You make a short stopover in Irkutsk and wish to discover famous Lake Baikal and its typical villages to make your stay as close as possible to nature, but do not have much time for long tours. If so, go to traditional Siberian village of Bolshiye Koty, located 1,5 hour by hydrofoil from Irkutsk, and explore its pretty surroundings on horseback.
Two itineraries will be offered to you to choose from - one itinerary heads south of Bolshiye Koty, follows first the western shore of Lake Baikal and then leads to Chernaya (Dark) valley, called so because of dense forest; the other ride is in the valley of a small river in the west of the village. Our lunch will be prepared on bonfire by our guide.
Unforgettable impressions of indescribable sceneries, horseback ride and cordial atmosphere oon a tour are guaranteed!
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.
Meeting in Bolshiye Koty at about 10.00 am (please make sure you arrive in the village the day before or contact us for hydrofoil ticket and accommodation booking). We will meet our horses, learn horse handling techniques, and saddle up. Horseback ride starts. We will follow the paths in taiga, wading and making some easy descents and ascents. Stop for lunch in the open air. By 4.00 pm arrival in Bolshiye Koty. End of the programme.
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.
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.
Recommended checklist:
Photo / video camera
Antibacterial hand gel
Bath towel
Comfortable walking shoes (like Vibram or similar)
Flask
Fleece jacket or warm sweater
Forceps for extracting ticks
Insect repellent spray
Lightweight trekking socks
Lipstick
Passport and visa with a set of photocopies kept separately
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.
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.
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.
