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Map of Baikal attractions — interesting places worth visiting

Why is it worth going on a trip to Baikal? Yes, you yourself know! The deepest lake in the world with amazingly clear and transparent water needs no introduction. However, a trip to Baikal is also an acquaintance with the culture and traditions of the locals and sightseeing of interesting historical and natural sights of Baikal. Do you want to see all these natural beauties with your own eyes? Choose which of these places you want to see the most and we will plan, book and arrange a premium personalized trip for you.

West Coast

Olkhon Island

Many have heard about the largest island on Lake Baikal. However, few people know that Olkhon is not a small island on the lake at all. Its area is 730 km². Moreover, this island is inhabited! On its territory there are as many as 9 villages, in which 1742 inhabitants live. And, of course, such a large island boasts its own attractions:

• Settlement Khuzhir — the capital of Olkhon. 70% of the entire population of the island lives here, there are cafes, shops and markets, tourist equipment rental stations and even its own gas station!
• Cape Khorgoy — also belongs to the sacred places of Lake Baikal. Archaeologists have discovered several sacrificial altars here. Well, on the very edge of the cape you can see the ruins of an ancient protective wall 1.5-2 meters high. It was built by the inhabitants of the island in the 7th-8th centuries.
• Local Lore Museum of Olkhon Island. Yes, yes, this island has its own museum. True, quite small. Its exposition tells, of course, about life on the island since ancient times.

Shamanka Rock

Shamanka Rock has so many names! Shaman Cape, Stone Temple, Burkhan Cape, Cave Cape… And this is not surprising, given how many legends are associated with this place.

Shamanka is one of the nine shrines of Asia, a two-peak rock sacred to shamans with a through cave, in which, according to Buryat legends, Burkhan, the main deity of Baikal, lived. The rock itself consists of marble, limestone and graphite, and the rocks on the western slope have formed in such a bizarre way that from the outside the drawing looks like a silhouette of a dragon. Shamanka Rock is located on the coast of Olkhon Island and is a historical and natural monument.

Cape Khoboy

Cape Khoboy is the northernmost point of Olkhon Island. This is a pillar-shaped rock resembling a sharp fang; hence the name of the cape: in Buryat «khoboy» means «fang» or «molars». From the side of the sea, the rock looks like a female profile, and this explains its second name — Virgo. According to one of the legends, the rock is a Buryat woman who turned to stone when, envying her husband, she asked the heavenly spirits for a luxurious palace. According to another legend, the rock is a fang dropped by a giant dragon…

Cape Khoboy is located near the wide flood of Lake Baikal: the eastern shore of the lake can be seen from here only in good weather. But here you can find rare herbs and hear a many-voiced echo, explore the grottoes, go fishing and meet the incredible beauty of the sunrise.

Ogoy Island

Ogoy Island is another place of power on Lake Baikal. It is located in the Maloye More Bay, between Olkhon Island and the western shore of the lake. Ogoya area is less than 1 km², and there are no special attractions here. To be honest, there is nothing at all here — no people, no animals, no special vegetation. People here, in principle, never lived. But from the point of view of Buddhism, this is even good, so the land on the island is clean!

That is why in 2005 a snow-white Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment was built on Ogoy Island. It is believed that if you get to the island (in summer by boat, and in winter on foot or by car) and get around the stupa, then happy events await you in the future. At the same time, the more times you go around the building, the more happiness will be or all your wishes will come true!

Tazheran steppes

The Tazheran steppes adjoin Baikal from the west near the Olkhonsky Gate strait. They are located on the territory of the Irkutsk region and are famous not only for their picturesque landscapes, but also for the rich geological composition of the soil. Here they found deposits of sapphires, rubies and a dozen more precious and semi-precious minerals. One of them was even named after the steppe — thunderanite. Tourists are attracted by the Tazheran steppes with mineral lakes where hundreds of species of birds nest, underground caves with grottoes, stalactites and stalagmites, as well as beautiful bays on the shores of Lake Baikal and ancient rock paintings in Orso Bay.

Peschanaya Bay

Peschanaya Bay is considered one of the best places for a beach holiday throughout Baikal. It is located 80 km from the village of Listvyanka. Sandy beaches here are surrounded by dense coniferous forests and mountains of the Primorsky Range. Nearby are three more bays — Babushka, Grandfather and Vnuchka. Well, the main attraction of Peschanaya Bay is “ stilted” trees . These are larches growing on the very shore of the lake. Due to erosion processes, almost all the soil has gone from under their roots. Now these trees stand with bare roots and lean on them, as if on stilts.

