Shaman cliff, "Brooklyn bridge" and waterfalls on the Kynarga river

The first thing you will visit is the Shaman cliff. It has only 33 protrusions, so it is sometimes called "Cliff of 33 Hercules". And it's true, if you look closely and imagine, the powerful figures are as if carved into the rock.
The natural monument can be admired from the bank of the Irkut river. And if you climb up, a stunning view of the surrounding area will open up. If you want to climb, it's better to start from the left side: the ascent is gentler there. The walk along all the ledges will take at least an hour.

The village of Shamanka appeared on the bank of the Irkut River almost 100 years ago. It owes its name to the Buryat shamans, who once lived nearby.
Shamanism is one of the ancient forms of religion. It was based on contact with the spirits of nature. Many Buryats still practice shamanism. That's why there are many legends connected with this place.
It is worth visiting the Shamanka to enjoy the nature, spaciousness and a very special atmosphere.
Brooklyn Bridge! This is how tourists nicknamed the Shamanaka attraction.
From here you can admire the Shaman cliff from a new angle and take a lot of beautiful pictures. The bright impressions are guaranteed: because of its design, it sways slightly in the wind.
By the way, before the bridge appeared in 2014, locals crossed the river by ferry, boat or on the ice. And during spring floods, they were isolated from the rest of the world.

A good cafe with Eastern European cuisine. The most popular dish here is fried dumplings with cherries.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, around the clock. Opening hours may change on holidays.

The road comes very close to the Irkut River. You can admire the panorama and mentally travel back in time. Along the Irkut, Genghis Khan once led his troops through the Tunka valley.
Now the river is popular among fans of mountain tourism. You can go rafting on it by kayak, catamaran, raft.
After a couple of kilometers you will cross the border of the Irkutsk region and get into the territory of the Tunka National Park. For this you need to get a permit in advance and pay for the visit.

• This can be done online, at the tourist and recreational post "Shuluty" (Shuluty village) and at the inspection sites.

You should apply for permission 30 days in advance (for Russian citizens) and 60 days in advance (for foreign citizens). Information about the rules of visiting the national park can be seen on the site
Website: https://www.tunkapark.ru

An extinct volcano on whose slopes grow pines and rhododendrons. The last time it erupted was about 20,000 years ago. However, Baikal's surroundings are still seismically active. Earthquakes occur here, and underground volcanic activity generates hot springs, for which the Tunkinskaya Valley is known.
The volcano is named after the explorer Ivan Chersky, who explored the Eastern Sayans at the end of the 18th century. Locals call it Khara-Boldok, which means "black hill" in Buryat.

The next point on the map is the village of Arshan. It appeared in 1920 after the mineral springs were found here. The name is translated from Buryat - "healing spring".
In the spa park you can see a larch tree, which is 500 years old! From here begins the trail to the Peak of Love. The ascent is not easy and takes about 5 hours one way.

• For the lovers of extreme and breathtaking beauty there is a special attraction - Tarzanka.

There are 12 waterfalls on the Kyngarga River. Tourists most often reach the first and second one, and there is a fairly comfortable trail to them. To see them all, you have to walk about 11 kilometers.
On the way to the waterfalls you will meet trees decorated with colored ribbons. Here, as well as in the glade with oboo (pyramids made of stones) are sacred places for Buryats. Ribbons are left as a sign of gratitude to the spirits of water.
The bottom of the river is made of smooth pinkish marble, so the canyon is called Marble Canyon.

Not far from the first waterfall you can cross on a wooden bridge to the right side of the Kyngarga. Here you can take beautiful pictures and admire the views.
If you want, you can go further, the next waterfall is about 300 meters from the first one. However, you have to climb to it by mountain path. In rainy weather, such a walk can be dangerous.

A good cafe with traditional Buryat cuisine.
Opening hours: Monday through Sunday from 10:00 to 00:00.

After a busy day, it's nice to finally relax.