Eastern Siberia

Lake Baikal "the Pearl of Siberia" is a wondrous place. With it glacial lakes, hot springs and fabulous waterfalls. It is estimated that from the sediment on the bottom of the lake that Baikal has been in existence for over 25 million years and makes this the world's most ancient lake.

The Znamensky Monastery is a former nunnery and is the headquarters of the Orthodox diocese of Irkutsk, Chita, Buryatia and Sakha.

At Ust-Kut you will find the Osetrovo shipbuilding works founded in the 17th century.
It is best know for its mud spas and the boat trip down the Lena.

Kyakhta has artefacts that date back to 2000BC. The town was founded in the 18th century by the Cossacks.

Mirny is a diamond mine town and was founded in 1955. It is a neat little town with well-laid roads. You will need a visa to enter this area, but a word of caution the authorities are very careful of foreigners and thorough visa checks are made.