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

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A real winter fairy tale, shrouded in a snow-white curtain and the stunning ice of Lake Baikal. Caves, ice caves, unique ice, the best sights and local culture.

Location

Russia, Irkutsk

Sightseeing tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

The sacred island of Olkhon

We will visit one of the most famous places on Lake Baikal, which is rightfully called a place of strength and especially powerful energy

Unearthly landscapes of the Tazheran steppes

Landscapes really transport you to some kind of alien reality!

Picnic on Lake Baikal

Let's warm up with a delicious hot lunch on the campfire

Itinerary

Day 1 - Transfer to Olkhon Island
The place and time of the gathering of the group: from the Angara hotel (Sukhbaatar St., 7, Irkutsk) in the period from 09.00 to 09.30 local time and from Irkutsk airport at 10.00.
Group transfer to Olkhon Island (approximately at 10 a.m.).
The road passes through picturesque places.
Olkhon is an island on Lake Baikal, and people traditionally get there first by highway, then by ice crossing in winter.
Before crossing to Olkhon, the path will run along a road with picturesque views – partly you will go through the Tajeran steppes, decorated here and there with rocky remnants.
Check-in in the village of Khuzhir.
Free time to explore the surroundings of the village, walking to Cape Burkhan.
Included in the price: group transfer, accommodation, lunch on the way to Olkhon.

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Day 2 - Excursion to the north of Olkhon
Today you will immerse yourself even more in the atmosphere of Lake Baikal.
The tour starts at 10:00 a.m. and lasts 5 hours.
After breakfast, you will go on a guided tour.
Today you will have a real adventure on the legendary Baikal ice.
You will drive to the northern part of Olkhon, see from the ice the outlines and amazing images of the Olkhon coastal cliffs, the marble walls of Cape Sagan-Khushun.
You will spend the longest time at Cape Khoboy – its rocky, steep shores in these places resemble animal fangs, which perfectly emphasizes the name (the name translates from the language of the local population as "fang").
From the ice, the outline of the cape resembles the figure of a woman – an interesting local legend is connected with this, which you will be told about during the tour.
In the middle of the day, you will have a picnic lunch in the fresh air, surrounded by the winter Baikal beauty of nature.
The tour takes place with stops in the most beautiful places where you can take wonderful photos for memory.
If you wish, you can go ice skating, be sure to take them with you.
If necessary, you can rent skates (check with the organizer of your tour, skate rental is not included in the price).
The time for excursions allocated for skiing is about 20 minutes.
Back at the hotel, you will have a free evening.
Depending on the ice conditions, an excursion to the north of Olkhon on the ice will be replaced by an excursion on land, that is, the movement will be on land without going out on the ice.
All locations announced on the tour will be visited.
The only difference is in the overview – tourists watch the capes from below from the ice, walk on the ice, on land – before the eyes of tourists, pictures of the vast Baikal open from above.
The price includes: breakfast, accommodation, guided tour, group transfer, picnic lunch, permission to visit the national park.

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Day 3 - Excursion to the south of Olkhon Island
The tour starts at 10.00 and lasts about 5 hours.
The trip will take place on the ice of Lake Baikal along the southern part of the island of Olkhon and the islands of the Small Sea.
You will see frozen water splashes in grottos and caves, in which icicles and statues of amazing shapes are frozen in an interesting way.
You will visit one of the most popular tourist destinations on Lake Baikal – 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 of Enlightenment.
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.
Shall we try to check?
On the way, you will stop at Olkhon Island to drive to the lake, which is famous for its bubbles in the ice.
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 village of Khuzhir, 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 the Polevoy Stan observation deck, Khankhoy Lake (Yalga), and the Trident rockery. A detailed tour program will be provided upon replacement.
The price includes: breakfast, accommodation, guided tour, group transfer, picnic lunch, permission to visit the national park.

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Day 4 - Departure
Your tour program is coming to an end today.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive back to Irkutsk.
These eventful days have introduced you to 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

Hotel

3 nights

Comfort

Basic+

The tour includes accommodation in a hotel in the village of Khuzhir.

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

	double room	extra charge for a single room
standard	73 000	15 000
comfort	99 000	25 500

Types of accommodation:

"Standard" is a comfortable room equipped with its own bathroom (shower and toilet), with a number of beds according to the number of residents.
Comfort is a more spacious and comfortable room in comparison with the standard category, equipped with a modern design (shower and toilet inside).

Hotel accommodation is subject to availability, please check the details when booking.

Children from 0 to 2 years old receive a 25% discount (does not occupy a separate place during the stay, without meals).
Children from 2 to 5 years old receive a 20% discount (everything is included as for an adult: seat, meals).
Children from 5 to 10 years old are given a 15% discount (everything is included as for an adult: seat, meals).

Nikita Bencarov Manor Hotel or similar (standard rate)

Featuring a private bar, Nikita Bencarov Manor Hotel is located in the village of Khuzhir. Guests can relax on the terrace. Room service is available. Free private parking is available on site. An airport shuttle can be arranged for an additional fee. All rooms at the Nikita Bencarov Manor Hotel have a wardrobe, towels and bed linen.

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Another option

Villa Malina Olkhon Baikal Hotel or similar (comfort rate)

Villa Malina Olkhon Baikal Hotel is located in Khuzhir, 1.6 km from Khuzhir. It offers a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a terrace. All rooms at this four-star hotel offer free Wi-Fi and lake views. The reception is open 24 hours a day. Currency exchange and luggage storage are available. Each room here will provide you with a seating area. Some rooms at Villa Malina Olkhon Baikal Hotel have views of the patio and pool. All rooms have a private bathroom and a wardrobe. Towels and bed linen are provided.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 5 to 18 tourists

Minimum age

2 years old

Duration

4 days 3 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Irkutsk

Included in price

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

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Irkutsk and back;
meals not specified in the program;
additional excursions, activities not specified in the program;
equipment rental;
crossing on Khivus during the off-season (if the ice crossing does not work).

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 a.m. 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: we recommend purchasing tickets for the return trip after 16:00 (depending on the tour) local 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.
"Standard" is a comfortable room equipped with its own bathroom (shower and toilet), with the number of beds according to the number of residents.
"Comfort" is a more spacious and comfortable room in comparison with the "standard" category, equipped with a modern design (shower and toilet inside).
The presented classification of hotel rooms does not depend on the star rating of the accommodation facility.
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

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4 – 7 Feb, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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7 – 10 Feb, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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9 – 12 Feb, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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13 – 16 Feb, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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15 – 18 Feb, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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17 – 20 Feb, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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20 – 23 Feb, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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22 – 25 Feb, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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23 – 26 Feb, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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25 – 28 Feb, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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27 Feb – 2 Mar, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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3 – 6 Mar, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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5 – 8 Mar, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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7 – 10 Mar, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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11 – 14 Mar, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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18 – 21 Mar, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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20 – 23 Mar, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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23 – 26 Mar, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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25 – 28 Mar, 2026 4 days 3 nights

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30 Mar – 2 Apr, 2026 4 days 3 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!

The Winter fairy tale of Olkhon