest 80 kilometer side. Have a picnic near the northern tip of the island in a lovely forest. You may see other minibuses packed with visitors following the same route. Return to your homestay in Khuzir by 14:00 to 15:00. After a short tea break, you’ll be heading back to Irkutsk. Estimated arrival time will be 19:00 to 20:00.

Irkutsk, Siberia and Baikal are truly romantic destinations, offering an inspiring escape from the grind of city life. Covered in ice and snow, this tour will offer you access from Irkutsk, taking you to the stunning Lake Baikal, often considered the deepest lake in the world. In addition to this, you will also get to witness the city center of Irkutsk on your outing, a place acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  On your tour you will travel from Irkutsk to Listvyanka village. Upon arrival, immediately be in awe of the views from the mouth of the Angara river as you hike to the top of the hill to Chersky rock for an amazing panorama that will leave you speechless. With your local charismatic guide, you will visit the Krestovka wooden orthodox church, the junk museum with a collection of statues made of old car parts by local artists, the fish market and of course, spots where you can receive magnificent views of Lake Baikal.

Following collection from your Irkutsk accommodation, begin your exploration of the Baikal region. The area is famous for its beautiful nature, but this tour aims to discover something else that makes it unique. Over the course of the centuries, the Buryat people have lived around the great lake, cherishing their culture. The Zolotaya Orda, or Golden Horde Park, preserves this ethnic group’s way of life. During this guided tour, see colorful national dresses, dances, and authentic Buryat homes, and hear live ethno music. Following your excursion, take the unique chance to taste tantalizing traditional cuisine. At the conclusion of your experience, your driver returns you back to your starting point in Irkutsk.

Get into the Christmas spirit by taking a tour through the beautiful and festive city of Irkutsk. Explore the city’s stunning buildings and structures decorated with magical Christmas lights. With your local expert guide, visit the most exquisitely decorated places in the city. Wander through the streets draped in Christmas decorations and feel spellbound by the charming atmosphere of Irkutsk during the festive time. Hear interesting the stories of the Christmas tree, Christmas spells, and the Christmas legends of the city. See the beautifully decorated Christmas tree and know who was the first person in the world to decorate it. Visit the famous old-fashioned Christmas Market in the Central Marketplace and savor some of the most renowned local products of the city. Fill your heart with joy and experience the magic of Irkutsk. 

Explore the city of Irkutsk, founded in the mid-17th century by settlers and fur traders. With the help of your expert guide, learn how this city came to prominence in the 1800s when the Decembrists were exiled to Siberia, turning Irkutsk into their cultural center. Explore the city comfortably, with private pickup and drop-off from your hotel. See the remains of the Irkutsk Fortress and visit the Spasskaya Church, which formed part of Irkutsk Kremlin. Explore the city and feel the spirit of the time admiring the fancy designs of the wooden homes, once frequented by successful fur traders. Your journey through the centuries will take you to the houses where the Decembrists, Russian noble rebels, lived in exile after the revolt against Tsar Nicholas I. Admire the History Museum, a beautiful gingerbread-like 19th-century building, and continue to the memorial grave of Alexander Kolchak, the legendary general of the Russian Civil War.

Discover the best of the Republic of Buryatia on a full-day journey to Arshan. Hike the Peak of Love, visit Buddhist stupas and try local cuisine. Learn about the history of the region from an expert guide. Begin your private tour early in the morning and hop aboard a minivan that will take you to Arshan. Enjoy views along the way of the southernmost tip of Lake Baikal along with several Buddhist stupas. Have breakfast in the village upon arrival and try a giant beef chebureki (meat pastry). Visit the local market and buy herbs and natural larch chewing gum. Enjoy your fill of natural mineral water and hike to a small waterfall. Continue the hike if you're feeling up for it, and climb to the first cliff of the Peak of Love in the Sayan Mountains. Because this is a private tour, participants have the option of dedicating the whole trip to climbing to the summit at 1,200 meters.

Start your day of adventure by meeting your friendly and informative guide. After a short meet and greet, set-off to discover the famous landmarks that make Irkutsk so unique. Irkutsk is the administrative centre in Siberia and a UNESCO World Heritage site popular amongst tourists. After being in this place for a short amount of time, you can see why it is the birthplace of so many fairytales. One of the main attractions shown to you during your exciting day is the oldest icebreaker in the world, truly a sight to behold for any history buff. You'll also get to take a trip to the Irkutsk Museum where paintings, sculptures, icons and collections of folk art reside in the plenty.  Discover and marvel at the famous Saviour Church, considered the oldest stone building in all of Eastern Siberia. Your guide will also be sure to entertain you with the locally famous legend surrounding the crystal clean Lake Baikal, not to mention, the beautiful tales of the Znamensky Monastery and its illustrious collection of wooden icons at the Holy Cross Church.  With your charismatic guide you will also get to visit landmarks such as the Angara coast, Kirov Square, the Saviour Church, Karl Marx Street, Irkutsk Drama Theater. No trip is complete without a visit to the historical district where stunning wooden structures dating back to the 18th-century await you.

Siberia is one of the most mysterious places in Russia. Covered in ice and snow for most of the year, Irkutsk is an accurate portrayal of typical Russia and sits on the edge of Lake Baikal. You will learn how the center of Irkutsk is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before encountering the Savior Church which is considered the oldest stone building in Eastern Siberia. Hear beautiful stories about the Znamensky Monastery and its illustrious collection of icons at the Holy Cross Church, with its architecture and decorations bound to leave you speechless. Along with your charismatic guide, you will visit the Savior Church, the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, the Znamensky Monastery, and the Holy Cross Church. You will also find out why Krestovozdvizhenskaya Tserkov’ and Spasskaya Tserkov’ are the two churches in Irkutsk which you simply must visit.

Get into the holiday spirit on this guided walking tour in Omsk. Together with a professional local guide, visit the most beautifully decorated places and hear local Christmas stories and legends. Witness the magic of Omsk during this special time of year. Visit the grand Christmas tree of Omsk, discover must-taste local Christmas products, and more. Prepare to be spellbound by the charming Christmas atmosphere of the city, something you can only experience in Omsk this time of year.

Meet your professional guide in the lobby of your hotel, and then travel on foot, by public transport, or taxi to the center of Omsk, where your personal walking tour will begin. Visit the left bank of Omi, where a Cossack detachment landed and the first Omsk fortress was built. Here you can see the beautiful mansion where Admiral A.V. Kolchak’s apartment was located. Admire examples of classical architecture such as the Governor General’s Palace and the Omsk Cadet Corps. Continue to the Theater Square, where the first Omsk wooden fortress was built, and where the original structure of the musical theater now stands. See the city council building which dates to the 19th century. Turning to the other side of the Omi River, learn about the Omsk merchants of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Admire an architectural ensemble of buildings built in the eclectic style that has become the hallmark of historic Omsk. See the second Omsk fortress where Fyodor Dostoevsky was imprisoned, and visit other locales relating to the beloved Russian author. Discover the Omsk State Academic Drama Theater and the Omsk Regional Museum of Fine Arts named after MA. Vrubel, a native of Omsk. Your final stop will be the magnificent Assumption Cathedral, which was built under the reign of Emperor Nicholas II. At the end of your tour, the guide will take you to back to your hotel in Omsk on foot, by public transport, or by taxi.