• Discovery of Olkhon Island in the period of its inaccessibility
• Tasting of traditional Siberian dishes
• Hearty welcome in the farm at Krestovsky Cape
• Discovery of Lake Baikal when it freezes over
• Dog sledding and snowmobiling in snow-covered taiga

Modérément facile - 1-3 heures d’activité physique par jour.

En fonction du déroulement de votre programme et des possibilités qu'offrent le lieu où vous vous trouverez, vous pourrez soit goûter au grand confort d'une chambre d'hôtel ou celui plus simple d'une auberge ou bien encore partager l'authenticité de la vie chez l'habitant en bénéficiant des commodités à l'extérieur ainsi que de dormir sous la tente.

This trip equally combines services that are dedicated specially for you with others, shared with other people outside your group such as some transport and excursions.

Destinations: Lake Baikal. Visited areas: Irkutsk Region, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Listvyanka, Krestovsky Cape, Olkhon Island

Tour start area: Irkutsk, end area: Irkutsk

Day 1

Morning arrival at Irkutsk. Pick-up at the airport or at the railway station. Transfer to homestay. Free time till noon. Lunch. Walking city tour, discovery of ice sculptures and Christmas tree on the central square. Visit to old churches, wooden houses, and central market. Excursion in the Decembrists Museum.

Day 2

Drive to the village of Listvyanka located at 70 km (44 mi) from Irkutsk on the shore of Lake Baikal. On the way visit to the open-air museum of wooden architecture named Taltsy, discovery of typical Siberian village of 18th – 19th cen. Opportunity to slide on cow skins – traditional Russian amusement. Arrival at Listvyanka, visit to the museum of Lake Baikal, learning about the Baikal flora and fauna. Lunch at restaurant. Ropeway to Chersky Rock, possible skiing (at extra cost). Accommodation in inn in the village. Walks, discovery of local wooden church, Christmas tree.

Day 3

Morning transfer to the riding sport centre, meeting instructor and dogs. Snowmobiling and dog sledding in snow-covered taiga - 10 km (6 mi) there and back. Return to the village, lunch at restaurant. Transfer to inn to collect luggage, way back to Irkutsk. Moving to homestay.

Day 4

In the morning leave for Olkhon Island. On the way visit to the national museum of Ust-Orda, administrative centre of the Ust-Ordyn Buryat District. Discovery of Buryat and shaman culture. Lunch in café serving Buryat cuisine in Ust-Orda. Continuation of trip. Stops at picturesque places on the way. We will stop near sacred "Obo" to coax local spirits and beg them to be benevolent to us in our travel. In the afternoon arrival to the shores of Lake Baikal. Accommodation at a welcoming farm at 3 km (1.8 mi) from the shore. Visits to surroundings, discovery of remains of fortress of the period of Kurykans (6 - 11 cen). Walk to the lake.

Day 5

Morning leave for Olkhon Island. Crossing of the strait of Olkhonskiye Vorota ("Olkhon Gates") by hydroskimmer / boat (depending on ice condition). Transfer to Khuzhir, central village on Olkhon. Hotel check-in. Discovery of Burkhan Rock, residence of strict Spirits of Lake Baikal. Walk along the village.

Day 6

After breakfast: excursion by 4X4 to Khoboy Cape, the northernmost point of Olkhon. Walk to the cape. Picnic in open air. Return to Khuzhir by 4x4. Picturesque way passes through steppes, taiga, and abandoned villages. According to the Russian tradition – banya in the evening to wash all the problems of the previous year away before entering new year.
At night celebration of New Year’s Eve in a Russian way with Christmas tree, New Year’s Eve supper and party with Ded Moroz (Father Frost) and Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), traditional music and floor show.

Day 7

Day at leisure. Optional (at extra cost): excursion by 4X4 to the south of the island to discover the wall of Kurykans and wonderful view of the south of the island, Maloye More, and its islets. Possible ice skating, skiing (depending on quantity of snow).

Day 8

Morning leave for Irkutsk. Arrival in the city in the afternoon. Moving to homestay. Dinner at restaurant.

Day 9

After breakfast transfer to airport. Departure. End of the programme.

BaikalNature ethics charter

Choosing BaikalNature as a travel partner you undertake together with us for travelling in full harmony with nature. As our name implies, BaikalNature is sensitive to the long-term health of the natural environment towards which we feel such affection. It is with great pleasure that we invite travellers to discover the region of Lake Baikal in all its manifestations and in maximum possible comfort. But as the environment is fragile we do it with conscious responsibility. Respecting its landscapes, fauna, flora and the way of life of its people is a priority for us as well as for our travellers.

Together with you we are ready to meet the challenge: all partakers of BaikalNature act as caretakers of the planet’s future. Thus, we eagerly join for initiatives of responsible tourism hoping for the Russian and Mongolian natural heritage protection to become a number one priority for the sake of the brilliant future of these lands.

The price includes banya on Day 4, 6

Booking is made by paying a 30% deposit of the total cost.
The balance of 70% is to be paid 21 days before departure.
If late booking (made less than 21 days prior to departure), full payment is required at the time of booking.

The cancellation options are:

• up to 21 days before departure - 30% of the tour price,
• 20 to 15 days before departure - 50% of the tour price,
• 14 to 7 days before departure 70% of the tour price,
• less than 7 days before departure - 100% of the tour price.

