Exploring Lake Baikal. New Year's Tour

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A trip to Lake Baikal during the New Year holidays is a great idea for those who love nature and want to spend time in a cozy atmosphere.

You will visit the ancient shamanic sites on the island of Olkhon, explore the endless steppes of the Tagheran mountains and enjoy the picturesque views of the Circum-Baikal Railway.

Get acquainted with the national cuisine, feel the spirit and mystery of the local culture.

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

Inhabitants of Lake Baikal

Visit the Baikal Museum, where you can see Baikal inhabitants in aquariums.

Stunning panoramas of Lake Baikal

Take the cable car up to the Chersky Stone observation deck

Circum-Baikal Railway

Drive through the tunnels of tsarist times

Itinerary

Day 1 - Acquaintance. Irkutsk. The Small Sea
Our guide will meet you at Irkutsk airport.
It is best to arrive in Irkutsk before 10:00 (local time).
While the group is gathering, you can have breakfast at a cafe near the airport.
At the airport, we get into a comfortable vehicle and drive to the heart of Lake Baikal – Olkhon Island.
During lunch, we will get acquainted with the national Buryat cuisine.
We arrive at a cozy campsite.
Placement.
First of all, we will visit the legendary Shamanka rock (Cape Burkhan). A conversation about the traditions and religion of the local population.

Supper.
Meals: lunch, dinner.
Accommodation: "Bencharov Manor" / "Port of Olkhon", standard, double occupancy (Olkhon).

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Day 2 - Journey to the ends of the Earth
Breakfast at 9:00.
9:30 Boarding a retro car (UAZ).
We cross the Olkhon Gate Strait and set off to explore the most famous island of Olkhon on Lake Baikal.
We are immersed in the wonderful world of winter Lake Baikal.
Only in winter you can see magnificent grottos and bizarre hummocks, rocky capes majestically towering over the mirrored surface of the Baikal ice!
We are going "to the edge of the Earth" – Cape Khoboy, we will visit the Three Brothers rock ensemble (Sagan Khushun), whose silhouettes were immortalized in stone by a mighty and just father.
You will learn a lot about Lake Baikal, hear fascinating legends, and your impressions will be the most vivid and, of course, unforgettable!
A hot lunch awaits you during the tour.
We return to the hotel.
Supper.
Preparation for the New Year's banquet.
21:00 we go to the SOUND BAR, where we will have a photo shoot near the New Year's tree, a gorgeous New Year's table, a game program with a presenter, a performance by a musical group, a New Year's celebration, a wish-making ritual, fireworks, a disco until 5 a.m.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, New Year's banquet.
Accommodation: hotel: Bencharova Manor/ Port of Olkhon, standard, double occupancy (Olkhon).

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Day 3 - Free day
Breakfast.
The opportunity to sleep and relax, take a walk.
We will visit the legendary Shamanka rock (Cape Burkhan).
Meals: breakfast, dinner.
Accommodation: hotel "Bencharova Manor"/ "Port of Olkhon", standard, double occupancy (Olkhon).
Day 4 - The Tazheran steppe or the South of the island of Olkhon
Breakfast.
In the morning, one of two excursions will be held:
Tour of the Tajeran steppe. You will see the mouth of the Anga River and Mount Yerd, ancient petroglyphs, the valley of stone spirits and Mount Tan Khan.
Tour of the southern part of Olkhon Island. You will see Khankhoy Lake, Trident rock, the remains of the ancient Kurykan wall, Cape Kobylya Golova.
Lunch at a cafe (to your taste, not included in the price).
Transfer to Irkutsk.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Dinner (according to your taste, not included in the price).
Meals: breakfast.
Accommodation: Angara/ Victoria / Rus Hotel, standard, double occupancy (Irkutsk).

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Day 5 - Arshan
Breakfast.
Transfer to the southern part of Lake Baikal to the village of Arshan, located at the foot of the Eastern Sayan mountain range in the central part of the Tunka Valley.
You can have lunch at a cafe to suit your taste (not included in the price).
We will definitely visit the Khoimorsky datsan, located in a quiet and peaceful place near the village of Arshan. It is a traditional building made in Oriental style in compliance with all Buddhist rules.
A walk to the drinking pump room.
There is such a law in the Buryat land: if you take something, then give something else in return.
If a person has drunk the healing water given by the spirits (ezhins) of a sacred place, be kind and leave gratitude for generosity.
As guests, we will be very happy to perform a thanksgiving ceremony, treat Eugene to wine, tie satin ribbons as a sign of great respect and continue our journey in peace.
On the day of departure, we will also not forget to honor the spirits of Arshan with a request to grant health and longevity, and gratitude for a wonderful vacation.
A walk along the waterfalls of the Kyngargi River.
The mineral waters of Arshan have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
At the request of the group, you can visit the thermal pool.
Then we go to Slyudyanka.
Accommodation at the hotel.
You can have dinner to your taste in the cozy cafe "Baikal" or "Panorama".
Meals: breakfast.
Accommodation: Arshan Hotel, standard, double occupancy (Slyudyanka).

