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

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We invite you to a tour that is available to every outdoor enthusiast. The route passes through Southern Baikal, on the island of Olkhon and in the Chivyrkuysky Bay. Access to the most interesting places in one day! Kayaks, horses, climbing, rocks, Old Believers, visiting a Datsan – and it's all in one route! We will cover more than a thousand kilometers across the Baikal land.

This is a unique route specially designed for outdoor enthusiasts and those who want to see the maximum on Lake Baikal.

Location

Irkutsk

from

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

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Tour highlights

Places of power and mystical energy

We will visit the Shamanka rock and the sacred shaman grove of Aikha, where, according to legend, the earthly palace of the island's owner is located in a cave

Comfort in the wild

We will be able to see and feel Lake Baikal with little physical exertion

The delights of national cuisine

Buuz, nogoon sai, buchleor, sagudai, stroganina, all kinds of smoked and dried fish are waiting for us

Itinerary

Day 1 - The village of Bolshye Koty
Meeting at Irkutsk airport at 10:00 near the information desk.
Organizational matters, we are moving to the pier.
Transfer by boat to the village of Bolshye Koty.
On this day, we already have to ride around the Hangar with access to open Lake Baikal.
The beauty of the scenery will change very quickly, and most spend all their time on a small deck.
Accommodation at an economy class recreation center with facilities on the floor or on the street (when choosing the standard accommodation option, accommodation in a room with facilities on the floor, since the recreation center does not provide accommodation in rooms with amenities).
Walk along the coast along the path towards Listvyanka.
Dinner in the evening.
Free time.
Meals: Lunch. Supper.
Day 2 - Climbing Speaker Mountain
Breakfast.
Today we will take a walk to a very picturesque point of the lake – Mount Skriper (6-7 hours).
At an altitude of 200 m from the lake level, there is a cave in which an ancient human site has been discovered.
At first, the trail goes right along the shore with a magnificent view of the lake, and then it goes into the forest and winds along the serpentine to an observation point.
The view from the top is amazing and breathtaking.
Lunch on the shore of Lake Baikal (cooking together).
After lunch, return to the recreation center.
Free time.
Rest.
Supper.
Exchange of impressions.
Meals: Breakfast. Lunch. Supper.

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Day 3 - Listvyanka village
Breakfast.
Fees.
Transfer to the village of Listvyanka.
Accommodation at the recreation center.
We will visit the market, where people come all year round to buy fish.
You can buy yourself what you like, whether it's salted or smoked fish.
We recommend you to try cold and hot smoked omul!
Transfer to the foot of the mountain.
A short ascent to the observation point, which offers a picturesque view of Lake Baikal and the Angara River.
Descent and transfer to the recreation center.
Dinner on your own.
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 4 - ATVs. Transfer to Irkutsk
Breakfast.
Visit to the Museum.
The museum is unique, it contains the most complete information about Lake Baikal.
If there is a guide, a guided tour of the museum is possible as part of a team group.
On the ground floor you will visit the aquarium, where you will definitely want to see the Baikal Seal.
Then we will have a quad bike ride through the Siberian taiga.
Moving to the beginning of the start. Safety briefing.
A ride for 1 or 2 people on an ATV (2 hours).
The road is laid in a forest area and gives a complete picture of the Siberian region.
Transfer to the recreation center.
Lunch on your own at a cafe.
Buying souvenirs.
Transfer to Irkutsk.
Accommodation at the hotel.
Visit to the 130 block.
Historically restored buildings in the city center.
Dinner at a restaurant at your own expense.
Meals: Breakfast.

