Buryatia

The Buryat Mongol republic on Lake Baikal's eastern shore, where Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, steppe, and lakeshore scenery complement one another.

Buryatia lies on the southeastern and eastern shores of Lake Baikal. The Buryats practice Tibetan Buddhism and retain shamanic traditions. The capital, Ulan-Ude, has a giant Lenin head and the Ivolginsky Datsan, and is one of the centers of Buddhism in Russia. The Barguzin Valley has open steppe ringed by snowy mountains, the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula offers high viewpoints over Lake Baikal, and Zabaykalsky National Park and the lakeside beaches are good for summer visits. The frozen lake in winter has its own appeal. Ulan-Ude has an airport and lies on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Destinations

• Ulan-Ude
• Barguzin Valley & Svyatoy Nos

Itineraries

• Lake Baikal Eastern Shore & Barguzin – Enter and exit via Ulan-Ude, travel through the Barguzin Valley and Svyatoy Nos Peninsula, and explore Chivyrkuisky Bay.
• Trans-Siberian Railway Eastern Section: Vladivostok to Lake Baikal – Travel west along the railway via Khabarovsk and Ulan-Ude to Irkutsk and Olkhon Island.
• Trans-Siberian Railway: Moscow to Beijing – Cross Russia by train in stages, traveling through Lake Baikal and the Mongolian steppes to Beijing.