Day 1:

Arrive in Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. Short sightseeing tour of Moscow with an English- or German-speaking guide. Dinner at the restaurant. Overnight at the hotel Arbat located in quiet place in downtown pretty close to historical Arbat Street.

Day 2:

Breakfast at the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour of Moscow, including visit to the Red Square, the Kremlin and two museums. Lunch in the city. Transfer to the airport, departure to Irkutsk at about 7.40 p.m. Night in the plane (flight to Irkutsk takes about 5 hrs).

*Note: most of the flights depart to Irkutsk in the evening. Though, sometimes there are daily flights.

Day 3:

Arrive in Irkutsk early in the morning (at about 6.00 a.m). Accommodation at the hotel. Transfer to the Novoleninskie marshes, birding: common (black-headed) gull, terns (common, white-winged, black), coot, bittern, ducks (mallard, gadwall, garganey, green-winged (common) teal, northern (common) shoveler, European wigeon, northern pintail, European pochard, tufted duck, with luck - falcated duck. Common (northern) lapwing, common sandpiper, common (European) snipe, marsh sandpiper, eastern marsh harrier. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4:

Drive from Irkutsk to the Sarma Delta. On the way, we make a stop near salty lakes in the Tazheran steppe to watch migrating shorebirds: ruff, marsh sandpiper, wood sandpiper, sharp-tailed sandpiper. They are not numerous, but it is almost always possible to observe them in the beginning of June. We will further drive to the Zunduk Cape along the Maloe Sea (Pribaikal’sky National Park). There are a lot of beautiful views, white lime mountains (in the Baikal region, it can be found only there), unique ancient steppes rich in relic and endemic plants: tick trefoil, astraghals, etc. (they are not in blossom this period). Overnight at the comfortable private tourist cottages ''Chanchour'' or ''Korvet''. Here you are welcome with delicious food and Russian steam bath (bania).

Day 5:

Excursions in the area of Zunduk Cape and then in the Sarma Delta.

Delta of Sarma river, the northernmost section of the Pribaikal’sky national park, close to the Olkhon island, is a sample of northern Mongolian-type steppes and mountain taiga of northern type. Bays of the Maloe Sea, pebbly sea points and delta of the Sarma river are the stop place for many birds flying to tundra and Northern taiga. Along the coast of the Maloe (''Small'') Sea, it is possible to see the red-breasted merganser, white-winged scoter, herring gull (we will view its breeding colonies on the islands). In the Sarma Delta, there are the long-toed stint (the only nesting area around Baikal) and yellow-headed wagtail. We will have an excursion along the picturesque Sarma gorge. In the steppe, we will see the wheatear, pied wheatear, horned lark, Daurian jackdaw, with luck - (rufous-tailed) rock thrush. On the slopes, there are pine bunting and (Siberian) meadow bunting. In the flood-lands forest: warblers, migrating buntings, thrushes (including the eye-browed thrush). With luck, the crested honey buzzard, bersa sparrow-hawk, migrating Siberian (ground) thrush. In the river - the white-throated dipper.

In Zunduk cape area, it can be possible to see some new species of migrating forest birds such as thrushes, brambling, some buntings, warblers, etc.

In the evening, bus transfer to Olkhon island, overnight at the private hotel in Khuzhir village (quite comfortable rooms, but facilities are outside, banya).

Day 6:

Tour about the Olkhon Island. Museum of natural history. Excursion about the island. Visiting the Shaman Cape. The bird species are the same that we met during the Day 3 (except for the long-toed stint). Though, in the forest the capercaillie and black grouse are common. Olkhon is a nesting place for eagles and eagle owls. The biggest in the Baikal region population of eagles inhabits the island. It is hardly possible to see inhabited nests of eagles, but the abandoned ones can be easily found. The golden eagle, imperial eagle and saker falcon can be found.

Overnight in private hotels.