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Day 6 - Circum-Baikal Railway
Breakfast.
A tour of the unique station building made of marble, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
At 10:00, we will board an electric train (NOT an excursion train!), on which we will travel along the Circum-Baikal railway, built in tsarist times (1900-1905).
The stops will not be long – 1-7 minutes, so it is not advisable to get out of the car.
Lunch lunch box in the train carriage.
At the request of the group, we will get off the train and walk a 10-kilometer section of the track to admire this magnificent monument of engineering art, as well as stroll through the tunnels.
In this case, you will need an additional fee for hivus (in the amount of about 14,000 rubles per group).
In the evening we arrive in the village of Listvyanka.
Accommodation at the hotel.
You can have dinner to your taste in the hotel restaurant or another Listvyanka restaurant.
A sauna is optional at your own expense.
Meals: breakfast, lunch box.
Accommodation: hotel Legend of Baikal/ Demidov Manor, standard, double occupancy (Listvyanka).

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Day 7 - Listvyanka. The source of the Angara. Talci. Irkutsk
Breakfast.
Visit to the only museum about Lake Baikal in Russia.
The Limnological museum provides very accessible information about the great lake.
Visit the aquariums of the museum and a virtual dive to the bottom of Lake Baikal!
Ascent to the observation peak – "Chersky Stone".
A picturesque panorama opens from the observation deck: a view of the entire Larch Bay, the famous source of the Angara River and the legendary Shaman Stone.
Lunch at a cafe of your choice (not included in the price).
After lunch, have some free time to buy souvenirs, and you can also visit the sled dog center (for an additional fee), where you will meet the strongest and kindest human friends – sled dogs (huskies)!
At 14:00 transfer Listvyanka – Irkutsk.
On the way back we will visit the ethnographic museum of Taltsy.
Arrival in Irkutsk is approximately at 17:00.
Accommodation at the hotel.
We are going on a tour of Irkutsk.
You will visit the places where the history of the city originates, see the first churches, merchant houses, get acquainted with the unique architectural style "Siberian Baroque", walk along the embankment and hear a lot of useful and interesting information.
After the tour, you can have dinner in Irkutsk restaurants or at the hotel.
Meals: breakfast.
Accommodation: Angara/ Victoria / Rus Hotel, standard, double occupancy (Irkutsk),

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Day 8 - Departure
Breakfast.
Self-service transfer to the airport.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

6 nights
or

Guest House, Hotel

1 night

Comfort

Basic+

The tour includes accommodation in hotels and at the campsite.

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

Placement	Double room	Extra charge for a single room
The Bencharov Estate on Olkhon	130 000	21 000
Olkhon Port on Olkhon	160 000	36 000

The cost and the amount of the surcharge for a single depends on the chosen placement on

Olkhon Island.

The Bencharov Manor Hotel

Featuring its own bar, Nikita Bencharov Manor Hotel is located in Khuzhir Village. Guests can relax on the terrace.

All rooms at Nikita Bencharov Manor have a wardrobe, towels and bed linen.

A buffet breakfast is served for guests.

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Another option

Port Olkhon Hotel 3*

The Port Olkhon Hotel complex is located in the urban-type settlement of Khuzhir, in a place where you can forget about the outside world and enjoy the beauty of nature. It offers high-speed Wi-Fi access and free parking space. Here, guests can spend their holidays in proper comfort.

The hotel offers fully equipped rooms, which are decorated with natural materials. Each of them has ergonomic furniture, a TV, a table and chairs. The private bathroom is equipped with a hairdryer, slippers, bathrobe and toiletries.

There is a restaurant with author's cuisine on site.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 8 to 16 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

8 days 7 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Irkutsk

Included in price

accommodation specified in the program;
guided tours included in the program, including entrance fees;
meals according to the program: 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, New Year's banquet;
all types of transfers according to the program;
guide services;
payment for permits to visit national parks and nature reserves.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Irkutsk and back;
skate rental;
bathhouse;
accommodation in Irkutsk before and after the route;
additional drinks and food (except those specified in the program).

It's important to know

Suitcase/ bag / backpack + small backpack for active excursions.
Individual first-aid kit: medicines for you personally, adhesive tape, elastic bandage, cream, etc.
Documents: passport, compulsory medical insurance policy – to pack in an airtight package.
A flashlight (with a spare set of batteries).
Photo camera.
Toiletries (toothbrush, etc.).
Shoes: comfortable shoes for the season! winter boots/EVA boots – waterproof! You can take a shoe dryer!
Shoes are replaceable.
Socks – 2 p., warm socks – 2 p.
Change of underwear.
A swimsuit (for visiting thermal springs, if they are included in the program).
Thermal underwear.
Insulated trousers and jacket are windproof – you can wear a ski insulated suit or a down jacket. Windproof with a hood!
Comfortable indoor clothing (tracksuit, jeans + T-shirt).
T–shirts/turtlenecks - the quantity is at your discretion.
A warm sweater or fleece (it is much lighter in weight and easy to dry).
Hat + scarf, you can wear a balaclava.
Mittens/gloves.
Sunglasses.
Sunscreen (snow strongly reflects sunlight!).

Dates and Prices

from
$1,475

30 Dec, 2025 – 6 Jan, 2026 8 days 7 nights

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Reviews

O
Olga

about provider

29 Dec, 2024

Everything was top-notch!!! Thank you so much for the excellent organization!!
N
Natalia

about provider

28 Dec, 2024

Everything was impeccably organized, with no hiccups at all. The coordination was seamless. Our group consisted entirely of travelers aged 50 and above, but that didn’t stop us from exploring the most remote and stunning spots around Lake Baikal. We were fortunate to have the wonderful guide Irina Perlova, who made it all possible. Many thanks to the tour operator for an unforgettable experience.
S
Sergei

about provider

19 Nov, 2024

Everything was great