Baikal and the greatness of Sayan in January

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In just 5 days you will visit two amazing locations.

Mysterious and powerful Lake Baikal, fanned by legends, indescribable beauty of nature and winter ice patterns.

And then you will see the inaccessible and impressive Eastern Sayan Mountains, dotted with crystal white snow, with icy waterfalls, hot healing springs and sacred Buddhist sites.

Location

Russia, Irkutsk

Sightseeing tours

from

Early
booking

Contact the tour coordinator

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

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Tour highlights

The sacred island of Olkhon

We will visit one of the most famous places on Lake Baikal, which is rightfully called a place of strength and especially powerful energy

Unearthly landscapes of the Tazheran steppes

Our path will lie along the "Martian Road", as they often say about the Tagheran steppes. Landscapes really transport you to some kind of alien reality!

Hot springs

Swimming in the thermal waters when the winter cold reigns around is an especially pleasant pleasure!

The Greatness of the Eastern Sayans

High mountains are constantly drawn in front of your eyes, and the fresh air invigorates and lifts your mood!

Itinerary

Day 1 - Meeting. The road to Olkhon
Place and time of the group gathering:
the Angara Hotel (Sukhbaatar str., 7, Irkutsk) in the period from 09:00 to 09:30 local time;
Irkutsk airport at 10:00.
Upon arrival in Irkutsk, the journey to the heart of Lake Baikal – Olkhon Island begins.
Olkhon is a truly unforgettable and one of the most famous places on Lake Baikal, which is rightfully called a place of power and especially powerful energy!
Olkhon is considered a sacred territory, a concentration of shamanism in Central Asia.
It is visited by pilgrims from all over the world.
Olkhon is an island on Lake Baikal, people traditionally get there first by highway, then by ice crossing in the winter season.
But in January, when the ice has not yet frozen a few meters deep, our guests get to the island by Hivus (paid separately).
Before crossing to Olkhon, the path will run along a road with picturesque views – partly you will go through the Tazheran steppes, decorated here and there with rocky remnants.
Arriving on the island, you will settle in its center – the village of Khuzhir.
In the evening, you have free time, which you can spend exploring the surroundings of the village.
Within walking distance from the hotels on Olkhon is the business card of Lake Baikal — Cape Burkhan (Shamanka rock). Shamanka is one of the shrines of Asia.
Be sure to take a walk to the Shamanka — you will feel the energy ringing in the air, take a lot of bright photos.
Included in the price: group transfer, accommodation, breakfast, lunch on the way to Olkhon.

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Day 2 - Tour of the south of Olkhon Island (by land)
After breakfast at the hotel, you will go to explore the south of the big island of Olkhon.
The tour starts in the morning at 10 o'clock.
The route of this excursion runs through the southern steppe part of the island.
You will be amazed at how many surprises are hidden in a seemingly homogeneous steppe.
Sometimes you can meet a herd of wild horses on the way.
At the observation deck "Polevoy Stan" you will have a panoramic view of the village of Khuzhir and all the local beauties.
After that, you will go to Hanhoi Lake.
It is a small lake separated from the Small Sea by a sandy spit, and in summer it is a favorite place for fishing.
Very close to the lake there is a "Rock Garden" — a place that attracts tourists with its mysterious atmosphere, a remarkable feature of which are large and small piles of stones protruding from the ground, stacked in a kind of turrets.
Next, you will see a lonely birch tree on the Olkhon.
At first glance, it's a completely ordinary place.
But this is only at first glance!
This is a unique natural monument, which is also associated with a legend. You will learn it during the tour, let's keep the intrigue for now!
After that, you will find yourself at Lake Nura.
In winter, the lake is covered with ice with amazing frozen bubbles.
Further, the tour program includes a visit to high rock formations in the steppe, called "Trident" or "Castle Ruins".
Be sure to try to climb them: you will have a view of the steppe, covered with snow in winter, and on the other hand, Lake Baikal.
You will feel the power of this place, the vastness of space.
And here you get especially great photos!
In the middle of the day, you will have a hearty picnic lunch in the fresh air, and the tour will end with a view of the Big Sea and return to Khuzhir.
Included in the price: group transfer, accommodation, excursion, permission to visit the national park, picnic lunch, breakfast.

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Day 3 - Transfer to Irkutsk
Breakfast.
A farewell walk through Olkhon.
In the morning, departure to Irkutsk.
Included in the price: breakfast, group transfer, accommodation, lunch on the way to Irkutsk.
Day 4 - The greatness of the Eastern Sayans. Visiting hot springs
Breakfast.
A trip to the mountains of the Eastern Sayan Mountains.
The road will run through beautiful places.
To relieve fatigue after the road, this day we will visit the hot springs in the village of Zhemchug.
The unique properties of water have a beneficial effect on the body and health.
Hot healing springs welcome guests all year round, but in winter it is especially pleasant to swim in them: it is winter cold outside the window, but it is comfortable and pleasant in the hot springs.
After swimming, we go to Arshan to check in and relax.
Included in the price: breakfast, group transfer, accommodation, visit to the hot springs.

