Big Country Travel: Trips to Russia, Adventure Tours & Vacation Packages

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A great trip to the coolest and most interesting places of Lake Baikal. We will get an incredible amount of positivity and positive emotions, we will cross Lake Baikal from the west to the east coast!

Only the best attractions: Baikal Museum, Irkutsk, Tazheran steppes, Olkhon Island, the center of Buddhism, thermal springs of Zmeina Bay.

Location

Russia, Irkutsk

from

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Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

Ice skating on Lake Baikal

Let's go ice skating on the world's largest ice rink

Adorable furry friends

We will visit the sled dog center, ride a dog sled and arrange a photo shoot with malamute puppies

Hivus rides

We will travel on the ice of Lake Baikal on an unusual transport

Itinerary

Day 1 - Meeting. Listvyanka
A guide will meet you at Irkutsk Airport.
Departure from Irkutsk to the village of Listvyanka, located on the shore of Lake Baikal at the source of the Angara River.
On the way, we will make a stop at the sled dog center, ride dog sleds, and taste a hot herbal tea.
Arrival in the village of Listvyanka.
The first meeting with Lake Baikal!
Lunch at the restaurant "Last century" / "Legend of Baikal".
After lunch, we will visit the interactive museum about Lake Baikal with Baikal inhabitants.
We will take a chairlift to the Chersky Stone observation deck and walk down the Terrencourt trail.
Free time.
You can relax from the road at the hotel, have dinner at a restaurant or cafe in the village of Listvyanka, ride a snowmobile, order a sauna (additional options).
Meals: lunch. Accommodation: hotel Legend of Baikal/ Demidov Manor, standard, double occupancy.

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Day 2 - Traveling on Khivus
Breakfast at the hotel.
9:00 We board the Hivus hovercraft and set off on the ice!
Along the way, there are 120 kilometers of impressive panoramas of open Lake Baikal, stunningly beautiful ice with a web of cracks and bubbles, and picturesque coves.
We'll make stops to explore the ice, take photos, and skate at the largest ice rink in the world!
We arrive in Buguldeika village, where we will have lunch with local residents.
We will continue the transfer in a vintage UAZ car.
On the way, we will visit the unique place of the Marble Quarry – Buguldeiskoe marble deposit, which stores more than 10 million cubic meters of marble.
Then our way will continue through a mystical place – the Tajeran steppes!
This is a 350-400 million-year-old relict complex. A small piece of the Mongolian steppe on the shores of Lake Baikal.
Stop in Kurkut village on the shore of Lake Baikal and continue driving on the ice!
Arrival in the village. Fat man.
Transfer to the hotel "Bencharova Manor"/"Baykalov ostrog".
Placement. Supper.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Accommodation: Baikal Ostrog hotel, standard, double occupancy.

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Day 3 - Olkhon Island
Breakfast at the hotel.
We will get acquainted with the main Place of Strength of Lake Baikal – the legendary Shamanka rock (Cape Burkhan).
And then we are transported to the kingdom of the Snow Queen.
The tour is conducted on UAZ trucks, designed for the whole day, lunch is included.
We are immersed in the wonderful world of winter Lake Baikal.
Ice caves, giant rocks, bizarre splashes, hummocks, ice mosaic – all this is waiting for you today!
Only in winter you can see magnificent grottoes and bizarre hummocks, rocky capes majestically towering over the mirrored surface of the Baikal ice!
During the trip, you will be able to race through the icy expanses of Lake Baikal, visit the edge of the Earth, admire the three brothers, whose silhouettes were immortalized in stone by a mighty and just father.
A small lunch is waiting for us, organized on the ice table of Lake Baikal.
You will learn a lot about Lake Baikal, hear fascinating legends, get acquainted with the traditions and customs of local residents.
Everyone can do the route, but the impressions will remain the most vivid and, of course, unforgettable!
Return to the hotel.
Supper.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Accommodation: hotel "Baykalov ostrog", standard, double occupancy.

