The heart of the sea. Winter trip to Lake Baikal

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Having visited the Small Sea and Olkhon, we can confidently say that we have seen winter Baikal. In our tour, you will find the ice of Lake Baikal, coastal rocks decorated with ice and ice splashes. During the three days of the tour, it is as if you will visit another fabulous world of ice and winter beauty.

Location

Irkutsk

Sightseeing tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

Picnic on the ice of Lake Baikal

A delicious lunch is waiting for us in the frosty Siberian air

An abandoned marble deposit

We will see a huge marble quarry, take a walk and make interesting shots

The famous Baikal ice

You can take skates with you and ride on the ice of Lake Baikal, if desired, there is a skate rental

Itinerary

Day 1 - The road to the Small Sea. Buguldeika
Upon arrival in Irkutsk, the journey begins to Lake Baikal, or rather to the Small Sea.
You will depart from Irkutsk at approximately 10 a.m.
On our way to the Small Sea, we will stop at the famous marble quarry in Buguldeika!
If you drive from Buguldeika towards the village of Yelantsy, you will see a huge deposit of marble.
White stone blocks are visible from afar, marble reserves in Buguldike occupy about 10 million cubic meters.
The age of the deposit is 2 billion years old, it is older than Lake Baikal itself.
The local marble is characterized by high density, uniformity and whiteness, it is ideal for sculptures and decoration.
The field offers magnificent views of Lake Baikal and the Buguldeika River.
After that, we will drive to the village of Yelantsy, where a hearty lunch will be waiting for you!
Next, our path will run through an area with scenic views.
Part of the road will pass through the Tajeran steppes, decorated here and there with rocky remnants.
Guests often refer to this segment of the journey as the "Martian" one.
The landscapes really transport you to some kind of alien reality!
After that, we will drive to the Small Sea, where, after checking in, you will have free time, which you can devote to rest or a walk.
Included in the price: group transfer, accommodation, lunch on the way to the Small Sea.
You will find: the Tajeran steppes, marble quarry, Buguldeika, Baikal, the Small Sea.

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Day 2 - Tour of the south of Olkhon Island and the islands of the Small Sea
Today you will see frozen water splashes in grottos and caves – amazing shapes of icicles and statues will not leave you indifferent!
You will visit one of the most popular tourist destinations in Olkhon – Ogoy Island.
Ogoy Island is the largest island in the Small Sea, 3 km long.
The most frequently photographed and recognizable place on the island is the sacred Buddhist stupa.
Many people come to Lake Baikal just for the sake of visiting this place – to purify themselves and recharge their spiritual energy.
There is also a belief that if you walk around the stupa 3 times and make a wish, it comes true.
You will find a lake in the south of Olkhon, which is famous for methane bubbles frozen in ice — they look very interesting!
In the middle of the day, you will have an outdoor picnic lunch surrounded by Baikal beauty.
Today you will have a lot of photos from the tour – it is impossible to resist and not capture all the icy beauty!
In the evening, you will return to the hotel, where you will have the opportunity to relax or spend your free time at your discretion.
The tour can be replaced due to the ice conditions.
As an alternative, a car tour "To the south of Olkhon Island" is offered.
An excursion to the south includes a visit to Lake Heart, the Trident rockery, the lonely birch, and the Khalzana Falls.
A detailed tour program will be provided upon replacement.
The price includes: accommodation, breakfast, guided tour, group transfer, picnic lunch, permission to visit the national park.
You will find: Ogoy Island, Cape Dragon, Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment, caves, ice of Lake Baikal.

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Day 3 - Return to Irkutsk
Your tour program is coming to an end today.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will find your way back to Irkutsk via the Baikal ice crossing.
You have got acquainted with winter Baikal, its legendary ice!
We really hope that during the tour our region will be able to win your favor, and we know for sure that when you return home, you will feel like you are drawn to Lake Baikal again, to soak up its energy, to enjoy the beauty!
The price includes: breakfast, lunch on the way to Irkutsk, group transfer.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

or

Camp Site, Hotel

2 nights

Comfort

Midscale

The tour provides accommodation at the recreation center.

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

Placement	Double room	Extra charge for a single room
standard	41 000	10 000

"Standard" is a comfortable room equipped with its own bathroom (shower and toilet), with the number of beds according to the number of residents.

The presented classification of hotel rooms does not depend on the star rating of the accommodation facility.

Accommodation is based on availability, please specify the details when booking. The possible options are presented below.

Recreation center "Wind of wanderings"

The recreation center "Wind of Wanderings" is a great place to relax. All the buildings of the base are built of wood, an environmentally friendly material. It offers a base, a great beach on the shore of Lake Baikal, excellent views from the windows of all rooms, playgrounds are equipped for children. Cozy rooms of various classes from economy to luxury. Excellent chefs work at the base, who will gladly feed everyone. The cuisine is delicious, homely. The friendly staff will do everything to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

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Another option

Naratei Recreation Center

The Naratei recreation center is waiting for its guests in the village of Sakhyurt. Parking, billiards, children's playground, sauna, shuttle service and more are at your disposal.

