• Meeting local people
• Discovery of inaccessible spots of the northern Baikal
• Trekking within everyone's reach among Arctic landscapes
• Journey to the very heart of Siberia, such as it's described in books
• Real adventure in perfect security

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

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 privée pour le groupe, certains éléments non exclusifs.

Destinations: Lake Baikal. Visited areas: Irkutsk, Krestovsky Cape, Sagan-Zaba Cape, Tazheranskaya steppe, Olkhon Island, Maloye More, Pokoyniki Cape, Severobaikalsk, Khakusy, Ushkany Islands, Chivyrkuysky Gulf, Ust-Barguzin, Ulan-Ude, Listvyanka

Tour start area: Irkutsk, end area: Irkutsk

Day 1

Arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to the homestay. Rest and lunch. City tour: historic centre, old churches, wooden houses. Visit to the Decembrists museum. Dinner at homestay.

Day 2

Morning leave for Krestovsky Cape. To reach the farm located 3 km (1.8 mi) from the shore of Lake Baikal, we will go north-east of Irkutsk passing by Russian villages and Buryat farms. Landscape of wheat fields will give way to Siberian taiga and then to steppe. We will often stop on the way to enjoy picturesque places and also to make offerings to local spirits. En route visit to the national Buryat museum in Ust-Orda. Lunch in a cafe serving Buryat cuisine. Arrival to farm. We will be accommodated in a rustic house with simple comfort but hearty welcome. Walk in taiga towards Sagan-Zaba Cape to discover ancient rock cravings. Homestay overnight. Banya in the evening.

Day 3

Morning drive to Olkhon Island by 4X4. In an hour we will reach the strait of Olkhonskiye Vorota ("Olkhon Gates") and will drive on ice ! Crossing of the strait, stop to take pictures near сape of Kobyliya Golova ("Mare's Head"). Following the western shore of Olkhon.
Arrival to the central village of the island - Khuzhir. Walk to discover Burkhan Rock, place of residence of the Baikal's god! Discovery of Sagan-Khushin and its icy grottos. Arrival to Khoboy Cape, northernmost point of Olkhon. Spectacular 360° view. Magic and mythic place feared by all Buryats. Lunch in the open air – hot meal and vodka to get warm! Hike along the eastern shore of the island to Uzury. Homestay overnight, simple but clean accommodation and hearty welcome. Banya in the evening.

Day 4

Morning drive to the north-west: we cross the island or go around the cape of Khoboy (depending on the state of ice), then cross the strait of Maloye Morye ("Small Sea"). Drive along the western shore of Lake Baikal towards Baikalo-Lensky Nature Reserve. Frequent stops for taking pictures and video. Lunch in the open air at Ryty Cape. Discovery of hummocks (accumulations of ice), enormous and large drawn up blocks of ice. Overnight at the Solnechnaya weather station, very simple comfort. Banya in the evening.

Day 5

Day journey will bring us to the border of the reserve where forestry officers live at Elokhin Cape. Walking in surroundings.

Day 6

We approach civilization and a small town of the northern Baikal - Severobaikalsk. Night at the thermal station.

Day 7

Continuation of our journey around the lake by 4x4. We will cross the Baikal towards the north-eastern shore and reach the thermal springs of Khakussy. Night at a rustic thermal station.

Day 8

We will make our way in the southern direction to the Barguzinsky Reserve. Accommodation at the forestry officers' in Davsha. Banya.

Day 9

Snowshoe tour around the village accompanied by a forestry officer. Reading traces of animals. Dinner with forestry officers. Banya in the evening.

Day 10

We will leave Davsha for the Ushkany Islands to meet meteorologist Uri who lives here and works in complete seclusion. Night at the weather station. Banya.

Day 11

We will devote this day to slow-paced discovery of the Ushkany archipelago. Walks around islands and ascent to the top of Bolshoy Ushkany Island (216 m/700 ft), breathtaking panorama. Night on the island. Banya in the evening.

Day 12

Morning drive to the northern point of Svyatoy Nos Peninsula. We will go around the peninsula and enter Chivyrkuysky Gulf. Participation in ice fishing with local people. Lunch in the open air near the hot springs of Zmeinaya Bay. Water from the sources has medicinal properties. Bathing! We will descend to Ust-Barguzin following the shore of Svyatoy Nos, and then that of Barguzinsky Gulf. Homestay overnight in fishing village of Ust-Barguzin. Banya in the evening.

Day 13

Transfer to Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia. 240 km (150 mi) of way through taiga passing plenty of Buryat villages. Moving to homestay. Lunch. Visit to Ivolginsky Datsan, Buddhist temples complex outside the city located in a picturesque steppe. This Datsan serving the most important place of worship in Buryatia is the centre of Buddhism in Russia. Dinner in the city at the restaurant serving traditional Mongolian cuisine. Homestay overnight.

Day 14

Visit to ethnographic museum in the open air: discovery of architecture and lifestyle of Buryats, Evenks, Russians and Cossacks. Lunch animated by a folk group at the restaurant with traditional Buryat cuisine, you will be served in real yurts! Walking tour of Ulan-Ude. Visit to the factory producing traditional Russian felt boots. Dinner at the restaurant. Transfer to the railway station, getting aboard the night train to Irkutsk. you will spend night aboard the famous Trans-Siberian (8 hour journey).

Day 15

Early morning arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to Listvanka, the village on the shores of Lake Baikal which is 70 km (44 mi) away from Irkutsk. Breakfast at the restaurant overlooking the lake. Visit to the Baikal Museum, aquarium with nerpas. Port of the village and typical saleswomen of omul. At wish - tasting smoked omul (endemic fish of the lake). On the way back to Irkutsk visit to Taltsy museum which is 50 km (31 mi) from Irkutsk to see traditional Russian and Buryat architecture of XVII-XIX Cen. Lunch on the territory of the museum. Return to Irkutsk. Dinner. Homestay overnight in Irkutsk.

Day 16

Departure after breakfast. 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.

Supplement for the group of 3 participants - 13 640 RUB / pers.

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.

Crampons for walking on ice will be provided on the spot.

15 breakfasts, 15 lunches, 15 dinners.

In the canteen at the inns, fresh local products.

Homestay cuisine based on fresh 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.