info@baikalnature.com

Around Baikal Winter Expedition

Destination: Lake Baikal
Easy - nothing more than normal walking while sight-seeing
Moderately Easy - 1-3 hours of physical activity daily
Moderate - 3-5 hours of physical activity daily
Challenging - 5-7 hours of challenging physical activity daily
Extreme - 7+ hours of challenging/extreme physical activity daily
Difficulty
Basic — most of nights in tents or rooms with shared WC, some nights in comfortable rooms.
Standard — most of nights in comfortable rooms, some nights in tents or rooms with shared WC.
Upgraded — all nights in comfortable rooms.
Comfort
Minimum age of the participant of this trip
12 Days
Highlights
  • More than 300 km of the way by frozen lake
  • Visits of the two Baikal regional capital cities: Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude (Republic of Buryatia)
  • Visit of the Old Believers’ village
  • Visit of the Olkhoen island and Svyatoy Nos peninsula
  • Ring road going for more than 2000 km
  • Night in fishermen’s yurts on the ice
  • Bathing in the hot springs
  • Feasible itinerary even in case of extreme weather conditions
  • Road along of the Trans-Siberian and Baikal-Amur Mainlines
  • Observation of ice in all its forms
  • Discovery of the wildest and the least “touristy” part of the lake
Tour Overview

There are so many opportunities that the winter season offers to motorists, like the famous winter roads that replace the hardly passable mud paths and the lake with a depth of 1500 km.  BaikalNature invites you to take advantage of these opportunities and would like to present to you a new exclusive tour - off-road expedition around lake Baikal. 10 unforgettable days of adventure, during which you will take a ride around the lake and also pass more than 400 km by ice.


Moreover, you will: 

bathe in thermal hot springs where the temperature of water reaches 50 degrees, 

spend a night in a true fisherman's yurt on the ice, 

travel to the largest peninsula on lake Baikal, 

enjoy the unforgettable views of giant ice hummocks (up to 5x meters in height), 

visit the village of Old Believers - Tarbagatay and the center of Buddhism in Russia – datsan of Ivolginsk. And if luck is on your side, you will get a chance to see the nerpas – famous lake Baikal endemic seals.


During the tour you will also visit 2 capitals of Baikal region - Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude, and travel along the longest railway lines in the world - the Baikal–Amur Mainline and Trans-Siberian. 

The full length of the Trans-Siberian railway is more than 9200 km and we will join this great route for a short but its most picturesque segment - from Ulan-Ude to Irkutsk, part of which runs along the shore of lake Baikal. 

As for the trip along the Baikal-Amur Mainline, running for more than 4,200 km, here we will compete in the speed with trains going for 135 km from Ulkan to Severobaikalsk. 

Baikal-Amur Mainline runs north of and parallel to the Trans-Siberian railway departing from it at Tayshet. Its construction began in 1938 and was carried out mainly by prisoners of correctional camps and later by volunteers.

N.B. The tour is an expedition.The itinerary can be changed for ensuring security of the group keeping all excursions.

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Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Discovery of Irkutsk city
    Irkutsk
  • Day 2
    Olkhon island - the heart of Lake Baikal
    Irkutsk — Khujir
  • Day 3
    Ice caves and the northernmost point of Olkhon
    Khujir
  • Day 4
    Kachug Road
    Khujir — Zhigalovo
  • Day 5
    Road along the BAM. Hot springs
    Zhigalovo — Goudzhekit
  • Day 6
    Severobaikalsk. Crossing of Baikal on the ice
    Goudzhekit — Khakusi
  • Day 7
    Hot springs Khakusy
    Khakusy
  • Day 8
    To Chivyrkuysky Gulf through the ice
    Khakusi — Chivyrkuysky Gulf
  • Day 9
    Sviatoy Nos peninsula
    Chivyrkuysky Gulf — Ust-Barguzin
  • Day 10
    Ulan-Ude - the capital of Buryatya
    Ust-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
  • Day 11
    Along "Baikal" highway
    Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
  • Day 12
    End of the program
    Irkutsk
  • 11:00
    Arrival in Irkutsk
    Transfer to the hotel. Check-in, rest after the flight. *The indicated time of the transfer is approximate. The time of the transfer can be changed according to your flight. **If you arrive earlier in the morning, it's possible to add the early check-in (300 roubles / per hour before the check-in at 13:00).
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
  • 15:00
    Meeting with you guide at hotel's reception
    The guide will wait for you at the reception of the hotel with the sign "BaikalNature". Meeting and acquaintance with the the group. If you need, you can go shopping or withdraw money from the ATM with you guide.
  • 19:00
    Dinner in the hotel Not included
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Angara
Twin standard room
  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 10:00
    Departure to the Olkhon island
    We will follow the asphalted road to the island. On the way you will make a short stops to take photos. We will cross the strait by the ice road (about 2 km) for reaching the Khujir village where we will spend a night.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the roadside café Not included
  • 16:00
    Walking tour of the village
    Check-in at the resort. Free time to have a walk around the village, discovery of Burkhan rock, residence of the Baikal spirits, site of shamanic cult and one of the nine Buddhist sanctuaries of Asia. Visit of the village.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight at the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk — Khujir
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort "Baikalov ostrog"
Twin room
Note

