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
February - March
Highlights
- Baikal crossing from the south to the north
- Overnight in the pre-prepared tent camp in the centre of Lake Baikal - "BaikalNature Ice Camp"
- Visit of the symbolic places of Lake Baikal
- Visit of the northernmost and the southernmost points of Lake Baikal
- Double crossing of thelake in the central and the northern parts
- More than 800 km on the Baikal ice
- More than 2000 km of the total itinerary
- Bathing in the hot springs
- Circular itinerary via the Republic of Buryatia and the Baikal–Amur Mainline
Tour Overview
Once you have made a decision to go for a travel to Lake Baikal, you have thought a great deal about places to visit. We have elaborated for you the unique tour that allows trying and seeing everything! You will see all types of landscape, all essential landmarks and all types of the Baikal ice: snowy fields, unlimited polished ice rinks, ice hummocks, ice coves and others. The total distance of the itinerary is more than 2000 km! For understanding the immensity of this tour, just take a look at the map!
Symbolically the first meeting with Baikal will be held in the southernmost point of Lake Baikal and the tour will end in the northernmost part near the stele “Northern Baikal”. When you will go on ice for the first time in the south part of the lake, you will get acquaintance with the Circum-Baikal railway. Moreover, you will pass by the Angara source by hovercraft. During this tour you will cross Lake Baikal twice. The first crossing will be in the deepest and widest central part of lake on the crystal ice fields. You will stay overnight in the BaikalNature Ice Camp in the geographical center of the lake. In the camp the unique activities are proposed: you can skate on the natural ice rink, to play ice hockey or to have a rest in Ice Bar. For those who want we propose to take Russian banya (sauna) and to dive in an ice hole. The second crossing will be in the north of Lake Baikal – the most under populated and hard-to-get part of the lake.
The special part of the tour is the rest in the Baikal corner of paradise far away from civilization – Khakoussy hot springs. Besides that you will visit the symbolic places: Listvyanka village, Peschanaya bay, Olkhon island, Barguzinskiy and Chivikuysky golfs, Khakussy hot springs, Severobaykalsk city.
In the end of the tour you will go on train by the Baikal–Amur Mainline (BAM) – one of the biggest railway lines all over the world.
After this tour, you will be able to say that you know the winter Baikal!Read more
Tour programme
- Day 1The southernmost point of lake BaikalIrkutsk — Litsvyanka
- Day 2On Baikal ice by hovercraftListvyanka — MRS
- Day 3The biggest island of the Baikal lakeMRS — Olkhon island
- Day 4BaikalNature Ice CampOlkhon island — Baikal lake
- Day 5Baikal crossingBaikal lake — Ust-Barguzin
- Day 6Day at leisure in the Baikal villageUst-Barguzin
- Day 7Along the Eastern coast of Lake BaikalUst-Barguzin — Khakussy
- Day 8Hot springs in KhakusyKhakusy
- Day 9The northernmost point of lake BaikalKhakussy — Severobaykalsk
- Day 10Day in SeverobaykalskSeverobaykalsk
- Day 11Baikal–Amur Mainline on trainBAM
- Day 12Return to IrkutskIrkutsk
- 11:00Meeting with group in the Irkutsk airportMeeting with the group, your guide and driver in the airport. Acquaintance with the group and discussion of the tour's details. *You can choose the morning flight for taking the breakfast in one of the airports cafes or to arrive the day before. Please, contact us for the supplement overnight reservation.
- 11:05Departure to the Kultuk villageKultuk is a village and the bay of the same name situated in the southernmost part of lake Baikal. Near Kultuk village there is a view point of lake Baikal against a background of the majestic Khamar-Daban mountains.
- 13:00Lunch in the cafe — Not includedYou can taste the dishes of the local cuisine in the cafe with picture windows. The lunch is not included in the price, the payment on site in cash.
- 14:00Departure by hovercraft to the Listvyanka villageWe start our itinerary by hovercraft on the frozen lake Baikal. We go along the Circum-Baikal Railway, unique monument of engineering art of the end of 19th century. On the way several stops are provided in the most interesting and beautiful places. Passing by the Angara river source you can see the Shaman rock that is considered the natural monument.
- 17:00Arrival to the Listvyanka villageTransfer to the hotel and accommodation. Rest.
- 19:00Dinner in the hotel
- Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Irkutsk — Litsvyanka
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Baikal, Listvyanka
Twin standard
Note
2 h transfer (101km)
- 09:00Breakfast in the hotel
- 10:00Transfer to the port
- 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 — Not included
- Overnight at your resort
Photo of the day
Route
Listvyanka — MRS
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Naratey
Twin room
Note
0.4 h transfer (2km)
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
Photo of the day
Route
MRS — Olkhon island
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Lada
Chambre confortable
Landmarks
Note
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
Photo of the day
Route
Olkhon island — Baikal lake
Accommodation
Camp on the ice of Baikal
Tent for 5-6 persons
Note
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 in Ust-Bargouzin and accommodation in the homestay
- 19:00DinnerDinner is cooked by the locals
- 20:00Russian banya
- Overnight in the homestead
Photo of the day
Route
Baikal lake — Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay
Twin room in the homstay
- 09:00Breakfast
- 10:00Time at leisureThis day you can stroll the Baikal coast or just have a rest in the homestay. For those who want we propose some optional excursions: - "Taiga Hunter" (The walking excursion accompanied by the experienced hunter. On special snow shoes you will go deep to the snowy taiga for getting acquaintance with animals and birds of the region and trying to distinguish their spoors. The total duration of the excursion about 5-7 hours). - "Dancing divinity" (The 2nd May of 2005, the image of the Saint Yanjima was appeared on the big bowlder near the Datsan of Barguzin in the siberian tayga. Now, this place became the pilgrimage destination of the faithful and tourists. The approximate duration is 6-7 hours).
