The awakening of Lake Baikal. May Tour

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The junction of the seasons is a time of contrasts and wonders, a time to be alone with the protected nature and see even the most popular locations without people. Look at how Lake Baikal wakes up after a long winter: huge ice floes crawl across the water surface, forming bizarre patterns, baby snowdrops bloom on sunny slopes, round-sided seals get out to bask in the spring sun.

Location

Irkutsk

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

Immersion in Buryat culture

Let's go through the rite of purification by fire and listen to the fascinating throat singing

Picnic on the ice of Lake Baikal

We will have lunch right on the ice of Lake Baikal: we will try local delicacies and pickles

Traveling on Khivus

We will go to surf the ice expanses on the Hivus airship – safe and fast

Itinerary

Day 1 - Irkutsk – Golden Horde Ethnic Park – village Hoosier
Today you will have your first encounter with Lake Baikal, a fire purification ceremony, and an introduction to Buryat culture and cuisine.
09:30 Meeting of the group with the guide.
10:00 Departure from Irkutsk and departure to the Small Sea.
12:00 Folklore program and lunch at the Golden Horde ethnic cafe.
13:30 Continue to Olkhon.
16:00 Arrival at the pier, boarding a ferry/ hovercraft (depending on the ice conditions) and transfer to Olkhon Island.
16:30 – 17:30 Boarding a minivan, transfer to the village of Khuzhir.
17:30 Arrival at the hotel, check-in. Free time.
19:00 Dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Watching the film "Father Baikal", dedicated to the world-famous artist Dashi Namdakov and his sculpture "Keeper of Lake Baikal".
Route: 295 km by road. Travel time is 5 hours.
Meals: lunch at the Golden Horde ethnic cafe, dinner on your own.
Accommodation: BaikalWood Eco Lodge&SPA hotel, comfortable Standard rooms.

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Day 2 - Cape Khoboy
Today you will find: Olkhon safari, lunch in the fresh air, Cape Khoboy, sculpture "Keeper of Lake Baikal".
10:00 Departure to the north of Olkhon Island with stops along the way at Cape Kharantsy, in the Sandy tract, at Cape Sagan-Khushun.
12:30 Arrival and walk to Cape Khoboy.
13:30 Lunch-picnic with hot tea.
14:30 Continuation of the walk. Visit to the Guardian of Lake Baikal sculpture.
17:00 Return to the hotel.
18:00 Visit to the sauna on site.
20:30 Viewing of the feature film "Watercolor" and dinner (on your own).
Route: the route will be 70 km by UAZ.
Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch-picnic in nature, dinner – on your own.
Accommodation: BaikalWood Eco Lodge&SPA Hotel, comfortable Standard rooms

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Day 3 - The water area of the Small Sea
Today you will find: the ringing of ice floes, a sip of water straight from the lake, making a wish, lunch on the ice of Lake Baikal.
09:00 Breakfast.
10:00 Transfer to the pier.
Boarding a hovercraft and starting a guided tour of the receding ice of the Small Sea.
Main points: Ogoy Island, Kobylya Golova island (Olkhon Island), Olkhon Gate Strait (the route may vary depending on weather conditions and ice conditions).
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch-picnic in a beautiful place.
17:00 Return to Olkhon Island, walk to Cape Burkhan.
19:00 Tea ceremony at the hotel restaurant.
Journey: 70 km, travel time — 2 hours, 4-5 hours of guided tours.
Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch-picnic in nature, dinner on your own.
Accommodation: BaikalWood Eco Lodge&SPA hotel, comfortable Standard rooms.

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Day 4 - Return to Irkutsk
Today you will be immersed in Buddhism.
08:00 Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
You can get up early and take a walk to Lake Baikal, as well as have a tea ceremony on the lake shore.
10:00 Transfer by minibus to the ferry crossing.
11:00 Crossing the Olkhon Gate Strait by ferry with luggage.
11:30 Transfer to the lunch place.
13:30 Lunch at a Buryat cuisine cafe.
14:30 Transfer to the datsan in the village of Ust-Orda.
15:00 Visit to Tubden Darzhalin datsan.
A tour of the datsan and an audience with the Shirete Lama of the datsan.
16:00 Transfer to Irkutsk.
17:30 The end of the tour and free time.
We will take you to your chosen hotel, airport or railway station.
Journey: 300 km by UAZ and Toyota Haice minibus, 4-5 hours on the way.
Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch at a Buryat cafe, dinner on your own

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Camp Site

3 nights

Comfort

Midscale

The tour provides accommodation in a hotel.

