SCHEDULE AND COST:
Dates: February 27 - March 4, 2023
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
EXPEDITION FINISHED
TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO LAKE BAIKAL
Day 1. February 27, 2023 (Monday). IRKUTSK - TALTSY - LISTVYANKA
Arrival in Irkutsk in the morning. Meeting with guide.
City sightseeing tour: visiting historical center, Angara river embankment, monuments of architecture, history and culture.
Lunch at a restaurant.
Departure to Listvyanka settlement (~70 km) - probably one of the oldest Russian settlements on the shores of the great lake, turned into a tourist center, where for every inhabitant there are several attractions, cafes and hotels, and several hundreds of tourists. On the way we visit the "Taltsy" museum of architecture and ethnography, where we can not only look at the wooden architecture and the way of life of the Baikal peoples, but also take part in traditional winter fun: ride on the skins from a real Russian slide, ride in a sledge or a troika or walk on stilts. Arrival to the village. Stop at Shaman-stone, the place where Angara river flows out of Baikal lake. It's a chairlift ride to the Cherski Stone, which offers a wonderful view of the Angara river source and Baikal port, as well as of Khamar-Daban Range in the clear weather.
Hotel accommodation. Free time.
Accommodation: Hotel Mayak or Krestovaya Pad, or similar.
Meals: lunch
Day 2. February 28, 2023 (Tuesday). LISTVYANKA - KRUGOBAIKALSKAYA RAILWAYS
Breakfast in the hotel. Meeting with guide. Excursion to the Baikal Ecological Museum with a wonderful exposition of flora and fauna of the lake and Baikal region, including an aquarium with living inhabitants of Baikal.
Visiting the center of sled dog sport. Here we offer you to get acquainted with charming sled dogs. Blue- and brown-eyed, of all possible colors and characters, they like people and running equally, that's why each of them wants to be in the sled and is very offended if it's not their turn. It's not a hard task to manage a sled dog - you'll see! You will be accompanied by the experienced musher to drive along the forest path (the distance is 4,5 km).
Lunch in a cafe.
In the afternoon you can have a rest or optionally:
- snowmobile Yamaha Viking VK 540, 2 hours for 1-2 persons: 12 500 rubles per snowmobile
- ice tour to Krugobaikalskaya railroad by snowmobile - model Arctic Cat Bearcat 570, 2 hours for 1-2 persons: 26 000 rubles per snowmobile
- trip to observatory: observing of the Sun through the telescope, and ascent to the Big Sun vacuum telescope - the biggest in the world lens telescope, which observation deck has fine view on Listvyanka and Baikal (~ 2 hours): 1300 rubles/person
Overnight at hotel in Listvyanka.
Accommodation: Hotel Mayak or Krestovaya Pad, or similar.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 3. March 1, 2023 (Wednesday). LISTVYANKA - BOL'SHOY GOLOUSTNOE - SANDCHANKA - SAGAN-ZABA - OLKHON ISLAND - KHUZHIR
After breakfast meeting our guide.
Boarding khivus, a hovercraft trip - is the best way to explore Baikal.
Transfer by ice to Olkhon Island (~8 hours). On the way several stops at the most interesting places: Bol'shoe Goloustnoe village, where you can see the famous bubble ice, and also, if the weather and state of ice allow, here we will skate* on the biggest ice rink in the world - Lake Baikal. Next we will visit Sandy Bay, one of the most picturesque places on Baikal, with the so called stilted trees. We will visit Sagan-Zaba cliff, where ancient petroglyphs are saved and will see picturesque grottos with ice splashes in the southern part of Olkhon. Lunch (lunch boxes).
Arrival in Khuzhir village - administrative center of the island. Check in. Dinner.
*Skating can be postponed on the 4th or 5th day at the discretion of the organizers.
Accommodation: hotel Irbis, or camping-hotel Olkhon, or similar.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 4. March 2, 2023 (Thursday). OLKHON ISLAND - KHOBOY CAPE - HUZHIR
After breakfast we'll drive to the whole-day excursion (UAZ Bukhanka car - symbol of Olkhon). Visit to the sacred cape Burkhan (Shaman-cliff) - one of 9 holy places of Asia, equally revered by shamanists, Buddhists and Lamaists. Then we go to Khoboy cape - the northern extremity of the island near the widest part of Baikal. On the way you'll see the diversity of Baikal's natural landscapes, concentrated on the island: steppes with deep bays, sand dunes, mixed forests with relic fir groves, picturesque cliffs on the shore, made of marble and covered with red lichens.
On this cape there is a panoramic view of the northern part of Lake Baikal and when the weather is good one can see the outlines of Ushkany Islands and the Holy Nose Peninsula - a walk around the area, during which your guide will tell you about the legends, traditions and customs associated with these places.
Lunch - picnic outdoors. Return to the camping area. Dinner.
Accommodation: hotel Irbis, or Olkhon camping hotel, or similar.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 5. March 3, 2023 (Friday). OLKHON ISLAND - MALOYE SEE - OGOY ISLAND - ETHNOPARK "ZOLOTAYA ORDA" - IRKUTSK
After breakfast at the camp, transfer to the pier. Boarding on hovercraft Khivus. En route visit the island of Ogoy, where the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment is located.
After that we take a minibus to Irkutsk. The long way is again enjoyable with varying landscapes and gives us time for sharing impressions from the travel days, as well as for the slight preparation for the return to the hustle and bustle of the city life. The main thing during this activity - do not forget to thank the spirits for good weather and good luck on the way!
We'll also visit Ust-Ordynsk village (80 km from Irkutsk), the capital of Ust-Ordyn Buryat Autonomous Area, which has belonged to Irkutsk region since 2006. Here is the ethnopark Golden Horde , where you'll meet a real shaman:
- a brief tour of shamanism
- the secret codes of Buryat spiritual culture, its identity
- sacred places of worship, meaning of local beliefs and prayers.
- exciting topics: good and evil, what is happiness.
Lunch with Buryat cuisine. Check-in. Free time.
Accommodation: Imperia or Angara hotel, or similar
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 6. March 4, 2023 (Saturday). IRKUTSK - FLIGHT
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport.
Accommodation: none
Meals: breakfast