Shumak is a remote mountain valley in the Eastern Sayan Mountains, in the Buryat Republic, known for more than a hundred mineral spring outlets along the Shumak River. There is no road. You reach it on a multi-day hike or horse trek over a high pass, or by helicopter. Many travelers describe it as a “place of power”, where the springs and the mountain scenery are both part of the reward.
Shumak at a glance
Shumak is the name of the river, the surrounding area and the mineral springs. The springs lie on the banks of the Shumak River, with more than a hundred outlets on both sides. Their temperatures range from cool to warm, up to around 35 °C at some outlets. Local people have known the springs for centuries, and inscriptions in Tibetan and old Mongolian carved on stones nearby record their reputation for healing. The water has long been used in traditional balneotherapy, but it is not a medical treatment.
The pass connects the valleys of the Ekhe-Ger River and the left branch of the Shumak River, at 2,760 m. From the springs, the trail runs through coniferous forest along the river. After about 10 km the forest gives way to alpine meadows and stony slopes. Just above the tree line, three rivers meet, and there is a beautiful waterfall about 30 m high, falling into a deep canyon.
At the saddle of the pass stands a wooden ritual pole called an obo, and there are views over the Ekhe-Ger valley. In summer, the crossing is not technically difficult. You can also walk only as far as the lake or the waterfall and return to the foot of the mountain in the evening. Climbing to the pass gives a real sense of how big and wild the Eastern Sayan is.
Shumak is very remote, and the cheapest way to get there is on foot or by horse.
Permits and border zone
The routes cross protected areas, including Tunkinsky National Park and the Shumak nature park, and you need to buy permits in advance. The Tunkinsky National Park tourist permit costs around 250 RUB per person and is valid for 7 days; you can buy it at visit.tunkapark.ru. Parts of the Tunka area lie in the Russian border zone, and foreign citizens need a separate pass for those areas, which takes about a month to arrange. Confirm with the park administration or a tour operator whether your route is affected.
Check out the full list of the most interesting tours in Russian cities.
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