Day 1 Beijing → Irkutsk
·morning
Tourists gathered at Beijing Daxing International Airport today to take a flight to Irkutsk.
Full refund if visa is rejected:
This itinerary requires an electronic Russian visa, including visa services. Documents must be submitted to the designated email address on China-TravelNote approximately 14-21 days prior to departure. If there are no document issues, a visa will be issued within a week of departure. In the event of a visa rejection, a full refund will be provided. For details, please see "Fees Included - Visa" section.
After arriving, get to know the city first and start a city walk: Irkutsk has many attractions, and the most well-known is the "Green Line" city sightseeing route, which covers churches, museums, ancient buildings, city squares, city statues, etc.
Proceed to the Victory Square, located near the Angara River, where tourists will visit the Church of the Savior, the Polish Catholic Church, the Cathedral of the Epiphany of the Lord, and the government building. Then, pass by the Eternal Flame and reach the Bridge of Love, encountering the Angara River, the mother river of Izmir. From the bridge, you can admire the statue of the Siberian pioneers in the distance.
Finally, visit the famous Kazan Cathedral.
·afternoon
After enjoying a Russian barbecue lunch, check in to the hotel to relax and unwind after the flight. If you feel energetic, you can enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.
Day 2 Irkutsk → Olkhon Island
·morning
After breakfast, we'll drive to Olkhon Island, the largest island in Lake Baikal and a center of shamanism. If Lake Baikal is the pearl of Siberia, Olkhon Island is its heart. The island's scenery is breathtaking, with wilderness, lakes, and rivers interwoven into a vivid natural landscape.
Enjoy a unique Siberian [Buryat lunch] on the way, take a short break after the meal and continue on your journey.
·afternoon
Arrive at Xiaohai Pier and take a boat to Olkhon Island Pier. Then transfer to a Watts off-road vehicle to Olkhon Island, the largest island in Lake Baikal. Then arrive at the wooden house area in Khuzhir Town to check in.
If it is still early when you arrive, you can go to Shaman Mountain under the guidance of the tour guide to watch the sunset. Tourists can stand on the mountain and overlook Shaman Rock and the vast Lake Baikal.
·night
After Russian dinner, check in to hotel and rest.
Day 3 Olkhon Island (Northern Route Day Tour)
·morning
After breakfast, drive to the northern tip of Olkhon Island to start the northern tour (including the drive, the tour time is no less than 6 hours).
You can stop by to visit the Human Face Mountain, Crocodile Island, villages, strange pine forest on the beach, three-colored water, Three Brothers Stone, vast grassland, and red rocks along the way.
·afternoon
At noon, we had a picnic in the woods near Cape Hebo! For lunch, the Russian uncle would make fresh fish soup for the tourists, accompanied by snacks and black tea.
After lunch, we will head to the Boy Peak and Girl Peak (Wishing Peak), which are located in the deeper part of Lake Baikal, and then return to the cabin.
Tourists can go to the Saray Bay beach to play in the water and relax on their own.
·night
A simple Russian meal will be served for dinner, followed by a rest.
Day 4 Olkhon Island (free time, without guide)
All day
Today you'll have free time on the island. Don't miss out on this stunning scenery! Have fun in the woods, splash in the lake, and connect with nature! Take tons of photos!
Recommended self-funded projects:
Tourists can take a boat trip to Seagull Island, where the Baikal seagulls gather. They can watch the seagulls soar in the blue sky, admire the seagulls gently touching the lake surface, and take photos of this beautiful moment...
You can also take a boat trip to encounter the unique freshwater seals of Lake Baikal.
You can also rent a car to go to Khuzhir Village, visit the quaint Russian village, and experience the enthusiasm and folk customs of the local people;
You can also take a one-day tour of the southern route of Olkhon Island: Khuzhir Village Observation Deck - Seven Pines - the highest peak of the southern route of Lake Baikal - Lake Heart - Hura City - the eastern shore of Lake Baikal.
