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

There are a lot of interesting things to do! We recommend to start the trip no later than 9 am to be sure to do everything planned.

The first thing you will visit is the Shaman cliff. It has only 33 protrusions, so it is sometimes called "the cliff of 33 bogatyrs". And it's true, if you look closely and imagine, the powerful figures seem to be carved into the rock.
The natural monument can be admired from the Irkut river bank. And if you climb up, a stunning view of the surrounding area will open. 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 is 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. One can admire the panorama and mentally go 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 or raft.
After a couple of kilometers you will cross the border of the Irkutsk region and get into the territory of the Tunkinsky national park. For this you need to obtain 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 on the rules of visiting the national park can be seen on the website
Website: https://www.tunkapark.ru

An extinct volcano with pine trees and rhododendrons growing on its slopes. Last time it erupted about 20 thousand years ago. However, the surroundings of Baikal are still seismically active. Earthquakes occur here and underground volcanic activity generates hot springs, for which the Tunkinskaya valley is famous.
The volcano was 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 mineral springs were found here. The name is translated from Buryat - "healing spring".
In the spa park you can see a 500 year old larch tree! The trail to the Peak of Love starts from here. 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 the second one; a fairly comfortable trail leads to them. To see them all, you have to walk about 11 kilometres.
On the way to the waterfalls, you will come across 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 water spirits.
The river bottom is made of smooth pinkish marble, that's why the canyon is called Marble Canyon.

Near the first waterfall, you can cross the wooden bridge to the right side of the Kyngarga. Here you can take beautiful pictures and admire the views.
If you wish, you can go further, the next waterfall is about 300 m away from the first one. You have to go up the mountain path to get there. In rainy weather such a walk may be dangerous.

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

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