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Day 4 - Crossing of Lake Baikal
Breakfast.
After breakfast, we leave for the Big Sea and set a course for the lower head of the Holy Nose Peninsula.
We are moving to the eastern shore of Lake Baikal along the ice road, making our way through huge hummocks, rushing through the endless icy expanses!
A hot lunch awaits you during the crossing.
We arrive in the Barguzin Bay.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Supper.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Accommodation: Sindbad Hotel, standard, double occupancy (Ust-Barguzin).

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Day 5 - Visiting the open thermal springs
Breakfast.
Through the snow-covered taiga forest, we go to the Chivyrkuysky Bay.
We are warmly greeted by two islands, Bald and Shaggy.
You can easily guess the mysterious history of their names just by looking at them.
Swimming in the hot spring of the Serpentine Bay.
Thermal hydrogen sulfide baths are very useful for the body, but this is not the main thing: it is impossible to describe the sensations that you experience when diving into an open-air pool filled with natural mineral water with a temperature of about +40 degrees, when there is snow around you and the air temperature is -20!
It is unthinkable, scary, incredibly pleasant!
You don't want to get out of the bath anymore, but be careful: bathing should not exceed more than 15 minutes.
A hot lunch awaits you during the tour.
After the photo shoot against the background of mountains and springs, we return to the hotel.
Supper.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Accommodation: Sindbad Hotel, standard, double occupancy (Ust-Barguzin).

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Day 6 - Hospitable Buryatia
Breakfast.
We are heading towards the center of Buddhism in Russia – the Ivolginsky Datsan.
Lunch at the cafe at your own expense.
The phenomenal phenomenon of Lama Itigelov's Hambo in 2002 aroused extraordinary interest in the world community.
On September 10 of this year, the body of the XII PanditoHambo Lama Dasha Dorji Itigelov, the head of the Buddhists of Eastern Siberia, who was buried on June 15, 1927, was raised to the surface of the earth.
The commission of forensic experts made an examination and drew up a conclusion stating that no embalming and preservation of the body had been carried out.
How the body of the Hambo Lama was preserved in such a state remains a mystery.
You have a unique chance to see this incredible phenomenon!
Supper.
If you have a return ticket from Ulan-Ude, then accommodation in Ulan-Ude, and in the morning of the 7th day – an independent transfer to Ulan-Ude airport.
If you have a return ticket from Irkutsk, then take the evening train and go to Irkutsk.
In the morning of the 7th day – independent transfer to Irkutsk airport.
Meals: breakfast, dinner. Accommodation: Buryatia Hotel, standard, double occupancy (Ulan-Ude) or railway ticket to Irkutsk.

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Day 7 - Return
Self-service transfer to the airport.
Departure at any time.
Placement: no. Power supply: no.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Guest House

4 nights
Hotel

1 night

Comfort

Basic+

The tour provides accommodation in hotels and camp sites: standard + economy (with amenities in the room and with amenities on the floor along the route).

The surcharge for single occupancy is 21,000 rubles.

Below are the possible accommodation options.

Offering a garden, free parking and a children's playground, Manor Demidova Guest House is located 50 metres from the shore of Lake Baikal in Listvyanka Village.

Some rooms have a view of the lake. There is also a shared lounge with a TV. Laundry services are available upon request.

Breakfast is served in the guest house's restaurant.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 8 to 16 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

7 days 6 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Irkutsk

Included in price

the accommodation specified in the program is 6 nights;
Meals: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners;
all types of transfers according to the program. Full transport support;
guide services;
guided tours according to the program, including entrance tickets and permission to visit the Baikal National Park.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Irkutsk and back from Ulan-Ude or Irkutsk;
rental of ice floats;
skate rental – 1000 rubles/day;
bathhouse;
accommodation in Irkutsk before the start of 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! Boots/felt boots/winter boots/EVA boots.
Replaceable shoes: favorite slippers.
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 wind- and moisture–proof - you can use a ski jacket.
A suit or down jacket is 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!).
Chemical heating pads.

Dates and Prices

$1,475

23 Feb – 1 Mar 7 days 6 nights

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$1,475

2 – 8 Mar 7 days 6 nights

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$1,475

9 – 15 Mar 7 days 6 nights

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$1,475

16 – 22 Mar 7 days 6 nights

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$1,475

23 – 29 Mar 7 days 6 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

Half of Lake Baikal in 7 days