Awakening of Lake Baikal (tour in April)

Tour features:

• Travelling on Baikal ice by Hibuse (hovercraft);
• Visits to the museums of Listvyanka;
  
• Sandy Bay, a small hike to the viewpoint;
  
• Ogoy Island and other Islands of Small sea, grottoes and cliffs of the southern part of Olkhon Island.
  
• Shamanism at lake Baikal, the Shaman Rock;
  
• Cape Khoboy, the Rock of Love, Sagan-Khushun rocks, Uzury;
  
• Baikal ice, Ushkany Islands, the Holy Nose Peninsula, Chivyrkuy Bay

Dates for groups in 2019:

Tour program “Awakening of Lake Baikal” (tour in April)

Day 1

Gathering of the group at the train station or airport in Irkutsk from 8 to 9 a.m.

Travel from Irkutsk to Taltsy village.

We will visit the Ethnographic Museum in Taltsy village. The unique park-museum under the open air, where you can see a collection of architectural artefacts that were doomed to drown during the construction of numerous hydroelectric stations on the Angara River.

Lunch at a cafe.

Travel from Taltsy village to Listvyanka village. Accommodation in hotel.

In the evening you will visit the Limnological Museum that presents very clearly all the information about the Great Lake. Exhibitions are devoted to the history of the lake, the specifics of natural landscapes, seismic environment, the animal world of Baikal and the history of its studying.

A ride on a funicular to the observation point "Chersky Stone". Supper.

Meals: lunch, supper

Accommodation: hotel/ campsite (Listvyanka village)

Day 2

We will be driving on Hivus (hovercraft) along the western shore to an amazingly beautiful Bay with a symbolic name “Peschanaya” (Sandy).

We will make a stop and admire the magnificence of the Skriper Rock and will also get to the top of a cliff, that offers a magnificent view of spring Baikal!

In Peschanaya Bay warm and cozy little houses, a real Russian banya (sauna) and, of course, a hospitable Siberian dinner will be waiting for us.

On the same day, you can get to the observation point, which offers a stunning view of the semi-oval Bay!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, supper

Accommodation: campsite Baikal Dunes (Peschanaya Bay)

Day 3

We continue our tour.

Beautiful rock ensembles, picturesque islands, bizarre hummocks – a true ice Kingdom of lake Baikal!

We will visit of the biggest island on Maloye More, called Ogoy, where you can see the Buddhist stupa of enlightenment. As a sign of respect, we will go through the Goroo (circle) clockwise for purification from bad acts that were committed in current and past lives. The Goroo needs to be competed without any thoughts, doubts or anxieties. For full enlightenment and clarification of thoughts, a person needs to go around 108 times!

We will be moving along Maloye More, taking pictures of rocks and grottoes, making stops at different islands along the way. Arrival to Khuzhir village.

Accommodation.

Visit the Shaman Rock. Shamanism at Lake Baikal.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, supper

Accommodation: hostel/hotel (Khuzhir village)

Day 4

Today we are going to the northern part of the Island, towards the cape Khoboy. Moving across the Baikal ice!

During the trip you will be able to see fascinating ice caves and hummocks, admire the “Three Brothers Rock”, whose silhouettes were immortalized in stone by the mighty and fair father. You will also learn a lot about the lake and its fascinating legends and will get acquainted with traditions and customs of the local inhabitants. The impressions from today’s trip will be unforgettable!

Lunch on the ice of lake Baikal.

After lunch, we are going to Bolshoye More (The Big Sea) and heading to Ushkan Islands. An archipelago that consists of four islands, and is a part of the underwater Akademicheskiy Ridge separating the North bowl of Lake Baikal from the middle one. The Ushkan Islands are a favorite place of the Baikal seal - Nerpa.

Accommodation in wooden houses with a view of the Lake.

Banya (sauna) and supper will be waiting for us in the evening.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, supper

Accommodation: cordon of the National Park (the Ushkan Islands)

Day 5

The sunrise on the Ushkan Islands is gorgeous!

Today we are going photo-hunting on nerpas, which is not easy, because those animals are very fearful and cautious. But we will try to catch these lovely creatures into the camera lens!

After lunch, we are going to Svyatoy Nos (Holy Nose) Peninsula.

Arriving at Chivyrkuisky Bay, the two islands Lysyj (Bold) and Lokchmatyj (Shaggy) will meet us with warm greetings. You can easily guess about the mysterious history of their names just by looking at them.:)

Our final destination - the hot springs of Zmeinaya (Snake) Bay. Thermal sulphuric baths are very good for the body, but this is not the most important thing. It is impossible to describe the sensations when you plunge into the outdoor pool filled with natural mineral water which has a temperature that reaches +40 degrees when there is snow lying around an outside temperature 20 degrees below zero! Unthinkable, scary and incredibly nice! It’s so warm and relaxing, but be careful: the time limit in the springs is 15 minutes, any longer than that time is not good for your health.

Return to the Ushkan Islands

Meals: breakfast, lunch, supper

Accommodation: cordon of the National Park (the Ushkan Islands)

Day 6

We return to the Olkhon Island. Today we will visit the eastern part of the island: the Rock of Love, extremely cozy place Uzury, mount Zhima, where a severe master of Olkhon Island lives, Olkhon Gate Strait.

We will finish our journey in the comfortable hostel of the Maloye More (the Small Sea), share priceless photos and memories in the circle of our friendly company!

Meals: breakfast, lunch, supper

Accommodation: hostel (Maloye More)

Tour price: 62 000 rub/person

The price includes:

• Accommodation: according to the program;
• All transfers to and from various points on the tour, according to the program;
• Guide services;
• Entrance tickets to the museums mentioned in the program, excursions mentioned in the program;
• Meals included in the program;
• Payment of entrance fees to visit Pribaikalsky National Park;

The price does not include:

• Rental of personal equipment: sleeping bag, backpack, mat;
• Accommodation in Irkutsk before the start of the tour;
• Additional drinks and meals (outside of what was mentioned in the tour program).