• Uncommon and fun stay, rich in various activities
• Discovery of local traditions

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.

During this trip you will alternate nights spent in inn where you can enjoy simple comfort, with more rustic overnights at homestay or even in tents.

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, Ulan-Ude, Lake Baikal, Severobaikalsk, Dzelinda, Goudzhekit, Listvyanka

Tour start area: Irkutsk, end area: Irkutsk

Day 1

February 5, Friday

Arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to the guest house (not included, possible to reserve in addition). Rest. After lunch walking city tour. Discovery of its historic center, old churches, wooden houses. Excursion in the Decembrists musuem. After dinner in guest house transfer to the train station. Leave by train for Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia.

Day 2

February 6, Saturday

Morning arrival in Ulan-Ude. Transfer to homestay. Rest, refreshment. Drive to the village of Old Believers to discover their way of life. Tasting of their traditional dishes. Return to Ulan-Ude, city tour and excursion to the factory producing traditional Russian felt boots - valenkis. Homestay overnight.

Day 3

February 7, Sunday

Transfer to the airport of Ulan-Ude. Flight to the north of Lake Baikal to the town of Nizhneangarsk. Transfer to Severobaikalsk. Night in welcoming hotel, 300 m/330 yd from the shore.

Day 4

February 8
"Monday – Hello Maslenitsa!"

City tour. Discovery of the museum of the BAM (Baikal-Amur Mainline), of winter garden. Lunch. Time at leisure.

Day 5

February 9
"Merry Tuesday"

After breakfast departure to the thermal springs of Goudzhekit. This day is supposed to be spent on sliding and playing active games. By tradition, we will go to skiing lodge. Lunch. Return to the city. Time at leisure.

Day 6

February 10
"Gourmand Wednesday"

On this day people usually ate much, especially pancakes that symbolize the sun, good harvest and prosperity. After breakfast we will leave for the hot springs of Dzelinda where bathing and lunch with traditional pancakes will wait for us. Return to the city. Time at leisure.

Day 7

February 11
"Revelry Thursday"

This was the day for Russians to party: they made snow castles and sang songs of the Pancake Week. Thursday, they were used to horseback ride around the village and call spring, the sun and good harvest.
After breakfast we will head to the Baikalskoye village for a horseback ride accompanied by experienced instructors. We will also play soccer on snow and enjoy snow castles. Picnic and return to the city. Time at leisure.

Day 8

February 12
"Friday – Mother-in-Law's Night"

On this day sons-in-law visited their mothers-in-law who treated them with pancakes.
We will visit the "White Sail" yacht club. In the programme: sauna with a dive into the lake and vodka with pancakes. Return to the city. Time at leisure.

Day 9

February 13
"Saturday – Good Bye Maslenitsa!"

Participation in folk festival and, according to custom, burning of the traditional straw effigy of Maslenitsa. In the evening transfer to the train station, train back to Irkutsk.

Day 10

February 14, Sunday

Day and night aboard train.

Day 11

February 15, Monday

Arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to homestay, breakfast. Drive to Listvyanka, village located 70 km/44 mi from Irkutsk, on the shore of Lake Baikal. On the way visit to Taltsy museum which is 50 km (31 mi) from Irkutsk to see traditional Russian and Buryat architecture of the XVII-XIX cen. Lunch in the museum, atmosphere of the XIX cen. Arrival in the village. Visit to the Baikal Museum to see the aquarium with nerpas. Port of the village and typical saleswomen of omul. At wish - tasting of smoked omul (endemic fish of the lake). Return to Irkutsk. Сelebratory dinner at the restaurant serving Russian cuisine. Homestay overnight in Irkutsk.

Day 12

Februaury 16, Tuesday

Departure after breakfast (airport transfer not included). 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.

NB: If flight from Ulan-Ude to Nizhneangarsk is cancelled, we will have to take train from Irkutsk to Severobaikalsk and cancel visit to Ulan-Ude. The rest of the programme will stay invariable.
Meals during train journey from Severobaikalsk to Irkutsk are not included.

Small group supplement if 2-3 participants: 18760 RUB per person (approx. 440 EUR)
Supplement for the group of 4-5 participants: 4680 RUB per person (approx. 110 EUR)

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.

10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners.

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

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.

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.