Talovskoe hunting and tourism center (managed by Grand Baikal) won in the contest titled "Friends of Baikal-2008" held by “Baikal Environmental Wave”, an Irkutsk regional public organization supported by Greenpeace Russia. Among the experts appraising the tourist objects there were specialists from Pribaikalsk National Park and Geography Institute of the Irkutsk Scientific Center of Siberian Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The competent jury presided by Evgeny Usov, spokesperson for Greenpeace Russia, came to the conclusion that the tourist center managed by Grand Baikal deserves the highest award “For preservation of the Baikal Lake natural environment and cultural heritage of Siberia", as well as “For care in preserving the fauna and flora of Pribaikalie”. The jury noted that Grand Baikal has made significant progress in the field of waste management. Another advantage of Talovskoe is its architecture and design complying with the conception of eco-tourism.
 
It has to be mentioned that the jury looked at the Baikal tourist centers from the standpoint of European environmental requirements. In the end, Talovskoe was awarded three “green leaves”, which is so far the highest rate in the classification used for Baikal tourist centers.

The co-chair of the “Baikal Environmental Wave” Jennifer Satton and Evgeny Usov noted that the Grand Baikal company gave a good example of development for environmentally-friendly tourist objects and wished it to go on in the same direction. Jennifer Satton stressed the importance of these activities as far as Grand Baikal is the leader in the Region’s tourist industry.  Evgeny Usov expressed his pleasure for the fact that "one of the largest in the region tour operators has created such a center". According to spokesperson for Greenpeace Russia, the winner and other awardees of the contest have to understand that they are taking a serious responsibility for correct and well-considered development of their objects.

Altogether 21 tourist centers took part in the "Friends of Baikal" contest, which was held for the second time. The rewarding ceremony was hosted by the Irkutsk House of Architects.

Brief info

Talovskoe Tourist Center is located in the very heart of the Primorsky mountain range in the Olkhonsk district of Irkutsk Oblast, on the bank of Buguldeika river, 25 km away from the Baikal shore and 200 km away from Irkutsk. All the center's facilities are made of natural materials. The log houses are built in the 19th century tradition of wooden architecture. The interiors correspond to the modern standards of world hospitability. The tourist center is located precisely on the 106th meridian where in ancient times there was a Buryat ulus.