• Wild animals observation in their natural habitat
• Total change of scenery
• Discovery of wild places of Lake Baikal

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.

La plupart des services sur une base privée pour le groupe, certains éléments non exclusifs.

Destinations: Lake Baikal. Visited areas: Irkutsk, Krestovsky Cape, Tazheranskaya steppe, Lake Baikal, Maloye More, Baikalo-Lensky Nature Reserve, Pokoyniki Cape, Ushkany Islands, Olkhon Island

Tour start area: Irkutsk, end area: Irkutsk

Day 1

Meeting in the centre of Irkutsk city. Homestay check-in. Rest and lunch in homestay. In the afternoon city tour: historic centre, old churches, traditional wooden houses. Visit to the Decembrists museum. Dinner in homestay.

Day 2

Morning departure to Krestovsky Cape. We will head north-east of Irkutsk through Russian and Buryat countryside. The landscape of wheat fields will change into Siberian taiga and then - steppe. We will stop at picturesque places several times for taking pictures and making offerings to the spirits of the places. On the way visit to the national Buryat museum. Lunch in a roadside cafe serving Buryat cuisine. Arrival to Krestovsky Cape, accommodation at local farm with cordial atmosphere. Walk in surroundings. Homestay overnight. Banya in the evening.

Day 3

Drive in 4x4 to Zama from where boat embarkation and journey to forestry officers of the Baikalo-Lensky nature reserve on Pokoyny cape. Snow-covered tops of the Barguzinsky range will await for you. Homestay accommodation.

Day 4

Early morning bear observation. If weather conditions permit, cruise to Ushkany Islands to observe freshwater seals of Lake Baikal. Discovery of small weather station and unique fauna. In the evening return to Pokoyny Cape.

Day 5

At about 4.00 am bear observation starts. After breakfast departure by boat to Bolshoy Solontsovy cape, 18 km/11 mi north of Pokoyny. Navigation along the beautiful rocky shore. Trekking to the bottom of the Baikalsky ridge and its cascades. Return to Pokoyny in the evening.

Day 6

From 4 am to 7 am bear observation. All-day trekking towards the source of the Lena. Crossing of Solntsepad pass (1240 m/4070 ft), wonderful view of Lake Baikal and the valley of the Lena river. Night in winter hut on the shore of beautiful small lake called emerald and located deep in taiga. This lake is abundant in fish: slug and grayling of the Lena river came to the lake by fault in the rock linking it with the river. In the evening fishing and dinner by bonfire.

Day 7

Morning trek to the rapids of the Lena. Possible to see brown bear, elk, and stag (deer). Return to Pokoyny Cape. Bear observation with binoculars. Banya in the evening.

Day 8

Before the dawn we will sail north, to Yelokhin Cape (71 km/44 mi), administrative frontier of the Irkutsk region and Buryatia. Today will be spent on discovering the west shore of Lake Baikal. Two hours of bear observation from the boat deck. Breakfast at Yelokhin Cape with forestry officers who will tell you about their activities in the reserve. Walk in taiga to discover mountain rivers and to fish Baikal grayling. On the way back to Pokoyny Cape we will stop at Zavorotny Cape to see the territory that once belonged to the geological society. At wish - hike up following a serpentine path to the abandoned microquartzite quarry located 2000 m/6560 ft above the sea level. Visit to Maly Solontsovy Cape, possible to fish dace. In the evening return to Pokoyny Cape.

Day 9

Before the sun rises, we will take a boat to observe bear. Stop at mythical Ryty Cape. Crossing of the lake towards Olkhon Island. Disembarkation in Peschanaya Bay and discovery of the island by 4x4. Night in the capital of the island, the village of Khuzhir.

Day 10

Drive to Irkutsk. Arrival in the city in the afternoon. Free time. Night in homestay.

Day 11

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.

Supplement for the group of 2 persons 20070 RUB / person (approx. 480 EUR).

The price does not include the entrance fee to Ushkany Islands to see seal colonies (1000-2000 RUB / person)

Breakfast on Day 1 and lunch / dinner on Day 10 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.

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.

10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 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.