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Day 5 - Olkhon Island and Shamanka Rock
Breakfast.
Departure to Olkhon Island (as part of the national team) by bus (5-6 hours) or minibus, depending on the number of participants.
Lunch will be served at a cafe on the way (payment is made on the spot).
Transfer to Olkhon is carried out by public ferry.
Each participant carries out the ferry crossing with their own and group items independently.
As a rule, there are traffic jams and queues during the season.
Therefore, you will travel by one transport to the ferry, and after moving by ferry by another transport (usually by UAZ (tablet, loaf is a popular name).
The road will run along the steppe landscape, where mountains can be seen in the distance on the horizon, followed by Lake Baikal.
During such trips, you realize how big Baikal is!
Accommodation at the economy class recreation center (outdoor facilities).
An additional payment for a 2-bed is made in advance.
A walk to the shore of Lake Baikal and Shamanka Rock, one of the nine shrines of Asia.
The rock is sacred to the local population.
Dinner on your own at any cafe.
Meals: Breakfast.

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Day 6 - Ogoy Island
Breakfast.
A trip as part of the national team to the sacred island of Ogoy with a visit to the Buddhist stupa.
You will be informed in advance of the number of the car that will arrive.
We sit down and drive to the pier.
Then take a boat to the island.
There you will go through three stages, past, future and present.
Make one wish that will surely come true!
The end of the trip at the pier.
Self-return to the base.
Dinner at the base on your own.
Meals: breakfast.
Day 7 - Caves of the Aya Bay
Breakfast.
Around lunch, you will have a trip through the cave (waterproof suits and hard hats are provided. Traveling as part of a national team).
The cave is located in AYA Bay, where you will find the Metropolitan hall, a music hall, stalactites, stalagmites and, of course, a great mood.
The duration is 4-5 hours.
Return to the recreation center.
Note: Cave tours can be replaced if the group is not recruited.
Meals: breakfast.

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Day 8 - Olkhon Island Bike Tour
Breakfast.
Cycling from morning to evening — we ride "on our own" along the picturesque shores of Olkhon Island.
You can just ride from the base to the beach and back!
The day before, you will be sent the address where you should pick up the bike.
Relaxing on the shore.
Buying souvenirs.
Travel by bike at your own pace.
You can also take independent bike rides, periodically returning to the recreation center.
Bicycles are only available for the day.
Have lunch on your own at any cafe in the village, try the local cuisine!
Free time after lunch.
Additional guided tours can be purchased on site.
Dinner on your own.
Departure (10.00 a.m.) and completion of the program for those who have purchased an 8-day tour.
The approximate time of arrival in Irkutsk is about 17 hours.
Meals: breakfast.

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Day 9 - Cape Khoboy
Breakfast.
A trip around Olkhon by UAZ along the route Khuzhir — Uzury — Cape Khoboy — then by ship to the village of Turka.
Khoboy is a place of power and a picturesque place in the north of the island of Olkhon.
It looks like a fang and we will see it later, and it also has a resemblance to the profile of a woman, as on ancient Greek galleys.
Transfer (boat and transfers are paid additionally, to the guide or by transfer).
Arrival in the village of Turka or Ust-Barguzin.
Overnight in the village.
Important! The organizers carry out the crossing of the lake only if the weather is favorable.
In case of adverse weather, the team leader has the right to deliver the group to Ust-Barguzin by road (800 km).
Cape Khoboy (Buryat for "fang, molar tooth") is the northernmost cape on the island of Olkhon.
The spectacular pillar-shaped rock, resembling a sharp canine tooth from the sea, bears a pronounced resemblance to the profile of a female head with a bust, as on ancient Greek galleys from the east and west.
Meals: breakfast.

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Day 10 - Holy Nose Peninsula
Ascent to the observation point (Cross) of the Holy Nose Peninsula, (3 — 5 hours) from where you can enjoy an amazing panorama of Lake Baikal, Chivyrkuysky and Barguzin Bay.
At the beginning, the trail winds through the forest, and then goes up the mountainside.
In small passages we climb to the observation point called the Cross.
Snack.
In sunny weather, the view is very impressive, but climbing in hot weather is a bit tiring.
In any case, take at least 1 liter of water with you (absolutely!).
Snack on top.
Descent from the top of the peninsula (the descent is quite steep, so you should be careful).
Overnight in tents.
Supper.
Note: It will take you from 7 to 9 hours to reach the observation point and then descend.
Meals: lunch and snack. Supper.

