EXPEDITION" EVEN ICE IS HOT HERE..."
Overview
Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world. The maximum depth is 1642 meters. Its age is estimated in millions of years. Thanks to its fresh water, ice is so crystal clear that it creates a feeling that you can see the bottom of Baikal. Maximum thick ice appears on the north of Baikal and may reaches two meters. Average thickness is about 60-90 cm, which allows you to walk around not only on foot but also by car (even cargo).
During freezing ice in the lake exists in various forms, but the most beautiful and graceful of them is hummocks – pile of rubble ice. Usually they are formed along slits or along the coast and can reach 10-12 meters.
Practically the whole tour will take place by hovercraft. You will pass almost the whole Baikal from the west (Listvyanka, Olkhon island) to the north coast (Cape Kotelnikovsky, Khakusy area). After you will go to the east one (Chivyrkuisky Bay, pos. Ust-Barguzin), then by car to Ulan-Ude and by train to Irkutsk.
Some accommodation will be in guest houses of local people in order to see the life of ordinary habitants, to sit at the same table with the owners, talk about life on the lake, festivals, traditions, customs.
Itinerary
IRKUTSK – LISTVYANKA
Morning meeting at the airport / railway station with a nameplate “Baikal Vision”. Transfer to Listvyanka. Check-in to guest house. Lunch with traditional Russian meals. Walk around Listvyanka. Visit to Baikal Limnological Museum, where you will discover flora and fauna of Baikal region, you will see live seals, dive to the bottom of Lake Baikal at a depth of 1,637 m for 15 minutes.
Then you will take a lift to Cherskiy rock to look at the picturesque panorama of the Baikal and Angara river.
Dinner. Overnight in the guest house.
LISTVYANKA – KHUZHIR
Breakfast. Transfer to a hovercraft. Boarding. Now you will go to Khuzhir, Olkhon Island. Today you will see Sukhaya (Dry) Bay, Peschannaya (Sandy) Bay, cliff Sagan-Zaba, where you can make amazing photos. Winter picnic. Arrival at 4 p.m. Today you will have an excursion around Khuzhir village: Shaman Rock, one of the nine sacred place of Asia. Banya. Dinner. Overnight in the resort.
KHUZHIR – UZURY
Breakfast. Walk around Khuzhir. Next transfer to Cape Khoboy by hovercraft. Cape Khoboy is a sacred place for the indigenous people of the island – the Buryats. Here you can see all four sides of the lake. Lunch on the way.
Departure to the village Uzury. There is only one family who live in Uzury where you will have an overnight stay. Also there is a permanent weather station and a laboratory of the Siberian Institute of the Earth’s crust.
Check-in to a guest house. Dinner. Night in the guest house.
UZURY – CAPE KOTELNIKOVSKY
Breakfast. Departure to Cape Kotelnikovsky by hovercraft (about 200 km). This cape is famous for its hottest springs. Water temperature is about + 81ºC. This water is suitable for bathing, but not for drinking because of containing fluoride. Also this cape is one of the wildest parts of the lake and the only way you can reach the cape is water or air. Lunch on the way.
Check-in the resort. In the evening – bathing in the thermal baths with a view of Lake Baikal. Dinner. Overnight in the resort.
CAPE KOTELNIKOVSKY – KHAKUSY
Breakfast. Bathing in thermal springs. Walk around the cape. Lunch.
Departure to Khakusy (about 50 km). Khakusy is a health resort with hot springs in the north-eastern coast of Lake Baikal. This coast is recommended for those who love peace and unity with nature.
Check-in. Bathing in thermal springs. Dinner. Overnight in the resort.
KHAKUSY – UST-BARGUZIN
Breakfast. Bathing in thermal springs. Departure to Ust-Barguzin (220km). Lunch on the way. Arrival in Ust-Barguzin. Transfer to the guest house of local resident. Check-in. Dinner. Banja. Night in the guest house.
UST-BARGUZIN
Breakfast. Free day. The guide will offer you several excursions. However, our company recommends you to visit the hot springs. You can enjoy the open-air bath of thermal waters, among the white snow, absorb the heat of the Earth and breathe the purest air. Dinner. Overnight in the guest house.
UST-BARGUZIN – ULAN-UDE – IRKUTSK
Breakfast. Departure to Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia (268 km), east capital of Baikal. Arrival in the city at 13:00. Lunch in cafe of Buryat cuisine. Free time.
Possibility to visit Ivilginski temple (Datsan), Ethnographic Museum of Baikal Peoples, Buryatia History Museum, Datsan Rinpoche Bagsha, or simply walk around the famous center of the city and see the giant Lenin’s head.
Dinner is free. Overnight in the train (departure at 22.30).
IRKUTSK
Morning arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to the airport or to the hotel. End of the program.
109 900 rub per person in a group of 6 people
- Price includes:
Accommodation as per itinerary
Transport as per itinerary
Meals as per itinerary
English-speaking guide
Visits and Excursions as per itinerary
Activities as per itinerary
Tickets for a train and for hydrofoil - Price does not include:
Airline tickets
Alcohol
Visa fees and travel insurance
Personal expenses and tips
Invitation letter
- Trip Length: 9 days
- Group: min 6 persons
- Departure: on request
- Period: February – April
- Accommodation: Hotel, Resort
- Activities: Excursions, Cruise, Cultural exploration
- Transport: Private car / bus, Train, Hydrofoil , 4WD car
- Visited area: Irkutsk, Listvyanka, Small Sea, Khuzhir, Olkhon Island, Uzury, Severobaikalsk, Hakusy, Ust-Barguzin, Ulan-Ude