Day 7:

Transfer by motor boat across the Lake Baikal to the Zabaikal’sky National Park. On the way, make a stop to visit the famous Ushakanii Islands where the rookery of endemic Baikal seal is located. Observe seals. Transfer by motor boat to the Kurbulik area of the Zabaikal’sky National Park (about 3 hrs), then by microbuses UAZ to the village of Ust’-Barguzin (where the office of the National Park is located). Dinner and overnight in private hotels (comfortable guest rooms located in private houses, facilities inside, banya - Russian steam bath, delicious homemade meals).

Day 8:

Short transfer by microbuses to the Zabaikal’sky National Park (Arangatui lake). Birding excursions for the whole day. Dinner and overnight in private hotels, as per Day 7.

Day 9:

Bus transfer to Ulan-Ude (about 6 hrs) and then to the village of Tanhoi (about 2-3 hrs), where the office of the Baikal’sky Nature Reserve is located. Short excursion to the visitor center of the Nature Reserve. Leisure time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel (a typical old tourist hotel of Soviet type. Double accommodation, facilities inside).

Day 10:

Birding excursion to the dark coniferous taiga forest (cedar pine, fir). Look for thrushes, Siberian blue robins, grasshopper warblers. Accommodation at the hotel, as per Day 9.

Day 11:

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion in the taiga forest along the Anosovka river (drive 20 km, then hike along the good trail). The ecosystems that we will visit: Pribaikal (“near-Baikal”) terrace, low mountain forest zone, inundated complexes, cedar-fir and mixed forests. Meeting the Siberian Blue Robin (common migrating and nesting species) and White’s thrush (common on migration at the low mountain zone of Khamar-Daban) is guaranteed. The other species that we will surely encounter include: red- breasted flycatcher, (Siberian) rubythroat, azure tit, long-tailed rosefinch, common reed bunting, yellow-breasted bunting, white-backed woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker, (barn, European) swallow, yellow-headed (citrine) wagtail, azure-winged magpie, carrion (hooded) crow, greenish (leaf) warbler, Siberian accentor, black-faced (masked) bunting, yellow-browed bunting, common rosefinch, Brambling, nuthatch, coal tit, willow tit, white’s thrush, song thrush, orange-flanked bush robin (red-flanked bluetail, bluestart), Daurian redstart, black-and-orange (Mugimaki) flycatcher, Pallas’s (leaf) warbler, arctic (Eversmann’s) warbler, (Eurasian) nutcracker, Eurasian (common) jay, red-breasted merganser, common merganser (goosander). Picnic lunch. Bus transfer to the tourist cottages ''Kultushnaya'' close to the Selenga Delta (40 km), overnight there (quite comfortable double rooms, facilities inside. This tourist hotel is one of the best in Baikal).

Day 12:

Excursion to the Selenga river delta (short transfer by bus, 20-minutes transfer by motor boats, then combination of hiking excursions and short transfers by motor boats between interesting sections). We will visit: the ''Pribaikal’sky sor'' (the delta’s section bordering with Baikal), marsh areas, big river channels and small channels, floods and meadows, hillocks overgrown with bushes. Meeting the Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler is guaranteed. The other species that we will surely meet are: whooper swan, Common (gray) crane, black-necked (eared) grebe, all Siberian species of ducks (also spotbill duck, gadwall), red-breasted merganser, Swinhoe’s (marsh) snipe, Asian Dowitcher, black-tailed godwit, Eurasian curlew, Common (European) snipe, white-winged (black) tern, long-eared owl, short-eared owl, white-tailed sea eagle, marsh and hen harriers, migrating falcons and geese.In the afternoon, bus transfer to Ulan-Ude (about 4 hrs). Dinner at the restaurant. Overnight at the hotel (facilities inside).

Day 13:

Bus transfer to the Borgoi Hollow (3,5 - 4 hrs). Ornithological excursions in the Borgoi hollow. Accommodation in the tented camp.

Day 14:

Excursions in the Borgoi hollow.

