At certain times, it’s possible to witness and experience a real Shamanic ceremony. The rocks and caves on the island are considered powerful and sacred and traditional rites with dances and music are performed.

On the island’s western coast stands Shaman’s Rock. The local Buryat people say that within its caves dwells Burkhan, a religious figure. Shamanka is enormously important within the Shaman community and ranks among Asia’s nine most sacred places.

Located in the village of Khuzir, the museum is a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about the island. An excellent way to orientate yourself, it contains exhibits on the inhabitants, from Neolithic times, all the way through to the conditions for Soviet exiles.

The three rocks soaring over Lake Baikal are said to once have been three brothers, the sons of a demi-god. Legend has it they angered their father and he turned them into the stones that stand there to this day.

The indigenous villages on Olkhon are welcoming havens of local culture. Open and friendly to tourists, many have comfortable guesthouses and homestays, ideal for experiencing how the islanders live.