5 h 4x4  (293km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast at the resort
  • 10:00
    Excursion to the Khoboy cape
    By the ice, we will go by 4x4 along the western coast of the island till the Khoboy cape - the northernmost point of the island and one of the most recognizable sites of Lake Baikal. Along the way, you will see the torosses, ice caves and great fields of the transparent ice.
  • 13:00
    Lunch outside (lunch-boxes)
  • 17:00
    Return to the village
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight at the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Khujir
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort "Baikalov ostrog"
Twin room
Note

3 h 4x4  (40km)

  • 08:00
    Breakfast at the resort
  • 09:00
    Departure to Zhigalovo
    Departure for Zhigalovo through Kachug road, where the endless steppe opens on the forest and the wild taiga. All along the day, we will stop in various picturesque spots.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the outside cafe Not included
  • 18:00
    Continuation of the way by Kachug road
    We will as well make a stop and take a moment to observe the Shushensky petroglyphs. Arrival in Zhigalovo in the evening, accommodation at the resort.
  • 19:00
    Dinner in the local café Not included
  • Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Lena Road A-360
Route
Khujir — Zhigalovo
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hote LenaTour
Twin room
Note

  (195km)

7 h 4x4  (419km)

  • 08:30
    Departure for the Goudzhekit's hot springs.
  • 09:00
    En route, breakfast in roadside café
  • 10:00
    Continuation of the way
    This day, the part of route will follow the popular BAM mainline (Baikal-Amur Mainline), one of the biggest railroad in the world. Its construction began in 1938 and goes through the country for 4287km. The BAM mainline crosses the path of the legendary Transsiberian railroad before the two part from each other in Tayshet. This mainline was mainly built by prisoners from the labour camps, then, by volunteers. This is an opportunity for you to see with your own eyes a part of Russia’s History.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in roadside café Not included
  • 18:00
    Continuation of the way
    Return to Goujekit in the evening. Accommodation at the resort.
  • 19:00
    Dinner at the resort
  • 20:00
    Free time
    Possibility to enjoy of the hot springs (entry must be paid on spot, about 200 rubles). The thermal waters are located in the floodplains of Goudzhekit and come out of the ground at a temperature of 50°C. The waters of the hot springs are well known for their rich composition of silicic acids and alkalis properties.
  • Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Zhigalovo — Goudzhekit
Accommodation
Accommodation in the resort Hozyain
Twin room
Note

  (195km)

4x4  (585km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast at the resort
  • 10:00
    Departure for the Baikal coasts
    We will go through the city of Severobaykalsk, where we will stop a bit to visit the city-centre. Severobaykalsk is the most populated town on the Baikal coasts and is surrounded by the rocky ridges of the lake. Also, we will see the stele "North Baikal" - a symbolic place, the northernmost point of the lake. Then, we will cross the lake on the ice from its east coast.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in roadside cafe
  • 14:00
    Continuation of the way on the ice
    In the afternoon arrival and check-in at the base in Khakusi.
  • 19:00
    Dinner at the resort
  • Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Goudzhekit — Khakusi
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Laskoviy Bereg
Twin room
Note

7 h 4x4  (102km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Free day in Khakusi
    Khakusi is a thermal station known for its hot springs and their waters whose temperatures are reaching 46°C. It is also an opportunity for you to bathe in the medicinal waters and draw strength from the surrounding environment.
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the resort
  • 15:00
    Free time for bathing
  • 19:00
    Dinner in the resort
  • Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Khakusy
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Laskoviy Bereg
Twin room
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Departure to the Chivyrkuysky Gulf
  • 13:00
    Pic-nic along the road Not included
    We take with us the hot tea and sandwiches.
  • 15:00
    Continuation of the way on the ice
    In the afternoon, arrival at the Chivyrkuysky Gulf. We will spend night in fishermen’s yurts.
  • 19:00
    Dinner un the yurt
  • Overnight in fishermen’s yurt
Photo of the day
Route
Khakusi — Chivyrkuysky Gulf
Accommodation
Overnight in the yurt
Yurt for 5 persons
Note

  (101.5km)

6 h 4x4  (195km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Departure to Ust-Barguzin
    Today, we will carry on the road to Ust-Barguzin. If the ice is safe enough, you will have the opportunity to go around the Sviatoy Nos peninsula and visit the island of Uchkani.
  • 13:00
    Pic-nic in the open air Not included
  • 14:00
    Continuation of the way to Ust-Barguzin
    Arrival in Ust-Barguzin in the evening, installation in homestay.
  • 19:00
    Dinner at homestay
  • Overnight in homestay
Photo of the day
Route
Chivyrkuysky Gulf — Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
Note