The largest accumulations of ruddy shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea) and gray cranes (Grus grus) can be found there. You can come across the individuals or small groups of demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides virgo) and whooper swans. There is also a great variety of ducks: 10-15 species (gadwall (Anas strepera), mallard (A. platyrhynchos), garganey (A. querquedula), green-winged teal (A. crecca), northern pintail (A. acuta), northern shoveler (A. clypeata), common (European) pochard (Aythya ferina), tufted duck (A. fuligula), common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)). There are flocks of coots, black-necked (eared) grebes (Podiceps nigricollis), shorebirds (lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola), green sandpiper (T. ochropus), spotted redshank (T. erythropus) and some others). Pied avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta) can be seen, as well as black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus). Also, Asian dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus) was noticed.

Small flocks of bean goose (Anser fabalis) stay there. From time to time, Bewick’s swan (Cygnus columbianus), Baikal teal (Anas formosa), swan goose (Anser cygnoides) can be seen. Birds of prey are numerous, as white-tailed sea eagle, tawny eagle (Aquila rapax), imperial eagle (A. heliaca), greater spotted eagle (A. clangula), saker falcon (Falco cherrug), upland buzzard (Buteo hemilasius), even black vulture (Aegypius monachus). Eastern hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), European hobby (F. subbuteo) can be observed. Another interesting species are lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) (one of the last nesting places in Russia), Amur falcon (Falco amurensis), and also buntings (Siberian meadow bunting (Emberiza cioides), pine bunting (E. leucocephala), perhaps Godlewski’ rock bunting (E. godlewskii)), isabelline wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina), pied wheatear (O. pleschanka), different pipits (including Blyth’s pipit (Anthus godlewskii)), hoopoe, terns and gulls. Red-billed choughs (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) can be seen even in the villages. Mongolian larks (Melanocorypha mongolica) and pipits are rather numerous. You will even get a chance to see great bustard (Otis tarda)- this is the last place in Pribaikalie where it used to inhabit. Last registrations of this species are dated to 1998. Fauna of steppe mammals is the richest in Pribaikalie (Daurian pika, tarbogan marmot, tolai hare, corsac fox, Pallas’ cat). In some places, Chinese vole is very numerous. In Russia, this species is found only in the steppes of the Southern Buratia.

Transfer to Ulan-Ude. Dinner at the restaurant. Take a night train to Irkutsk. Night in the train.

Day 15:

Arrive in Irkutsk early in the morning. Birding excursion to the Angara floodland.Common northern lapwing, marsh sandpiper, ruff (no 100% guarantee), spotted redshank, common greenshank (there are more shorebirds than in the previous region). The ducks there are much less numerous than in Novoleninskie marshes: garganey, gadwall, northern (common) shoveler. Hen harrier, marsh harrier, (one year, nesting pied harriers were registered there), hobby, short-eared owl (usually nest there), Daurian partridge. The yellow-breasted (golden) bunting and (European) stonechat are numerous there; long-tailed rosefinch, Richard’s pipit, (Temminck’s) (grasshopper) warbler are common (there are more passerines than in the Novoleninskie marshes).

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 16:

Transfer to the airport, departure to Moscow. Arrive in Moscow, transfer to the international airport for the flight home. Possible Extensions:

A tour to the Daursky nature reserve. This nature reserve was established with the major purpose to protect the nesting grounds of rare bird species of Eastern Mongolian type. Open landscapes, hilly steppes with no forest, famous Torei lakes. A lot of ducks an waders, demoiselle cranes, plus Mongolian steppe avifauna - several species of East-Asian species of larks, pipits, desert wheatear Oenanthe desertii. Many migrants from Mongolia and China. The real highlight is a relic gull Larus relictus.

Notes

It is recommended to make a vaccination against tick encephalitis. For those who have no vaccination due to some reason, there is a good remedy called iodantipirin, which protects against being infected by encephalitis. This remedy should be taken regularly during the tour, starting since two days prior to the visit to the forested areas.

In the Borgoi area, only homestay or accommodation in tents is available.