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Day 11 - Snake Bay
Breakfast.
Transfer to the Monakhovo area.
Crossing along the scenic path along Lake Baikal to the Serpentine Bay (possibly divided into two shorter-distance crossings. Depends on the preparation of the participants).
A unique and picturesque place with views of the islands and wonderful sunrises.
We go with a minimum weight (necessary things and a snack), our other things are brought with one of our participants (selected from the group at will. It is possible to transfer all participants by ship for an additional fee).
The trail goes right along the shore, rocks, reflection of the sun and amazing shades of Baikal water.
The best thing about this trail is that it winds along the shore of Lake Baikal with ascents and descents, and as a rule, it is this contrast of viewing points that makes it possible to enjoy the beauty of the lake.
Overnight in tents.
Dinner at the campfire.
Meals: Breakfast. Lunch. Supper.

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Day 12 - Kayaking to the Hot springs
Breakfast at the campfire.
Huge sandy beach.
Dawn is coming right from behind the Barguzin Ridge.
But to do this, you need to wake up early, at 7 a.m.
Early morning kayaking to the Hot Springs! (rafting can be arranged on another day. Depends on the weather and other circumstances).
We take baths, relax, and sunbathe!
Return to the base camp.
Lunch.
Relaxing on a picturesque sandy beach.
More than 1 km of sandy beach.
Supper.
Overnight in tents, there is practically no civilization around!
You can only get here by water or walk along the trail.
The food is prepared by the guide, the participants provide all possible assistance in the preparation.
During the rafting, you will touch the untouched corners of the nature of Lake Baikal, and you will swim in the hot healing spring located in the Serpentine Bay.
Meals: Breakfast. Lunch. Supper.

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Day 13 - Rest on the shore of Lake Baikal
Breakfast.
Rest on the shore of Lake Baikal.
Lunch.
Free time.
Supper.
The food is prepared by the guide, the participants help with the preparation.
Chivyrkuy Bay is rightfully considered one of the best vacation spots on Lake Baikal.
Overnight in a tent.
Meals: Breakfast. Lunch. Supper.

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Day 14 - Transfer to Monakhovo
Breakfast.
Transfer to Monakhovo or Sorozhye Bay.
Equipment and belongings are transported by water transport.
Participants carry their personal belongings and clothes.
It is possible to travel by boat together by agreement.
Once again we admire the views of Lake Baikal.
Baikal doesn't let you go after such a trip, and you just want to live for a couple more weeks.
It is already clear that Baikal will remain in the memory for a long time with its amazing beauty.
Lunch.
Continuation of the transition.
Parking and overnight in a tent.
Supper.
Meals: Breakfast. Lunch. Supper.

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Day 15 - Departure to Ulan-Ude. Visit to the Ivolginsky Datsan
Breakfast.
Departure by car to Ulan-Ude (for small groups, departure by public transport).
Lunch on the road on your own.
Meeting in Ulan-Ude.
Visit to the Ivolginsky Datsan.
Ivolginsky Datsan is the spiritual capital of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia. Here is the residence of Pandito Hambo Lama, the head of the Buddhists of Russia.
The program ends at 20:00-21:00.
There are two ways to fly back:
The next day from Ulan-Ude. To do this, we will help you book and redeem a night at the hotel.
Move to Irkutsk and fly away from there. Move either by bus or train. The bus runs every 2-3 hours. Train tickets can be purchased at the ticket office or on the Russian Railways website
In any case, we will be able to make and book the option that suits you.

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Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Tour organizer's comments

It is available to every lover of outdoor activities (nevertheless, we draw your attention to the word active!).

Accommodation

Camp Site

7 nights
Tent

5 nights
Hotel

2 nights

Comfort

Basic

The tour includes overnight stays in tourist tents, as well as accommodation in hotels and economy class recreation centers with facilities on the floor or on the street.:

in the village Bolshye Koty (1st, 2nd days) – economy class recreation center (the recreation center does not provide accommodation in rooms with amenities);
in Listvyanka village (3rd day) – economy class recreation center;
Irkutsk (Day 4) – hotel, economy rooms or per block;
on Olkhon Island (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th days) – economy class recreation center;
tourist tents in the Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuysky bays (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th days);

The cost of the tour for 1 person is 267,200 rubles.

