Ust-Orda

If you are coming to Baikal, you are visiting the Buryat people. So it is an excellent chance to open your mind and learn more about Buryat people who live near Baikal for hundreds of years! There is a good opportunity to do it because Ust’-Orda village is an important center of their culture, traditions, and religion. Moreover, the town is located 60 km from Irkutsk, so it is elementary to route minibus. To learn more about Buryat people, please click here. Read the text below if you want to get to know what to do in Ust’-Orda.

What’s interesting here?

• Baikal main ski resort!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Unique nature of Southern Baikal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Relict forest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Warm lakes!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Sobolinaya Mountain!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ust-Orda attractions

In a small village are not many places to visit. However, almost all of them are explicitly targeted at tourists. Here we will tell you about the Local Culture Museum, Museum of Crafts, Center of Shamanism, and Ethnopark “Zolotaya Orda” (Golden Horde).

Museum of Local Culture

In the museum, tourists can learn about the Buryats’ history, culture, religion, and life. The museum’s Guests can see local artisans’ works — products made of metal, leather, wood, wool, and fur. Guides will tell you about the purpose of these items in everyday life and their creation history. There is an open-air complex on the museum’s territory, “Buryat village of the late XIX — early XX century.” Here tourists can learn more about the life of the Buryats and their daily worries.

The museum also offers unique programs for tourists: “Shaman Tour” and “Geser Land.” (Geser — Son of Heaven in Buryat mythology). During these programs, visitors take part in the performance, the shaman’s main character. Tourists will be able to participate in the ritual “Purification by fire” and “Blessing the traveler.” These programs are accompanied by songs and playing the Buryat national instruments. Guests are treated to traditional Buryat food. Also, tourists can participate in other programs: “The traditional cuisine of the peoples of Siberia” and “Folk Games.”

Shamanism Center

The spiritual and cultural center is intended for holding various shamanistic rites, consultations for practicing shamans, and the development of cultural traditions. There is an impressive museum on the first floor for tourists and people interested in shamanistic traditions and Buryat culture.

In addition, visitors can ask a real shaman for help or advice. Still, it is better to warn the guide about your intention in advance.

Shamanic Rite

Museum of Crafts

In this museum, guests can participate in different Master Classes like: “Making an Amulet Doll,” “Darkhanay Zam – the Way of Smith,” “Woodwork – Making a Dreamcatcher,” “Making a Metal Amulet,” and others. These are just a small part of all items there:

Souvenirs for Tourists

Honestly, we think it is the best place in Baikal to buy souvenirs! Comparing with other places where you can buy souvenirs, this is the cheapest one! Just have a look at it!

Weather in Arshan

The weather changes very often. The bright burning sun can be suddenly changed by heavy rain, which is also replaced by the sun. In general, there are more sunny days than rainy.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that at night the temperature drops significantly. Therefore, the heat of 25° in the afternoon in July can be replaced by 8° at night.

How to get to Ust-Orda

There are four ways to reach Baikalsk:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!