- The most beautiful places in winter Baikal
- Ring route with a total length of more than 1300 km
- Visit to two regions: Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia
- Tasting Siberian and Buryat cuisine
- Comfortable accommodation and complete safety
- Nature, history and culture of the Baikal region
This winter tour to Baikal can rightfully be considered our “pearl”. Breathtaking landscapes, rich culture of two regions, an incredible number of attractions and, of course, Baikal ice in all possible forms: endless ice surfaces, majestic hummocks and fabulous icy caves.
In just 7 days you will be able to truly learn and feel the greatness of winter Baikal! We start in the city of Irkutsk - the capital of Eastern Siberia. We head to the village of Listvyanka: here you will be immersed in the culture and history of the region, as well as your first meeting with Lake Baikal! Then we will make a fascinating journey on a hovercraft along the western coast of Lake Baikal to the Olkhon Gate Strait.
During the ice road, we will make stops in the most iconic places: ice fields for those who want to skate on the largest skating rink in the world, bubble ice for those who like spectacular photo shoots, Marble Canyon and petroglyphs for a complete immersion in the history of the region’s development. Then, you will get acquainted with the island of Olkhon - the pearl of Lake Baikal! Let's continue our journey by crossing Lake Baikal in its widest part.
We will pass the geographical center of the lake on ice more than a meter thick, above its deepest point! Having reached the eastern shore of Lake Baikal, we will get acquainted with the life of fishing settlements and visit the territory of the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve - the Holy Nose Peninsula. To make your vacation memorable, we’ll swim in wild hot springs, and in the evening we’ll go to a real Russian bathhouse! We will move to the capital of Buryatia - the city of Ulan-Ude, where we will visit the Ivolginsky Datsan - the main Buddhist temple in Russia. Farewell dinner with the group and a night on the train along part of the Trans-Siberian Railway, passing at the very edge of southern Baikal.
The circular route of the tour is suitable for the most sophisticated travelers, because every day you will have a stop in a new place. For your convenience, only individual transport, comfortable accommodation, experienced guides and complete safety.
- Day 1First meeting with the lake BaikalIrkutsk — Listvyanka
- Day 2On Baikal ice by hovercraftListvyanka — Maloye More (Sakhurta)
- Day 3The biggest island of the Baikal lakeMRS — Olkhon island
- Day 4BaikalNature Ice CampOlkhon island — Baikal lake
- Day 5Baikal crossingBaikal lake — Ust-Barguzin
- Day 6Free dayUst-Barguzin
- Day 7Discovery of Ulan-UdeUst-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
- Day 8Return to IrkutskUlan-Ude — Irkutsk
- 10:30Arrival in IrkutskMeeting with your guide at the airport. *Meeting times for tour participants will be confirmed with the group the day before. Please choose morning flights and trains.
- 11:00Departure to the Listvyanka villageYou will go to the village of Listvyanka situated on the Baikal shore near the Angara river source. Here you will meet the Baikal lake for the first time!
- 12:00Excursion to TaltsyVisit to the open-air museum Taltsy, discover a typical Siberian village of XVIII-XIX century. The museum has become the place of the conservation of the monuments of the popular culture.
- 13:40Lunch in the restaurantYou will taste the dishes of the Baikal cuisine.
- 15:20Lift on the Chersky rockYou will take the chair lift to the Chersky rock 728 metres above sea level. There is a breathtaking panorama: Listvyanka village, Angara river's source and the skyline flowing with the Baikal waters.
- 17:00Accommodation in the hotel and free timeThose interested can take a walk around Listvyanka, visit the local fish market or go to the Nerpinarium - a Baikal seal show.
- 19:00Dinner in the hotels restaurant
- Overnight in the hotel
1 h transfer (69km)
- 07:00Early breakfast in the hotel
- 10:15Departure by hovercraft to the MRS villageTravel by hovercraft on Baikal ice to the village named MRS on the shore of Small Sea. All journey will be on the ice. On the way we will make several stops in Sandy bay and near the rock Sagan-Zaba to observe the mountain relief and cave paintings.
- 13:00Lunch box
- 14:00Continuation of the way to MRS
- 16:00Arrival to MRSCheck-in at your resort and rest.
- 19:00Dinner at your resort
- Overnight at your resort
hovercraft (70km)
- 09:00Breakfast at your resort
- 10:00Transfer to Olkhon islandTransfer to the village of Khuzhir – the main village on Olkhon island. En route, you will visit the Ogoy island - the biggest island of the Maloye More. On the top of the island there is the Buddhist stupa, that also named "The stupa of the clarification". Also, you will visit the Kobylia Golova half-island (Horse Head, Khorin-lrgi) with the length about 4 km. This half-island is very tight and cuspate. It's landscape and scarps are really impressive. The name stems from the fact that one of its capes is shaped like a horse's head.