(3-4-bed economy accommodation, facilities on the floor or in a separate room).

The surcharge for 1 local is 21,000 rubles/person.

It is possible in some places, for an additional fee. - comfortable accommodation (Listvyanka, Olkhon, Ulan-Ude):

The surcharge for a 2–bed Comfortable room is 44,000 rubles/person.
The surcharge for 1 Comfortable bed is 77,000 rubles/person.

Please specify the details and conditions of your stay when booking.

You can charge your phones at the camp sites, but the mobile connection is weak and there is no wi-fi. Accommodation is 3, 4-bedded. Facilities on the floor or on the premises. Please specify the details when booking the tour. Bases of such a plan as Olkhon, Like Houses, the Coast of Hope, Lake Baikal, etc.

Tour conditions

Group

From 4 to 15 tourists

Minimum age

8 years old

Duration

15 days 14 nights

Group meets at

Irkutsk

Included in price

meals according to the program (cook or guide cooks at recreation centers);
meeting in Irkutsk;
economy accommodation (facilities on the floor or in a separate room). Maybe in
in some places, for an additional fee. the place is well-maintained (Listvyanka, Olkhon, Ulan-Ude);
guided tours according to the program, entrance tickets to the museum;
guide services;
payment for visiting the national park;
transportation and transfer according to the program;
rental of kayaks and accessories, as well as group equipment and ATVs;
visiting caves, Ogoy, Hoboy;
group first aid kit;
bicycles on day 8.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Irkutsk and back from Ulan-Ude (if desired, you can move to Irkutsk and fly back from there);
bathhouse. Payment on the spot;
transfer by ship and transfers on day 9. Payment on the spot;
fishing services, mopeds, saps;
South of Olkhon and other additional excursions;
sources.

It's important to know

A passport (birth certificate for the child), an MHI policy, a certificate from a therapist if there are chronic diseases (the tourist assumes responsibility for his health on the tour).
Backpack – for women with a volume of at least 70-80 liters, for men 80-90 liters.
The mat is polyurethane.
A plastic bag or a hermetic bag (inserted inside the backpack to protect against moisture).
The headlamp.
Sunglasses.
Sleeping bag – temperature regime depending on the time of year and place of travel.
A spoon, a mug, a knife.
A rain cape is only for routes where the temperature stays above zero.
Matches sealed in polyethylene or plastic packaging or a lighter.
Individual first aid kit (with the necessary set of personal medicines, no more than 200 grams).
Photo camera.
A thermos or a plastic bottle.
Protective equipment against bites of blood-sucking insects (mainly on routes where the temperature does not drop below zero).
Sunburn products (required in the mountains and traveling by water).
Underwear – at least 2-3 sets.
Thermal underwear (set, depending on the time of year. Jacket + tights) – 1-2 pcs.
Trousers are light, sporty, for daily wear, depending on the time of year.
Jacket, fleece, etc. (preferably made of modern materials) – 1-2 pcs.
Storm suit – jacket + trousers. Availability is mandatory. In summer, protection from wind and rain. The jacket is better insulated with a hood (according to the time of the year). As a rule, it must be available in the mountains and on Lake Baikal. Trousers – protection from wind and moisture. In the cold season, you can use a ski suit or the like, depending on climatic conditions.
Socks are simple (or trekking) – 2-4 pairs.
Wool socks (trekking, insulated) – at least 2 pairs.
2 pairs of shoes (for summer – trekking boots and sneakers with thick soles or sneakers + rubber boots with a liner and a warm insole (recommended for water routes along Lake Baikal).
Light sneakers on request (for crossings, recreation centers, on trains, etc.).
Trekking poles are recommended only for hiking routes, combined at the discretion of the participants.
Warm sports hat – 2 pcs (in summer, a cap with a visor + a cap);
Personal hygiene products (toothbrush and paste, toilet paper, etc.);
Gloves in summer are a simple 2 pairs.