Sagan-Zaba cliff

Sagan-Zaba cliff is a white marble cliff that majestically and gloomily cut into the waters of Lake Baikal. You can get to the bay where the cliff is located by car: a road suitable for transport has been laid through the forest and mountains to the White Rock.

Sagan-Zaba belongs to the Baikal National Park, is a natural monument, and is famous, first of all, for amazing petroglyphs — rock paintings of people, animals and birds. The most famous drawing depicts an animal that looks like either a deer or a deer. According to one version, this beast, carved on ancient rocks, is a cosmic deer, embodying the deity of the Sun or the sun itself, dying and resurrecting daily. Human figures are depicted around the beast, and in general the scene resembles a ritual dance.

Museum of Baikal

The Baikal Museum is the only one in the country entirely dedicated to Baikal. The museum is located at the source of the mighty Angara River, in the village of Listvyanka. Here you can make a virtual dive to the bottom of Lake Baikal, see the smallest inhabitants of the lake through a microscope, and also observe the life of the Baikal fauna. Museum seals, omuls and whitefishes live in huge aquariums, which receive water directly from the lake.

Next to the museum there is a spacious arboretum where you can get acquainted with rare plants that grow only on Lake Baikal. You can get to the museum from Irkutsk in just an hour, and the journey from the village of Taltsy will take about twenty minutes.

Taltsy ethnographic complex

Most likely, your journey across Lake Baikal will begin or end in the city of Irkutsk. In this case, we recommend visiting the Taltsy ethnographic complex. It is located 41 km from the city on the road to the village of Listvyanka. Taltsy are real Siberian Kizhi! On the territory of the complex, 40 wooden buildings of the 17th-20th centuries and about 8000 more exhibits illustrating life on Baikal from the beginning of its development by the pioneer Cossacks were collected. Among them are Evenk camps and Buryat uluses, wooden towers of Cossack prisons and residential buildings of the first inhabitants of the Irkutsk region who moved here from the European part of Russia.

Ethnopark «Golden Horde»

If you want to get acquainted with the Buryat culture on the way to Baikal, you should look into the ethnopark «Golden Horde». This is an open-air museum with Buryat yurts and ethnographic expositions. In the Golden Horde you can listen to throat singing and playing national instruments, take part in Buryat dances or watch yaks, horses and markhor goats.

Thematic exhibitions and handicraft souvenirs, local cuisine and master classes, rituals, fun, quests, reconstructions of battles and, of course, the most beautiful carved yurt in Russia — Khan-Yurt — await travelers and lovers of history and antiquity. By the way, in 2018 the Golden Horde ethnopark entered the top 10 ethno-tourism sites in the rating of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

East Coast

Barguzinskaya Valley

Barguzinskaya Valley is one of the most sacred places for the Buryats. It is no coincidence that they call it «the land of a thousand spirits.» According to legend, it was here that Genghis Khan’s mother was born and he himself was buried. There are many sacred places and interesting sights in the valley:

• Ininsky rock garden is not a man-made garden at all, but a vast territory in the Inu river valley. Here, huge boulders stick out of the ground, reaching a height of 4 meters.
• Dugan of the Goddess Yanjima (Saraswati) is the face of the Indian patron goddess of art, which appeared on a rock near the small village of Yarigta. Later, a datsan was built in this place, and the road to it is decorated with garlands of multi-colored Buddhist flags.
• The ice on Lake Churikto does not melt even in summer! More precisely, huge five-meter ice floes are formed on the channel near the lake during the winter and have time to melt only by the end of summer.

The Barguzin valley approaches Baikal from the east. It starts at the source of the Barguzin River and stretches for 250 km through the territory of Buryatia. The valley is part of the Dzherginsky Reserve. There are almost no roads here — only taiga forests and alpine tundra, and a dozen more mineral springs. In a word, if you are preparing for a trip to Baikal, be sure to visit this unique valley!

Suva Saxony

Under the romantic and intriguing name «Suva Saxony» graceful rock formations are hidden at the foot of the Ikat Range, which is located east of Lake Baikal. Skalniki resemble the ruins of a Gothic castle — or huge towers with loopholes and a fortress wall. There is a legend that Suvinian Saxony was once the last post of defense of the ancient inhabitants of the valley… Another legend says that once these rocks were inhabited by the master spirits of the winds and even the great Barguzin himself, the master of the main wind of Baikal.

