Its maximum depth is 1,642 meters. The vast of the Baikal water surface equals to the size of such European countries as for example the Netherlands or Belgium. Besides, plants which grow there are rare and endemic. Baikal is a sacred place for those who live there. It’s often called “the Sacred Sea” and “the Blue Eye of Siberia”. The Baikal water is very unique because it contains a very small amount of mineral salts which makes this water almost distilled. It also contains a lot of oxygen. Almost 300 rivers and streams flow in Baikal but only one river called Angara flows out of it. There are also about 20 island in the Lake Baikal and the biggest one is Olkhon — the unique island which contains different types of nature landscapes, like for example steppes and Baltic sand beaches at the same time.
On the unique ice of Lake Baikal and Siberian taiga
BAIKAL
March 5 to 10, 2020
Tour Lake Baikal, Russia
Adventurous journey to Baikal
If you have a dream to see the Great Russian lake, winter is definitely the best time for it! Incredible, sparkling ice kingdom of various forms and colors! Our trip to winter Baikal is skating on Baikal mirror, driving by hovercraft, dog sledges riding, trip on quad bikes or snowmobiles on Baikal ice and taiga, acquaintance with local culture and cuisine, which immerses you into the winter atmosphere of real Siberian adventures.
Ethnologist works throughout the whole trip with the team.
SCHEDULE AND COST:
Dates: March 5 to 10, 2020
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Cost of participation per person:
- 90 500 RUR subject to 10 participants or
- 97 500 RUR subject to 9 participants or
- 101 000 RUR subject to 8 participants or
- 99 000 RUR subject to 7 participants or
- 113 500 RUR subject to 6 participants or
- 136 500 RUR subject to 5 participants or
- 159 500 RUR subject to 4 participants or
- 194 000 RUR subject to 3 participants
Everything is included except for flight to Irkutsk, Russian visa and medical insurance.
Single supplement: upon request
TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO LAKE BAIKAL
Day 1. March, 5. Across Tageran steppe and Maloe More (Small Sea)
Meeting of the group in Irkutsk airport in the morning. Quick breakfast in Irkutsk or coffee and sandwiches on the road.
Drive through picturesque Tageran steppe and fur-tree taiga of Pribaikalsky National Park.
On the way we stop for Baikal spirits coaxing ceremony according to Buryat ethnical tradition.
Lunch in Yelantsi in the Buryat cafe with fish soup of omul and buzas.
Drive off road to Tageran steppe. Panoramic views of Baikal from high cliffs over the lake, mystic shapes of cliff ruins. Trekking to the top of Tan-Khan Mountain, from where a dizzying view of the mirror of Lake Baikal opens.
Ice bridge crossing on the Maloe More (Small Sea) channel area between the land and Olkhon, move on the ice and seeing ice caves and landwashes on the cliffs, excursion around Oghoi island, where there is Buddhist relic – snow-white stupa of Serenity Goddes. Drive to the tourist complex "Togot". Accommodation, dinner and Russian banya (steam bath)
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation: tourist complex "Togot" (or analogous), double accommodation.
Day 2. March, 6. Ice journey around Olkhon island, to Hoboi Cape
After breakfast in the hotel, drive to Olkhon island. Main Baikal's place of power - Shamanka rock, Huzhir viewpoint, walk on the Baikal ice.
By UAZ-3909 cars (remarkable feature of Olkhon where there are no any highways) we are driving within daylight hours on the ice of Baikal up to Hoboi cape - the northernmost point of Olkhon island. We visit natural wonders: fascinating rocky capes, charming icy caves, toroses; and walk on unique Baikal ice.
Hot picnic lunch on the ice. During lunch, we are skating on the world's largest ice rink - a mirror of Lake Baikal.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation: tourist complex "Togot" (or analogous), double accommodation.
Day 3. March, 7. Big journey by hovercraft on the ice of Baikal
After breakfast in the hotel, transfer by khivus (hovercraft) over the ice of Lake Baikal. En route we encounter the most impressive views of the open Baikal lake along the coast where there are neither roads, nor infrastructure, only 150 kilometers of smashing ice with the web of cracks and frozen bubbles, picturesque bays, untouched taiga's nature.
Quick stop near the cliff Sagan-Zaba with ancient cliffs petroglyphs.
Then we stop in Peschanka: trekking to the stilted trees and to the cliff with the old lighthouse the top, from where you can see a stunning panorama of the Bolshoe More (Great Sea).
Hot lunch on the ice in Peschanka. After lunch we are skating (1,5 - 2 hrs) on the world's biggest skating ring - the mirror of Baikal.
Arrival to Listvyanka, check-in at the hotel, dinner.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation: hotel "Malina" (or analogous), standard double accommodation.
Day 4. March, 8. Riding on snowmobiles along Krugobaikalsky railways
After breakfast in the hotel, during the day, riding on quad bikes/snowmobiles (2 persons per snowmobile) along beautiful snowy roads of Siberian Taiga and along legendary Kruglobaikalsky railway, which is now a memorial of architecture and engineering art. Visiting of the most interesting tunnels, viaducts, arches and railway galleries.
Traditional Siberian lunch in Polovinka village in a country house in the middle of the route.
Then we visit the market in Listvyanka, where we have a wide selection of Baikal fish, from omul in all its forms to the unique fish of the golomyanka. We will take the hot smoked omul, cold smoked omul and slightly salted Baikal omul, sugudai, and arrange a delicious dinner with beer in the local pub.
Overnight in a hotel in Listvyanka.
Accommodation: hotel "Malina" (or analogous), standard double accommodation.
Day 5. March 9. Riding on dog sleds across taiga and Buryat village
After breakfast in the hotel we visit observation point "Kamen Cherskogo" with lifting and descending on a chair lift.
In the morning, visit the estate of the Tyuryumin family, widely known for their sled dogs. Dog sledging, harnessed by Alaskan huskies (1 person in a sled) across snowy taiga, overcoming natural hindrances (5 km).
Moving through Irkutsk to Ust-Ordinskoye. Visiting the ethno-park "Golden Horde". Traditional Buryat lunch in a yurta.
Lecture on the history of shamanism on Baikal, exhibition performance of a shaman.
Set out for Irkutsk. Accommodation in a hotel.
Evening walk on historical district of Irkutsk (old churches, wood conduits of the end of 19 century).
Dinner in Siberian cuisine restaurant "Misha" in the heart of Irkutsk - walking district of reconstructed merchant houses "130 quarter".
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: hotel "Ochagof" (or analogous), standard double accommodation.
Day 6. March, 10. The way back
After breakfast transfer from the hotel to the airport. Flight back.
Meals: breakfast
Price includes:
- transport services as per program (minibus, UAZ 4x4 minibus, Khivus hovercraft).
- accommodation in hotels in twin/double rooms
- three meals daily
- snowmobiles
- dogs sledging
- skates
- all entrance fees, performance and activities as per program
- English and Russian speaking guide (ethnologist) services
Price excludes:
- Flight to Irkutsk roundtrip
- Medical insurance
- Visa to Russia
To take with:
· wear sets up to the weather (warm wool socks, cotton socks, wool sweater, thermal underwear, warm winter jacket with windstopper)
· warm boots, high boots
· personal hygiene products
· personal medical kit
· sun and wind protection
· thermos
· cameras