The cost of the tour for 1 person with double occupancy when joining a group is 95,800 rubles.;

The surcharge for single occupancy is 13,000 rubles.

The cost of the tour for 1 person for individual groups depends on the number of people in the group:

for a group of 6 people – 116,000 rubles.;
for a group of 4 people – 143,900 rubles.;
for a group of 2 people – 256 900 rubles.

The cost is relevant for fixed dates, with individual selection of dates, the cost may change

10% discount for children up to and including 12 years old.

The design of the BaikalWood Eco Lodge&Spa Hotel is inspired by nature itself and made of environmentally friendly materials. Thanks to the convenient location of the hotel, you will feel a sense of peace and closeness to nature.

The number of the "Standard" category:

personal use items;
towels, slippers;
fan;
tea set, drinking water;
TV with digital TV;
Free Wi-Fi;
mini fridge;
safe deposit.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 8 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

4 days 3 nights

Group meets at

Irkutsk

Included in price

accommodation at the BaikalWood Eco Lodge & SPA, comfortable Standard rooms, 3 nights;
services of a professional guide throughout the tour;
folklore program and MK on modeling poses in the ethno-complex "Golden Horde";
watching movies at the hotel restaurant;
visit to the sauna at the hotel – 2 hours;
tea ceremony;
hovercraft rental on the route: Khuzhir settlement – Maly Sea area – Khuzhir settlement, 1 day;
excursion to Cape Khoboy;
meeting at the airport;
meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch during excursions;
transfers according to the program: minibus type Toyota Haice / analog and minivan UAZ "Loaf";
recreational fees of the national park;
the guide's bag (hot tea throughout the tour, 0.5 liters of water per day for each guest, a perfume propitiation kit, a first-aid kit, etc.).

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Irkutsk and back;
meals not specified in the tour program;
alcohol and tobacco products;
souvenir products;
sauna on request.

It's important to know

Footwear.

First of all, shoes should be warm and waterproof. Trekking boots and insulated boots will do. Felt boots and boots can no longer be used at this time of the year, because they get wet quickly and dry for a long time.

Outerwear.

The jacket and trousers should be comfortable, warm, should "breathe" and be light. Wind protection is desirable!

Hat and mittens.

It is better to take synthetic caps with windproof membranes (Windstopper, Windbloc). It is desirable that there be ear protection.

Gloves and mittens.

To begin with, you need to take 2-3 sets of them, because they can tear, get wet, etc. Gloves are better to take from synthetic fabrics. A good option is thin gloves made of fleece or Polartec (in order to take pictures) and leggings made of waterproof materials (leggings are large mittens made of dense nylon). You can also take woolen mittens in stock.

Thermal underwear.

For spring tours of Lake Baikal, we recommend that you take summer, light thermal underwear made of fleece or Polartec. Check out the thermal underwear of the companies Yahoo, Red Fox, Virus, Bask.

And we also recommend taking:
- Sunscreen (protection factor of at least 20). The sun is very bright on Lake Baikal in spring!
- Balaclava (face mask);
- Sunglasses (with at least 2 UV protection);
- Headlamp (and spare batteries);
- Trekking winter socks, as well as wool socks;
- Bathing accessories (including towel);
- A personal first aid kit (if you have any specific diseases);
- MHI policy;
- Photo and video equipment. You need telephoto lenses to shoot seals! With a focal length of at least 300;
- If you have binoculars or a telescope, feel free to take it. We will have "public" binoculars, but personal is always better;
- Attributes for a photo shoot (dresses, swimsuit, etc.).

For photo wrapping! Please note that, if possible, it is better to take all clothes and equipment in light or white color so that they do not stand out from the camouflage suit.

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification

$1,219

30 Apr – 3 May, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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$1,219

7 – 10 May, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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No need to pay now