Baikal trail to the valley of volcanoes

We advise you to schedule your arrival the day before the start of the program, as your flight may be delayed due to weather conditions.

At the end of the program, we recommend that you stay on Lake Baikal for a couple of days to enjoy this unique place to your heart's content.

When booking a tour, keep in mind that the group may include participants with different physical fitness. The hike takes place at a pace that the group is ready for.

In your backpack you will carry personal belongings plus public equipment and food. Men carry more.

The average weight of food for the whole trip is about 12-15 kg per person. The weight of the equipment is still 1-2 kg. In order for the hike not to turn from a vacation into dragging unaffordable backpacks, we have provided several bookmarks with food (some of the food is laid out on the route in advance). So you don't have to carry all the food on you at once.

The final weight of the backpack depends on the number of personal items. Do not take too much, but do not give up what is necessary.

– a general first aid kit (with a standard set of medicines that may be required during the campaign);
– fire set (boilers, axe, fire mittens, dish sponge, ladle, matches);
– tents (a place in a tent is reserved, double tents are paid additionally).

Individual tents are available for a fee, you need to inform your manager no later than 7 days before the start of the route.

The installation and maintenance of the camp is carried out by the participants. You carry things on your own, set up and assemble tents, prepare firewood, take turns cooking food for the whole group. 

You can purchase additional travel insurance on the website of a Large Country without commission directly from insurance companies.

To complete this route, you need good physical shape, if you have never been on a hiking trip with climbing, we recommend choosing a simpler and shorter route.

Persons in need of treatment and constant supervision are prohibited from participating in active routes.

Equipment:

• before going on the route, the tourist is obliged to familiarize himself with the tour program, with the tourist's memo and safety procedures for behavior on an active route, and it is also necessary to clarify in one month about your personal equipment and consult with specialists, guides and instructors;
• to transport personal equipment by horse or by other means, it is necessary to make an individual order;
• if the organizers consider that you do not have enough equipment, the company reserves the right to use its equipment for an additional fee.

The company organizes transportation services for domestic transportation routes using public transport, transport companies and private entrepreneurs. As a rule: 

• for groups of 2 to 12 people minibus, public transport, passenger cars;
• from 12 and more - regular transport, minibuses and buses;
• sightseeing trips are carried out by bus or minibus.

During transportation, participants from different routes may be in the transport.

Vegetarian tourists should notify the organizers in advance (no later than 15-30 days before starting the route).

Ordering individual meals will result in a change in the cost of the tour.

Changing the route:

• if the weather conditions, the work of transport, the closure of national parks, etc. do not allow you to complete the planned route, then the organizers can adjust the route on the spot, based on the current situation.

The list of products: cereals, soup bags, onions, cheese, stewed meat, meat paste, fish paste, canned fish (saury -70%), semi-smoked sausage, cocoa, muesli or vegetables (not for hiking routes), dried fruits, halva, jelly, chocolate, cookies, drying, crackers, coffee, mayonnaise, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, tea, powdered milk, milk, lard, ghee, seeds, kozinaki, nuts, seasonings, bread or crackers, jam, jam in tetrapackets, garlic, lemons, various seasonings.

Vegetables and fruits are taken only where there is no walking part.

The products are taken according to the norm, the main products are taken with a reserve for unforeseen circumstances (for about 2-3 days).

Products are purchased and delivered to the route, as well, in order to lighten backpacks and not carry all the products at once, several bookmarks are made along the route.

Meals are not provided on the day of arrival (gathering) of the group and on the day of departure of the group. On the route, food is cooked over a campfire or gas. Meals on the route (breakfast, lunch (or snack), dinner) are light in weight and high in calories.

All tourists take an active part in the work on the camp (harvesting firewood, water, cooking, installing and collecting tents).

During the hikes, there is an opportunity to fish (not on all routes; you need to have fishing equipment with you), collect mushrooms, berries.

Throughout the entire route, the group is served by experienced guides. The number of instructors and guides depends on the number of people in the group and is distributed individually for each route.

Participants independently take turns cooking along the entire route, set up tents, harvest firewood and carry out the transfer of all necessary equipment (including kayaks). They help the guide in every possible way in creating a favorable psychological environment in the group.

The guide guides along the route, distributes duties among the participants, but does not act as a guide, animator, psychologist, etc. If you want to get more information about Lake Baikal, then perhaps you should purchase an excursion tour.

If you have any questions about equipment, overcoming certain obstacles on the route, immediately contact the guide. 

Tourists receive all information about the area, history, and culture when visiting museums and excursions. Tourists are required to familiarize themselves with the rules of conduct on the route before buying a tour. Of course, all our guides live on Lake Baikal and they will be happy to tell you about their lives, the way of life of the local population, customs, local cuisine (what to try and what to buy with you home), etc. They will share with you the stories they know about Lake Baikal. They are also always happy to play various games with tourists, if the tour participants support the guide in all his initiatives and, of course, show it themselves.

The distribution of guides takes place 3 days before the tour.

In the mountains, the weather changes very often. There are thunderstorms, snowfalls, strong winds, blizzards, low and high temperatures, rock and ice collapses, mudflows, a person is affected by elevation changes, temperatures, increased ultraviolet activity of the sun and other factors. There may be signs of "mountain sickness" on the routes, which are gradually removed during acclimatization.

On scree and moraines — movement in a dense group "trail to trail", strictly monitor the location of group members, avoid large, threatening gaps. In case of a rockfall, give the command "stone" and take cover behind the nearest ledge.

The sun is active in the mountains, so it is recommended to use sunglasses, sunscreen and do not abuse sunbathing, swimming in mountain lakes.

The routes, except for climbing, do not require special training and everyone can participate in them, including children from the age of 12, accompanied by parents or close relatives who are fully responsible for them. The technical skills necessary to successfully overcome the passes are acquired along the route.

The Eastern Sayans and the Baikal region are an area where ticks are found, so it is advisable to have a vaccination and insurance. The guide guides have a first-aid kit with the necessary set of medicines for the campaign. Specific medications (allergic, asthmatic, hypertensive, etc.) must be carried with you. 

It is important to remember: not all plants, berries and mushrooms are edible, wild animals can be found on the routes, so you can not eat unknown plants, berries and mushrooms, as well as move away from the group for long distances (more than 0.5 km. and more than 0.5 hours), only with the permission of the instructors

• in case of violation of the Rules of travel in transport, a Representative of the service (driver) has the right to drop off the violator at the nearest traffic police post. In this case, compensation for the cost of the voucher and transport is not made;
• in case of breakdown or loss of equipment received from a Representative of the tourist service (or a guide), the tourist reimburses the full cost of the equipment himself;
• a tourist who intentionally hid information about diseases that can lead to irreversible consequences on the route from the tourist service is fully responsible for everything that happens on the route.

• observe the rules of personal safety and safety of behavior on the route;
• be present and listen carefully to the daily briefing before going on the route;
• follow all instructions and commands of the instructor guide in a timely manner, as well as listen to his recommendations;
• during the preparation period for the hike, it is advisable to undergo a medical examination and inform the head of the hike in a timely manner about the deterioration of the health condition on the route;
• during the movement of transport, listen to the attendant and strictly observe the time of departure. It is prohibited to travel drunk in transport, smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages in the cabin of transport, as well as drinking alcoholic beverages along the entire length of the active route;
• have available personal equipment necessary for the hike. Take care of group travel equipment;
• before going on the route, familiarize yourself with the instructions and rules of the hiking trip;
• follow the instructions of the leader of the campaign;
• warn the manager about possible dangers and inappropriate behavior of other tourists;
• maintain disciplinary order in the group;
• takes care of nature;
• show mutual assistance to friends;
• Be funny and resourceful;
• follow the rules of hygiene;
• participate in cooking and firewood harvesting;
• the tourist is obliged to be in a watercraft in a life jacket. When moving along the route, the tourist should not overtake the leader of the group without his permission or lag behind the closing group;
• the tourist is obliged to inform the travel agency before the trip about possible illnesses or contraindications to participating in a trip with moderate physical activity and overnight stays in the field;
• listen to the advice of instructors;
• strictly follow the instructions of the instructor when passing local obstacles;
• observe safety precautions when staying by the campfire and when using campfire equipment;
• observe safety precautions when using an axe, saw and other sharp objects;
• move carefully in the forest and when on the water, remembering that snakes, ticks, etc. are found in the forest. potentially dangerous creatures.

• it is forbidden to be on the route under the influence of alcohol and drugs; 
• it is forbidden to collect and eat unfamiliar wild berries, mushrooms, herbs, etc.;
• It is forbidden to move away from the group for long distances (more than 0.5 km. and more than 0.5 hours). It is possible only with the permission of the instructors;
• when crossing dangerous areas, move strictly following the instructions of the instructor (guide) and do not move away from the group by more than 2-3 meters;
• unauthorized departure from the route is prohibited. In case of unauthorized departure from the route, the instructor is not responsible for the tourist, his life and health. Unauthorized departure from the route is considered to be the absence of a tourist for more than 0.5 hours or departure for more than 0.5 km, without the permission of the instructor (guide).

• to take the necessary measures aimed at ensuring the safety of participants, up to the change or termination of the campaign in connection with dangerous natural phenomena and other circumstances, as well as, if necessary, to provide assistance to the victim;
• exclude from the list of participants a tourist who violates these rules of conduct on the route, which endangers his safety or the safety of the group members. If such a need arises during a hike, the tourist is taken to the locality at the first opportunity to send him to his place of residence (compensation for the cost of the voucher and transport in this case is not made);
• to divide the group in case of an emergency, based on the actual availability of forces and means, the specific situation;
• The route or timetable along the route can be adjusted on the spot, based on weather conditions, group preparedness and other circumstances.

Accommodation in tents is common, there is no gender separation, when making an application, be sure to clarify to the manager your wishes for accommodation in a tent (for example, if you have a married couple, you want to live alone and other basic wishes for settlement).