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Great Baikal (Tour # 65877)From: 3678 $ / 2799 € / 111200 RUB
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Trip Length: 21 day
Group: 6 - 10 Departure: Fixed Period: July - August Tour type: BaikalNature Original Tour Destinations: Lake Baikal Transport: Private car / bus, Train, Boat, Hydrofoil, 4х4, Plane Accommodation: Homestay, Inn, Homestead, Resort, Tent, Hotel, Train Activities: Cruise / Navigation, Trekking, Cultural exploration
Visited areas: Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Circum-Baikal, Port Baikal, Listvyanka, Bolshiye Koty, Kadilny Cape, Peschanaya Bay, Olkhon Island, Maloye More, Severobaikalsk, Ayaya Bay, Ulan-Ude, Ust-Barguzin, Barguzinsky Gulf, Barguzinskaya Valley, Selenga
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Strong Points Of The Tour:Unique itinerary allowing to make the whole tour of Lake Baikal Alternation of trekking, travelling by boat, plane, 4x4, train, cultural discoveries and visits Tour covering the majority of walking routes of the Baikal Opportunity to discover 80% of the lake's coastline Contacts with local population during treks and different stopovers Tour Overview:This large-scale journey is aimed at offering you a rare experience to take a tour of the WHOLE Lake Baikal. Such a proud name of the tour reflects its ambition to make you discover all the diversity of landscapes of the lake over a period of twenty days. Corresponding to our philosophy of all round discovery, the Great Baikal Tour combines both nature and culture aspects with an emphasis put on trekking and physical activity. Our tight schedule and careful planning of changes allowed us to weave the best walking routes of Lake Baikal together. Boat, hydrofoil, 4x4, car, the Trans-Siberian train, and fynally… plane – we will change all local means of transportation during our tour. While trekking all shared outfit will be transported by 4x4 or by boat, so you will only carry your personals and admire the nature! Just look at the tour map to soak up the energy virus of this journey! Lake Baikal, 636 km (395 mi) long, covers various microclimatic zones what explains the diversity of its landscapes. From dry steppes to marshlands, from sand dunes to steep cliffs, from beaten paths to wild lands – every time you will trek in different environment. The journey starts with the Circum-Baikal Railway in the south of the lake. Presenting the genius of architectural engineering of the late 19th century, this line 84 km (52 mi) long is inlaid into the steep coast of the Baikal. You will be fascinated by austere sumptuousness of bridges, tunnels, galleries, and viaducts. We will get off in Port Baikal, a strategically important point during the Russo-Japanese war, will cross the source of the Angara river by ferry to reach the village of Listvyanka. There we will visit the Baikal museum presenting all the diversity of flora and fauna of the lake and its surrounding area. The visit to Listvyanka is followed by trekking part of the journey. We will go up along the western shore of the Baikal to Olkhon Island, with a few hike, boat and offroadster passages. The cliffs, steppe and taiga landscapes will change each other as we proceed. After exploring Olkhon Island, the heart of Lake Baikal and the sacred land of Buryat shamans, we will take hydrofoil to the north of the lake up to Severobaikalsk. This navigation along the Baikalo-Lensky nature reserve will allow you to discover all the northwest coast of the lake. This route is the only way to get to the north as there is no road in this part of Lake Baikal.We will axplore the northeast shore and discover its wild nature. From there a plane will take us to Ulan-Ude. Weather permitting, you will enjoy A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW of a very large part of Lake Baikal! In Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia, another culture will wait for you: we will visit Ivolginsky Datsan there discovering Buddhism and its rites. Our journey back to Irkutsk will be aboard a famous Trans-Siberian train. First we will follow the Selenga river, the biggest river of all flowing into the lake which comes from Mongolia, then all the southeast shore of the lake to end harmoniously our Grand Tour of Lake Baikal. In this way - on foot, by train, by boat and by plane - you will discover all the splendours of the Baikal landscapes and will return home as a real "Expert of the Baikaly"! Tour Programme:Day 1
Meeting at 10.00 am on the central square, homestay accommodation. Free time.
Day 2
Transfer to the train station. Departure by train to the south of the lake. Change of locomotive in Slyudyanka (we will stay in the same car) because the Circum-Baikal train is a diesel-engine train. Excursion, frequent visits to picturesque and culturally significant sites. During every stop you will hear about the place and its history from your guide. Lunch aboard. Arrival to Port Baikal, taking a ferry to cross the mouth of the Angara River towards Listvyanka, the village situated 70 km (44 mi) southeast of Irkutsk on the shore of Lake Baikal. Accommodation in inn in Listvyanka.
Day 3
In the morning walk around. Trekking starts northwards to the village of Bolshiye Koty*. The first kilometres will be done in taiga, and after we will trek alongshore. Arrival in Bolshiye Koty in the evening. Homestead accommodation.
