Winter and spring Treasures of Lake Baikal

Children under the age of 2 years without services (accommodation, separate place in transport) — free of charge!

Children from 2 years old (or if a child under 2 years old needs a separate seat) — at full price.

A triple room is almost always a double room with an extra bed for a third person. The triple room is always very cramped. We recommend purchasing two rooms for three people: a double room and a single room.

Additional medical insurance is not included in the price of the tour. If desired, you can apply for insurance on the website of a Large Country without commission directly from insurance companies.

On the first day of the tour, departure is approximately at 10 a.m. (local time + 5 Moscow time). Please take this fact into account and purchase plane/ train tickets and other transport a day before the start of the tour. If the arrival/arrival is scheduled on the day of the start of the tour, then the arrival time must be before 8 a.m. (local time + 5 Moscow time).

On the last day of the tour, the estimated time of arrival in Irkutsk is 16 hours (local time + 5 Moscow time). In case of delay of vehicles on the road and, in accordance with this, the passenger is late for the plane / train, etc. transport, the company is not responsible. Please take this fact into account and purchase plane/train tickets and other transport only the next day after the end of the tour.

Irkutsk

This ancient Siberian city traces its origins to the prison, founded by a detachment of Cossack Yakov Pokhabov on the instructions of the Yenisei voivode on July 6, 1661. The place on the bank of the Angara River at the confluence of the Irkut River turned out to be suitable for agriculture and cattle breeding, the waterway provided communication with the Yenisei and Lake Baikal.

Before the October Revolution, Irkutsk was a merchant city that flourished for a long time on Russian-Chinese trade, and later on the gold industry; a place of political exile. Since 1803, it was the center of the Siberian, from 1822 to 1884 — the East Siberian General Government. It was heavily destroyed in the fire of 1879.

The city is classified as a historical settlement of Russia: the historical center of Irkutsk is included in the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list.

Baikalsk

A small town in the very south of the Irkutsk region, surrounded by the majestic peaks of Khamar-Daban. The place is famous for its picturesque landscapes and mild climate for Siberia. Baikalsk welcomes guests at any time of the year. In summer you can swim and enjoy the beauty of nature, and in winter you can ski and snowboard.

Active and sporty tourists come here on vacation. One of the best ski resorts in Siberia, Mount Sobolinaya, operates here. Athletes chose the mountain slopes in Baikalsk a little less than 50 years ago, the first track was laid in 1969. Today, Mount Sobolinaya consists of 12 trails of varying degrees of difficulty and a well-developed infrastructure. There are many trekking trails for hiking and interesting natural attractions in the surrounding area.

Due to the peculiarities of the climate, there is no suffocating heat in summer, so various hikes through the picturesque surroundings take place at a very comfortable 20-23 degrees. In autumn, the local forests are rich in berries and mushrooms. From the beginning of November until the second half of April, ski enthusiasts come here. Baikalsk is the snowiest city in the Irkutsk region, while severe frosts, due to the proximity of Lake Baikal, do not happen even in mid-January.

Warm lakes on the Snezhnaya River

Three beautiful lakes are hidden in a dense forest in the valley of the Snezhnaya River. On the map, right on the border of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia, they are designated as Quarry lakes. However, all of them are simply called Warm Lakes. The name justifies itself as a cavity, the water here is much warmer than in Lake Baikal: in summer it warms up to + 30 degrees, and the dense forest around protects from the wind, thereby creating ideal conditions for swimming. In addition, there is a pier, sun beds, cafes, catamaran rentals and a water slide on site.

Each lake has its own name: Emerald, Warm and Fairy Tale. They are not related to each other, even the water is different in composition. In addition to swimming, you can hike around the area, climb the hills, from where you can enjoy an absolutely beautiful view. Emerald and Warm lakes attract fishermen in any season, because they are full of fish. Lake Skazka is not suitable for swimming and fishing – the shores are swampy and peaty, and the lake itself freezes completely in winter, so the fish do not live there, but next to it is the most picturesque mountain "Monomakh's Cap", which impresses with its correct pyramid shape.

