Winter Crossing of Lake Baikal and snowmobiles

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Difficulty

Comfort

Highlights

Winter adventure in the midst of Arctic landscapes

Snowmobiling on the ice-covered Baikal

Ice fishing with local fishermen

Tour Overview

This is a marvellous adventure acceptable to anyone who is fond of hiking and not afraid of cold and overnight in tent on ice in the middle of the lake. Fantastic sunsets and sunrises, ice in all its manifestations and polar atmosphere await for you in this journey.

One night will be spent in tent on the Baikal ice, and others in the warm in traditional village of Bolshiye Koty and another completely different but not less pleasant village of Listvyanka. We will go snowmobiling from Bolshiye Koty passing taiga and the frozen Baikal to Listvyanka where we will visit the Baikal museum to discover its flora and fauna collection.

When trekking you will go with no luggage, which will be delivered in the evening and transported in the morning by our car.

Day 1
Arrival at Irkutsk. Airport transfer not included. Hotel accommodation (check-in at 12.00). Rest. After lunch walking city tour : square of fondation of the city, old churches, wooden houses, the Decembrists museum. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 2
Morning leave for the village of Tankhoy by minibus (4 hours of drive). You bring everything you will need this day. The rest of your things will be transported to your camp on ice in the evening by 4x4. Start of trekking. At first we will go by snow (10 to 25 cm / 4 to 10 in depending on winter). Lunch. Overnight in tent. Hot dinner, meals prepared with gas-jet.
Day 3
In the morning our 4x4 will come to get back our luggage and bring to the inn of Bolshiye Koty. Trekking continues. Layer of snow gets thinner while approaching the western shore of the lake since it is more swept by the wind. Arrival to the village of Bolshiye Koty. Inn accommodation, in the warm. Deserved rest ! Dinner, in the evening banya (Russian baths).
Day 4
Day is devoted to sightseeing in the village and its surroundings. We will join local fishermen to discover real ice fishing. Inn overnight.
Day 5
Next step is done by snowmobiles (2 persons per snowmobile). In the morning - tour northwards, to Skriper Cape, possibility to climb the cape to admire a breathtaking panorama of the lake. You will see vast icy fields, through which the bottom is visible, snow-covered blocks of ice, and hummocks. Then we will turn to the village of Listvyanka, a part of journey passing by taiga. On the way stop in wooden inn called « Shelter of goldsmithes » to have lunch. Arrival to Listvyanka in the afternoon. Inn overnight.
Day 6
Walk along the village. Visit to the museum of Lake Baikal to learn about its flora and fauna. Leave for Irkutsk. En route visit to open-air museum of wooden architecture - Taltsy, discovery of typical Siberian village of the 18th – 19th cen. Arrival to the city by 6 pm. Hotel overnight.
Day 7
Departure in the morning. Transfer not included. End of the programme.

Detailed description

New departures available soon

Price includes

English-speaking guide
Accommodation as per itinerary
Transport as per itinerary
Meals
Excursions and visits as per itinerary
Reserves and national parks entrance permissions
Tent rental
Banya
Ice studs for shoes

Price does not include

Medical insurance
Administrative registration
Personal expenses and tips
Visa fees and travel insurance
Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
Airline tickets

For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.

United Federal Register of Tour Operators number : PTO 009402 | Registered Trademark Certificate number: 552709

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