info@baikalnature.com

Kingdom Of Ice

Destination: Lake Baikal
Easy - nothing more than normal walking while sight-seeing
Moderately Easy - 1-3 hours of physical activity daily
Moderate - 3-5 hours of physical activity daily
Challenging - 5-7 hours of challenging physical activity daily
Extreme - 7+ hours of challenging/extreme physical activity daily
Difficulty
Basic — most of nights in tents or rooms with shared WC, some nights in comfortable rooms.
Standard — most of nights in comfortable rooms, some nights in tents or rooms with shared WC.
Upgraded — all nights in comfortable rooms.
Comfort
Minimum age of the participant of this trip
8 Days
February - March
Highlights
  • Travelling all close to the locals and night at one of their homesteads on the lake shore
  • Trekking and hot lunches on ice in the midst of Arctic landscapes
  • Route accessible to everyone in often difficult weather conditions
  • Crossing of the lake by 4x4 in its widest part
  • Visit of the Republic of Buryatia
  • Overnight in the tent camp in the centre of Lake Baikal - "Baikal Ice Camp"
  • The circular itinerary of about 1 300 km
Tour Overview

You are in a good shape and you want to go for an adventure usually reserved for seasoned travelers only? You love being outdoors and you’re ready to go further into the discovery regardless of your own comfort?

Then this journey was made for you. Cross the Lake Baikal where it is the widest and explore the Baikal most mysterious winter places while always observing the security rules so that you can enjoy your trip safely. Travel on foot, by hovercraft and 4WD to see Baikal ices in all their forms: frozen capes and rocks, clear ice patches blocked in vertical columns, giant ice shards, endless windblown ice covers and snow-coated fields.

Spend a night at your camp right in the middle of the lake on a 5000 feet deep water (1500 m). Welcome to Baikal Ice Camp! Play hockey on the clearest ice, ice skate on the deepest lake in the world, enjoy the Ice Bar menu especially designed on site and experience the purest Baikal water in the bania.

Journey on ice and meet with the local anglers, taste fresh fish all of the Baikal delicacy through its flavour.

At this end of your trip, visit the Republic of Buryatia and its capital city Ulan-Ude and ride on the Trans-Siberian railway across the taiga and along Lake Baikal.

As adventure-filled as this journey may be, it still contains much of cultural discovery as well. Visit the Taltsy Ethnographic Museum and enter a datsan in Ulan-Ude to taste nomadic cooking.

Tour programme
  • Day 1
    First meeting with the lake Baikal
    Irkutsk — Listvyanka
  • Day 2
    On Baikal ice by hovercraft
    Listvyanka — MRS
  • Day 3
    The biggest island of the Baikal lake
    MRS — Olkhon island
  • Day 4
    BaikalNature Ice Camp
    Olkhon island — Baikal lake
  • Day 5
    Baikal crossing
    Baikal lake — Ust-Barguzin
  • Day 6
    Free day
    Ust-Barguzin
  • Day 7
    Discovery of Ulan-Ude
    Ust-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
  • Day 8
    Return to Irkutsk
    Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
  • 10:30
    Arrival in Irkutsk
    Meeting with your guide at the airport.
  • 11:00
    Departure to the Listvyanka village
    You will go to the village of Listvyanka situated on the Baikal shore near the Angara river source. Here you will meet the Baikal lake for the first time.
  • 12:00
    Excursion to Taltsy
    Visit to the open-air museum Taltsy, discover a typical Siberian village of XVIII-XIX century. The museum has become the place of the conservation of the monuments of the popular culture.
  • 13:40
    Lunch in the restaurant
    You will taste the dishes of the Baikal cuisine.
  • 15:40
    Lift on the Chersky rock
    You will take the chair lift to the Chersky rock 728 metres above sea level. There is a breathtaking panorama: Listvyanka village, Angara river's source and the skyline flowing with the Baikal waters.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight at your resort
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk — Listvyanka
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel "BaikalCedar"
Twin room
Note

1 h transfer  (69km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 10:00
    Transfer to the port
  • 10:15
    Departure by hovercraft to the MRS village
    Travel by hovercraft on Baikal ice to the village named MRS on the shore of Small Sea. All journey will be on the ice. On the way we will make several stops in Sandy bay and near the rock Sagan-Zaba to observe the mountain relief and cave paintings.
  • 13:00
    Lunch box
  • 14:00
    Continuation of the way to MRS
  • 16:00
    Arrival to MRS
    Check-in at your resort and rest.
  • 19:00
    Dinner at your resort
  • Overnight at your resort
Photo of the day
Route
Listvyanka — MRS
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Naratey
Twin comfort room
Note

0.4 h transfer  (2km)

hovercraft  (70km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast at your resort
  • 10:00
    Transfer to Olkhon island
    Transfer to the village of Khuzhir – the main village on Olkhon island. En route, you will visit the Ogoy island - the biggest island of the Maloye More. On the top of the island there is the Buddhist stupa, that also named "The stupa of the clarification". Also, you will visit the Kobylia Golova half-island (Horse Head, Khorin-lrgi) with the length about 4 km. This half-island is very tight and cuspate. It's landscape and scarps are really impressive. The name stems from the fact that one of its capes is shaped like a horse's head.
  • 13:00
    Arrival to Khujir
    Accommodation at the resort.
  • 13:30
    Lunch at your resort
  • 14:00
    Visit of Khujir
    Excursion around the village, discovery of the Burkhan Rock, "place of residence of the Baikal's God" and one of the nine sanctuaries of Asia.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight at the resort
Photo of the day
Route
MRS — Olkhon island
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Nabaymar
Twin room
Note

