• Discovery of the largest island of Lake Baikal
• Tasting of endemic fish - Baikal omul
• Visit to the sacred shamans' sites

This trip allows you to stop and enjoy your free time, to explore a city or region. From a few hours to several days, accompanied by our guide, you will be in perfect harmony with the world around you.

The tour is for all those who wish to undertake a trip with moderate physical involvement. There is only optional walking without major difficulties. The maximum duration is 1 to 2 hours, the group may be shared at any time and give up certain activities.

Durant ce voyage vous bénéficierez du confort simple d'un logement chez l'habitant avec toilettes à l'extérieur et possibilité de bania ou logerez sous la tente.

La plupart des services sur une base non exclusive, certains composants privés.

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

Tour start area: Irkutsk, end area: Irkutsk

Day 1

Early morning leave for the island (293 km/182 mi, 5-6 hours of journey). Lunch on the way in a Buryat restaurant. Stops in picturesque places on the way. We will also stop to blandish the local spirits, to ask their benevolence during the trip. At noon: arrival on Olkhon. Arrival in Khuzhir, the main village of the island. Accommodation in the homestead kept by a resident of the village, 200 metres from the shore. In the afternoon: discovery of Burkhan rock. Walking around the village, visiting port.

Day 2

Excursion by 4X4 to the eastern shore of the island and Chara-Nur salt lake. Lunch in the open air. Return to Khuzhir on foot (3-hour hike through taiga and steppe) or by car. Banya (Russian baths) in the homestead in the evening.

Day 3

After breakfast excursion by 4X4 to Khoboy Cape, the northernmost point of Olkhon. The trip will allow you to discover the beauty of the Maloye More (Small Sea) and its islets. Walk to the cape. Picnic in the open air. Return to Khuzhir. Visit to Uzury, a small hamlet in the east of the island. The picturesque way passes through steppes, sandy beaches, taiga, abandoned villages. Homestead overnight in Khuzhir.

Day 4

Morning return to Irkutsk by scheduled bus. In the afternoon arrival at the bus station of Irkutsk. 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.

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.

It is hot in summer at Lake Baikal area. Nevertheless, you should always have something to put on, as weather in Siberia is very changeable.

If you plan your trip in May or September, please feel free to bring your hat, gloves and windbreaker jacket in case of snow or rain.

June is also pretty cool.

July and August are the hottest months, which offer you temperatures of 25 ° - 35 ° at daytime and 15 ° - 18 ° at night. On the shores of Lake Baikal, like in the Alps, you should wear T-shirts and shorts in the sunny afternoons, sweaters and jackets in the cool evenings.

ATTENTION! The list of equipment varies with the season of travel!

3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners.

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.

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.

No particular physical condition is required.

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.