The Seven Wonders of Russia Collection

The Seven Wonders of Russia Collection

The Seven Wonders of Russia The Seven Wonders of Russia Collection is a thematic tourism project of Zelenski Destination Management Solutions created in a form of 7 tailor-made tour packages to familiarize international travelers with Russia s top cultural and natural attractions. Zelenski Destination Management Solutions offers an exciting opportunity to visit the 7 Russian wonders top-voted national attractions, at some of the most amazing locations of the country. Initially the Seven Wonders of Russia is a project organized by some of Russia s top media channels in 2008 to identify 7 most amazing touristic spots of the country the seven wonders of Russia. The competition was held in three stages. During the first stage there was a collection of options and preliminary voting on them. Eventually, 49 wonders of the 7 federal districts of Russia were selected. The second stage left only 14 finalists to take part in the grand finale. On June the 12 th, 2008, after a secret voting that was carried out by SMS and Internet, 7 winners of the competition were announced on the Red Square. Some of the original winners of the competition are located in extremely isolated locations thus the selection of original wonders was modified slightly leaving only accessible attractions. Warmest regards from Russia

Chapter 6 Baikal Lake

Day 1 Arrival to Moscow Airport. You will be met by an Italian speaking guide and take a transfer to the central Moscow for lunch at one of the local restaurants. After lunch the group will be taken for a city-tour around Moscow to see some of the most interesting attractions such as the Bolshoi Theatre, the Kremlin, the Moscow State University, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and others. The tour will end on the Red Square and after shopping at the famous GUM store, you will get a unique opportunity to visit the famous St. Basil s Cathedral completely in private (groups only unless requested). After the visit of St. Basil s Cathedral our guests will be offered a traditional welcome dinner at the historic Godunov restaurant. Once the dinner is over a comfortable coach will take the group back to the airport for their overnight (approximately 6 hours) flight to Irkutsk.

Day 2 Welcome to Siberia. In the Irkutsk airport you will be greeted by our company representative and introduced to a professional guide who will accompany you during the entire trip. For the next 4 days, you are going to travel by an expeditionary Nissan Safari SUV. Your first destination is the famous Olkhon Island. During the 5-hour drive, you will see the wild beauty of the Tajeranskie steppes. After lunch, which consists of Buryat traditional food, you will cross the Olkhon Gates strait by ice. You will enjoy the splendors of Baikal hummocks and even visit Buddhistic Mortar at the Ogoi island. Closer to the evening, the group will stop for a night in a cozy home stay (Double rooms, with shower and toilet on the floor). Lunch and dinner are included in the tour price.

Day 3 This wonderful spring day will be devoted to the biggest island of the Baikal Lake Olkhon. The specific of today s trip is that you will get to see what others usually don t. Most people visit Olkhon island in the summer when the most interesting and mysterious places grottoes are hidden in the impassable rocks that rise high above the water. But in the spring, thanks to the thick layers of ice, you can freely walk right into the grottoes and admire the beauty of the ice shapes. Just in one day, you will see most of the island and enjoy a traditional meal made from Baikal fish, and you will have your picnic right on the ice. After lunch, you can enliven your day by ice skating, tube riding and enjoy fun photo sessions on top of the jeeps. By the end of the day, tired but happy, you will come back to your Olkhon home stay where warm dinner will be waiting for you. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the tour price.

Day 4 So Olkhon was beautiful and exiting, but it is time for new adventures. Today, you are going to head south. You will travel from Olkhon to Buguldeika village. Your day promises to be quite eventful. You will visit such places as mountain Shebety, sacred mountain Yerd and look at the famous, ancient petroglyphs on the Sagan Zaba rock. On the way, you will also have a delightful experience of eating the traditional Russian meal pelmeny made from venison. In the evening, you will discover the beauty of Buguldeika which is famous for its marble carter. You will spend the night in a real hunting house hidden in the middle of the taiga. Don t worry, there is a shower and toilet there, and they are even inside the building (accommodation in double rooms). Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the tour price.

Day 5 Our jeep journey on the Baikal ice continues. Today, you are going to reach Listvyanka a village which is the most visited place by tourists on Baikal Lake (due to its proximity to Irkutsk). Along the way, you will pass cape Arch, Skripper cliff, legendary Devil s bridge and the famous Peschanaya bay, which is considered to be one of the most picturesque places of Lake Baikal. By the evening, you will reach Listvyanka village and enjoy your stay in a nice hotel (accommodation in double rooms with toilet and shower in each room). Breakfast and lunch are included in the tour price. Dinner is at free.

Day 6 After a little rest, there is time for new adventures. Today, you will wander through real Siberian woods, and you will be travelling by snowmobiles and dogs (!). After enjoying the wilderness of Baikal forests and a warm lunch in the open, you will return to Baikal ice, but on dogs and snowmobiles. Over the course of the day, you will travel more than 50 km. Breakfast and lunch are included in the tour price. Dinner is at free.

Day 7 This day going to be one of the most memorable days, not just in your overall trip, but in your entire life! After breakfast in the hotel, you will enjoy an amazing view on Baikal Lake and river Angara (which, by the way, never freezes) from the top of the mountain. You will reach the top by a chairlift. After that, you will meet the Baikal inhabitants in the big aquariums of the Baikal museum. You will also experience virtual diving to the deepest point of Baikal Lake (1637m). And after that you will experience ice rafting! No worries! This activity has ben organized for over 5 years now. It is absolutely safe. Continues

Day 7 The deal is that the ice thickness to more than 1 meter in March. It is able to hold a lorry (motor vehicle designed to transport cargo). But, as we already mentioned, Angara River, which flows from the lake, never freezes. So, the huge (60-80 sq. km) block of ice will be sawn off, and after everyone is on board, we will start moving. The motorboat will also be aboard and will act as a steering wheel for our ship. It will also bring everyone to the shore after we stop. The rafting takes about 1-1.5 hours, during which you will have a picnic with hot wine and chocolate fondue! After this unforgettable experience, you will relax in a real Russian banya with bathing in an ice-hole. After the banya, you will return to the home stay in Listvyanka. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the tour price. Next morning you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Moscow.

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