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

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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 - Sightseeing tour of Irkutsk
Arrival in Irkutsk, the capital of Eastern Siberia.
Meeting and acquaintance with the participants of the tour.
Today we have a sightseeing tour of the city.
We will walk through the snow-covered streets, see the majestic Hangar and learn about the history of the city.
We will visit the historical quarter and have lunch at one of the restaurants in the city.
After lunch, check in at the hotel.
You will have free time to relax and adjust to local time.
Meals included: lunch.

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Day 2 - Transfer to Olkhon Island. Walking tour to Cape Burkhan
Today, after breakfast, we will go 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 Tazheran steppes down to the ice crossing to Olkhon Island.
Here you will see and feel for the first time 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 cliff and meet our first Baikal sunset, in winter they can be especially beautiful.
In the evening, return to the hotel, dinner.

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Day 3 - Visit to Cape Ogoy. Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment
Unique ice caves and grottoes, popular photo locations, space bubble ice and a lot of good mood, here are our plans for the day!
We will drive across 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 ice.
In large numbers, ice bubbles look really cosmic!
You will make amazing shots, your Instagram will be filled with cool photos, and 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.
Return to the hotel, dinner.

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Day 4 - Visit to Cape Khoboy. Ice caves and grottoes. The beginning of the Baikal crossing
Today we will have a busy and exciting day, kilometers of Baikal ice and the most sincere emotions!
First, we will go to the north of the island of Olkhon, along the way we will stop at the island of Kharantsi and Cape Three Brothers to see the beautiful ice caves.
A longer stop is waiting for us at Cape Hoboe.
Huge ice hummocks of blue color 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 the maximum depth.
In the evening, arrival at Ust-Barguzin village.
Accommodation at the guest house, dinner.

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Day 5 - Excursion to Chivyrkuysky Bay. Swimming in the thermal spring in the Serpentine Bay
After breakfast, we will start 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, Chivyrkuysky 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.
In the evening, return to the recreation center.
Supper.

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Day 6 - Excursion to the Ivolginsky Datsan
We finish our stay in Ust-Barguzin and go to Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia (travel time 3-4 hours).
We'll make a 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 Hambo Lama Itigelov (if there are no special prayers, and access will not be closed).
After visiting the datsan, we return to Ulan-Ude, we will have dinner at the restaurant and taste Buryat cuisine.
In the evening, boarding the night train (compartment) to Irkutsk.

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Day 7 - Excursions to the Taltsy Museum. Visit to the Chersky stone
Arrival in Irkutsk in the morning at 07:30.
Breakfast, early check-in at a hotel in Irkutsk.
After a little rest, we go by minibus to Listvyanka (at about 10 o'clock).
On the way, we will visit the open-air architectural and ethnographic museum "Taltsy".
Here we will explore ancient wooden buildings, get acquainted with the 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 8 - Departure
Today is the final day of our tour.
After breakfast we leave for the airport.
We wish you new interesting journeys and adventures.
Meals included: breakfast.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

4 nights
Guest House

2 nights
Train

1 night

Comfort

Basic+

The tour includes accommodation in hotels and a guest house.

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

Irkutsk Hotel	2-bed room (shower and toilet in the room)	115 500
Olkhon Island Hotel
Guest House, Ust-Barguzin
Train 1 night	compartment
The surcharge for single occupancy is 15,000

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

up to 15 tourists

Minimum age

10 years old

Duration

8 days 7 nights

Group meets at

Irkutsk

Included in price

meeting at 09:30 am (local time) at the airport or at the railway station in Irkutsk;
accommodation in Irkutsk: 2-bed comfortable room (2 nights);
sightseeing tour of Irkutsk;
Irkutsk – Olkhon transfer;
accommodation on Olkhon: 2-bed comfortable room (2 nights);
excursion to Cape Burkhan;
Ogoy Island and Cape Horgoi tour;
excursion to Cape Khoboy;
Olkhon Island – Ust-Barguzin transfer;
meals according to the program: 1 day – lunch; 2 day – breakfast, dinner; 3, 4, 5 day – breakfast, lunch-picnic, dinner; 6 day – breakfast, lunch, dinner; 7 day – breakfast, lunch; 8 day – breakfast;
accommodation in Ust-Barguzin: 2-bed comfortable room (2 nights);
sightseeing tour of Chivyrkuy Bay;
transfer Ust-Barguzin – Ulan-Ude;
excursion to the Ivolginsky Datsan;
railway tickets Ulan-Ude – Irkutsk (compartment);
Excursion to Listvyanka village;
tickets to the Taltsy Museum;
tickets for the Chersky Stone cable Car;
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

$1,153

7 – 14 Feb, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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$1,153

22 Feb – 1 Mar, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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$1,153

7 – 14 Mar, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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Reviews

A
Anastasia

30 Oct, 2024

about provider

Everything was perfectly organized, and the itinerary was very well planned – from transfers and accommodations to the excursions themselves. I especially enjoyed the trip along the Circum-Baikal Railway, Listvyanka, and the enchanting Olkhon Island. Plus, we were lucky with the weather: we encountered heavy rain only when leaving Irkutsk; the rest of the time was dry and sunny. Our guide Alexander was wonderful and attentive. We learned so many new things and even took a swim in Lake Baikal!

30 Oct, 2024

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