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Day 5 - Arshan
Breakfast.
Acquaintance with the village of Arshan, comfortably located at the foot of the Tunka Loaches.
During the tour, the guide will tell you about the unique nature around the village of Arshan, together we will climb to the waterfalls, gracefully bound with ice in winter, try the healing water of mineral springs.
Visit the local Buddhist temple-monastery of Hoimorsky Datsan "Bodhidharma", located in a truly magical place called "Holy Glade" among century-old cedars with spreading branches: snow-capped peaks of mountains flaunt against the background, and snow-covered trees give the feeling of falling into a fairy tale.
Also today you can visit the local market with Siberian goods (herbs, nuts, souvenirs).
After the tour, you will go to Irkutsk, where the program of your tour of winter Lake Baikal and the mountains of the Eastern Sayan will end.
Included in the price: breakfast, group transfer, guided tour.
The order of the excursion days may change and the tour is conducted in a mirror order, please specify the exact order of the days when booking.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

4 nights

Comfort

Midscale

The tour includes accommodation in a hotel.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the accommodation:

The Standard room is 63,000 rubles.,
- The surcharge for single occupancy is 16,000 rubles.;
Comfort room – 79,000 rubles;
- The surcharge for single occupancy is 30,000 rubles.;

Types of accommodation:

"Standard" is a comfortable room equipped with its own bathroom (shower and toilet), with the number of beds according to the number of residents;
"Comfort" is a more spacious and comfortable room in comparison with the "standard" category, equipped with a modern design (shower and toilet inside).

The presented classification of hotel rooms does not depend on the star rating of the accommodation facility.

Accommodation in hotels according to availability, please specify the details when booking.

Accommodation "Standard" on Olkhon Island

Accommodation in hotels according to availability, in such hotels as: Kopylov Manor, Olkhon Camping Hotel, BO Rybak Manor, BO Aldartai, BO Baikal Terra or similar. Room amenities.

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Another option

Accommodation "Comfort" on Olkhon island

Accommodation in hotels according to availability, in such hotels as: Villa Malina, Port Olkhon, BaikalWood Eco Lodge & Spa, Baikal Khan Hotel. Superior room categories.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 18 tourists

Minimum age

2 years old

Duration

5 days 4 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Irkutsk

Included in price

accommodation specified in the program;
meals specified in the program:
- Day 1 – breakfast, lunch on the way to Olkhon;
- Day 2 – breakfast, lunch-picnic;
- Day 3 – breakfast, lunch on the way to Irkutsk;
- Day 4-5 – breakfast;
group transfer;
services of a tour guide;
visiting the hot springs.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Irkutsk and back;
meals not included in the tour price;
souvenirs and goods on the market;
crossing on Khivus.

It's important to know

Warm outerwear (for example, a ski suit);
Comfortable shoes (non-slip boots);
Headdress (warm hat);
Warm clothes (thermal underwear, fleece, hoodies, scarf/buff);
Warm mittens or gloves;
Sunscreen (protection factor of at least 20);
Sunglasses (with at least 2 UV protection);
Bathing accessories: swimsuit, towel and slippers (for visiting the sauna/hot springs, if provided by the program);
Personal first aid kit (if you need specific medicines);
Photo/video equipment (spare flash cards);
Portable charger (power bank);
Toiletries;
Small backpack (for excursions and walks);
The seat (tourist hob);
Thermos (optional);
Binoculars (optional);
Required: Passport, MHI policy.

the tour operator reserves the right to swap excursions according to the tour program, replace them with equivalent ones in situations related to changes in weather conditions, force majeure or at the discretion of the organizer, but undertakes to fulfill the entire tour program and provide all excursions specified in it in full;
the tour is a combined group, the number of people in the tour can reach 18 people;
The tour program starts in the morning at 10.00. It is necessary to arrive in Irkutsk before 9:30 a.m. local time, if the tourist is late for the appointed time, then he gets to the first point designated by the organizer on his own;
the end of the tour in Irkutsk: we recommend purchasing tickets for the return trip after 20:00 local time;
place and time of the group gathering: from the Angara Hotel (Sukhbaatar str., 7, Irkutsk) in the period from 09:00 to 09:30 local time and from Irkutsk airport at 10:00;
a day before the start of the tour, a group will be created in the Telegram messenger, where all organizational information on the tour will be provided. Please install the Telegram app on your phone in advance;
the tour operator has the right to replace the hotel listed in the list with a similar one in terms of category and cost;
the check-in involves the accommodation of up to 3 tourists in the room. Each tourist is provided with a separate sleeping place;
if, for reasons beyond the control of the Tour Operator (cancellation or postponement of other tourists' accommodation with check-in on the same dates), there was no check-in at any point on the route, the Tour Operator has the right to put the tourist in a single economy room;
the tourist, for whom there was no accommodation, has the opportunity to stay in a single room "standard" with an additional fee. To do this, the tourist must independently check with the tour operator no later than 14 days before the start of the tour whether there was a check-in for him and inform him of his desire to make an additional payment for accommodation in a single standard room;
Olkhon Island is reached by ice crossing in the winter season and by ferry in the summer. In the off-season on khivus (hovercraft). If the ice crossing does not work for climatic reasons, then the tourist pays for the crossing on Khivus himself. In winter, especially after March 20th, the tour operator does not guarantee that the ice will remain transparent, as it depends on weather conditions, as well as that the juices and splashes will be safe;
the composition and size of the group may change throughout the tour;
guides may change throughout the tour. Each location is assigned a guide who is an expert of this location. The tour coordinator is always alone.

Dates and Prices

from
$645

3 – 7 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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5 – 9 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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8 – 12 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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10 – 14 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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13 – 17 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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15 – 19 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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17 – 21 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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20 – 24 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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22 – 26 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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24 – 28 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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27 – 31 Jan, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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29 Jan – 2 Feb, 2025 5 days 4 nights

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