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Around Baikal Expedition

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
14 Days
Highlights
  • Discover the wildest section of the Baikal lake
  • Cruise along the shores of the biggest Baikal islang - Olkhon
  • Itinerary along the famous "road 110"
  • A 2500km trip Around Baikal
  • Enjoying natural & hidden hot springs
  • Wild animals spottings
  • Tent overnights by the Baikal lake and in the heart of taiga forest
  • Visit of the Svyatoy Nos peninsula & the Old Believers’ village
  • Itinerary along the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur Mainlines railway
  • Visit of Center of Buddism in Russia - Ivolginsky Datsan
  • Visits of the two Baikal regional capital cities: Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude in Buryatia
Tour Overview

People think that it is not possible to make a car trip around lake Baikal in the summer. But not everyone knows about an old abandoned road connecting the village Novyi Uoyan and Barguzin valley. This road was named after the only road marker pole at km 110. Built in 1974-75 as a temporary road to provide the BAM  employees with supplies. This road was then abandoned which resulted in all constructions and bridges slowly fall apart until today where they are totally destroyed and unusable... For 4x4 enthusiasts/drivers this road is considered one of the hardest and ranks in the highest category of difficulty.

Road 110 crosses Barguzinsky mountain range through numerous passes, rivers and wetlands. Part of the road go through the beautiful Dzherginsky nature reserve. And what contributes to its uniqueness is that it is hard to access, unpopulated, totally off the grid, intense elevation changes, untouched wilderness (both fauna and flora) !

During the expedition we will visit the upper section of the Lena River, drive along the BAM - one of the most expensive infrastructure project in the history of our country, you will see the northern point of Lake Baikal, Barguzin Valley, the Svatoy Nose peninsula and Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuisky gulfs.

An important part of our trip is to 'touch' the rich history of Russia. We will make a few in interesting stops, such as key construction points of BAM, old abandoned village, a labour camp site - Akukan Gulag. But you will also bathe in hot springs where the water temperature of reaches 50 degrees! You will spend a night on the largest peninsula of the Baikal lake, visit the village of Old Believers - Tarbagatay - and go to the heart of Buddhism in Russia – datsan of Ivolginsk. Finally in its last stretch the expedition will be driving along the southern shore of the Baikal and at the same time, along the Trans-Siberian railway.

For your transportation during the trip we provide specially prepared off-road vehicles, known for their power and 4x4 capabilities. You can also drive our 4x4 if you can demonstrate your offroad driving experience (conditions apply).

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Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Acquaintance with Irkutsk
    Irkutsk
  • Day 2
    First meeting with the lake
    Irkutsk — MRS
  • Day 3
    The biggest island of the lake
    Olkhon island
  • Day 4
    First day of the road
    MRS — Zhigalovo
  • Day 5
    Road along the Baikal-Amur Mainline
    Zhigalovo — Goudzhekit
  • Day 6
    Famous road "110th"
    Goudzhekit — Road "110th"
  • Day 7
    Continuation of the road ''110km"
    Road ''110km''
  • Day 8
    Umhey passage
    Road ''110km''
  • Day 9
    Alla river pass
    Road ''110km'' — Alla land
  • Day 10
    The biggest peninsula of Baikal
    Alla land — Svyatoy Nos
  • Day 11
    Free day on the Baikal shore
    Svyatoy Nos peninsula
  • Day 12
    Ulan-Ude - the capital of Buryatia
    Svyatoy Nos — Ulan-Ude
  • Day 13
    Return to Irkutsk
    Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
  • Day 14
    End of the programme
    Irkutsk
  • 11:00
    Arrival to Irkutsk airport
    Meeting with your driver. Transfer to the hotel. Check in and rest.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the restaurant
    Meeting with your guide in the hotel's reception.
  • 14:00
    Walking city-tour
    After lunch, walking tour of the historical city-centre with your guide. For several hours you will be surrounded by this particular atmosphere that makes Irkutsk such a unique city: the old churches, the southern docks of the river Angara, the wooden houses of the old city and the central market.
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Imperia
-
  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 10:00
    Departure to the Maloye More strait
  • 17:00
    Arrival and isntallation at the resort oin the Baikal shore
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight at the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk — MRS
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Naratey
Twin comfort room
Note

