info@baikalnature.com

Phototour with Viktor Balaguer

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
10 Days
February - March
Highlights
  • Tour with the experienced professional photographer
  • Discovery of the most stunning places of winter Baikal
  • Crossing Lake Baikal by 4x4 in its widest part
  • Overnight in the Baikal ice camp in the geographical center of lake
  • The circular itinerary
  • Visit of the Republic of Buryatia
Tour Overview
Hello, my name is Viktor. Come with me in the heart of Siberia to discover the beauty of the Baikal lake and surrounding area for a trip about discovery and photography.
I will be present at every moment of the stay to give you my advices and tips about photography.
This trip will give you the opportunity to try several types of photography.
We will see together how to approach the different shooting techniques:
-Technical bases of photography
-How to use your camera properly in different kinds of situations
-Work the composition
-Doing photography with difficult exposures (strong contrast as we can see in winter)
-Long exposure technique
-How to create a story with your photos
-Night photography (if weather permitting, there will be night sessions and also sunrise/sunset)
-Street photography
-And of course landscape photography in this magical place that is Baikal lake.
There will also be group sessions where we will talk together about photo editing with lightroom and review of photos from participants taken during the stay.

We will also have the chance and the privilege of sleeping in the ice camp which is located in the middle of Lake Baikal, it's a unique experience to live and also a chance for photography.

I'm waiting you to explore the Baikal lake and share our passion: photography.

Tour programme
  • Day 1
    First meeting with the lake Baikal
    Irkutsk — Listvyanka
  • Day 2
    On Baikal ice by hovercraft
    Listvyanka — MRS
  • Day 3
    Trip to the islands of the Small Sea
    MRS
  • Day 4
    The biggest island of the Baikal lake
    MRS — Olkhon island
  • Day 5
    BaikalNature Ice Camp
    Olkhon island — Baikal lake
  • Day 6
    Day on the ice
    Lake Baikal
  • Day 7
    Baikal crossing
    Baikal lake — Ust-Barguzin
  • Day 8
    Barguzin valley and the Dancing Goddess
    Ust-Barguzin
  • Day 9
    Discovery of Ulan-Ude
    Ust-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
  • Day 10
    Return to Irkutsk
    Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
  • 10:30
    Arrival in Irkutsk
    Meeting with your guide at the airport.
  • 11:00
    Departure to Listvyanka
    We will go by private car to Listvyanka village located 70 km from Irkutsk on the shore of Lake Baikal at the head of the Angara River. This village is a perfect place for the first meeting with Baikal.
  • 11:00
    Excursion to Taltsy museum
    Visit 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.
  • 13:40
    Lunch in the restaurant
    You will taste the dishes of the Baikal cuisine.
  • 15:40
    Lift on the Chersky rock
    You 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, port Baikal and the skyline flowing with the Baikal waters.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the guest house
Photo of the day
Listvyanka Village
Route
Irkutsk — Listvyanka
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel "BaikalCedar"
Standard twin room
Note

1 h transfer  (70km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 10:00
    Transfer to the port
  • 10:15
    Departure by hovercraft to the MRS village
    Travel 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.
  • 13:00
    Lunch box
  • 14:00
    Continuation of the way to MRS
  • 16:00
    Arrival to MRS
    Check-in at your resort and rest.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight at your resort
Photo of the day
Route
Listvyanka — MRS
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Naratey
Twin comfort room
Note

0.4 h transfer  (2km)

hovercraft  (70km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast at your resort
  • 13:00
    Picnic on the open air
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight at your resort
Photo of the day
Route
MRS
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Naratey
  • 09:00
    Breakfast at your resort
  • 10:00
    Transfer to Olkhon island
    Transfer 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.
  • 13:00
    Arrival to Khujir
    Accommodation at the resort.
  • 13:30
    Lunch at your resort
  • 14:00
    Visit of Khujir
    Excursion around the village, discovery of the Burkhan Rock, "place of residence of the Baikal's God" and one of the nine sanctuaries of Asia.
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight at the resort
Photo of the day
Route
MRS — Olkhon island
Accommodation
Accommodation at the resort Nabaymar
Twin room
Note

