Visiting Archan and Ulan-Ude with Adda Nova

Key features of the trip:

25 thousands of people every year are visiting Arshan. The number of foreign tourists there is yet quite small, approximately 50-100 people a year. That is due to the remoteness of the territory, lack of advertising, social unawareness of the resort, immature infrastructure for tourists. The resort is available at any time of a year.

In this healing tour with Adda-Nova company you are moving to the Arshan resort, which lays on 900m above sea level in Tunkin National Park in Buriatia Republic, at the foot of the southern slope of the Tunkinskie Goltzy, which is a part of the Southern Sayans, on the river Kyngarga bank. The road to Arshan is a convenient highway (~220km from Irkutsk or~450km from Ulan-Ude).  Buryatian word “arshan” means “healing water”, the resort Arshan was founded in 1930. Mineral waters of Arshan are really healing – they are used for drinking, bathing, showers, mud-bathing. The water is even being poured in bottles and sold as finished product.

Clear mountain air, magnificent views and lots of sunlight (the sun shines more then 2000 hours a year) make your holyday there really wonderful! Arshan is surrounded by mountains 2000-2900m high. The mountain slopes are covered with mixed forests which turns into cedar forests, mountain meadows and tundra as you move higher.

The temperature of the unique mineral waters varies from 11-13C to 45-47C. Waters are used internally and externally. Going to Arshan for particular healing purposes, you shoud stay there 12-24 days – those are periods of healing courses. Besides all that, hot mineral baths themselves bring great pleasure!

Not far from the resort there is very beautiful canyon of the Kyngarga river laying between high walls of rocks. The river-bed is laid out with pink marble boulders and pebble polished by water. The river waters are crystal-clear with slight sweet taste. Taking bathes in Kyngarga regularly, you will have soft silky skin, because there are wonderful ingredients in the water. The Kyngarga river has 12 waterfalls. The way towards there is marked and well-trampled. The first waterfall (the biggest one, 7m high) is in 1,5 km from Arshan. There is a small bridge across the canyon at the height of 10 m. The second and further waterfalls (3m and less) are along the length of 5 km upward the river stream. The waterfall called Veerny Kaskad is said to be the most beautiful one. Climbing up little bit higher, you would stumble across wild cowberry and bilberry bushes. The famous sagaan-dali (rhododendron adamsii render) can also be found here. Brewing tea from it is very healhty, and it has nice taste. It rises your tone considerably, though it’s not for regilar drinking due to the influence on heart. The nuts of cedars in Tunkinskaya valley are the most tasty and useful for health.

There is a path near Arshan leading to the Love Peak (2144m high), a rise up there will take from 3 to 5 hours. Fascinating view from there would definately charm you. Traditionally, couples go there and ther love is said to get stronger.

In Tunkinskaya valley, in 10-12 km from Arshan there are numerous hills. The Talskaya peak is worth mentioning here. Ages ago those hills were acting volcanos, but as the earth’s crust was moving, the volcanos lowered a lot. But still, warmth is felt there in winters. Visiting the old craters, collecting original volcanic pumice-stone, admiring gorgeous views of the Tunkinsky range, taking wonderful fotos – all that you can do at the hilltops!

10km to the south-west from Arshan in the upper reaches of   the Khobok river, at 1000m height in a cup-shaped hollow, surrounded by mountains and original taiga, there is Khobokskoe Lake.

Enjoying your holyday in Arshan, you can visit a Buddhist temple called datsan Bodhitharma, which is in 1km to the west from the Kyngarga bridge. The datsan is beeing maintained carefully, and selebrations are still conducted there.

You can even take a walk to a real shaman and he will guess your fortune! The local shamans live in Khurai-Khobok, a place in 4km from Arshan. Going there, prepare your questions beforehand and take a bottle of vodka with you.

Arshan is not quiet even at nights, as bright discos and dance parties welcome everybody who wants to join in. The “Miss Arshan” contest is held there. You will be unforgettably impressed, once seeing this show. Majestic ladies in evening dresses are doing their best to win the crown, waiting for wonderful time to begin. Well, think of your wardrobe carefully when going to Arshan! And don’t forget your bathing costume!

Few minutes spent in car – and you are in Zhemchug village (~38km), where a geyser, gushing forth from 766m slit, makes you forget about rheumatism! Not far from it a small pool invites people to get dirty head over heels with healing mud. Not everyone can overcome this temptation!

So, as you can see, there are many different ways to have a really good time in Arshan !

After the days spent in Arshan you are moving to Baikal to a place called Slyudianka and visit the capital of Buriatia – Ulan-Ude where the history and culture of native Buriats will uncover some of their secrets.

Time for the tours: summer 2005

Length of the tour: 13 days

Route: Irkutsk – Arshan – Slyudianka – Ulan-Ude

Weather:  day +25 +35C, night +15 +25C.   Mountains +15 +25C, but even in summer the weather there can show all the seasons in just few hours.