4x4  (258km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast at the resort
  • 10:00
    Embarkation on the ship and excursion on the lake
    This day we will cruise in the Maloye More strait. During this cruise you will see the main sites of Olkhon island: Shamanka rock (Bourkhan cape), Three brothers cape, Khonoy cape - the most popular sites away from the tourists' crowds and the dusty roads.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    Hot lunch prepared on the board.
  • 17:00
    Return to the resort
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight at resort
Photo of the day
Route
Olkhon island
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Naratey
Twin comfort room
Note

cruise / navigation  (226km)

  • 08:00
    Breakfast
  • 09:00
    Departure to Zhigalovo
    Jump on board your 4x4 and departure for Zhigalovo through Kachug track.
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
    in a café along the road (not included, to pay on spot).
  • 16:00
    Arrival in Zhigalovo
    Arrival in Zhigalovo in the evening. Setting up camp near the village.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
    After the accommodation, you are welcomed by the hot dinner prepared on fire.
  • Overnight in tents
Photo of the day
Route
MRS — Zhigalovo
Accommodation
Camping
Note

6 h 4x4  (384km)

  • 08:00
    Breakfast
    in the tents' camping
  • 09:00
    Departure to Goudzhekit hot springs
    This section of the itinerary will follow the popular BAM railway (Baikal-Amur Mainline), one of the biggest railroads in the world. Parallel to the Trans-Siberain railway, its construction began in 1938 and is still ongoing today; it is 4287km long. This railway was mainly built by prisoners from the labour camps, then, by volunteers. This is an opportunity for you to see with your own eyes a part of Russia’s History.
  • 16:00
    Arrival at our 'cabin camp' in the evening and check-in
    Free time to enjoy the hot springs (the entrance fee is an extra cost). The thermal waters are located in the floodplains of Goudzhekit and come out of the ground at a temperature of 50°C. The waters of the hot springs are well known for their rich silicic acids composition and alkalis properties.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in a cabin
Photo of the day
Route
Zhigalovo — Goudzhekit
Accommodation
Accommodation in the resort Hozyain
-
Note

7 h 4x4  (390km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Departure to Nizhneangarsk
    After breakfast, departure for the Baikal shores. We will go through the city Nizhneangarsk and will visit the obelisk "The northernmost point of Lake Baikal". Then we will go for the rest to the hot springs Dzelinda.
  • 13:00
    We will head toward Kumura, passing Irkana lake shore and its Kholkoz to establish camp.
  • 19:00
    Dinner prepared on fire
  • Overnight in tents
Photo of the day
Route
Goudzhekit — Road "110th"
Accommodation
Camping
Note

4x4  (55km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Continuation of the road 110th km
    After breakfast, we will continue our way along the 110 th km. The road was built in 1975 to supply the construction of BAM. After the completion of the BAM construction, the road became useless. Over time, almost all the bridges on the way were destroyed, the road itself turned into a direction and became overgrown with legends.
  • 13:00
    Lunch (picnic)
  • 16:00
    Setting up of the camp
  • 19:00
    Dinner near the fire
  • Overnight in tents
Photo of the day
Route
Road ''110km''
Accommodation
Camping
Note

4x4  (90km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Continuation of the trip on Road 110
    Be ready for stunning landscape and difficult 4x4 passage. Caution, skills and team play are vital to ensure a successful drive on this section.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    Picnic en route
  • 15:00
    Setting up of the camp
    This night we will spend near a small hot spring.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
    Hot dinner prepared on fire.
  • Overnight in tents
Photo of the day
Route
Road ''110km''
Accommodation
Camping
Note

4x4  (60km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Departure to Alla hotspring
    The Alla hotsrping is situated in the Alla river pass where this river comes out the Barguzin Range.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    Picnic en route.
  • 15:00
    Check-in at the cabin resort
    This is another opportunity to bathe in the medicinal waters whose temperatures are reaching 70°C.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the cabin resort
Photo of the day
Route
Road ''110km'' — Alla land
Note

