An unforgettable Christmas on Lake Baikal

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Christmas on Lake Baikal 2024 is an interesting, cozy and varied tour of Lake Baikal during the Christmas holidays. Celebrating holidays on a trip is guaranteed to be unforgettable, fun and unusual!

You will see the first ice in the bays of Lake Baikal, learn the legends of the mysterious island of Olkhon, taste real Siberian dishes and celebrate the holidays in a warm company, admiring the Baikal winter sunsets.

Location

Irkutsk

Sightseeing tours

from

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Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

Taltsy Museum

We will visit a real fairy tale, with sleighs, swings and wooden huts

The mystical island of Olkhon

We will hear ancient legends and legends, and we will be able to see for ourselves the special energy of this place

Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment

Walk around the stupa three times, make a wish and it will come true. The secret is in the energy and sanctity of this place

Kilometers of Baikal ice

We will see the most beautiful ice and find out what methane bubbles are on Lake Baikal

Amazing Cape Hoboy

Let's admire the huge ice hummocks of a beautiful blue color

Itinerary

Day 1 - Excursion to the Taltsy Museum. Meeting with Lake Baikal
Welcome to Irkutsk!
We are glad to welcome you to the capital of Eastern Siberia!
In the morning at 09:30 we meet at the airport or at the railway station of Irkutsk, get our luggage, get acquainted.
After the gathering, our group takes a comfortable minibus on an excursion to the open-air architectural and ethnographic museum "Taltsy".
Winter lives here! Taltsy is a real fairy tale, with sleighs, swings, wooden huts.
Lunch.
After that, we move to the village of Listvyanka, "gates of Baikal".
We get acquainted with Father Baikal, climb to the observation deck on the Chersky Stone, admire the awesome view of the source of the Angara.
After that, accommodation at the hotel.
It's time to rest, because there's even more interesting things ahead!
Meals included: lunch.

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Day 2 - Olkhon Island. The Golden Horde Ethnopark. Cape Burkhan
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning we will take a minibus to Olkhon Island!
It's a long way, but very interesting! On the way, we will stop at the Golden Horde Ethnopark, where we will get acquainted with the ethnocultural program and try dishes of Siberian and Buryat cuisine.
At the ferry we meet with winter Baikal, here it is completely different than in Listvyanka – you can feel the power, beautiful landscapes and exciting delight!
Moving on, we drive along the island of Olkhon to the village of Khuzhira.
We are staying at the hotel.
In the evening, let's go watch the sunset – you can't miss this sight on Lake Baikal!
We will take a walk to the iconic place – Cape Burhan, a particularly revered rock, about which legends are composed and interesting facts are collected.
This is a real shrine of shamanism, a place marked by spirits!
Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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Day 3 - Cape Khoboy. Christmas Dinner
After breakfast, an interesting excursion begins to the north of Olkhon Island, to Cape Khoboy.
Here you can feel yourself not just on the edge of the island, but on the edge of the earth, because ahead are the endless icy expanses of Lake Baikal, which make you feel like a small grain of sand in this realm of beauty and nature.
Khoboy is a must-have trip to Lake Baikal.
It is here that the beauty of the Baikal nature makes you get goosebumps, your heart beats harder, and your eyes fill with tears of joy (believe me, we have seen this more than once!).
After visiting Cape Khoboy, we return to the hotel.
Here we are already waiting for a festive Christmas dinner with champagne and various delicious dishes.
Free time after dinner.
Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.

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Day 4 - The Strait of the Small Sea. Ogoy Island
Today we will continue to explore the Baikal ice and drive the Khivus through the Strait of the Small Sea.
We will look for beautiful ice locations, steep caves and grottoes.
One of our main locations today is Ogoy Island.
The island is a favorite place for photographers and travelers.
We will walk around the island and also climb to the famous Buddhist stupa.
Here you can feel a special silence and tranquility, and also make a cherished wish!
After the tour, we return to the hotel and have dinner.
Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.
Day 5 - Transfer to Irkutsk. Departure
It's time to say goodbye to Lake Baikal!
After breakfast, we take a minibus to Irkutsk.
The end of the program in Irkutsk is 16:00 – 19:00 (Kirov Square).

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

4 nights

Comfort

Midscale

The tour includes accommodation in hotels:

Listvyanka (1 day) – Krestovaya Pad Hotel or comparable;
Khuzhir (3 days) – Baikal Terra Hotel or Tengri Hotel.

The surcharge for single occupancy is 11,000 rubles.

There is a possibility of settling in.

The Krestovaya Pad Hotel is located just 50 meters from the shore of Lake Baikal and offers scenic views. It offers a sun terrace and a sauna.

Each room is equipped with tea/coffee making facilities and a flat-screen TV.

The chalet-style rooms feature wooden paneling, a work desk, a minibar and a private bathroom.

Free Wi-Fi is available in some rooms.

