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
7 Days
March
Highlights
- Crossing Lake Baikal at its geographical center
- East and West: 2 regions and 2 shores of Lake Baikal
- The most picturesque places of winter Baikal
- Baikal ice in all its forms
- An active tour that does not require preparation
Tour Overview
For all those who want not only to see Baikal in winter, but also to try themselves at real ice trekking, we offer the "Baikal Crossing" tour.
A route awaits you, connecting 2 regions and 2 shores of Lake Baikal. Ice caves, rocky shores and the main attractions of the western shore of Lake Baikal: Olkhon Island, Maloye More Bay, Cape Burkhan and Cape Khoboy. Then the passage of the lake in its geographical center, above the thickness of ice covering the deepest point of Lake Baikal. Having reached the eastern coast, we will find ourselves in the protected territory of the Republic of Buryatia.
Travel in a small group accompanied by an experienced guide. For your comfort: only individual transport, second-class train tickets, three meals a day. For safety: accident insurance, crampons for walking on ice.
! No special preparation is required. The participant must be in good physical shape.
Tour programme
- Day 1Arrival in Irkutsk and preparation for the tourIrkutsk
- Day 2Towards Baikal - Olkhon IslandIrkutsk — Khujir, Olkhon island
- Day 3South of Olkhon and the Maloye More StraitKhujir, Olkhon island
- Day 4Lake Baikal CrossingKhujir, Olkhon island — Ust-Barguzin
- Day 5Chivyrkuisky Bay and the Svyatoy Nos PeninsulaUst-Barguzin
- Day 6Ulan-Ude - the capital of of BuryatiaUst-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
- Day 7Return to irkutskUlan-Ude — Irkutsk
- 10:00Meeting at the airport or railway station of IrkutskThe driver will pick you up at the time of your flight/train arrival. Transfer to the hotel in the center of the city.
- 14:00Check-in at the hotel*If you arrive early in the morning, we can book an early check-in for you. Depending on the arrival time, an early check-in surcharge applies (check with the manager).
- 16:00Free time in the cityMeeting with the guide, introduction of the group: we will discuss details, check the equipment. *For those who wish, it is possible to organize a city tour (on foot or by car).
- Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Angara
Standard single room
Note
0.5 h transfer (5km)
- 09:00Breakfast in the hotel's restaurant
- 10:00The road to Olkhon IslandWith our guide and driver we set off for Olkhon Island: the first part of the journey runs along an asphalt road through endless steppes.
- 13:00Lunch at the cafeWe'll stop for lunch at a cafe serving traditional Buryat cuisine - a great opportunity to appreciate the local cuisine!
- 14:00Olkhon islqndWe cross the Olkhon Gate Strait by ice and go to the village of Khuzhir, the main settlement on the island. Accommodation at the hotel. Walk around the village and visit Cape Burkhan (Shamanka Rock) - the main attraction of the island and a sacred place for local shamans.
- 19:00Dinner in the hotel
- Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk — Khujir, Olkhon island
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Nabaymar
Note
5 h transfer (293km)
- 09:00Breakfast in the hotel
- 10:00Excursion to the south of Olkhon in UAZOn this day you will go out on the ice, visit Ogoy Island and the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment. We will visit the ice grottoes, drive along the coast of the island. Be sure to take a camera with you - on this day you will definitely take the most beautiful photos of frozen Baikal!
- 13:00Picnic on iceDuring the excursion, lunch on ice with hot tea.
- 17:00Russian banya — Not includedReturn to the hotel in the afternoon. For those who wish, the opportunity to order the banya (a Russian sauna) is a great way to relax in Siberian style!
- 19:00Dinner in the hotel
- Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Khujir, Olkhon island
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Nabaymar
- 08:00Early breakfast
- 08:30Check-out and transfer to the north of the islandWe load into the car and head to the northernmost point of the island - Cape Khoboy. Along the way we will make several short stops at the most iconic places. Then we go out onto the ice of open Baikal.
- 11:30Ice trekkingThe driver will leave the shore and drop the group off on the ice. You should only take with you the personal items you need for the day. The driver will carry your luggage. Ice crossing of 10 to 20 km. * The total duration of the trek will be determined with the participants on site according to their level of preparation. ** The driver will accompany the group. If necessary, the participant can finish the route by car.
- 13:00Picnic on iceLunch-boxes on the ice.
- 17:00End of the trek and the east coastThe driver meets the group at the east coast. Transfer to the village of Ust-Barguzin. Accommodation in a guest house. Rest.
- 19:00Homemade dinnerPresentation of certificates for crossing Lake Baikal!
- Overnight in the guesthouse
Photo of the day
Route
Khujir, Olkhon island — Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
Note
3 h 4x4 (50km)
4 h trekking (10km)
- 09:00Breakfast
- 10:00Excursion to Chivyrkuisky Bay — Not includedOptional: group excursion to Chivyrkuisky Bay (about 6-8 hours). During the excursion you will walk along the bay, meet local fishermen, swim in the hot springs of Zmeinaya Bay. *The cost of the excursion will depend on the group size - the guide will check the day before.
- 13:00Lunch
- 18:00Dinner
- Overnight in the guesthouse
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
- 10:00Breakfast
- 11:00Transfer to Ulan-Ude
- 13:00Lunch in the cafe
- 15:00Arrival to the cityParticipants can leave their luggage in the luggage storage at the railway station and walk around the city center. * Optional: - excursion to the Ivolginsky datsan - the main Buddhist datsan in Russia - ethnographic museum of Buryatia
- 19:00Dinner in the city — Not included
- Overnight in the train2nd class, 4 beds in the compartment
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
Accommodation
Overnight in the train
The 2nd class compartment
Note
4 h transfer (270km)
- 07:40Arrival to IrkutskTransfer to the airport: * For those who wish, transfer to the city hotel. ** The trip can be extended (upon request). End of the program.
Photo of the day
Route
Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
Discount system
| > 6 months | > 8 months | > 10 months |
| Amount of discount (total payment) | ||
| 5% | 10% | 20% |
| Amount of discount (deposit payment) | ||
| 0 | 5% | 10% |
Travel smart with our discount system!
Departures
March, 01 2025 - Start March, 07 2025 End | Available: 4 Status | 1,480 $ Basic price per person |
Price includes
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- Transport a per itinerary
- Nature reserves and parks entrance permissions
- Accident insurance
- English-speaking guide
- Meals as per itinerary
- Visa invitation and registration of passports (for foreign citizens, if necessary)
- Ice crampons
- Railway tickets
Price does not include
- Personal expenses and tips
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Airline tickets
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note
The tour price is valid for a group of 4-5 people. For a smaller number of participants, an additional charge applies: - a group of 3 people: tour price - 173,400 rubles. - a group of 2 people: tour price - 220,900 rubles. - for an individual traveler - 369,900 rubles. The price is fixed in rubles. Ice walking crampons are provided to each participant. The price includes a train ticket Ulan-Ude - Irkutsk (2nd class). If you are traveling with your family or a group, you can choose convenient dates (upon request).
Reviews
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:
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Laura
From 29 February 2024 to 10 March 2024
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tour: Grand 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
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Pierrette
From 29 February 2024 to 8 March 2024
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tour: Baïkal 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
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Владислав
From 23 July 2023 to 27 July 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Tour: Baikal by kayak
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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Vanessa
From 21 February 2023 to 25 February 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tour: Voyage au lac Baïkal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Un grand merci à Maria qui a su nous sortir de situations parfois vraiment très délicates
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Valérie
From 21 February 2023 to 25 February 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tour: Voyage au lac Baïkal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
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