4x4  (60km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Start of the road
    After breakfast departure to the lake Baikal shore. En route we will visit some buddhist temple. We will also visit the village of Ust-Barguzin and will go to the Svyatoy Nos peninsula.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    Picnic en route.
  • 17:00
    Setiing up of the camp on the lake's shore
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in tents
Photo of the day
Route
Alla land — Svyatoy Nos
Note

4x4  (209km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Free time
    You have possibility to see the most beautiful places of the peninsula and to bathe in the hot springs.
  • 13:00
    Lunch (picnic)
  • 15:00
    Free time
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in tents
Photo of the day
Route
Svyatoy Nos peninsula
Accommodation
Camping
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Departure to Ulan-Ude
    After breakfast prepared on the campfire, we head to Ulan-Ude, capital city of the Republic of Buryatia. This section of the road will follow the lake's coast.
  • 11:30
    Visit the Old Believers’ village of Tarbagatay
    Walking excursion in the village and acquaintance with the everyday life of the village.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    There, you will be offered a traditional Buryat meal by the local people as well as a folkloric show.
  • 15:00
    Visit of the Ivolginsky Datsan
    Ivolginsky Datsan is a Buddhist complex located in the middle of the steppe, away from the city. This Dastan has a particularly important in the Buryat culture and is also the heart of the Buddhist faith in Russia.
  • 17:00
    Arrival to Ulan-Ude
    Check-in a hotel.If we have enough time let, we could de a short city tour of Ulan-Ude.
  • 19:00
    Dinner in the restaurant
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Svyatoy Nos — Ulan-Ude
Accommodation
Note

4x4  (425km)

  • 00:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 09:00
    Departure to Irkutsk
    After breakfast departure for Irkutsk. The road partly goes along the shores of the lake Baikal allowing you to take a look at the lake once again.
  • 16:00
    Arrival to Irkutsk
    Check-in in the hotel and rest.
  • 19:00
    Farewell dinner
    Festive diner in the local restaurant.
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Angara
Standard business twin room
Note

4x4  (425km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 10:00
    Transfer to the airport
    End of the programme.
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk
Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport 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
  • Celebratory dinner with alcoholic beverages
  • Letter of invitation
  • Tent rental
  • Bathing in hot springs
  • English-speaking guide services
  • Meals according to the program
  • Accident insurance
Price does not include
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Sleeping bag rental
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

The price given is for a group of 2 people (for one car). Total number of vehicles: 1 to 3. All the meals are included in the price of the program, except for: breakfasts on day 1, lunches on days 2, 4-6,13,14 as well as diners on days 1, 5, 14. • One lunch in a café along the road : 300-400 RUB

Reviews
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:
5.00
5.00
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5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
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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
Pierrette
From 29 February 2024 to 8 March 2024
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tourBaïkal Hivernal Classique
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Ce voyage, compliqué en cette période géopolitique critique, a été bien organisé en coopération avec le bureau, selon mes préférences, mes besoins. Tout a été prévu avec minutie. Accueil très chaleureux individualisé. J'ai été réellement bluffée et hyper satisfaite de toutes les prestations. Le personnel, guide et chauffeurs, est très professionnel, très attentionné, bienveillant et d'une qualité
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5.00
5.00
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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
Владислав
From 23 July 2023 to 27 July 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Замечательный тур! Очень понравилось всё, начиная от организационных моментов, заканчивая самим путешествием, замечательным гидом Егором, удивительно живописными местами, супер устойчивыми байдарками и разнообразной погодой.
4.33
4.33
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
3.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Vanessa
From 21 February 2023 to 25 February 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tourVoyage au lac Baïkal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Un grand merci à Maria qui a su nous sortir de situations parfois vraiment très délicates
4.33
4.33
Total score
4.00
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
Valérie
From 21 February 2023 to 25 February 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tourVoyage au lac Baïkal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
This guest did not leave a comment.
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
Emile
From 19 August 2022 to 27 August 2022
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
First I would like to thank Irina for not canceling the trip because I was the only person that arrived to Siberia for the tour. I would have been disappointed but I would have understood why it would be canceled. I have a special thank and appreciation to the guide Dima. The man has tremendous knowledge about geography, plants, local history, GREAT COMMUNICATION, and GREAT SERVICE, GREAT SURVIVAL
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BaikalNature's reply
Thank you so much for the kind words and trust that you showed us by taking part in this tour!
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