The colorful bar-restaurant serves European cuisine and a variety of Siberian dishes from the Baikal region. A rich menu is provided for breakfast.

Guests can rent bicycles at the hotel and explore the charming unspoilt countryside. You can visit the Museum of Lake Baikal. It is 1.5 km from the Krestovaya Pad Hotel.

There is a bus stop 50 metres from the hotel. Irkutsk International Airport is a 45-minute drive away.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 15 tourists

Minimum age

5 years old

Duration

5 days 4 nights

Group meets at

Irkutsk

Included in price

meeting at 09:30 am (local time) at the airport and railway station in Irkutsk;
accommodation in a private hotel in Listvyanka (1 day);
accommodation in a hotel on Olkhon (3 nights);
transfers according to the tour program;
excursion to the Taltsy Museum;
excursion to the Chersky stone;
ethnocultural program in the Golden Horde;
meals according to the program: 1 day – lunch; 2 day – breakfast, lunch and dinner; 3 day – breakfast, lunch and dinner; 4 day – breakfast, lunch and dinner; 5 day – breakfast;
excursion to Cape Burkhan;
car tour to Cape Khoboy;
excursion on the "Khivus" in the waters of the Small Sea.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Irkutsk and back;
transfer at the end of the tour to hotels, railway station, airport, etc.;
meals and excursions outside the program;
additional services not specified in the program or specified in the program for an additional fee.

It's important to know

Clothes: the main rule is to dress in layers, like a pie. This will delay the release of heat and prevent the cold from reaching your body.

a windproof hat, a hat with earflaps, or a combination of a hat + a hood;
buff or scarf (to protect the neck);
a warm down jacket that protects the lower back and will not be blown in the wind;
fleece jumper;
thermal underwear designed for low activity in -25;
warm ski / down pants or overalls;
wool socks + cotton (the principle of layers also works here);
windproof gloves + mittens.

Footwear:

boots with natural or artificial insulation, designed for -25 and below;
you can use: felt boots, boots, camuses, ugg boots, moonwalkers, dutiki.

Additionally:

chemical warmers / insoles for feet and hands;
ice slides / ice shoes for smooth movement on slippery ice and hummocks;
sunglasses;
sunscreen with a high degree of protection;
lipstick is hygienic;
powerbank (for a phone that is rapidly discharging in the cold).

Recommended:

thermos (for hot herbal tea with honey and lemon, to maintain immunity and warmth);
shoe dryers;
lantern;
knee pads (for those who like to photograph reflections, ice floes and cracks).

It is necessary to have an identity document with you. It is forbidden to transfer your documents confirming the right to travel to other persons.

Every tourist is obliged to:

Do not be late for the departure of the train / bus / ship;
Do not carry substances that threaten health and life (flammable, narcotic, etc.);
Observe the rules of travel on the bus: it is forbidden to drive drunk and smoke in the cabin;
Fulfill the requirements of the group leader, guide;
Observe the moral and ethical norms of tourist behavior, be disciplined and polite;
Follow the rules of excursion service, take care of historical and cultural monuments;
Comply with the rules of nature protection and fire safety;
Observe your own safety measures and understand what responsibility the manager bears for you;
Take care of property in places of residence, on the bus: in case of breakdown or loss of hotel property
(recreation centers), rental property, etc., as well as in the event of a fire due to your fault, all responsibility for
The damage caused is your own responsibility;
Follow the rules of accommodation at the hotel (at the recreation center), do not break the silence after 23.00 h.;
Promptly inform the travel director or his deputy about the deterioration of health or injury;
Follow the safety rules on ice, avoid hypothermia - keep in mind the low air temperature at this time
period.

We remind you:

The head oversees the implementation of the excursion program, therefore, adult tourists deviate from
the group's excursion program should be notified to the head, inform the time and place of joining the group and leave contact numbers;
Check whether the points of stay under the program are included in the service area of the mobile operator you need at the offices of the relevant companies (MTS, Beeline, Megafon, etc.) before making the trip;
It is not recommended to leave the hotel after 24 hours.;
If you are a vegetarian or have strict restrictions on taking a particular food, you must inform us in advance to be able to coordinate a separate menu;
There are no banks or ATMs on Olkhon Island, so take cash in advance;
Local time: Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude +5 hours from Moscow.

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification

$760

2 – 6 Jan, 2026 5 days 4 nights

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Reviews

TR
Tatiana Rubtsova

26 Dec, 2024

about provider

The organization was excellent—we were warmly greeted right on time, and the hotel was fantastic!

26 Dec, 2024
V
Valentina

25 Dec, 2024

about provider

Everything was excellent! The tour arrangement, the preparation of accompanying documents, and the support throughout the process were all top-notch. Thank you!

25 Dec, 2024
NK
Natalia Kaloshina

25 Dec, 2024

about provider

We sincerely thank the team at Big Country and the host team for their support during a challenging situation, which made it possible for our trip to happen.

25 Dec, 2024