• Most get-to-know-local-people journey
• "Off the beaten path" itinerary aimed at discovering the riches of the unique nature of Lake Baikal
• Discovery of the Baikal landscapes during various activities: trekking, boating, driving

Moyenne - 3-5 heures d’activité physique par jour.

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, Tazheranskaya steppe, Olkhon Island, Ust-Barguzin, Barguzinskaya Valley, Barguzinsky Gulf, Chivyrkuysky Gulf, Svyatoy Nos, Ulan-Ude

Tour start area: Irkutsk, end area: Irkutsk

Day 1

Arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to homestay (not included). Moving in, rest till midday. After lunch walking tour of Irkutsk: historic centre, old churches, wooden houses, embankment of the Angara River, the Decembrists museum. Dinner and homestay overnight.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
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

Drive to Olkhon Island (300 km/186 mi). En route discovery of the national Buryat museum, meeting with shaman. Arrival to the strait of Olkhonskiye Vorota (Olkhon Gates), crossing of the strait by ferry, drive to the Buryat village of Kharantsy. Accommodation in yurt. Banya (Russian steam bath).

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transport: Private car / bus
Planned accommodation / or similar: Melodiya Olkhona Yurt Camp    click to view the details
Accommodation type: Yurt
Comfort: Simple comfort accommodation, toilet outdoors, banya

Day 3

Trekking from Kharantsy to Peschanoye area. Overnight in tent on beach near the remains of former Gulag.

Day 4

Trekking from Peschanoye area to Khoboy cape, shaman sacred place, breathtaking view. Overnight in tent near the cape.

Day 5

Trekking from Khoboy cape to the weather station of Uzury. Homestay overnight. Banya.

Physical activity: 3 h of hike with slight elevation changes (12 km/7,5 mi)
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 6

Cruise across Lake Baikal towards the east shore. Arrival to the village of Ust-Barguzin. Homestay accommodation. Banya.

Day 7

Drive to Barguzin valley, discovery of 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.

Day 8

Pass crossing*, discovery of "castles of Suvo", picturesque rocks. Picnic and drive back to Ust-Barguzin. En route we will see the famous Bull Stone, the stone garden and other sightseeings of the valley. Homestay overnight in Ust-Barguzin. Banya.

Day 9

All-day excursion on Lake Baikal. Early in the morning we will start our drive to Monakhovo following the tongue of sand that separates two largest gulfs. On the way discovery of Barguzinsky Gulf and Svyatoy Nos Peninsula. Boarding a fish boat, grand tour of Chivyrkuysky Gulf. We will visit Zmeinaya Bay (bay of snakes) and its hot springs, bathing. Lunch in the open air, you will taste a local dainty, endemic fish of the lake – fresh omul. Return to Ust-Barguzin in the evening, homestay overnight, opportunity to take banya.

Day 10

After breakfast drive to Ulan-Ude (270 km/168 mi). Arrival to the city by 2.00 pm, transfer to hotel. Visit to the Buddhist temples complex, Ivolginsky Datsan, the Buddhism centre of the whole Russia. Homestay overnight.

Day 11

Walking tour of Ulan-Ude. Discovery of the village of Old Believers, tasting their traditional cuisine. We will take the night train to Irkutsk (2nd class, compartment car).

Day 12

Arrival in Irkutsk. 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.

Single supplement is 5400 RUB per person.
Breakfast on Day 1, 12; lunch / dinner on Day 12 are not included.

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.

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 TRAVEL BAG or BIG BACKPACK: must contain the rest of your stuff. It will be in the luggage compartment during the flight. It will be transported by vehicles.

10 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 11 dinners.

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

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.

First-aid kit, satellite phone, walkie-talkie are available at your guide.

A good 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.