Trip Length: 21 dayGroup: 6 - 10Departure: FixedPeriod: July - AugustTour type: BaikalNature Original TourTransport: Private car / bus, Train, Boat, Hydrofoil, 4х4, PlaneAccommodation: Homestay, Inn, Homestead, Resort, Tent, Hotel, TrainActivities:
Cruise / Navigation, Trekking, Cultural exploration
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"!
This trip will allow you to follow an exceptional route which is aimed to introduce you to wilderness. It alternates discovery of splendors of a region and immersion in local culture. It allows you to dive into the history of civilization, to share the daily life of local ethnic groups, to be initiated into the religious practices, to approach an unusual wildlife in a natural protected area, to feel the rhythm of nature .
En fonction du déroulement de votre programme et des possibilités qu'offrent le lieu où vous vous trouverez, vous pourrez soit goûter au grand confort d'une chambre d'hôtel ou celui plus simple d'une auberge ou bien encore partager l'authenticité de la vie chez l'habitant en bénéficiant des commodités à l'extérieur ainsi que de dormir sous la tente.
Destinations: Lake Baikal. Visited areas: Irkutsk, 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
Meeting at 10.00 am on the central square, homestay accommodation. Free time.
Planned accommodation / or similar: Nina's Homestay click to view the details Accommodation type: Homestay Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, shared WC and bath / shower
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.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Transport: Private car / bus, Train Planned accommodation / or similar: Baikal Chalet Listvyanka click to view the details Accommodation type: Inn Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, WC and bath / shower in room
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.
Physical activity: 6 h of trekking, beaten path through taiga, after along the steep shore of Lake Baikal, about 200 m (650 ft) elevation change. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation type: Homestead Comfort: Simple comfort accommodation, toilet outdoors
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.
Physical activity: 6 h of trekking with high elevation changes, in some areas the path follows the rocks over water Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation type: Resort Comfort: Simple comfort accommodation, toilet outdoors, banya
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.
Physical activity: 3 h of optional hike Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Transport: Boat Planned accommodation / or similar: Baikal Dunes Recreation Centre click to view the details Accommodation type: Resort Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, WC and shower on the floor
Day 6
We will take the trouble to climb the highest mount in the bay to contemplate the panorama of the lake*. Resort overnight.
Physical activity: 3 h of optional hike with high elevation changes, steep slope Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Planned accommodation / or similar: Baikal Dunes Recreation Centre click to view the details Accommodation type: Resort Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, WC and shower on the floor
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.
Physical activity: 3 h of optional hike with high elevation changes Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Transport: Hydrofoil Planned accommodation / or similar: Nikita Bencharov Homestead click to view the details Accommodation type: Homestead Comfort: Simple comfort accommodation, toilet outdoors, banya
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.
Physical activity: 7 h of light hike with average elevation changes Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation type: Tent
Day 9
Trekking continues towards Sagan-Khushin cape ("Three brothers" cape)*. Night near the cape.
Physical activity: 6 h of light hike with average elevation changes Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation type: Tent
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.
Physical activity: 7 h of light hike with average elevation changes Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Planned accommodation / or similar: Homestay in Uzury click to view the details Accommodation type: Homestay Comfort: Simple comfort accommodation, toilet outdoors, banya
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.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Transport: Boat, 4х4 Planned accommodation / or similar: Zolotaya Rybka Resort click to view the details Accommodation type: Hotel Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, WC and shower on the floor
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.
Physical activity: 6 h of hike with average elevation changes Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Transport: Boat Accommodation type: Tent
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.
Physical activity: 6 h of hike with average elevation changes Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation type: Tent
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.
Physical activity: 5 h of hike with slight elevation changes Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Transport: Boat Planned accommodation / or similar: Zolotaya Rybka Resort click to view the details Accommodation type: Hotel Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, WC and shower on the floor
Day 15
Morning transfer to the airport. Leave for Ulan-Ude. Arrival in the city in the afternoon. Homestay accommodation. City tour.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Transport: Private car / bus, Plane Accommodation type: Hotel Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, WC and bath / shower in room
Day 16
Morning drive to Ust-Barguzin. Arrival in the village at noon. Accommodation in homestay. Walk around in the village.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Transport: Private car / bus Accommodation type: Homestay Comfort: Simple comfort accommodation, toilet outdoors, banya
Day 17
Day at leisure in Ust-Barguzin. Optional: excursion to Chivyrkuysky Gulf, cruise to the Ushkany Islands to observe freshwater seal.
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.
Physical activity: 4 h of hike with average elevation changes Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Transport: Private car / bus Accommodation type: Tent
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.
Physical activity: 2 h of light hike Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Transport: Private car / bus Accommodation type: Homestay Comfort: Simple comfort accommodation, toilet outdoors, banya
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 back to Irkutsk.
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.
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.
We recommend you to pack all your stuff in two bags: a small backpack and a large travelling bag.
SMALL BACKPACK: will be useful for carrying your personal belongings during the day (camera, film, personal medication, bottled water, etc.) You will also use it as hand luggage during air travel for all your heavy (to lighten the travel bag in the luggage compartment), fragile (camera, etc.) and necessary (toilet bag, etc.) things.
BIG BACKPACK: must contain the rest of your stuff. It will be in the luggage compartment during the flight. You will bring it during some days of the trekking.
Recommended checklist:
Foulard or tagelmust
Original or electronic air tickets with a set of photocopies kept separately
Photo / video camera
American Express Travelers Cheques
Bank card or international credit card
Bath towel
Charger and spare battery for camera/phone
Comfortable walking shoes (like Vibram or similar)
Flask
Fleece jacket or warm sweater
Flip-flops for banya
Forceps for extracting ticks
Headlamp
Insect repellent spray
Large 60 litres backpack
Laundry detergent for washing your clothes
Lightweight trekking socks
Lipstick
Long sleeve shirts or sweatshirts
Moisturizer
Mosquito net for face
POLARTEC or similar pullover
Passport and visa with a set of photocopies kept separately
Pocket knife (to put in checked baggage)
Raincoat
Sewing kit
Shorts
Sun protection cap
Sunglasses with filter
Sunscreen for skin and lips
Swimsuit
Synthetic sleeping bag rated from 0 to +15° C
T-shirts
Tennis or jogging shoes for city walks
Tick repellent
Toilet roll
Tour vouchers and programme
Trekking pants
Trekking socks
Universal AC power outlet
Windproof waterproof pants and jacket (GORE-TEX, EVENT, SIMPA-TEX)
Somehotels and innsofferlaundry servicesfor a variable sumof money.It is sometimespossible to use laundryservices at homestay(when there isrunning 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.
You need to get a health examination before a great trip.Consult your doctor. Get a dental checkup.If you havehealth problems thatcould worsenduring the trip,make sure youhave takenall your medicationswith 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.
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.
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