Crossing of Lake Baikal. Winter journey from West to East

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Are you ready to drive kilometers across the Baikal ice, experience a real Siberian winter and feel the powerful energy of the great lake? Then this is the journey for you!

On this trip, you will cross Lake Baikal at the deepest points from Olkhon to Barguzin Bay, get acquainted with the culture of Buryatia and visit the main center of Buddhism in Russia – Ivolginsky Datsan.

Explore the ice caves and grottoes of the Small Sea, skate on the icy expanses of the lake and swim in the hot spring in the Chivyrkuy Bay.

Location

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 mystical island of Olkhon

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

Delicious Buryat cuisine

Let's taste the dishes of the Buryat national cuisine

Taltsy Museum

Let's get acquainted with the life of the indigenous peoples of the Baikal region

Ivolginsky datsan

We are waiting for a curious trip to the center of Buddhism in Russia

Itinerary

Day 1 - Transfer to Olkhon Island. Cape Burkhan Walking Tour
Today, after the meeting in Irkutsk, we are going to the center of Lake Baikal, to the island of Olkhon.
We will drive along a beautiful road, first through the mountain range, and then through the Tajeran steppes down to the ice crossing to Olkhon Island.
Here, for the first time, you will see and feel what Baikal ice is!
Arrival in the village of Khuzhir, accommodation at the hotel.
After a short rest, we will begin our acquaintance with the island.
Shamanka Rock is a sacred place for all shamanists, which has a unique energy.
We will walk around the rocks and meet our first Baikal sunset, they can be especially beautiful in winter.
In the evening, return to the hotel for dinner.

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Day 2 - Visit to Cape Ogoy. Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment
Unique ice caves and grottos, popular photo locations, space bubble ice and a lot of good mood, these are our plans for the day!
We will drive along the Small Sea to the island of Ogoyu and climb to the Buddhist stupa of Enlightenment to make a wish.
We will also visit the picturesque Dragon rock, which you have probably already seen in the pictures of winter Lake Baikal.
After lunch, we will admire the ice caves of Lake Baikal in the fresh air.
We will also look for bubble ice or methane bubbles frozen in the ice.
A lot of ice bubbles look really cosmic!
You will make amazing shots, your instagram will be filled with cool photos, and the impressions of the Baikal ice will remain in your soul.
Our guides will conduct master classes for you on the most interesting methods of photographing ice, people in ice, ice floes and ice caves.
And in the evening we will take a ride on khivus and meet the sunset on the ice.
Return to the hotel, dinner.

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Day 3 - Visit to Cape Khoboy. Ice caves and grottos. The beginning of the Baikal crossing
Today we will have an eventful and exciting day, kilometers of Baikal ice and the most sincere emotions!
First, we will go to the north of Olkhon Island, along the way we will stop at Kharantsi Island and Cape Three Brothers to see the beautiful ice caves.
We will have a longer stopover at Cape Khoboe.
The huge blue ice hummocks really amaze with their power and beauty!
Here we walk, take pictures and dine outdoors.
After lunch, we will make an exciting ice crossing from Olkhon Island to Barguzin Bay.
We will cross Lake Baikal and visit the border of two regions of Russia.
The path will pass near the place where Lake Baikal has its maximum depth.
In the evening, arrive in Ust-Barguzin.
Accommodation in a guest house, dinner.

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Day 4 - Excursion to Chivyrkuysky Bay. Swimming in the thermal spring in the Serpentine Bay
After breakfast, we will begin our journey along the eastern side of Lake Baikal.
Today we are going on an excursion to one of the most famous places of the lake, Chivyrkuy Bay.
We will drive through picturesque places, among snow-white mountain peaks, real taiga and forest.
After lunch, visit the hot thermal spring in Zmeeva Bay, where you can swim.
The water temperature is +45 degrees.
Hot springs will give you a feeling of relaxation, peace and incredible tranquility.
Return to the recreation center in the evening.
Supper.