Wonderful cozy rooms have been created for you here so that you can get a quality rest and recharge with a lot of pleasant emotions from living in this place.

There is a restaurant on site where you can have a delicious meal and have a great time.

Shops and cafes are within walking distance. There are ample opportunities for tourism. Everyone here stays in solitude with the incredible nature of Lake Baikal.

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Another option

Recreation center "Baikal rainbow"

On the picturesque shore between the Bays of joy there is a recreation center “Baikal rainbow”, 3 km from the village of Sakhyurt, Irkutsk region. This place is ideal for relaxing with both the whole family and a group of friends. Free high-speed Internet is available far from urban civilization. For convenience, the reception is open 24 hours a day. The number of rooms is represented by hotel rooms of various capacities. There is functional furniture everywhere. There is a bar and a cafe on site with views of Lake Baikal. Where delicious dishes of Russian cuisine are served. It is possible to hold a small celebration.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 20 tourists

Minimum age

5 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Irkutsk

Included in price

transfers throughout the tour (except for khivuses at the ferry to Olkhon Island);
meals according to the tour program (2 breakfasts, 3 lunches);
excursions specified in the program;
habitation;
entrance to The National Park.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Irkutsk and back;
meals not specified in the program;
drinks and dishes not included in the main menu according to the program;
additional services;
additional excursions and transfers not included in the program;
equipment rental.

It's important to know

Warm outerwear (for example, a ski suit);
Comfortable shoes (non-slip boots);
Headdress (warm hat);
Warm clothes (thermal underwear, fleece, hoodies, scarf/buff);
Warm mittens or gloves;
Sunscreen (protection factor of at least 20);
Sunglasses (with at least 2 UV protection);
Bathing accessories: swimsuit, towel and slippers (for visiting the sauna/hot springs, if provided by the program);
Personal first aid kit (if you need specific medicines);
Photo/video equipment (spare flash cards);
Portable charger (power bank);
Toiletries;
Small backpack (for excursions and walks);
The seat (tourist hob);
Thermos (optional);
Binoculars (optional);
Required: Passport, MHI policy.

the tour operator reserves the right to swap excursions according to the tour program, replace them with equivalent ones in situations related to changes in weather conditions, force majeure or at the discretion of the organizer, but undertakes to fulfill the entire tour program and provide all excursions specified in it in full;
the tour is a combined group, the number of people in the tour can reach 18 people;
The tour program starts in the morning at 10.00. It is necessary to arrive in Irkutsk before 9:30 local time, if the tourist is late for the appointed time, then he gets to the first point designated by the organizer on his own;
the end of the tour in Irkutsk is at 16:00 (approximate time);
the place and time of the group's gathering: from the Angara hotel (Sukhbaatar str., 7, Irkutsk) in the period from 09.00 to 09.30 local time and from Irkutsk airport at 10.00;
a day before the start of the tour, a group will be created in the Telegram messenger, where all organizational information on the tour will be provided. Please install the Telegram app on your phone in advance.
The tour operator does not guarantee the Tourist accommodation in a specific hotel selected by the tourist from the list. The tour operator has the right to replace the hotel listed in the list with a similar one in terms of category and cost;
the check-in involves the accommodation of up to 3 tourists in the room. Each tourist is provided with a separate sleeping place. If, for reasons beyond the control of the tour operator (cancellation or postponement of other tourists' accommodation with check-in on the same dates), a tourist could not find a check-in at any point on the route, the tour operator has the right to put the tourist in a single economy room. The tourist, for whom there was no accommodation, has the opportunity to stay in a single room "standard" with an additional fee. To do this, the tourist must independently check with the Tour Operator no later than 14 days before the start of the tour whether there was a check-in for him and inform him of his desire to make an additional payment for accommodation in a single room "standard".
Olkhon Island is reached by ice crossing in the winter season and by ferry in the summer. In the off-season on khivus (hovercraft). If the ice crossing does not work for climatic reasons, then the tourist pays for the crossing on Khivus himself;
in winter, especially after March 20th, the tour operator does not guarantee that the ice will remain transparent, as it depends on weather conditions, as well as that the juices and splashes will be safe;
the composition and size of the group may change throughout the tour;
guides may change throughout the tour. Each location is assigned a guide who is an expert of this location. The tour coordinator is always alone.

Dates and Prices

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

from
$525

22 – 24 Feb, 2026 3 days 2 nights

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from
$525

27 Feb – 1 Mar, 2026 3 days 2 nights

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from
$525

5 – 7 Mar, 2026 3 days 2 nights

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Reviews

D
Dmitry

about provider

19 Dec, 2024

This tour operator is excellent.
EV
Elena Vyatkina

about provider

17 Dec, 2024

6 more photos

I would like to say a few words about our tour manager Tamara, who promptly answered all our questions and gave great suggestions on how to make the most of our free time. Thank you so much!
A
Alexey

about provider

3 Dec, 2024

Everything was fantastic! The tours were punctual, and both the accommodations and travel arrangements were comfortable and met all our expectations. The food at the guesthouse was absolutely outstanding. A big thank you to everyone involved in organizing this tour!