Or you can enjoy a leisurely time by taking an ATV or horseback riding and relax yourself in the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains.
In short, this is a day for tourists.
Day 5 Olkhon Island → Listvyanka
·morning
After breakfast, we will take an off-road vehicle to Olkhon Island Pier. Then we will take a boat to the Little Sea Pier and transfer to a bus to Listvyanka. The journey takes about 6.5 hours.
·afternoon
After arriving in Listvyanka, we'll head to Chersky Mountain (including the cable car, 700 meters above sea level). Tourists will take the cable car to the summit. Afterwards, it's a 10-minute walk to the observation deck at the top, offering a breathtaking view of Lake Baikal from a different perspective. From here, you can see the lake's mouth, offering breathtaking views.
Afterwards, we will go to the Fishermen's Market to experience the daily life of the residents of Listvyanka. We can buy some homemade items by ourselves and truly integrate ourselves into the lives of the locals.
·night
After a free dinner, check in to the hotel and rest.
Day 6 Listvyanka → Baikal Railway → Irkutsk
All day
Reference train number: Baikal Port - Irkutsk (reference departure time 11:00-21:00)
After breakfast, embark on a full-day in-depth tour of Lake Baikal aboard the Baikal Circumferential Railway. The train winds along the Baikal Railway, crossing 38 tunnels and 47 bridges and viaducts. Along the way, it stops at three or four distinctive, historic stations, each lasting 15 to 60 minutes. As the train continues along Lake Baikal, tourists will enjoy breathtaking views of the beautiful shores. Known as the "Pearl of Siberia," Lake Baikal boasts crystal-clear waters and breathtaking scenery. Lake Baikal is the world's largest freshwater lake. During the Western Han Dynasty, Su Wu herded sheep here (then known as the "North Sea"). It's also the heartland where Genghis Khan rose to prominence, a place steeped in history and legends. The train's final destination is downtown Irkutsk, where you'll transfer to your hotel for check-in and rest.
Day 7: Irkutsk Day Trip
·morning
After breakfast, embark on a Russian Military Experience Tour. Ride in an armored vehicle through the deep Siberian forests and experience firsthand shooting training (AK47 for men, AK74 for women). The feeling of pulling the trigger and hearing the bullet whizzing out is truly thrilling! Many tourists are new to this, but with the patient guidance of the instructors, they quickly master the techniques.
Four Principles of Shooting Safety:
1. Always assume every gun is loaded.
2. Never point the gun at anything other than your target, and never at your teammates.
3. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard when not ready to shoot or holding the gun.
4. Double-check your target and surroundings before shooting.
·afternoon
At noon, you can experience the [Russian Food Making] where tourists prepare Russian meals by themselves and deeply experience the local food culture.
After lunch, we'll head to Irkutsk's Military Theme Art Park. More specifically, it's the Solid Waste Landfill Museum, the only museum in the world housed within a landfill. Here, visitors can see Russia's oldest televisions and radios, witness alien battles, and even witness cavalry from the era of cold weapons.
After arriving in Irkutsk, we will go to Karl-Marx Avenue for free time.
Karl-Marx Avenue is the central street of Irkutsk's old town, running almost entirely through the city. The street is bustling with a variety of nostalgic and modern cafes, bars, and Chinese and Western restaurants. It also houses supermarkets, cosmetics shops, jewelry stores, and other large and small shops, making it a great place for sightseeing, shopping, and experiencing Russian culture. Walking along the street from south to north, tourists can see a variety of Russian-style buildings, including the Monument to Alexander III, the Okhlopkov Drama Theater, the Irkutsk Local History Museum, a stadium, and a cinema.
·night
After a free dinner, we will proceed to the airport in time to take the early morning flight back to Beijing.
Day 8 Irkutsk → Beijing
All day
The trip ended after arriving at Beijing Daxing Airport in the early morning.