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Day 5 - Ivolginsky Datsan Tour
We finish our stay in Ust-Barguzin and leave for Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia (travel time 3-4 hours).
We'll stop for lunch on the way.
After lunch, we will visit Ivolginsky Datsan, the center of Buddhism in Russia.
We will take a walk around the datsan, and we will also be able to see the famous incorruptible body of the Hambo Lama Itigelov (if there are no special prayers, and access is not closed).
After visiting the datsan, we will return to Ulan-Ude, have dinner at a restaurant and taste Buryat cuisine.
In the evening, boarding a night train (compartment) to Irkutsk.

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Day 6 - Excursions to the Taltsy Museum. Visit to the Chersky stone
Arrival in Irkutsk in the morning at 07:30.
Breakfast, early check-in at the hotel in Irkutsk. After a short rest, we take a minibus to Listvyanka (at about 10 a.m.).
On the way, we will visit the Taltsy open-air Architectural and Ethnographic Museum.
Here we will explore ancient wooden buildings, get acquainted with the way of life of the indigenous peoples of the Baikal region.
After Taltsov we go to Listvyanka.
Lunch at one of the cafes in the village.
After lunch, we will climb the Chersky Stone, where there is a good observation deck with a wonderful view of Lake Baikal.

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Day 7 - Departure
Today is the final day of our tour.
After breakfast we leave for the airport.
We wish you new interesting journeys and adventures.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

4 nights
Guest House

2 nights
Train

1 night

Comfort

Basic+

The tour includes accommodation in hotels and guest houses.

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

Hotel Irkutsk	2-bed room (shower and toilet in the room)	133 700
Olkhon Island Hotel
Guest house, Ust-Barguzin
Train 1 night	the compartment
The surcharge for single occupancy is 23,000

10% discount on the tour for children under 12 years old

Find out more information about the conditions of your stay when booking the tour.

The Ibis Irkutsk Center Hotel is located in Irkutsk, 2 km from Irkutsk Train Station. Free Wi-Fi is available on site. Guests can visit the ibis Kitchen restaurant. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning and a flat-screen TV. Slippers, free toiletries and a hairdryer are provided.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 1 to 15 tourists

Minimum age

10 years old

Duration

7 days 6 nights

Group meets at

Irkutsk

Included in price

meeting at 09:30 a.m. (local time) at the airport or at the railway station in Irkutsk;
Irkutsk – Olkhon transfer;
accommodation on Olkhon: 2-bed comfortable room (2 nights);
Cape Burkhan tour;
Ogoy Island and Cape Khorgoy tour;
Cape Khoboy Tour;
Olkhon Island – Ust-Barguzin transfer;
meals according to the program: Day 1 - dinner; day 2, 3, 4 – breakfast, lunch-picnic, dinner; day 5 – breakfast, lunch, dinner; day 6 – breakfast, lunch; day 7 – breakfast;
accommodation in Ust-Barguzin: 2-bed comfortable room (2 nights);
Chivyrkuy Bay Sightseeing Tour;
Ust-Barguzin – Ulan-Ude transfer;
Ivolginsky Datsan tour;
Ulan-Ude – Irkutsk railway tickets (compartment);
Listvyanka village tour;
tickets to the Taltsy Museum;
Chersky Stone Cable Car tickets;
accommodation in Irkutsk (1 night);
transfer to the airport;
guide support;
insurance.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Irkutsk and back:
meals not specified in the program;
additional services not specified in the program or specified in the program for an additional fee.

It's important to know

boots or boots designed for severe frost;
a hat with the ability to cover the ears;
warm, windproof gloves;
ice floats (rubber, worn on any shoes), or crampons on shoes from slipping;
a warm jacket;
a warm sweater or fleece jacket;
pants (ski pants are available);
socks (thermal socks and woolen ones);
thermal underwear;
sunglasses;
lantern;
the lipstick is hygienic.

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.);
Follow 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;
Observe 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
getting injured;
Follow the safety rules on ice, avoid hypothermia - remember the low air temperature at this time
period.

We remind you:

The head oversees the implementation of the excursion program, so 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

from
$1,449

26 Feb – 4 Mar, 2026 7 days 6 nights

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No need to pay now
from
$1,449

5 – 11 Mar, 2026 7 days 6 nights

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Reviews

TR
Tatiana Rubtsova

about provider

26 Dec, 2024

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

about provider

25 Dec, 2024

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

about provider

25 Dec, 2024

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.