- 13:00Arrival to KhujirAccommodation at the resort.
- 13:30Lunch at your resort
- 14:00Visit of KhujirExcursion around the village, discovery of the Burkhan Rock, "place of residence of the Baikal's God" and one of the nine sanctuaries of Asia.
- 19:00Dinner — Not included
- Overnight at the resort
2 h transfer (40km)
- 09:00Breakfast at the resort
- 10:00Transfer to the ice campToday you will go on the ice of the lake by 4x4. You will spend a night in the real camp on the Baikal ice situated in the geographic centre of the lake on the boundary between the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. En route, you will visit the Belenkiy island (White), the habitat of thousand of gulls, you will stop near the cape Tri brata (Three brothers, Sagan-Hushun) with its picturesque ice caves and, of course, you will visit the most popular place of the island - the Khoboy cape. Here the giant ice-hummocks remind the radiating rays.
- 13:00Picnic lunch
- 15:00Arrival to the campThe ritual of meeting and greeting where every participant of the group can try to bore the ice. The briefing. You have a possibility to spend a night on the ice of the lake Baikal over 1500 metres of the water column.
- 19:00DinnerHot meals (food cooked on gas burner).
- Overnight in the camp BaikalNature Ice Camp
3 h 4x4 (60km)
- 09:00Breakfast in the camp
- 13:00Lunch in the camp
- 14:00Time at leisure in the campFor those who prefer the active rest, we suggest to go skating or to walk near the camp. The transparent ice, the ice-hummocks and breaks will allow you to make thousand of photos. If you are keen of the photo, we suggest you to wake up earlier and make photos of the Baikal ice in the morning sunshine. For those who like the measured rest there is an Ice bar - the special menu of the ice exotic things. The purest ice is everywhere - around you and even in your glass.
- 16:30Departure to Ust-Barguzin and check-in
- 19:00Dinner — Not included
- 20:00Russian banya
- Overnight In the guest house
- 09:00Breakfast
- 11:00Optional excursion — Not includedToday is a free day, which you can spend as you wish: go ice fishing or discover the picturesque Chivyrkuisky Bay and relaxing in hot springs, or go to the Barguzin valley to see the Barguzinsky datsan and the image of the Saint Yanjima. On site, you will discuss options with your guide and participants, and go on one of the excursions. Payment on site in cash .
- 13:00Lunch in the open air — Not included
- 17:00Return to the village of Ust-Barguzin
- 19:00Homemade dinner — Not included
- Overnight in the guest house
- 08:00Homemade breakfast
- 09:00Transfer to Ulan-UdeDeparture to Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic, by private car.
- 13:00LunchIn the cafe of buryat dishes
- 14:00Arrival and free timeVisit of the Ivolginsky datsan, serving the most important place of worship in Buryatia and the centre of Buddhism in Russia, located outside the city in a beautiful steppe.
- 22:30Departure to Irkutsk by night train* Train, 2nd class compartment, 4 berths
- Overnight in the train
4 h transfer (268km)
- 07:15Arrival in Irkutsk
- 08:00Transfer to airport. End of the program.
| > 6 months | > 8 months | > 10 months |
| Amount of discount (total payment) | ||
| 5% | 10% | 20% |
| Amount of discount (deposit payment) | ||
| 0 | 5% | 10% |
February, 22 2025 - Start March, 01 2025 End | Available: 4+ Status | 2,110 $ Basic price per person | |
March, 01 2025 - Start March, 08 2025 End | Available: 4+ Status | 2,110 $ Basic price per person | |
March, 10 2025 - Start March, 17 2025 End | Available: 4+ Status | 2,110 $ Basic price per person |
- English-speaking guide
- Russian-spaking guide
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- Excursions and visits as per itinerary
- Nature reserves and parks entrance permissions
- Bathing in springs
- Airplane/ train tickets
- Accident insurance
- Ice crampons
- 1
- Letter of invitation
- Meals according to the program
- Ice studs for shoes
- Sleeping bag in BaikalNature Ice Camp
- Ropeway to Chersky Rock
- Personal expenses and tips
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Meals as per itinerary
- Airline tickets
- Optional activities
The departure is guaranteed for a group of 5 persons (minimum). If there are fewer participants, the price of the tour will be recalculated. Single supplement - 14 200 rubles / pers. The tour can be organized individually on dates suitable for you from February 20 to March 15. For families with children, discounts are provided depending on the age of the child at the time of travel. It is possible to book additional services before, during or after the tour.
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