Look beyond the surface of Lake Baikal and discover the unique melting pot of cultures that call this beautiful region home

One of the world’s oldest geographical features formed 25 to 30 million years ago, magnificent Lake Baikal, which is the highlight of Eastern Siberia, Russia. Ancient and mysterious, Baikal holds deep spiritual and historical significance for the four indigenous cultures that inhabit its shores. On this 9 day Lake Baikal tour, you’ll get acquainted with these long-surviving cultures as we visit the region’s most famous and picturesque places, both overland and across this majestic "inland sea".

LAKE BAIKAL TOUR - TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Cruise to Olkhon Island, the largest of Lake Baikal’s islands and the “capital” of shamanistic culture. On a day tour of Olkhon’s natural wonders, discover untouched Siberian forests, soaring capes and cliffs, pristine sandy beaches and jaw-dropping sunsets

Visit Ust-Orda village to experience the ancient customs of the Buryat people first hand. Feast on Buryati noodle soup and dumplings, hear extraordinary throat singers and participate in traditional games and dances

Explore Siberia's ancient links to the Asian culture in the city of Ulan-Ude and journey to the epicentre of Russian Buddhism. Ivolginsky Datsan is the most revered Buddhist monastery in the country, with colourful stupas and a spectacularly wild setting in the foothills of eastern Baikal
Spend the day with the Old Believers of Tarbagatai, a tight-knit community that preserves three centuries of faith and tradition since their split from the Russian Orthodox Church. Enjoy a festive folk performance and a sumptuous feast washed down with lashings of Siberian vodka

The Buryatia and Baikal regions of Siberia are remarkable in that many of their indigenous inhabitants have maintained a largely traditional way of life. Here, differing cultures not only co-exist but complement each other, as Russian customs and traditions merge with both modernity and age-old Buryat foundations.

We will explore both shores of Lake Baikal, beginning our journey in the primarily European Irkutsk region before moving on to Ulan-Ude and the Asiatic Buryat Republic, which shares ethnic ties with neighbouring Mongolia. As we travel from west to east, you’ll be amazed at how things continually transform around you, from faces, food and languages to natural landmarks and landscapes.

This Lake Baikal tour is a truly immersive cultural experience. You’ll be welcomed into rural villages and invited to learn local customs and taste traditional cuisine. We’ll visit some of Russia’s oldest Buddhist stupas, discover one of the last refuges of the Old Believers and open the curtain on the shamanistic lore behind Lake Baikal’s most sacred sites.

Of course, in the Baikal region, there’s rarely a moment when the scenery doesn’t steal the show. Baikal is a paradise of biodiversity. Expect gobsmacking vistas across the deepest blue waters and soaring mountain ranges on the opposite shore. We’ll explore the world's deepest lake by boat, visiting some of its remote, rugged islets including the breathtakingly beautiful Olkhon Island.

With wonderfully welcoming people and extraordinary nature, experiencing Siberian culture simply doesn’t get better than this.