info@baikalnature.com

Grand Crossing Of Lake Baikal 2023

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
7 Days
February - March
Highlights
  • Crossing of frozen Lake Baikal in its widest and deepest part
  • Full day on the ice in the geographical center of Baikal
  • Circular itinerary passing through Buryatia and Trans-Siberian
  • Sleeping bags, ice-cleats and sleds are included
  • Pre-prepared tent camp in the center of Lake Baikal - "Baikal Ice Camp"
  • Ice bar in the middle of Baikal
  • Ice hockey and skating on the natural ice
  • Russian banya and ice-hole in the deepest place of the lake
Tour Overview

Do you want to go for a real adventure on ice in Siberia? If that’s so, our tour “Lake Baikal’s Great Crossing” was made just for you!  Cross the deepest part of the legendary Lake Baikal and find yourself 40 miles (60 km) away from any human habitation.

Drawing on our years of experience, we created a brand new tour, for those like you who wish to experience genuine adventures.

See the stunning, untouched landscapes spread before your eyes as you travel from Olkhon Island to Bargusin. From the western bank to the eastern bank, the lake is 30 miles wide. Crossing it doesn’t imply any kind of physical training; nor do you need any special gear except from your personal belongings. The equipment needed for the group will be waiting for you on site, in Baikal Ice Camp. You will also be provided with an expedition sled and ice cleats so you can walk on ice safely.

In order that you find yourself as comfortable may be, your accommodations were specially designed to resist extreme conditions. Welcome to BaikalNature Ice Camp!

Your adventure:

- Spend two nights on the Lake Baikal ice at the very location where its depth reaches 5000 feet (1500 m);

- Experience the purest Baikal water in an ice-made bania;

- Play hockey on the clearest Baikal ice;

- Ice skate on the deepest lake in the world;

- Enjoy our Ice Bar its very special menu (payment on site).

 The camp include:

-  5-6 persons heated tents in which you’ll find a single bed, 2 bunk beds or 3 bunk beds, a mattress, a sleeping bag and 1 twin/double/singel tent with a double bed of 190x120 - for supplement 5 400 roubles / per night;

- a kitchen/dining room tent for 16 persons where your chef will cook you warm dishes;

- an ice-made bania;

- the guide’s tent and the gear tent;

- the Ice Bar with Baikal vodka and other alcoholic beverages;

- toilet-tents;

- boots for walking in the camp - traditional Russian valenki.

This tour is organized in mid-February and in March when the weather on the lake is usually fair. However, it may happen that the temperature falls under 4°F (20°C), that a strong wind starts to blow or that the fog suddenly descends over the lake.

That’s why each trek you do is registered in the Ministry of Emergency Situations. You are also insured in case of accident. Moreover, your trek is run by a seasoned guide who carries with him a GPS navigator in which your hike coordinates are previously entered and a satellite phone.

So, even if you are unlucky with the weather, you’ll be able to return to the camp.

Chose this tour and experience feelings you never have before and that you shall never forget. Come back home with a thousand pictures of the clear, pure ice of the lake, memories from the nights spent upon this 1500 meters deep ice; having tested your moral and physical strength.

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Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Arrival to Irkutsk
    Irkutsk
  • Day 2
    Olkhon island - the heart of the lake Baikal
    Irkutsk — Khujir
  • Day 3
    Begginning of the crossing
    Khujir — Lake Baikal
  • Day 4
    Day on the ice
    Lake Baikal
  • Day 5
    Eastern coast of the Baikal
    Lake Baikal — Ust-Baguzin
  • Day 6
    Ulan-Ude - the capital of the Buryatia
    Ust-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
  • Day 7
    Return to Irkutsk
    Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
  • 11:00
    Transfer from the airport to the hotel
    If you arrive later, we can suggest for you the individual transfer. Please, let us know the number of your flight and the arrival time.
  • 12:00
    Check-in the hotel
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
  • 15:00
    Meeting with your guide near the reception of the hotel
    Discussion of the program and equipment's check up. You are free to ask any questions that you may have or just get to know your guide and other participants of the group.
  • 16:00
    Free time in Irkutsk
    You can buy everything you need, go for a walk (the hotel is situated in the city-centre), taste the local cuisine or just sleep enough in the hotel's room. As option, we can add the city-tour (pedestrian or by car) - not included in teh cost of the tour.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Angara
Twin standard room
Note

0.5 h transfer  (7km)

  • 08:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 09:30
    Meeting with your driver and guide in the hotel
  • 10:00
    Transfer Irkutsk - Khujir
    On the way you will make a short stops to take photos.
  • 12:00
    Lunch in the local cafe Not included
    You will taste some dishes of ethnic cuisine of Buryatia. Not included, to pay on site in cash.
  • 13:00
    Continuation of the way
    En route we will stop in the sacred place for blandishing the main Baikal spirit - Burhan. Our guide will tell you about all peculiarities of this tradition. The most important thing is to have the clear mind and heart. Crossing of the straight Olkhonskiye Vorota by 4x4 on the ice.
  • 16:00
    Arrival to Khujir
    Check-in at the resort. Free time to have a walk around the village, discovery of Burkhan rock, residence of the Baikal spirits, site of shamanic cult and one of the nine Buddhist sanctuaries of Asia. Visit of the village.
  • 19:00
    Dinner in the resort
  • Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk — Khujir
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Nabaymar
Chambre twin confortable
Note

4 h transfer  (293km)