- 13:00Lunch*For those who will go to excursion that day we propose lunch boxes.
- 18:00Russian banya
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight in the homestay
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in the homestay
Twin room in the homstay
- 09:00Breakfast
- 10:00Transfer to KhakussyAfter the breakfast, we start our road to Khakussy. We go along the eastern coast of the lake to the north by the ice road. Firstly, we will cross the Chivykuysky Gulf. if the weather and the ice situation allow, we will visit the Zmeinaya bay for bathing in the hot springs.
- 13:00LunchOn route we will make a stop for the lunch with hot tea.
- 14:00Continuation of the journeyThe north-est coast of lake Baikal isn't populated and you will see only winter cabins for park rangers. There are no tourists and the access to these area is more accessible in summer during the navigation period.
- 18:00Arrival to KhakussyAccommodation at the resort. Rest.
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight at the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin — Khakussy
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Laskoviy Bereg
Twin room
Note
6 h 4x4 (223km)
- 09:00Breakfast
- 10:00Free day in KhakussyKhakusi 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.
- 13:00Lunch in the resort
- 15:00Free time for bathing
- 19:00Dinner in the resort
- Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Khakusy
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Laskoviy Bereg
Twin room
- 09:00Breakfast
- 10:00Baikal crossing from the east to westWe will go to the northernmost city of the lake Baikal - Severobaykalsk. You will cross the lake once again - from the est to the west in its north part.
- 13:00Continuation of the roadEn route we will visit the stele "North Baikal" situated on the lake's coast.
- 14:00Arrival to SeverobaykalskAccommodation in the hotel. Rest.
- 15:00Lunch in the hotel
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight in the hotel
- 09:00Breakfast in the hotel
- 10:00Time at leisure in the cityThe Severobaykalsk city is situated in the valley surrounded by the Baikal Mountains. The city's foundation and the developping of the north baikal territory is related to the construction of the BAM (Baikal–Amur Mainline). You have possibility to stroll, to have a rest and to buy all you need for the train. As option, we propose the bathing in the hot springs "Goudzhekit". 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.
- 20:30Transfer to the railway stationEmbarkation and departure.
- Overnight in the train
Photo of the day
Route
Severobaykalsk
Accommodation
Overnight in the train
The 2nd class compartment
- 11:00Day in the trainOur itinerary passes by the 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.
- Overnight in the train
Photo of the day
Route
BAM
Accommodation
Overnight in the train
The 2nd class compartment
- 12:10Arrival to IrkutskEnd of the programme. *The supplement transfer from the railway station to airport/hotel - 1600 roubles.
Photo of the day
Route
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
February, 25 2021 - Start March, 08 2021 End | Available: 4+ Status | 1,898 $ Basic price per person |
Price includes
- English-speaking guide
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- Transport as per itinerary
- Excursions and visits as per itinerary
- Railway tickets in 2nd class
- Sleeping bag in BaikalNature Ice Camp
- Letter of invitation
- Guide in the trains
- Bathing in hot springs
- Meals according to the program
- Ice studs for shoes
Price does not include
- Personal expenses and tips
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Airline tickets
- Optional activities
- Transfers in Irkutsk
- Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note
You can book the optional excursions in advance or on site with payment in cash. Single supplement (except an overnight in Baikal Ice Camp) - 13 500 roubles.
Reviews
Total score
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
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Gérard
From 26 February 2020 to 8 March 2020
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again?
voyage interessant mais peut être améliorer
Total score
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Luciano
From 1 March 2019 to 12 March 2019
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
All very well, thanks. I will publish in a month a full travelogue with lot of photos on my personal blog.
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Hugo
From 1 March 2019 to 11 March 2019
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:
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Dirk
From 4 March 2020 to 11 March 2020
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tour: Individual Grand Crossing Tour
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
This was a very good organised trip over the lake. I worked very well with Olga. It was a nice cooperation.
some remarks:
- The homestay in Ust-Barguzin could have been better. If I knew that there were two families and how the beds were divided, then I could have prepared the group and it would be less chaotic.
- Some of the group were disappointed that we didn't walk all the way. On the first day
Read more
BaikalNature's reply
Thank you for your feedback! We would like to give you some comments about the tour.
- Large groups always have to be divided into several houses, since it is not a hotel, it's a house of a local. Such number of places can’t be provided by one homestay. Please, feel free to ask us a better hotel, we are always ready to follow your requests.
-Perhaps the drivers misunderstood you because of the lang Read more
Total score
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Quality of accommodation
Quality of transport / transfers
Quality of meals
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Pierre
From 5 March 2020 to 12 March 2020
Destination: Lake Baikal
Tour: Kingdom Of Ice
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Nous avons grandement apprécié ce séjour hivernal autour du lac Baïkal. L'agence est très disponible pour nous aider à préparer le voyage et une fois sur place, notre guide a été aux petits soins, nous laissant tout le temps pour profiter du lac !
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