2 h transfer  (40km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast at the resort
  • 10:00
    Transfer to the ice camp
    Today you will go on the ice of the lake by 4x4. You will spend a night in the real camp on the Baikal ice situated in the geographic centre of the lake on the boundary between the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. En route, you will visit the Belenkiy island (White), the habitat of thousand of gulls, you will stop near the cape Tri brata (Three brothers, Sagan-Hushun) with its picturesque ice caves and, of course, you will visit the most popular place of the island - the Khoboy cape. Here the giant ice-hummocks remind the radiating rays.
  • 13:00
    Picnic lunch
  • 15:00
    Arrival to the camp
    The ritual of meeting and greeting where every participant of the group can try to bore the ice. The briefing. You have a possibility to spend a night on the ice of the lake Baikal over 1500 metres of the water column.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
    Hot meals (food cooked on gas burner).
  • Overnight in the camp BaikalNature Ice Camp
Photo of the day
Ice Camp
Route
Olkhon island — Baikal lake
Accommodation
Camp on the ice of Baikal
Tent for 5-6 persons
Note

3 h 4x4  (60km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the camp
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the camp
  • 14:00
    Time at leisure in the camp
    For those who prefer the active rest, we suggest to go skating or to walk near the camp. The transparent ice, the ice-hummocks and breaks will allow you to make thousand of photos. If you are keen of the photo, we suggest you to wake up earlier and make photos of the Baikal ice in the morning sunshine. For those who like the measured rest there is an Ice bar - the special menu of the ice exotic things. The purest ice is everywhere - around you and even in your glass.
  • 16:30
    Departure to Ust-Barguzin and check-in
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • 20:00
    Russian banya
  • Overnight In the guest house
Photo of the day
Approaching the Khoboy Cape
Route
Baikal lake — Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Optional excursion Not included
    Today is a free day, which you can spend as you wish: go ice fishing or discover the picturesque Chivyrkuisky Bay and relaxing in hot springs, or go to the Barguzin valley to see the Barguzinsky datsan and the image of the Saint Yanjima. On site, you will discuss options with your guide and participants, and go on one of the excursions. Payment on site in cash .
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the open air Not included
  • 17:00
    Return to the village of Ust-Barguzin
  • 19:00
    Homemade dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the guest house
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
  • 08:00
    Homemade breakfast
  • 09:00
    Transfer to Ulan-Ude
    Departure to Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic, by private car.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    In the cafe of buryat dishes
  • 14:00
    Arrival and free time
    Visit of the Ivolginsky datsan, serving the most important place of worship in Buryatia and the centre of Buddhism in Russia, located outside the city in a beautiful steppe.
  • 22:30
    Departure to Irkutsk by night train
    * Train, 2nd class compartment, 4 berths
  • Overnight in the train
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
Accommodation
Overnight in the train
The 2nd class compartment
Note

4 h transfer  (268km)

  • 07:15
    Arrival in Irkutsk
  • 08:00
    Transfer to airport. End of the program.
Photo of the day
Route
Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • English-speaking guide
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Excursions and visits as per itinerary
  • Reserves and national parks entrance permissions
  • Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
  • Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
  • Banya
  • Railway tickets in 2nd class
  • Valenky (felt boots; only in BaikalNature Ice Camp)
  • Letter of invitation
  • Meals according to the program
  • Ice studs for shoes
  • Sleeping bag in BaikalNature Ice Camp
  • Ropeway to Chersky Rock
Price does not include
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Medical insurance
  • Airline tickets
  • Optional activities
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

The departure is guaranteed for a group of 4 persons (minimum). If there are fewer participants, the price of the tour will be recalculated. Single supplement - 8 600 RUB / pers. (except the overnight in the BaikalIceCamp). We can change the category of rooms or accommodation according to your request. Please contact us before your departure.

Reviews
5.00
5.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Pierre
From 5 March 2020 to 12 March 2020
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Nous avons grandement apprécié ce séjour hivernal autour du lac Baïkal. L'agence est très disponible pour nous aider à préparer le voyage et une fois sur place, notre guide a été aux petits soins, nous laissant tout le temps pour profiter du lac !
BaikalNature's reply
Merci d'avoir fait confiance à l'agence de voyage BaikalNature. Nous espérons vous revoir parmi nos voyageurs !
4.50
4.50
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
3.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
4.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Jonas
From 22 February 2020 to 29 February 2020
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Our Guide Anastasia was AMAZING!!!
4.83
4.83
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
4.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Iuri
From 19 February 2019 to 1 March 2019
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
This guest did not leave a comment.
4.67
4.67
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Martin
From 4 March 2019 to 11 March 2019
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
We had a wonderful time on Lake Baikal. Thanks a lot to Alyona and Natasha, they did a fantastic job. We will surely book another tour in the future.
4.50
4.50
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Chantal
From 4 March 2019 to 11 March 2019
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Voyage magnifique conforme au programme. Aucune mauvaise surprise, les logements étaient même meilleur qu'annoncés. Sur l'Ice Camp la présence d'une plus grande cantine serait bien car cela permettrait de manger tous ensemble. Guides très attentifs au partage de leur amour du lac Baikal. Voyage fantastique permettant de communiquer avec la nature et de faire de belles rencontres humaines. J'ai adoré
  Read more
Sign up for our emails!
Why subscribe? First, our newsletters are captivating! We are one of the few tour operators specializing in Russian and Georgian nature, who invests a lot of resources into photo and video-shooting. That’s why even sitting in the office, you’ll feel like you are making your way among arctic ices, walking along taiga valleys, admiring volcanos or looking in the mirror of crystal Baikal waters. Second, there is lots of useful stuff in our letters. The information about outstanding places, new routes’ descriptions, stories from expeditions and trips. And don’t worry, we write in an easy and entertaining manner. And finally, we’re not pushy. You will get all this beauty not often than once a month or two. So you’re gonna miss us!