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
11 Days
February - March
Highlights
- Baikal crossing from the south to the north
- 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
Having decided to come to Baikal in winter, you are probably tormented by the choice of places to visit. We have developed a unique tour for you that allows you to see and try everything! You will see all types of landscapes, all iconic places, ice in all its manifestations: snow fields, endless polished ice rinks, hummocks, ice grottoes, etc. The total length of the route is more than 2000 km! To understand the grandeur of this journey, just look at the map!
Having been on such a tour, you can say with complete confidence that you know winter Baikal and understand its true greatness!
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 4Baikal crossingOlkhon island — Goryachinsk
- Day 5Chivyrkuisky Bay and hot springsGoryachinsk
- Day 6Along the Eastern coast of Lake BaikalGoryachinsk — Khakussy
- Day 7Hot springs in KhakusyKhakusy
- Day 8The northernmost point of lake BaikalKhakussy — Severobaykalsk
- Day 9Day in SeverobaykalskSeverobaykalsk
- Day 10Baikal–Amur Mainline on trainBAM
- Day 11Return 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 airport 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 Usadba Demidova
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)
- 09:00BreakfastAfter breakfast, check out of the hotel. Group gathering on the shore.
- 11:00Crossing Lake BaikalFirst, you will travel along the island to the north - to Cape Khoboy, which is considered a landmark. Then, we go out into open Baikal. You will cross the lake in its widest part from the western shore to the eastern, where another region is located - the Republic of Buryatia.
- 13:00LunchA picnic awaits you right on the ice near the deepest point of Lake Baikal. Hot tea on a meter of ice over an abyss of more than a kilometer!
- 16:00Arrival in GoryachinskAccommodation in a guest house. Rest.
- 19:00Dinner
- 20:00Russian banya
- Overnight in the guest house
Photo of the day
Route
Olkhon island — Goryachinsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
- 09:00Breakfast
- 10:00Excursion to Chivyrkuisky BayThere are 7 islands in the Chivyrkuisky Bay, but we will visit the largest and most interesting of them, surrounded by ice grottoes and sokuyi. During the excursion, we will visit the Zmeinaya Bay, where everyone can swim in hot springs with temperatures up to 45 degrees (you need to take a swimsuit and towels with you). On the way back, we will get acquainted with the life of fishermen engaged in ice fishing for omul and grayling in a fishing village in the center of the Chivyrkuisky Bay. - "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 (picnic during the excursion)
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight in the guest house
Photo of the day
Route
Goryachinsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
- 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
Goryachinsk — 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. *Additional services on request: - transfer to the airport / to the city hotel - excursion to the village of Listvyanka (about 8 hours) - accommodation in Irkutsk
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, 24 2026 - Start March, 06 2026 End | Available: 4+ Status | 5,320 $ Basic price per person | |
March, 01 2026 - Start March, 11 2026 End | Available: 4+ Status | 5,320 $ Basic price per person |
Price includes
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- Excursions and visits as per itinerary
- Ice crampons
- English-speaking guide
- Transport a per itinerary
- Meals as per itinerary
- Visa invitation and registration of passports (for foreign citizens, if necessary)
- Nature reserves and parks entrance permissions
- Bathing in springs
- Railway tickets
Price does not include
- Personal expenses and tips
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Airplane/ train tickets
- Accident insurance
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note
Departure is guaranteed from 3 people. When recruiting a group of more than 5 people, the cost will be recalculated downwards: - in a group of 5 to 8 people: 369,400 rubles / per person - in a group of 9 to 12 people: 296,200 rubles / per person For individual groups of tourists, departures are possible on convenient dates (from February 20 to March 15 - ice season). You can book the optional excursions in advance or on site with payment in cash.
Reviews
Total score
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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
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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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Jean-Pierre
From 22 February 2025 to 28 February 2025
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tour: Baïkal Hivernal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Excellente organisation.
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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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