On the tracks of Genghis Khan

This trip will take you to different places around Lake Baikal to swim and relax first. Afterwards we will go south to the steppe landscape of the republic of Buryatia in near Mongolia. We will visit places where, according to the legend, Genghis Khan has been and learn about the Buddhist tradition of the country.

1.Day
You will arrive in Ulan-Ude with the train or by flight, where I will await you at the train station or the airport. After that we will leave directly for the picturesque valley of Posol’skoe in a two hours long ride.
In the shadow of the monastery of Posol’skoe we will stay the night at Lake Baikal and if possible, cook over open fire. The shore of Lake Baikal around here is very welcoming for long secluded walks at the beach, and the lake will welcome you to bathe in it. As mentioned, we will stay the night at Lake Baikal. Let the noise of the lake rock you into your dreams…

2.Day
We will spend this day at Lake Baikal. The valley of Posol’skoe with its typical coloured Siberian houses calls for a deeper look. You can take longer walks around the shore of Lake Baikal, swim or fish. Let your soul relax!

3.Day
Today, we are going to take a short trip by car. We will drive around half of the Selenga-River delta, in a wonderful landscape. Selenga is by far the biggest feeder river at Baikal. After about one hour we will arrive at a nondescript place Ilynka, where we visit its hot springs and thermal baths. We will stay the night directly at the river Selenga.

4.Day
On this day, we will drive around four to five hours. Shortly after Ilynka, we will cross the river Selenga with the wood-transport-ferry. After that we will head north until we reach Lake Baikal again. Our goal for this day will come shortly after the village of Maksimikha on a large sand beach. Naturally we are going to make enough breaks on the road, if it’s for eating or taking pictures. This applies for all driven routes.

5.Day
To relax from our long route, we are going to spend the day at the beach. Bathing vacation in Siberia! Again, you can try your luck in fishing here.

6.Day
We are going to go back on the route a little bit, approximately one and a half hours. This is the last night we spend at Lake Baikal, near Turka.

7.Day
On well-constructed roads we head southwards. After about three hours we will arrive Ulan-Ude. There, if desired, we have the opportunity to visit the ethnographic open-air museum. With or without the visit of the museum, we will drive for another one to two through Ulan-Ude until shortly after the city, we arrive at the so-called Lion-Rock. A breath-taking view high over the Selenga-Valley.
We will drive for another bit and stay the night above Tarbagatai, on a hill with a beautiful view.

8.Day
The landscape is changing noticeably, we are approaching the border of Mongolia. We are now in the steppe of South-Buryatia. Our goal lays on the hills shortly after the village of Podlopatki. After a short hike uphill, we can visit the former “Castle of Genghis-Khan”. The castle was a strategically important lookout, because there are ancient artificial pits to see beacons.

9.Day
On our way to Gusinoe Ozero, approximately halfway through our route after about three hours of driving, we’ll turn and stay the night above the village Sredny Kharlun at a Buddhist stupa (a little construction which contains relics, sacred scriptures, etc.).

10.Day
Today, after another three hours of driving, we will arrive in the village Gusinoe Ozero at the same-named lake. In this village you can find one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Russia, the Tamchinsky-Dasan.
After the visit of the monastery, we’ll drive to the geese lake (Gusinoe Ozero) to stay the night.

11.Day
This day we’re going to spend at the lake. You can do as you please: swimming, fishing, promenading, reading or even doing Nothing…

12.Day
Todays drive will take up about two hours and will bring us near the biggest and most important Buddhist monastery in Russia, after Ivolginsk. If desired, we can stop on the way there to visit the birth place of the famous lama “Dashi Dorsho Etigelov”, just like “the valley of wells”. This is a very special place, where in closest distance to each other, you can see 16 different natural mineral water come out of the hill. Some for an interior and some for an exterior utilization.
Afterwards we’re going to be on the hilly landscape of the steppe with an overwhelming view. It’s said to be a historic place, because Genghis-Khan must have been there.

13.Day
Visit of the Buddhist monastery.
In Ivolginsk is the biggest and most important Buddhist centre of Russia. From nine o’clock in the morning you can sit by and watch the Buddhist ceremonies. In the last years, the complex has grown immensely, not least because it is home of a special kind of mystery. The corpse of the lama Etigelov, who died in 1917, does not show any traces of decay. Apparently the lama must have reached absolute meditation. You can also look it up in Geo 360° > http://www.geo.de/GEO/geo-tv/das- mysterium-der-sibirischen-mumie-2663.html or on Wikipedia > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashi-Dorzho_Itigilov . You will have a guide through the monastery where you can ask the lama Dashi-Dorsho-Etigolow for health and well-being.
After the visit of the monastery we will drive to Krasnojarowo, a little, nondescript village just before Ulan-Ude. In the evening we’ll take part in a folkloric programme with singing, dancing, shashlik and Banja (Russian sauna). For a last night, we will stay in the travel Vehicle.

14.Day
On the next day we’ll comfortably travel in the direction of Ulan-Ude and on the way, visit another viewpoint over the Selenga worth viewing.
In the afternoon, we’ll arrive in the hotel in Ulan-Ude. The rest of the day you’re free to do whatever you want. If desired, I can offer you an one and a half hour guide through the city. In the evening, we’ll go dine together and look back at the trip together.

15.Day
Unfortunately, your flight back is awaiting you. If you wish, I can take you to the airport and help at the check-in.