2 h transfer  (40km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast at the resort
  • 10:00
    Transfer to the ice camp
    Today 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.
  • 13:00
    Picnic lunch
  • 15:00
    Arrival to the camp
    The 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.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
    Hot meals (food cooked on gas burner).
  • Overnight in the camp BaikalNature Ice Camp
Photo of the day
Baikal Ice Camp
Route
Olkhon island — Baikal lake
Accommodation
Camp on the ice of Baikal
Tent for 5-6 persons
Note

3 h 4x4  (60km)

  • 08:30
    Breakfast in the camping
  • 10:00
    Free day in the middle of Baikal
    Today you will have a day at leisure on the Baikal ice. For 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.
  • 13:00
    Lunch on the ice
  • 15:00
    Free time
    For the most sportif participants of the group we propose to play the ice hockey !
  • 18:00
    Hot dinner
  • Overnight in the tent
    Heated tent, placed in the middle of the lake
Photo of the day
Route
Lake Baikal
Accommodation
Camp on the ice of Baikal
Tent for 5-6 persons
  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the camp
  • 13:00
    Lunch in the camp
  • 14:00
    Time at leisure in the camp
    For 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.
  • 16:30
    Departure to Ust-Barguzin and check-in
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • 20:00
    Russian banya
  • Overnight
Photo of the day
Route
Baikal lake — Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 10:00
    Full-day excursion by Russian 4x4 (UAZ)
    By the prairies of the Barguzin valley, we will go to the Barguzin Datsan where in 2005 the image of the Saint Yanjima was appeared on the big bowlder near the Datsan of Barguzin in the Siberian taiga. Now, this place became the pilgrimage destination of the faithful and tourists.
  • 13:00
    Lunch (picnic)
  • 19:00
    Homemade dinner
  • Night in a guest house
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin
Accommodation
Accommodation in Ust-Barguzin
Twin room
  • 08:00
    Homemade breakfast
  • 09:00
    Transfer to Ulan-Ude
    Departure to Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Buryat Republic, by private car.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    In the cafe of buryat dishes
  • 14:00
    Arrival and free time
    Visit 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.
  • 22:30
    Departure to Irkutsk by night train
    * Train, 2nd class compartment, 4 berths
  • Overnight in the train
Photo of the day
Route
Ust-Barguzin — Ulan-Ude
Accommodation
Overnight in the train
The 2nd class compartment
Note

4 h transfer  (268km)

  • 07:15
    Arrival in Irkutsk
  • 08:00
    Transfer to airport. End of the program.
Photo of the day
Route
Ulan-Ude — Irkutsk
Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • English-speaking guide
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Excursions and visits as per itinerary
  • Reserves and national parks entrance permissions
  • Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
  • Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
  • Banya
  • Railway tickets in 2nd class
  • Valenky (felt boots; only in BaikalNature Ice Camp)
  • Sleeping bag in BaikalNature Ice Camp
  • Ropeway to Chersky Rock
  • Ice studs for shoes
  • Meals according to the program
Price does not include
  • Medical insurance
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Airline tickets
  • Optional activities
  • Accident insurance
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

The price is indicated per person in a group of 10 people. Single supplement - 12 300 RUB / pers. The price includes breakfast on Day 2-9, lunch on Day 1-9 and dinner on Day 5-8. The category of the room or accommodation can be changed according to the type you want. Please contact us before your departure.

Reviews
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.
4.33
4.33
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
3.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Vanessa
From 21 February 2023 to 25 February 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tourVoyage 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
4.33
4.33
Total score
4.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Valérie
From 21 February 2023 to 25 February 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tourVoyage au lac Baïkal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
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