Accomodation: hotels, comfortable camp

Transport: minibus, jeep

Nourishment: full board outside the city, breakfasts inside the city

Group: 6-10 people, guide and his team

Age: The route considered easy, people 10-70 years are welcome

Vaccination necessary: vaccination against tick encephalitis is desirable.

Preliminary tour programme:

Day 1. Arriving to Irkutsk. Transfer to “Baikal-Hotel” (Angara bank) or “Angara” (downtown). Irkutsk survey, visiting the folk museum and Znamensky cathedral, where the Decembrists are buried. Free time in Irkutsk.

Day 2. After the breakfast – moving to Tunkinsky National Park up to Arshan (minibus, 220km, 3-4 driving hours). Beautiful natural landscapes along the only road, without any sign of human presence.

The Tunkinskaya valley is surrounded by mountains 1000-3500m high, no relationship between natives and outer world. The nature here is virginal. Accomodation in Arshan in a village guest house, dinner, visiting mineral waters and a trip to the datsan Bodhidharma.

Day 3.  Tour to the Kyngarga waterfalls. Settling the camp. Dinner. Fishing. Picking up berries and mushrooms. Spending the night by the fire near the river: cultural programme, stories about native nature and history, shamans, buddhism, old-believers; different competitions, guitar songs, folklore.

Day 4. Returning to the village guest house. Dinner. Russian baths called banya. Rest.

Day 5. Car tour to the volcanos. Dinner in a kaffee – Buriatian specialities. Moving to the village Zhemchug. Bathing in the geyser and taking mud baths.

Day 6. A rise up to the Love Peak (2144m) – the nearest peak of the Tunkinskie Goltzy, many legends live there. The fascinating view onto Sayan mountings, Tunkinskaya valley, volcanos, and Khamar-Daban range. Dinner above the clouds. Returning to the village guest house in Arshan. Rest.

Day 7. Tour to the sacred waters of Suburga. Taking mineral baths.

Day 8. Visiting a shaman, taking part in shaman’s rite – guessing your fortune and getting answers to your questions.

Day 9. Minibus trip to Baikal to Slyudianka village. The ceremony of joining in the Baikal nature. Spending the night by the fire: cultural programme, stories about native nature and history, shamans, buddhism, old-believers; different competitions, guitar songs, folklore.

Day 10. Spending time near Baikal. After the dinner – driving to Ulan-Ude on a minibus (330km, 5-6 hours). Accomodation in the “Geser” hotel  or “Buriatia” hotel.

Day 11. After breakfast – conducted trip around Ulan-Ude, its old streets and temples. Visiting the central square with the unique memorial of socialism – the biggest in the world Lenin’s head 11m high.

Trip to the main Buddist centre of Russia – the monastery Ivolginsky datsan (Gandan Dashi Choikhorling, 40 km from the city). Visiting the monastery: museum of the monastery, Buddhist manuscripts library, the main tample (even presence there during the evening prayer called pudga).

Returning to Ulan-Ude. Free time. Evening in “Yurta” restaurant: Mongolian and Buriatian specialities, Buriatian folklore. Night in the hotel.

Day 12. A trip to the Etnografic museum of Zabaikal’e people (in the open air). Dinner in the restaurant of Siberian cuisine “Samovar”. Tour to the Russian village of old believers «semeiskie» - Tarbagatai (40km). According to the UNESCO desition, the old believers «semeiskie» from the Tarbagatai village entered the list of the most unique cultures of  small the nations of the world (only 19 cultures are in the UNESCO list). On the Omuliovka mountain the choir of the old believers will welcome you. The traditional old believers’ specialities for the supper. Having interesting conversations, drinking tea with the old believers, getting to know their traditions. Returning to the city. Night in the hotel.

Day 13. Transfer to the airport/railway station after the breakfast.

Note:

The programme is preliminary and can be changed according to your wishes.

Tour cost: 50 euro a day for a person if a group of 6

Included:

-           hotel and camp accomodation

-           full pansion outside the city, breakfasts in Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude

-           transfers: airport/railway station – hotel in Irkutsk; Irkutsk – Arshan; Arshan – Slyudianka; Slyudianka – Ulan-Ude; Ulan-Ude – airport/railway station

-           using pack horses

-           all conducted trips according to the programme

-           visiting National parks

-           trekking organization

-           tourist equipment leasing (slipping bags, dish,  rugs)

-           experienced guide assistanse

-           cultural programme: stories about native nature and history, shamans, buddhism, old-believers; different competitions, guitar songs, folklore

Not included:

-           plane/train to Irkutsk

-           plane/train from Ulan-Ude

-           medical insurance

-           tick encephalitis vaccination

-           alcoholic and soft drinks

-           personal expenditures

-           payments for excess luggage

-           tips