Suvinian Saxony was chosen not only by tourists, but also by swallows, and in the past shamans often gathered in these places. From the top of the hill, on which the Suvinsky rocks are located, you can see the Barguzin valley and lakes, and on the way to it you can meet a rock garden and a warm shallow lake Alginskoye.

Barguzinsky Bay and the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula

Barguzinsky Bay is one of the most picturesque, secluded and peaceful places throughout Baikal. In addition, it is the largest and deepest bay on the entire lake. And the Barguzinsky Bay is an ideal place for beach lovers. Here, a long sandy line is surrounded by a dense pine forest, and the nearest settlement to the bay, Ust-Barguzin, is located at a distance of 1 km.

The large peninsula Svyatoy Nos is visible from the shore of the bay. True, once it was an ordinary island, but over time a jumper formed, which connected it with the shore of the lake. The peninsula does not look like a nose at all, but the pioneers called it that, meaning “cape” by this word. The Buryats generally call this place “the muzzle of the sturgeon”, or “Hilmen Khushuun”. The peninsula offers a wonderful view of Olkhon and the Ushkany Islands. In addition, there is a hot thermal spring «Snake».

Ushkany Islands

Numerous picturesque islands are scattered throughout Baikal, as if in a real sea. But immediately after Olkhon, tourists are invariably attracted by the archipelago of the Ushkany Islands. This is because here are the largest seal rookeries on the lake. The largest of them is located on Tonkiy Island — up to 2 thousand individuals. Imagine what a beautiful picture this is, given that the area of ​​​​the island is only 0.2 km².

The Ushkany Islands belong to the territory of Buryatia and are included in the Zabaikalsky National Park. To visit them, you need a special permit from the administration of the national park. In total, the archipelago includes 4 islands. That’s just the territory of three of them does not exceed 0. 1-0.2 km². But the main island of Bolshoy Ushkany occupies 9,4 km², there is even a village here! True, only 4 people permanently live in it.

Ivolginsky datsan

Ivolginsky datsan is the center of Buddhism in Russia. It is located not in Ulan-Ude itself, but 36 km to the west in the village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga. It includes a temple and a monastery, residential and administrative buildings, a university of Buddhism and a palace-temple where the body of Khabro Lama, the religious leader of the Buryats of the early 20th century, is kept. In the datsan, services are held and Buddhist religious rites are performed. However, it attracts tourists with the beauty of its decoration and unusual architecture. So if your trip to Baikal will pass through Ulan-Ude, do not forget to stop by the datsan and you may be lucky to get an audience with a local lama.

Tarbagatai village

If your Baikal route includes a visit to the city of Ulan-Ude, then there are interesting places to visit here. For example, the center of the Old Believers «Visiting the family» in the village of Tarbagatai. They began to be called Semeyskie already in Siberia, since the Old Believers who fled here from repressions settled along the shores of Lake Baikal with large families. It is worth noting that their resettlement to Siberia began since the time of Peter I. Until now, the «Semey» Old Believers live crowded and keep their customs and culture, which will be told to visitors of the specialized center.

Southern coast

Circum-Baikal Railway

Baikal is surrounded by high mountain ranges, so the railway built around the lake is a real monument of engineering. Especially when you consider that its construction took only 6 years and ended in 1905. The Circum-Baikal Railway stretches for 89 km along the lake from the village of Slyudyanka to the port of Baikal, which is located at the source of the Angara.

What is the ingenuity of Russian engineers here? The fact is that this very small section of the railway track consists of 38 tunnels, the length of which is 10% of the total length of the road, 248 bridges and another 15 stone and 3 reinforced concrete galleries cut into the mountains! So, when going on a trip to Lake Baikal, do not forget to buy a ticket for one of the trains on the Circum-Baikal Railway. True, they go only 4 times a week, one train per day. But if you’re lucky, you can get on the old (in the sense of «retro») train for tourists.

Baikalsky Reserve

The Baikalsky Reserve is a biosphere reserve on the southern coast of Lake Baikal. It covers an area of ​​almost 166,000 hectares and is located in the central part of the Khamar-Daban ridge. Alpine meadows, mountain tundra, rivers, canyons, waterfalls, glacial lakes and warm bays — the Baikal Reserve is many-sided and diverse. Here you can meet more than 300 species of animals, relic poplars, centuries-old cedars and even the famous red deer — maral deer.