4x4  (130km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Departure to Ulan-Ude
    After breakfast, we go back on the road to Ulan-Ude, capital city of the Republic of Buryatia. A part of the route that will last approximately five hours along the Baikal coasts. Visit of the Old Believers’ village of Tarbagatay.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    You will be offered a traditional Buryat meal by the local people as well as a folkloric show.
  • 15:00
    Continuation of the way to Ulan-Ude
    Visit of Ivolginsky Datsan, a Buddhist complex located in the middle of the steppe, away from the city. This Dastan has a particularly important place in the Buryat culture and is also the heart of the Buddhist faith in Russia. Way back to Ulan-Ude, check-in. If there is enough time - stoll in the city-centre to discover different touristic assets of the city.
  • 19:00
    Dinner in the local restaurant
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Buryatia
Standard Twin room
Note

8 h 4x4  (410km)

cultural exploration  (212.5km)

  • 09:00
    Departure to Irkutsk
    After breakfast, departure to Irkutsk along the "Baikal" highway. A part of the route will be along the coasts of the Baikal.
  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the road-side café Not included
  • 14:00
    Continuation of the way to Irkutsk
    Arrival in the afternoon. Check-in in the hotel.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
    Festive diner in the local restauant
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Winter Kolyma Road
Route
Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Angara
Twin standard room
Note

8 h 4x4  (458km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Transfer to the airport
    End of the program.
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk
Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • English-speaking guide
  • Russian-spaking guide
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Excursions and visits as per itinerary
  • Letter of invitation
  • Sleeping bag rental
  • Nature reserves and parks entrance permissions
  • Bathing in springs
  • Airplane/ train tickets
  • Celebratory dinner with alcoholic beverages
  • English-speaking guide services
  • Meals according to the program
Price does not include
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Airline tickets
  • Meals as per itinerary
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

The price is given for a group of 4 persons. If there less persons, the price can be modified. The price given is for a group of 2 people (for one car). Total number of vehicles: 1 to 4. The eals are included in the price of the program: breakfasts for days 2-4, 7-8, 10-12; lunches for days 3,7,10; dinners for days 5-11. The access to the hot springs in Goudzhekit is to pay on the spot (around 200 rubles per person).

Reviews
4.67
4.67
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
4.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Hélène
From 3 March 2017 to 12 March 2017
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Voyage très bien organisé et original (logement et repas chez l'habitant très bien). Confort un peu rudimentaire, mais c'est normal dans cette région et il faut l'accepter. Par contre à Khakoussy il était noté sur le programme toilette et douche à l'étage. De douche il n'y en avait pas, et les toilettes, c'était dehors. D'ailleurs, nous n'étions pas dans l'hébergement prévu. Les repas étaient
  Read more
BaikalNature's reply
Bonjour Hélène, merci pour vos précieux commentaires. En ce qui concerne votre logement à Khakoussy, nous avons dû remplacer votre hébergement car les chambres de l'hôtel initialement prévu au programme sont actuellement en réparation. Toutefois, nous vous prions de bien vouloir nous excuser pour ce désagrément qui est indépendant de notre volonté. Nous vous remercions pour vos appréci
  Read more
5.00
5.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Pierre-Jean
From 3 March 2017 to 12 March 2017
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
This guest did not leave a comment.
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:
4.83
4.83
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Laura
From 29 February 2024 to 10 March 2024
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tourGrand Nord du Lac Baïkal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Préparation du voyage d’un grand sérieux, attention particulière à répondre aux besoins exprimés (grands espaces sauvages peu visités), disponibilité et fiabilité mêlées d’une agréable sympathie! Lors du séjour, la communication a été facile. Le voyage en transsibérien, l’accueil a Oust Bargouzin et le road-trip avec Alexander Beketov comme guide ont été mes moments préférés; son expérience est
  Read more
5.00
5.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Pierrette
From 29 February 2024 to 8 March 2024
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tourBaïkal Hivernal Classique
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Ce voyage, compliqué en cette période géopolitique critique, a été bien organisé en coopération avec le bureau, selon mes préférences, mes besoins. Tout a été prévu avec minutie. Accueil très chaleureux individualisé. J'ai été réellement bluffée et hyper satisfaite de toutes les prestations. Le personnel, guide et chauffeurs, est très professionnel, très attentionné, bienveillant et d'une qualité
  Read more
5.00
5.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Владислав
From 23 July 2023 to 27 July 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Замечательный тур! Очень понравилось всё, начиная от организационных моментов, заканчивая самим путешествием, замечательным гидом Егором, удивительно живописными местами, супер устойчивыми байдарками и разнообразной погодой.
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Why subscribe? First, our newsletters are captivating! We are one of the few tour operators specializing in Russian and Georgian nature, who invests a lot of resources into photo and video-shooting. That’s why even sitting in the office, you’ll feel like you are making your way among arctic ices, walking along taiga valleys, admiring volcanos or looking in the mirror of crystal Baikal waters. Second, there is lots of useful stuff in our letters. The information about outstanding places, new routes’ descriptions, stories from expeditions and trips. And don’t worry, we write in an easy and entertaining manner. And finally, we’re not pushy. You will get all this beauty not often than once a month or two. So you’re gonna miss us!