The company reserves the right to change the program for the following reasons (weather conditions, disruption of regular transport) – without changing the volume and quality of services provided.

We inform you that the national teams include participants of different ages and physical fitness. Therefore, we ask you to take this into account when buying a tour.

Participants independently take turns cooking along the entire route, set up tents, harvest firewood and carry out the transfer of all necessary equipment (including kayaks). They help the guide in every possible way in creating a favorable psychological environment in the group.

The guide guides along the route, distributes responsibilities among the participants, but does not play the role of a guide, animator, psychologist, etc. If you want to get more information about Lake Baikal, then perhaps you should purchase an excursion tour, since, in an active tour, the main goal is still a safe and comfortable passage of the route from start to finish as well as the opportunity to visit picturesque places where tour groups never go, to acquire certain skills that may be useful in further travels.

The guide (instructor) coordinates all the movements of the group along the route, according to the tour program. If you have any questions about equipment, overcoming certain obstacles on the route, immediately contact the guide. Tourists receive all information about the area, history, and culture when visiting museums and excursions.

Tourists are required to familiarize themselves with the rules of conduct on the route before buying a tour. Of course, all our guides live on Lake Baikal and they will be happy to tell you about their lives, the way of life of the local population, customs, local cuisine (what to try and what to buy with you home), etc. They will share with you the stories they know about Lake Baikal. They are also always happy to play various games with tourists if the tour participants support the guide in all his initiatives.

Big Cats – the village got its name from the word "kotki", or "cats". This was the name of wooden shoes in these places, which were made for convicts. The Museum of Baikal Studies and the aquarium of the Institute of Biology are located in Bolshye Koty.

Irkutsk – the city originates from the Irkutsk prison, founded by the Cossacks under the leadership of Yakov Pokhabov in 1661.

Listvyanka – it is believed that the settlement arose spontaneously at the very beginning of the 18th century. In 1701-1725, the first inhabitants were free settlers. Thousands of tourists flock here from all over the world every year who want to see the natural wonder of Lake Baikal.

The Skriper Rock is a large isolated mountain range composed of a rare rock on Lake Baikal – the Jurassic conglomerate.

Shamanka Rock is one of the nine shrines of Asia. 150 m to the east of the Shamanic Cave, images of shamanic tambourines carved by people of the early Iron Age have been preserved on a white marble rock. Ancient inscriptions in Tibetan and Mongolian languages have been preserved on the rocks near the Shaman Cave. One thing is clear that this place has been considered sacred for many years and deserves careful study. In the modern view of some, it is a place of power." This place is especially beautiful in the morning and at sunset.

Cape Khoboy (in Buryat – "fang, molar tooth") is the northernmost cape on the island of Olkhon. The spectacular pillar-shaped rock, resembling a sharp fang from the sea, has a pronounced resemblance to the profile of a female head with a bust, as on ancient Greek galleys from the east and west.

Ust Barguzin was founded in 1666 by a detachment of Cossack Gavrila Lovtsov at the mouth of the Barguzin River. Initially, the settlement was located on the right bank of the river. After the water level in Lake Baikal rose due to the construction of the Irkutsk hydroelectric power station in 1956, it was moved to a higher left bank. At the moment, there are still houses in the village that were moved during the relocation.

Holy Nose is the name of the peninsula, which is located on the eastern shore of the lake. The territory of the peninsula is included in the National Trans-Baikal Park and a special permit is required to travel there. During the rafting, you will touch the untouched corners of Lake Baikal nature, you will swim in a hot healing spring located in Zmeinaya Bay. Recreation and fishing in the warm and picturesque bay of Lake Baikal. The total distance around the holy nose is about 110 km. Rest in the Snake Bay.

Dates and Prices

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29 Jun – 13 Jul 15 days 14 nights

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20 Jul – 3 Aug 15 days 14 nights

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