In addition, in the Baikal Reserve there is an ethno-town with yurts, plagues and huts, a bird harbor with more than a million birds, a museum of nature, where stuffed representatives of the flora and fauna of the Baikal taiga are collected, Sable Lakes, Mamai Gorge and many other amazing natural monuments.

Pomegranate Beach

On the southern shore of Lake Baikal stands a small and cozy town of Baikalsk. And not far from it lies Pomegranate Beach — a coastal strip with unusual reddish-burgundy sand. This shade of sand is given by the garnets contained in it, in particular, almandines — the hardest and most common variety.

The width of the Pomegranate beach is small — only five meters; but in length the coastline stretches for several kilometers. The beach is especially beautiful at sunset, when the scarlet sun colors the sand even more distinctly red. By the way, magical properties are attributed to the local sand, and local residents believe that it has a beneficial effect on health and stabilizes cardiac activity.

Chersky Peak

Among the majestic mountain expanses of Khamar-Daban is the Komarinsky Range, stretching from the shores of Lake Baikal to the upper reaches of the Levaya Bezymyannaya River. Previously, the highest point of this ridge was called Mount Komar, but now it has been renamed Chersky Peak. Peak Height — 2090 meters, and it is named after the famous Siberian explorer Ivan Chersky.

Climbing the peak does not require climbing skills, and therefore is one of the most popular routes; it even hosts annual speed climbing competitions. Travelers love Chersky Peak for its gorgeous views,
unusual air and relatively easy route. On the one hand, the hike here is suitable even for beginners. On the other hand, whatever one may say, this is a real trip to the mountains.

Tunkinskaya Valley

Tunkinskaya Valley is not only one of the most beautiful places in the Baikal region, but also a territory covered with a lot of legends. Many centuries ago, the path of the terrible army of Genghis Khan lay in these places; healing mineral springs flow in the valley, there are many waterfalls and lakes. And among the alpine meadows, surrounded by the harsh Sayans, Buddhist shrines are hiding in the valley.

The Tunka Valley is almost two hundred kilometers long, and its territory exceeds the area of ​​Belgium. In order to preserve the diverse ecosystems of the Tunkinskaya depression, in 19In 1991, the Tunkinsky National Park was created here.

Northern coast

Khakusy hot springs

Khakusy are the most powerful thermal springs on Lake Baikal. They are located near the northern coast and come straight out of the rock at a speed of 40 m/s. Translated from the Evenki «Khakusy» is translated as «hot» or «heat». The water temperature in the springs reaches 47°C, and you can take baths here all year round. In the composition of water: bicarbonate, sulfate, sodium. It is recommended for external treatment of skin diseases, diseases of the joints and the musculoskeletal system.

The springs are surrounded by dense forests, mountains and bays. This place will appeal to those who want to get away from the city and relax.

Ayaya Bay

The collection of the most beautiful Baikal bays certainly includes Ayaya Bay. It is similar to the Mediterranean coast: golden sand, steep shores, an underwater reef … In early summer and late autumn, snow lies on the tops of the mountains surrounding the bay, but Ayaya itself is located in such a way that you can hide in it even from a strong storm.

The bay is rich in fish: here you can not only have a good rest, but also fish for taimen, pike, perch or grayling. By the way, this is one of those places where you can meet Baikal seals: in sunny weather, they sometimes appear on the reef. The unusual name of the bay, most likely, comes from the Evenk word «aya», which means «pleasant» or «beautiful». Well, in that case, Ayaya fully lives up to his name!

Lake Frolikha

Not far from the bay of Ayaya lies the reserved glacial lake Frolikha — its bright turquoise water reflects the Siberian taiga and mountains, and in the depths there is an arctic fish of davatchans. How it got to Baikal from Arctic waters is a mystery. Lake Frolikha itself was formed back in the Ice Age: two giant glaciers collided, and the stone and sand brought by them formed a dam, thanks to which the lake was formed.

The water here is so clear that those who canoe across the lake feel as if they are floating in the sky. In summer, the Frolikha water warms up to 20 degrees Celsius. The area of ​​the lake is almost 17 square kilometers, the depth is up to 80 meters, and you can get here along the eco-trail from Ayaya Bay.

