A Healing Journey to Mongolian & Siberian Medicine Day 1 Upon al in Irkutsk transfer to the hotel ( ****). Free time. Lunch. Then meet the local “ healing experts on medicinal plants, healing practices who will be available to discuss with you various issues interesting to you.“The Healing Treasures of Central Siberia” by Telyatiev was produced on CD containing over 600 colour pictures). Then visit special herbs store supervised by Mr. Telyatiev. Then drive to the local leading medicinal raw materials producer that produces and offers wide assortment of natural raw material of a vegetative and animal origin (all production from ecologically pure areas of Siberia, Far East and Extreme North of Russia. These are herbs, berries, hard horns of elk, reindeer, Manchurian deer ( lat.Cervus elaphus xanthopygon) and maral ( lat.Cervus elaphus sibiricus) ; bear gall bladder ( lat.Ursus arctos), musk of musk - deer ( lat.Moschus moschiferus) , the company makes extracts of Pentaphylloides fruticosa, Salsola collina Pallas (lat.) and extracts from other kinds of vegetative raw materials. Dinner and overnight back at the hotel. Day 2 After brief sightseeing of Irkutsk check out from the hotel and depart by coach to Olkhon Island. En route visit the Ust Orda national Buryat Autonomous district to meet with local shamans and healer. Then proceed further via Elantsy to Olkhon island with lunch en route in the roadside cafeteria. Then transfer by ferry across the stait to the island and further transfer to the Nikita’s guest house. Check in twin cabins ( sanitary facilities inside). Dinner. Overnight. Day 3 After breakfast see the Holy of Holy’s of Olkhon Island and the shamanists believers – the Shaman Craig – so-called The Altar of Rock once even visited by one of dalai-lamas to carry on Buddhist service here. Then drive to the Sand dunes to explore the vegetation conglomerates there, then to the northernmost cape of Olkhon - Hoboy. In the evening – meet the acting shaman Valentin Hagdaev ( he has 6 fingers on his hand and who inherited the shaman’s occupation from his ancestors. We shall see the ritual performed by him and speak on the issues that are interesting to you. Dinner and overnight at the Nikita’s guest house. Day 4 After breakfast check out from the yurt camp, transfer by ferry across the strait to the mainland, further transfer by coach to the Shantuisky Bridge retreat lodge where the summer camp of Mr. Teliatiev is located. He will be available at the camp to work as your local expert and explain you most interesting both scientific facts and fabulous legends about the medicinal plants. Overnight in the camp. June,18 (Sat)– After breakfast an easy hike along the ecological path ( 5 km roundtrip) to the small Lake of Glukhoy to see some unique flora. In the evening enjoy Russian steam bath follwed by dinner and a lecture on the topic: ( to be advised upon your suggestion). Day 5 After early breakfast check out from the camp for 1 hour transfer to Bolshoye Goloustnoye settlement located on the shore of Lake Baikal. Here we board the boat vessel for a 2 hour transfer to Kadilnaya Bay where some unique alpine plants grow. Upon arrival we undertake an easy walking excursion to the nearby valley. Then enjopy lunch as picnic on the shore - to taste famous omul roasted on screwers, other local delicacies. After lunch we re-board the private chartered boat for 1.5 hour transfer to Listvyanka settlement. Upon arrival in Listvyanka we visit Baikal Ecology Museum which has the richest collection of flora and fauna exhibits, incl, one-of-a-kind ‘golomyanka” – lamp oil fish endemic to lake Baikal , which contains up to 32 % of oil that has unique healing properties ( it can fight cancer). Then meet for discussion scientist of Baikal Limnological Institiute to tell you about flora, fauna and unique properties of numerous Baikal algae and Baikal phytoplankton. Overnight at a hillside comfortable hotel over looking the lake in Listvyanka. Diiner of Siberian specialties at the Past Century restaurant. Day 6 After breakfast transfer by coach to Irkutsk airport for boarding international flight to Ulan Bator. ( 1 hour 35 min). Upon arrival meeting and transfer to the Chighiz Khan Hotel. Sighseeing tour of Ulan Baator incl. visit to Gandan Monastery. Dinner at the hotel. Day 7 Upon arrival from Irkutsk in UB by flight Aero Mongolia & transfer to ****-star Chingizkhan hotel. Check in. Sightseeing tour of Ulaanbaatar incl. visit to Gandan Monastery. L/D Day 8 Meeting with Mongolian Center for Shamanistic studies , see the shamanistic ritual of GOLOMT- which means the fire of each home. Meet the shamans and discuss the healing practices. Overnight at the hotel. B/L/D Day 9 After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Manba Datsan, the Mongolian and Tibet medicine Institute, located not far from Ulan Bator. Lecture by famous Mongolian Lama on traditional Mongolian medical practices especially methods used to balance patients in the treatment of pain and chronic illness (use of herbs, massage, diet, manual touch, moxibustion, astrology and other healing practices. In the evening – enjoy a meditation course. Also to be arranged - medical consultations, astrological readings, blessings & puja’s. B/L/D Day 10 Introduction to Mongolian healing oils, tongue and pulse diagnoses . Travel to countryside to pick herbs with local expert on medical herbs –lama). Overnight in Gachuurt ger camp. 15kms (For the picking up the herbs the guests will drive 100kms )B/L/D Day 11 Drive from Gachuurt ger camp to the ancient capital of Mongolia – Kharkhorin with stop en route to have lunch as picnic.. Overnight in tourist camp in Kharhorin where famous monastery is located. /Total distance to be covered today on acceptable road - 420kms. / B/L/D Day 12 Visit Erdenezuu monastery, KHARKHORIN and Khan’s statue of the Mongolian empire. Meet the monks, have lecture on Mongolian healing stones and minerals. Overnight in tourist ger camp in Kharkhorin. / Total distance to be covered today on good road - 60kms/ B/L/D Day 13 Return to Ulan Baator. Overnight in the hotel. Day 14 Depart to Austria by MIAT. The cost of this option 14 nights/15 days ( including Irkutsk and lake Baikal portion) is as follows: 10-11 pax – USD 1975 per person, 12-13 pax – USD 1910 per person, 14-15 pax – USD 1850 per person. . The above cost includes full board ( 3 meals daily), accommodation services on twin room basis at hotels ( ****-star or tourist class Superior ), in twin gers, services of German speaking guide, all kind of transfers as per itinerary and transportation costs, visits to all sights of interest as described, national park fees, meetings and consultations with expert and shamans’ fee, one way international air ticket Irkutsk-Ulan Bator, visa support etc. and visa cost to Mongolia Single room supplement at hotels or gers – USD 320. |