Relict poplars are of particular value, they are found on the way to the lakes. The width of the trunks is so large that it takes several people to wrap around the tree. The feeling of a fairy tale does not leave you on Warm lakes. In addition, goats, a donkey walk on the territory, and noble swans glide along the Emerald Lake.

Arshan

The village of Arshan, located at the foot of the Sayana Mountains, is known for its healing mineral waters and magnificent waterfalls. Arshan (translated from Buryat - "healing spring") is a modern balneological and mountain-climatic resort. Arshan village is a magnificent nature of the Sayan foothills, clean mountain air, pine forest and clear water of the Kyngyrga River.

There are only 7 mineral water outlets in Arshan. Arshan springs belong to the mineral waters of the carbon dioxide-bicarbonate-sulfate-calcium-magnesium type. In the immediate vicinity of the village of Arshan there is a picturesque canyon of the Kyngarga River, along the left bank of which there is a packed trail. Along it, you can walk from the village to a series of mountain waterfalls with a height of 6 to 10 m.

Buryat Datsan

In 1991, the Khoimorsky datsan, which was founded in 1917, was restored in the area of Svyataya Polyana near the village of Arshan. This temple is one of the unique Buryat religious buildings. The tradition of this datsan included the performance of a very peculiar rite of worship to Genghis Khan. Majestic cedars grow on the territory where the datsan is located. They are used to make wishes that usually come true.

Listvyanka

The village with a population of only about 1.5 thousand inhabitants is located 70 km from Irkutsk. The name was given to it by larch trees, which grow here in large numbers. At the end of the XIX century, Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was fascinated by the beauty of these places, comparing the settlement with Yalta. Today Listvyanka is considered one of the most visited places on the coast of Lake Baikal.

Listvyanka will be interesting for tourists who respect a comfortable stay. You will find a developed infrastructure, hotels of any level - from economy to luxury, a large number of cafes, shops and souvenir shops. Outdoor enthusiasts will not get bored here either. Listvyanka offers a variety of activities: horseback riding, dog sledding or quad biking, diving, skiing and much more. In addition, there are many unusual natural and man-made attractions in the vicinity of the village.

Listvyanka is attractive for tourists at any time of the year. In winter, you can walk on the transparent ice of Lake Baikal, do winter sports, sunbathe on the beach in summer, arrange trekking along the Great Baikal Trail, take a boat ride. Exhibitions and museums are open throughout the year.

The climate in these latitudes is sharply continental - with hot summers and very cold winters. However, the weather on the coast of Lake Baikal itself has its own characteristic features, large masses of lake water somewhat smooth out the climate. There are no cracking Siberian frosts in winter, and depressing heat in summer. Going to Listvyanka, you need to be prepared for the wind that blows here all year round.

Taltsy Open-air Museum

The unique architectural and ethnographic complex is located some distance from the village of Listvyanka, along the Baikal Highway towards Irkutsk, about 20 km away. However, everyone who comes to Lake Baikal should visit here. The museum's exposition is a unique collection of architectural and ethnographic exhibits spanning the last three centuries.

On the territory of the complex you can plunge into the culture of the indigenous peoples of the Baikal region: Buryats, Evenks, Tophs, as well as Russians living on these lands for several centuries. Buryat yurts, Evenki warehouses, Tofalar plagues, Russian huts and manors are not reconstructions here. These are authentic dwellings of different years, carefully brought here from all over the Baikal region.

Folk crafts are highly respected in Taltsy. There are workshops of a potter, a weaver, a glassblower, a blacksmith, and a folk artist. You can view and purchase the works of the masters. Master classes are also held. In addition, here you can join folk amusements and entertainments: swing on a huge swing, try your hand at walking on stilts, participate in a mock pillow fight. It is especially interesting to visit Taltsy during national holidays. Maslenitsa, Ivan Kupala Day, and the Buryat New Year are widely celebrated here.

Bed linen and towels are provided in the rooms.

The availability of a hair dryer is not guaranteed. There are no shampoos or shower gels.