In an individual trip to Baikal, we will develop a route especially for you and include the most interesting places there, select comfortable hotels and organize adventures that will make the trip truly special. Call us at tel. +7 (495) 104-64-36 or write to [email protected] — we’ll tell you all the details.

Travel by car along the east coast of Spain

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View of the Portlligat beach, home to the Salvador Dalí house museum, in Cadaqués

As you drive along Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coastline, you’re guaranteed sunshine, great beaches, and tourist destinations full of attractions. We invite you to get acquainted with the Mediterranean coast slowly, without predetermined plans. With our tips, you’ll know what to see along the way and plan your itinerary. Let yourself be enchanted by the feeling of freedom that the road brings and take the best trip in the Mediterranean of your life. We offer you a route from Barcelona to Cabo de Gata (in the south, in the province of Almeria in Andalusia), which is mainly along the expressway and Mediterranean Motorway (A-7, AP-7) with access to minor roads to enjoy the scenery or visit interesting places.

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Stage 1: From Barcelona to Costa Brava: heading north

We chose Barcelona as our starting point due to its excellent international transport links. We recommend that you spend a couple of days north of Barcelona to get to know the Costa Brava (Girona).

Distance: 310km
Road: Automobile
/ Duration: 2 days

Picturesque coves (such as the cove in Roses), small beaches where pine trees grow close to the sea, popular tourist destinations such as Platja d’Aro or Lloret de Mar, and seaside villages that once became a source of inspiration for Dali, and today they allow you to get acquainted with his life and work: the Dali Theater Museum (in Figueres), the Salvador Dali House Museum (in Portlligat, Cadaqués) and the Gala Dali Castle (Pubol). If you like to watch from car window to a picturesque landscape, we recommend that you drive along the GI-682 highway between Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guixols and stop at one of the viewpoints. Below are the distances between the main points of the route:

• Barcelona — Roses: about 160 kilometers.
• Roses — Cadaqués: about 20 kilometers.
• Cadaques — Platja d’Aro: about 100 kilometers.
• Tossa de Mar — Sant Feliu de Guixols: about 30 kilometers.

Stage 2: From Barcelona to Costa Dorada: heading south

For winding roads and cliffside views, we recommend taking the C-31 highway between Castelldefels and Sitges. The proximity to the coast guarantees amazing views, but remember to always be extremely careful while driving.

Distance:240km
Road: Automobile

The first section of the route south can be taken on the C-32 toll motorway from Barcelona to Sitges. It is one of the busiest places on the Catalan coast, especially during the summer and during the carnival (usually held at the end of February). You can continue along the AP-7 motorway, which will take you to Tarragona, where the Roman archaeological site of Tarraco is located, one of the best preserved in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also visit such popular places on the Costa Dorada as Salou, Cambrils or Sant Carles de la Rapita, famous for their beaches. For nature lovers, we recommend heading to the Delta de l’Ebre Natural Park, a wetland home to numerous species of birds. You can also move away from the coast and discover Gaudí’s birthplace, the city of Reus, where the center of Gaudí is located. Below are the distances between the main points of the route:

• Barcelona — Sitges: about 40 kilometers.
• Sitges — Tarragona: about 75 kilometers.
• Tarragona — Salou: about 15 kilometers.
• Salou — Reus: about 10 kilometers.
• Salou — Delta de l’Ebre Natural Park: about 75 kilometers.
• Delta de l’Ebre Natural Park — Sant Carles de la Rapita: about 25 kilometers.

Stage 3: Coast of the Valencian Community

Continuing south, we will reach the home of paella, the Valencian Community. Here you can enjoy the local cuisine (paella or any of the many typical dishes). In addition, there are plenty of places to stop along the coast of the Valencian Community.

Distance: 240km

Peñiscola (its castle by the sea is one of the most easily recognizable images of the Mediterranean coast of Valencia), the small fishing village of Alcossebre, popular tourist destinations such as Oropesa del Mar, Benicassim, which is especially worth a visit in July when it is held here international festival (FIB), as well as the picturesque town of Castellón de la Plana. This entire stretch of coast belongs to the province of Castellón and is very popular with water sports enthusiasts. At some distance from the coast, you can visit two beautiful villages located in the mountains: Morelia and Vilafames. Below are the distances between the main points of the route: