Christmas on Lake Baikal. Listvyanka and Olkhon

After breakfast and packing, we will go to Lake Baikal in the village. Listvyanka, which is located at the source of the only Angara River flowing out of the lake. 

On the way you will visit the architectural and ethnographic museum “Taltsy”, here you will see the estates of wealthy peasants, the Spasskaya Tower of the Ilimsky ostrog, the Parish Council, the parish school, the temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God of the 17th century. 

What is especially interesting is that each courtyard of the museum has its own exposition, you can go into each house and plunge into the atmosphere of those times. 

In winter, the famous Russian roller coasters operate on the territory. 

Do not deny yourself the pleasure of riding a cowhide from a dizzying height, swing on a huge swing or just stroll through a snow-covered village. 

And after that, we warm up with hot tea. 

Arrival in Listvyanka, stop at the Shaman Stone, where you will learn the beautiful legend of the love of Angara and Yenisei. 

The source of the Angara River is the widest and largest in the world (863 m). 

In winter, up to 15 thousand waterfowl live in the polynya with a length of 5 to 15 km. 

A tour of Listvyanka, a visit to the current St. Nicholas Church, a fish market (here we will try local fish), souvenir rows, and the Baikal Museum with aquariums in which you will see the inhabitants of Lake Baikal: omul, grayling, sturgeon and even seals.

Return to Irkutsk. 

Lunch during the tour. 

Meals: breakfast, lunch. Guide: Yes.

After breakfast, we go to Lake Baikal, to the very heart of it – to the island of Olkhon. 

On the way, you will see a variety of landscapes of the Baikal region: the picturesque spurs of the Baikal range with snow-covered taiga, the barely snow-covered Tazheran steppe, which is 300-400 million years old, the mountainous shores of the Maly Sea and the Olkhon Islands.

After passing the village of Yelantsy, we will stop at the bronze figure of a flying eagle, the patron saint of the steppe expanses of Tazheran and Olkhon, admire the steppe massif from a height. 

We will make a stop at the sacred place of the local people, find out what "burhanit" is. 

Next, we will stop at the observation deck of the Kurkuta Bay.

Here, the Tramp hero of the Russian folk song "Through the Wild Steppes of Transbaikalia" was immortalized in bronze. 

Next to the 4-meter sculpture there is a cross and a marble slab on which the lyrics of the song are carved: "A tramp approaches Lake Baikal, takes a fishing boat and starts a sad song, sings something about his Homeland." 

Arrival at the ferry. 

Depending on the ice conditions, the crossing is carried out by ship or hivus.

On the island, he meets a local car (UAZ). 

Transfer to the village Khuzhir, accommodation at the recreation center.

Walking tour to Cape Burkhan (Shamanka rock), which is called the hallmark of Lake Baikal. 

Cape Burkhan is an extraordinary rock that has been revered by the indigenous population of the island since ancient times. 

Currently, it is considered a state natural and historical monument, and in ancient times, cult offerings were made here to the owner of the island, who, according to legend, lived in the cape cave. 

This is a place of extraordinary strength and energy! 

Make your most secret wish! 

North of Cape Burkhan there is a magnificent sandy beach of the Sarai Bay, which stretches for 3 km between Cape Burkhan and the village of Kharantsi.

Sandy ramparts hide cozy glades deep in the shore, surrounded by a pine forest. 

Return to the recreation center, dinner. 

Additional option: ice skating on Lake Baikal.

Guide: Yes. Meals: breakfast, dinner.

Breakfast at the recreation center.

Today, we will have a busy day with an exciting excursion program. 

Car tour to the northernmost part of the island – to Cape Hoboy. 

Khoboy is a sacred place, a place of strength and powerful energy, the northernmost cape on the island of Olkhon. 

Cape Khoboy is located near the widest point of Lake Baikal (79.5 km). 

During the tour, you will see all the power and beauty of winter Lake Baikal. 

On the way to the cape, you will drive along the Small Sea, which is already frozen. 

During the tour we will have several stops, you will see: 

• The Sandy tract – (miniature of the famous Sandy Bay). The place where the ice meets the sand dunes. At the edge of the forest, you can find stilted trees that have risen above the sand by 30-40 cm on their roots.
• Sagan-Khushun – "white cape" is an extremely picturesque rocky cape with a length of about 1 km. Sagan-Khushun rocks are included in the list of natural monuments of Lake Baikal. This place stands out among the monotonous coast with spectacular pyramid-shaped rocks, known to the local population as the "Three Brothers", the legend of which you will learn during the tour. 

Arrival at Cape Khoboy, a small trekking along the trail (800 m), and the boundless, mighty Baikal opens up in front of you. 

Here, in the middle part of the lake, during this period there is still water and Lake Baikal is just getting ready to put on ice clothes, so some days he soars, which immediately draws images in his head about the gray-haired Father Baikal. 

It is in the middle bowl of Lake Baikal that the deepest place is located – 1642 m. 

We are returning from the cape, and a hot picnic lunch is waiting for us.

After lunch, we return to the village. 

Supper. 

Depending on the snowy conditions and weather conditions, the tour program may change. 

Guide: Yes. Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner.

Breakfast at the base. 

After breakfast, you will have an excursion to the Southern part of the island, where you will see the most incredible ice attractions – splashes and grottoes.

When we get to the south by car, we will transfer to Khivus – this is a hovercraft. 

At this time of the year, the safest means of transportation on the ice. 

We're going to see sokui right away. 

These are bizarrely shaped ice splashes that appear in late autumn during storms, when angry Baikal waves beat against rocks and water droplets freeze on them in bizarre icicles. 

They can look like long ice plumes of icicles frozen together or spirally twisted ice needles.

Here, we will be able to climb into the caves, which are so difficult to access at other times of the year.

After actively exploring, photographing and admiring the Baikal ice, we return to the village. Hoosier. 

Free time. 

Dinner in the evening. 

Additional option: ice skating on Lake Baikal. The cost starts from 1000 rubles/person. (rent at the rental point).

Guide: Yes. Meals: breakfast, dinner.

Breakfast. 

Free time. 

The estimated check-out time is 11:00-13:00. 

The exact time of departure from the hotel will be announced the day before.

Return transfer to Irkutsk.

Accommodation at the hotel (approximate arrival in Irkutsk at 19:00).

Independent walks around Irkutsk, buying fish and souvenirs.

Guide: No. Meals: breakfast.

Time passed quickly on Lake Baikal, and our tour came to an end. 

We are sure that winter Baikal has made you fall in love, that this week you have been able to enjoy the beauty of its shores and the night sky, breathe deeply of its frosty air and recharge for a long time with the streams of its life-giving energy! 

After breakfast, transfer to the airport or railway station in person at the time of your departure. 

Guide: No. Meals: breakfast.