Tour to Krestovka (short for Krestovsky, it's a name of a bay - Bay of the Cross) is a wise choice for those, who like being in touch with nature, want to stay in a log cabin near the lake and fit enough to hike 12 km to the Shamanic site.
This tour is recommended as a main tour or combined with Olkhon island Tour. Also, you can take Krestovka tour and continue to Olkhon on your own (or with my assistance: Olkhon Budget Package Tour cheaper).
Description of the 3 day / 2 night tour to Krestovka
You'll be picked up at the hostel or any other place in Irkutsk at 10am. Vehicle: a 8 sit minibus or a car. Our first part of the journey is a drive through vast open spaces - so called Buryat Steppes - where we eventually can see herds of caws and horses on green fields.
In 2 hr we will take the right turn. The landscape changes from being flat to hilly. After another 70km, we find ourselves near the village Petrovo. From there we will have to through the forest.
We finally reach the farm by 2.30 - 3 am. Our outwardly restrained hosts already cooked lunch and prepared the cabin. Brutal log cabins have wonderful view to the lake. Toilet is outside (also brutal).
After good lunch, cooked by the host lady, we take 2 hr walk to the lake and the hill nearby. Walking to that hill reveals how good you are for our tomorrows 12 km hike.
If you have heart problems or your knees or legs hurt or you seriously overweight or absolutely unfit - you may experience serious difficulties during this tour!
From the top of that hill we will see amazing panorama of the lake and surroundings. Also, we will be using a man made path, built probably between the 6th to the 12th century of our era. It is not clear why those people would need to built that path.
Accommodation in the log cabins, towels and leanings are provided. Occupation usually 2 people in 1 room, but sometimes we are given larger rooms with 4 beds.
Day 2
Breakfast.
Hiking to the White Wall.
The White Wall - a white marble cliff with ancient drawings. Those are
drawing of humans (shamans or may be aliens), birds and animals.
Academic A.Okladnikov wrote:
'The White Wall petrogliphs ... is the most unique among other Siberian
drawings. Pictures of the horn headed dancing shamans facing the water
of Baikal are as majestic as the lake itself...'
PS. The present condition of drawings is poor - weather and graffiti
ruin the marble.
Hike to the White wall is not only about those drawings. It's a combination of walking though the unspoiled beautiful area and seeing an amazing lake Baikal.
We reach the White Wall in 3 hr or so. While you observe the drawings, your guide cooks picnic style lunch.
We return to the farm tired but happy.
Great final accord of the day
- authentic Russian Banya / Steam Sauna.
What is Banya and What To Do There
Dinner
Accommodation in the log cabins
Day 3
Breakfast
Retuning by road to Irkutsk by 2-3pm. Stop for a cup of coffee (not included).
Prices from 6500 R per person |Currency converter|
Price depends on the number of people. Min number of people for the tour is 3. Ask the final price!
Accommodation in the Baikaler Hostel can be arranged for this night.
To book a tour please contact Jack Sheremetoff
Price includes all services, pointed in the itinerary:
private car (and driver) transportation, 2 night accommodation, meals as
noted (day 1: D, day 2: B-L-D, day 4: B) , local guide-interpreter services,
no hidden costs.
Depart by road to Krestovka. Distance between Irkutsk is 225 km, from which 210 of the paved road can be covered in 3 hrs. The last 15 km of the forest road will consume as long as 1 hr of driving through the lonely fields and forests.
Krestovsky Bay is one of the few places on the lake which is only 15km away from the main road to Olkhon island, but still unknown for mass tourism. There is a private cow farm there. Its owner built a couple of wooden cabins for their friends and tourists.
View Born's photostream about our tour to Krestovka
View more photos of Krestovka taken in 2006-2007 by Jack Sheremetoff
