Ice Adventure on Lake Baikal

This tour is not available and is archived.

Difficulty

Comfort

Highlights

Enjoyable winter activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling, travelling by hovercraft, 4x4, trekking

Discovery of the village of Old Believers

Visit to the Buryatya Republic

Visits to the most beautiful places on the winter Baikal

Tour Overview

This journey is dedicated to those who seek to have both adventure and comfort, cultural exploration and physical activity.

Departing by ice from the south of the lake northwards, to the village of Ust-Barguzin, you will change different means of transport : dog sleds, snowmobiles, hydroskimmer, and 4x4. En route we will have stops and ice treks to discover majestic landscapes of the winter Baikal, caves and rocks covered with icy lace.

Fond of skating, do not hesitate to bring your skates : the largest ice rink in the whole world will be at your disposal !

Apart from winter activities, you will make plenty of cultural discoveries ! During the visit to the factory of valenki (felt boots) you will learn about the way of their production. In the village of Old Believers you will taste their wonderful cuisine and visiting the restaurant serving Buryat cuisine you will enjoy real throat singing.

In cities you will be accommodated at hotels. In distant nooks of Lake Baikal you will have opportunity to stay in a person's home to discover the way of life of locals. These people offer modest comfort but hearty welcome.

Arctic landscapes, unforgettable meetings and fascinating discoveries await for you in this journey !

Day 1
Arrival in Irkutsk. Beginning of the programme. Moving to hotel and lunch. Tour of Irkutsk - discovery of traditional wooden houses, old churches, visit to the Decembrists museum. Dinner not included. Hotel overnight.
Day 2
Morning departure to Listvyanka. On the way visit to Taltsy – open-air museum of wooden architecture. Stop on the shore of Lake Baikal to see the Shaman stone in the mouth of the Angara River. Lunch in the restaurant. Visit to the Baikal museum to learn about the Baikal flora and fauna. Inn check-in. Walk to local market. Possibility to taste smoked omul, endemic fish of the lake. Dinner and hotel overnight.
Day 3
In the morning walk to the riding sport centre for meeting dogs and safety briefing. Choosing fitting warm outfit. Departure to Bolshiye Koty by ice : one part of the group - dog sledding with instructor (dog-driver), and the other part - snowmobiling. Lunch on the way (picnic on ice). Arrival in the village of Bolshiye Koty, rest. Banya, dinner.
Day 4
Morning departure to MRS by hovercraft across the ice of the lake. Lunch on the way. Arrival in MRS in the evening, moving to resort. Dinner.
Day 5
After morning departure to Olkhon Island. Driving on ice across the strait of Olkhonskiye Vorota, stop near Kobyliya Golova Cape to take pictures. Arrival in Khuzhir, central village of the island. Moving to a welcoming homestead. Walk to the famous Burkhan Rock (Shamanka), place of residence of the Baikal's spirit and one of the nine sanctuaries of Asia. In the evening – banya (Russian steam bath).
Day 6
After breakfast – drive to the north of the island by off-road vehicle along the western shore of Olkhon. Visit to Sagan-Khushin Cape and its winter grottos. Arrival on Khoboy Cape, the northern point of Olkhon Island - magic and sacred site for the Buryats. Wonderful panorama of 360’. Lunch in the open air near the cape (picnic). Walk across the ice along the eastern shore of the island to Usury. Homestay overnight in simple but lovely atmosphere. In the evening – banya.
Day 7
Day devoted to Uzury. We will go by off-roadster to the south along the eastern shore of Olkhon to Zeleny Cape. Walk to Izhimey Cape, possible climbing Zhima mount - the highest point of the island (1267 m). According to the legend this mount was the place where the island spirits lived, that is why it is sacred for the locals. Lunch. Return to Uzury in the afternoon. Banya in the evening.
Day 8
After breakfast amazing journey to the east. Crossing of Lake Baikal. Lunch on ice. Arrival in Ust-Barguzin, moving to homestay. Banya and dinner in the evening.
Day 9
Today we are going to visit Zmeinaya Bay (Snakes Bay) in Chivyrkuysky Gulf. We will take bath in hot springs amongst white snow! Lunch in the open air. Return to Ust-Barguzin. Banya and dinner in the evening.
Day 10
Transfer to Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia. Hotel check-in. Lunch at buryat homstay. Visit to Ivolginsky Datsan, complex of Buddhist temples located in picturesque steppe. Return to the city. Dinner at restaurant serving traditional Buryat cuisine, folk group performance. Lunch will be served in a real yurt!
Day 11
Tour of Ulan-Ude. Visit to the Old Beilivers Village. Dinner. Transfer to the railway station. Getting aboard the night train to Irkutsk, you will travel by the famous Trans-Siberian! (8 hour journey).
Day 12
Arrival in Irkutsk early in the morning. End of the programme.

Detailed description

New departures available soon

Price includes

English-speaking guide
Russian-spaking guide
Accommodation as per itinerary
Transport a per itinerary
Excursions and visits as per itinerary
Nature reserves and parks entrance permissions
Accident insurance

Price does not include

Meals as per itinerary
Visa invitation and registration of passports (for foreign citizens, if necessary)
Personal expenses and tips
Visa fees and travel insurance
Ski rental
Ice skate rental
Bathing in springs
Airplane/ train tickets
Ropeway to Chersky Rock

For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.

United Federal Register of Tour Operators number : PTO 009402

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!

First and last name

E-mail*

> 6 months	> 8 months	> 10 months
Amount of discount (total payment)
5%	10%	20%
Amount of discount (deposit payment)
0	5%	10%