  • 07:30
    Breakfast
  • 08:00
    Transfer Khuzhir - cape Khoboy
    Transfer by off-road vehicle (UAZ) to the starting point of our crossing - cape Khoboy situated in the north of the island. From there you will discover a magnificent panorama of the frozen lake. Stops along the way to explore the caves, grottos and islands.
  • 10:00
    Start of crossing
    Heading towards the eastern shore, we will pass through the widest and the deepest part of Lake Baikal. During these two days every participant will pull his personal clothes in special sleds. *7 h 30 min of trekking with sled (25 km)
  • 13:00
    Lunch on the open air
  • 14:00
    Continuation of the trekking
  • 17:00
    Arrival to the camp
    Accommodation in the real camp on the Baikal ice situated in the geographic centre of eh lake on the boundary between the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. The ritual of meeting and greeting where every participant of the group can try to bore the ice. The briefing. In the camp there will be the comfortable and warm boots - Russian valenky.
  • 18:00
    Hot dinner
  • 19:30
    Tent banya
    After the long journey, there is nothing more relaxing then the banya and the herbal tea.
  • Overnight in the tent
    Heated tent, placed in the middle of the lake
Photo of the day
Route
Khujir — Lake Baikal
Accommodation
Camp on the ice of Baikal
Tent for 5-6 persons
Note

2 h 4x4  (40km)

7 h trekking  (25km)

  • 08:30
    Breakfast in the camping
  • 10:00
    Free day in the middle of Baikal
    Today you will have a day at leisure on the Baikal ice. 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.
  • 13:00
    Lunch on the ice
  • 15:00
    Free time
    For the most sportif participants of the group we propose to play the ice hockey !
  • 18:00
    Hot dinner
  • Overnight in the tent
    Heated tent, placed in the middle of the lake
Photo of the day
Route
Lake Baikal
Accommodation
Camp on the ice of Baikal
Tent for 5-6 persons
  • 08:00
    Breakfast
  • 09:00
    Continuation of the ice-trekking
    Today we continue our journey to the eastern coast of the lake Baikal. This coast is flatter and behind it there are the Barguzin and Khamar-Daban mointains. Normally there are more snow then of the western coast. *7 h 30 min of trekking with sled (25 km)
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the open air
  • 17:00
    Finish of the trekking and transfer to Ust-Barguzin
    At the end of the day you will be transferred by 4x4 to the village of Ust-Barguzin.
  • 18:30
    Check-in and russian banya
    Arrival and check-in in the guest house. After several days of physical activity it its time to take traditional Russian banya!
  • 19:00
    Dinner
    Dishes prepared by the locals
  • Overnight in the guest house
Photo of the day
Route
Lake Baikal — Ust-Baguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
Note

7 h trekking  (25km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Transfer Ust-Barguzin - Ulan-Ude
    In the beginning our way goes along the shore of the lake and then passes through taiga forests.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the café of traditional buriat cuisine Not included
    Not included, payment on site in cash.
  • 14:00
    Arrival in Ulan-Ude
  • 15:00
    Visit of the Ivolginsky datsan
    Ivolginsky datsan is a place serving the most important place of worship in Buryatia and the centre of Buddhism in Russia, located in a beautiful steppe.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • 22:30
    Departure to Irkutsk by night train
    Train, 2nd class compartment, 4 berths
  • Night on board of 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
  • 07:45
    Transfer to the airport
    End of the program.
Photo of the day
Route
Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • English-speaking guide services
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Excursions and visits as per itinerary
  • Tent rental
  • Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
  • Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
  • Letter of invitation
  • Camping outfit rental
  • Sleeping bag rental
  • Railway tickets in 2nd class
  • Valenky (felt boots; only in BaikalNature Ice Camp)
  • Russian-speaking guide services
  • Meals according to the program
  • Accident insurance
  • Ice studs for shoes
  • Sleeping bag in BaikalNature Ice Camp
Price does not include
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Airline tickets
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

Banya is included on Day 5. Single supplement 6 500 RUB (only in the days 1,2 and 5). Supplement for the twin/double/single tent - 6 400 roubles / per night / per tent. Trips of 24/02, 02/03 and 08/03 are in the opposite direction. The price of the tour includes Accident insurance for persons under 75 years.

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
Somruedee
From 26 February 2022 to 4 March 2022
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
This guest did not leave a comment.
4.00
4.00
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
3.00
Quality of meals
4.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Natasha
From 20 February 2022 to 26 February 2022
Destination: Lake Baikal
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
Hélène
From 21 February 2020 to 27 February 2020
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Je recommande Baikal nature pour la traversée du Baikal, c'est une agence sérieuse, Irina est très sympa et réactive. Tout le séjour s'est bien passé, et je n hésiterai pas à refaire appel à eux pour un futur séjour en Russie.
4.50
4.50
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
4.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Michel
From 24 February 2020 to 1 March 2020
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Notre guide andrey et comme tous les intervenants ont été à l'écoute et bienveillant tres beau voyage. Je vous recommanderai.
4.67
4.67
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
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
Junil
From 21 February 2020 to 27 February 2020
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
There are many tour programs about winter of Baikal. But crossing the frozen baikal lake by my feet and staying in ice camp was really unique experience! It was the best tour ever I did. Office staff had replied for my request and question very kindly and promptly even though midnight (You have to sleep in night!) And Guide was very helpful and kind. He always respond rapidly and appropriately for
  Read more
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