* 6 h of trekking, beaten path through taiga, after along the steep shore of Lake Baikal, about 200 m (650 ft) elevation change. Day 4
Discovery of the village of Bolshiye Koty. Trekking continues*. Discovery of Skriper rock known for its cave where archaeologists have found some hunting tools and fragments of utensil from the Iron age. Lunch in a picturesque bay. With all due care we will follow the trail either falling down to the beaches or climbing rocks, we will reach the home of forestry officers of the Pribaikalsky National Park situated at the foot of Kadilny cape. In days gone by they had the minerals processing for soda production here. Night at forestry officers' place.
* 6 h of trekking with high elevation changes, in some areas the path follows the rocks over water Day 5
Boarding a boat. Journey to Peschanaya Bay. We will go ashore opposite a small islet named "Baklany Kamen" (Cormorant Rock), the southern island of the lake and the nesting place of seagulls and cormorants. Trekking to Peschanaya Bay (Sandy Bay)*. Resort accommodation. Walk around.
* 3 h of optional hike Day 6
We will take the trouble to climb the highest mount in the bay to contemplate the panorama of the lake*. Resort overnight.
* 3 h of optional hike with high elevation changes, steep slope Day 7
Morning hiking northwards* to Babushka bay. You will see famous trees "on stilts" - pines with naked roots because of wind blowing away all the sand from under the roots. After lunch boarding hydrofoil. In the afternoon arrival to Olkhon Island. Accommodation in homestead in Khuzhir. Tour of the village.
* 3 h of optional hike with high elevation changes Day 8
Following the western shore of the island across the steppe, taiga and sand dunes we will reach Peschanoye area where in the time of Stalin there was a gulag. Night on the beach.
* 7 h of light hike with average elevation changes Day 9
Trekking continues towards Sagan-Khushin cape ("Three brothers" cape)*. Night near the cape.
* 6 h of light hike with average elevation changes Day 10
Morning trekking to the northernmost point of Olkhon, Khoboy Cape, holy place, breathtaking panorama. Picnic near the cape. Journey to the weather station of Uzury in the north of the island. Homestay overnight.
* 7 h of light hike with average elevation changes Day 11
Morning drive to Zagli bay, the sunniest spot on the island. Hydrofoil embarkation. Cruise to the north of the Baikal, to Severobaikalsk city. Arrival in the city in the evening, hotel overnight.
Day 12
After breakfast crossing of Lake Baikal towards the eastern shore côte, to Dagarskaya bay (1 hour 30 min cruise). Proceeding further in the southern direction you will enjoy all the beauty of wild nature of the northern Baikal: endless virgin taiga, rocky capes and tumultuous mountain rivers*. You will only carry your things needed for the day, your luggage will follow you by boat. Overnight in tent on the shore of the lake.
* 6 h of hike with average elevation changes Day 13
Hike continues towards Ayaya bay whose perfect beauty always impressed people*. They even say that its name comes from the exclamation of delight "Ay-ayaya, what a beauty!". Overnight in tent on the shore of the lake.
* 6 h of hike with average elevation changes Day 14
Discovery of Lake Frolikha of glacial origin, which is 8 km upstream from Ayaya bay. The lake is located in the middle of taiga and one can only walk there. An endemic fish registered in the Red Book, a slug called "davachan" is found in its waters. Many bears appear along the shores of the lake - their traces are always seen on the sand. Return to the bay in the evening. Crossing of Lake Baikal towards Severobaikalsk (1 hour 30 min cruise). Hotel overnight.
* 5 h of hike with slight elevation changes Day 15
Morning transfer to the airport. Leave for Ulan-Ude. Arrival in the city in the afternoon. Hotel check-in. City tour.
Day 16
Morning drive to Ust-Barguzin. Arrival in the village at noon. Accommodation in homestay. Walk around in the village.
Day 17
Day at leisure in Ust-Barguzin. Optional: excursion to Chivyrkuysky Gulf, cruise to the Ushkany Islands to observe freshwater seal.
Day 18
Drive to Barguzin valley, discovery of the rock with rock paintings. Climbing a hill (300 m/980 ft), trekking continues across hilly country to the village of Suvo. Overnight in tent on the river bank.
* 4 h of hike with average elevation changes Day 19
Pass crossing, discovery of "castles of Suvo" (picturesque rocks). Picnic and drive to Ust-Barguzin. En route we will see the stone-bull, the stone garden and other sightseeings of the valley. Homestay overnight in Ust-Barguzin. Banya.
* 2 h of light hike Day 20
Morning return to Ulan-Ude. Visit to Ivolginsky Datsan (Buddhist temple), the Buddhist centre of the whole Russia. In the evening we will take the train and will travel by the most beautiful part of the famous Trans-Siberian railway contemplating the landscapes of the southeastern coast of Lake Baikal.
Day 21
Arrival at the train station of Irkutsk by 6.00 am. End of the programme.
Please select number of adults
Price CommentSupplement for accommodation in single room in Irkutsk, Khuzhir, Severobaikalsk, Ulan-Ude and Ust-Barguzin: 9700 RUB (about 215 EUR) Booking Options
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