You will need in Russia in winter:

• to protect yourself from the cold weather;
• to protect yourself from the wind;
• to protect your feet from moisture;
• to protect yourself from the sun's reflection from ice and snow.

Allow the system of "three layers":

• The first layer, called "second skin", determines the performance of the other two layers. It will transport sweat to the next layer and dry quickly to avoid cooling after exercise. Therefore forget the cotton retains moisture in the skin and choose underwear in synthetic fabrics.
• The second layer must keep the heat of the body as long as possible. Warm synthetic or mixed (wool or fleece turtleneck sweater) fabrics, that dry quickly, are preferable.
• The third layer should protect you against wind and moisture. Choose a jacket, long enough, 100% waterproof, preferably with hood.

We recommend you to pack all your stuff in two bags: a small backpack and a large travelling bag.

SMALL BACKPACK: will be useful for carrying your personal belongings during the day (camera, film, personal medication, bottled water, etc.) You will also use it as hand luggage during air travel for all your heavy (to lighten the travel bag in the luggage compartment), fragile (camera, etc.) and necessary (toilet bag, etc.) things.

BIG TRAVEL BAG or BIG BACKPACK: must contain the rest of your stuff. It will be in the luggage compartment during the flight. It will be transported by vehicles.

8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners.

At restaurants and homestays in cities, traditional cuisine consists of local specialties.

In the canteen at the inns, fresh local products.

Some hotels and inns offer laundry services for a variable sum of money. It is sometimes possible to use laundry services at homestay (when there is running water) for a fee.

You need a tourist visa to travel to Russia. It can be issued for a maximum period of 30 days. Your passport has to be valid for at least six months after the expiry date of your visa and to have at least two blank pages.

Documents to provide consular services:

You must first obtain a letter of invitation. BaikalNature offers visa support and has created "BaikalNature letter of invitation" package to that end. If you buy a BaikalNature tour, this package is absolutely free; when you buy any other BaikalNature service, you will have to pay for this package. For more information, please see "Visa Support " and "Russia Invitation Letter."

  Besides, you will need:

• a photocopy of passport pages containing the photo,
• a visa application form (completed on computer or with a black ballpen) available for download on the Russian Embassy website in  "visa information" rubric,
• a color photo for documents, 3.5 x 4.5 cm, to stick on the visa application form,
• a tourist voucher certifying that all travel services were paid in full,
• a detailed program of the trip (only if your stay exceeds 15 days),
• travel insurance, provided by nsurance company, which protects you throughout your trip .

For more information, please see "Do I need a tourist visa to travel to Russia or Mongolia?" of our FAQ.

The Russian currency is ruble. In all cities and many large villages of Russia, you can easily withdraw rubles, using a Visa or MasterCard, from ATMs, located in banks, department stores or hotel lobbies, some of them are open 24 hours a day. If you have euros or dollars with you, exchange offices will allow you to change them easily in the cities, seldom in the countryside. However, it can be difficult to exchange traveler's checks, even in cities.

All persons who compose the BaikalNature travel team (guides, drivers, cooks, etc.) are paid a decent wage for their services and do not expect any tips from you. So you have no obligation to leave anything. If you really want to express your satisfaction by leaving a gratuity, and if it is in foreign currency, be aware that torn or glued coins and banknotes cannot be exchanged. Anyway, thank you for your tips, left at your discretion in envelopes.

No compulsory vaccination.

You need to get a health examination before a great trip. Consult your doctor. Get a dental checkup. If you have health problems that could worsen during the trip, make sure you have taken all your medications with you.

It is advisable to keep the following vaccines valid:

• diphtheria,
• tetanus,
• Polio.

Tick-borne encephalitis is present in areas of forest, taiga where ticks are the carriers of encephalitis between May and July. As of August, they are no longer carrying the virus. If you do not get vaccinated, you should follow the basic precautions, including:

• protective clothes
• use of repellents
• daily check of the skin.

It is also possible to take out special insurance covering the analysis of the insect and vaccines.

Provide a first aid kit that includes among other items:

• aspirin or paracetamol,
• anti-diarrheal tablets,
• antiseptic,
• adhesive plaster,    
• sterile pads.

If you have individual diseases, make sure you have taken your medications.

La sécurité est notre objectif primordial et aussi la réputation de notre agence à long terme. Une pharmacie adaptée aux conditions du voyage est à disposition du guide.

You should be physically fit enough for this tour.

In addition to your personal insurance, you have an opportunity to purchase local insurance. Please, do not hesitate to ask us about our services.

You can contact BaikalNature by:

• phone: 00 7 3952 97 45 01 or 00 7 3952 20 95 19
• fax: 00 7 3952 206 873.

In addition, you will be sent the telephone number of your correspondent staff who you can reach 7/7.

Professional Guarantees: BaikalNature LLC (ООО "БайкалНейче") United Federal Register of Tour Operators number: MBT 007826 Financial Guarantee: JSC "Insurance Group MSK" (Открытое акционерное общество "Страховая группа МСК") Insurance contract N ОТА/5301/000235 from 01/12/2011. Amount of coverage: 10 000 000 RUB. Legal and actual address: BaikalNature LLC 119А Dekabrskikh Sobytiy Str., office 13
664007 Irkutsk Russia.