This is a rare opportunity to see THE ENTIRE Baikal from South to North. You will see and experience everything you’ve read or heard about lake Baikal. The tour is done in the time of the safest strongest ice: 19th of February to 25th of March. The safety is ensured by an ice capitano, experienced drivers and a cheerful cook
A route map around Baikal
PHOTOS OF THE 11 D / 10 N TOUR AROUND LAKE BAIKAL
Day 1 / Distance to cover 183 km
Your group is picked up at 8 am. We start driving. In two hour time, we are reach the Southernmost point of lake Baikal , the village of Kultuk (translating from the Buryat as “the end, corner”). This was once a Cossack settlement, founded in 1647. Our ice adventure starts here.
We drive on the ice and drive along Circum –Baikal Railway. From the ice we see tunnels and bridges of this famous railway. Needless to say, we stop along the way to explore.
In the afternoon, we reach Listvyanka village, check into Belka Hostel (twins and 4 bed dormitory rooms with shared toilets and shower). Electricity. No WiFi. Mobile coverage (TELE 2) + 3-4G available.
Dinner
Ice Tour Around Lake Baikal
Day 2 / Distance to cover 113 km
We continue ice driving along the Western shore. It is holy and cliffy. We pass by the village of Boshie Koty, see the Scripper Cliff and the village of Bolshoe Goloustnoye.
Pichic lunch cooked on fire.
We continue driving. in the afternoon, we reach one of the highlights of our tour – the Sandy Bay / Bukhta Peschanaya. It has two impressive Cliffs , positioned opposite to each other : Big Bell Tower and Small Bell Tower.
Stop to explore the Bay.
Dinner.
Day 3 / Distance to cover 137 km
Exploring the area. Picnic lunch on fire.
Driving forward to the Aya Bay where we see more
We drive on ice again and cross the Small Sea area. En route we visit the Ogoi island with a Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment built in 2005. We stop to get enlighten.
Afternoon check in at Khuzir, the man town of Olkhon.
Dinner.
Day 5 / Distance to cover 133 km
Next morning your guide stocks up with food in local stores. Our iceventure continues. We drive across the peninsula isthmus. En route: taking a hot spring bath at Snake Bay / Zmeinnaya, located in Chyvyrkuisky Bay.
Picnic Lunch.
We continue driving along the lake shore. That area is already a Barguzeen National Reserve so we are not allowed to step on its land, but being on the ice is OK.
Day 6 / Distance to cover 123 km
Three rooms for 3-4 people in each room. Electricity is from 19.00-23.00.
though. There is mobile connection (MEGAPHONE) and mobile internet connection . There is
Day 7 / a Day OFF!
Yes, we do NOT drive. We take rest at the spa resort. There are 3 pools with hot mineral water. The water temperature varies from 38 up to 45 degrees Celsius.
Day 8 / Distance to cover 117 km
Ice drive to the city of Severobaikalsk / Northern Baikal. There we stock up with food again and fill our fuel tanks. After everything is set, we drive to the village of Baikalskoe. Lunch. Walking tour around the village.
Ice drive further South and by the end of day 8, we find ourselves in another famous spa resort – Kotelnikovsky Cape. Check into the basic wooden house. Dinner.
Accommodation: a wooden house , one room for the group with kitchen. Long drop toilet outside.
We ice drive along the severe shores of Northern Baikal. En route: stop for lunch in a hunting hut and walking tour to the wild lakes. Ice fishing upon the group request. Overnight in a basic wound cabins of Zavorotnaya / Turnaround Bay.
Dinner.
If the time frame or weather permits, we might be visiting the view point located on the top of the hill.
Accommodation: a wooden house , two mix dorm rooms with kitchen. Long drop toilet outside. No electricity. No shower. No mobile connection.
Day 10 / Distance to cover 119 km
Breakfast.
We continue doing along the shore. Few stops to visit ice cave and other beautiful places. Picnic lunch.
En route: visiting an isolated fishing village called Onguren. After the walking tour around the village, we move on to its neighbor, a village Zama . This two words combined “Zama Onguren” translated from the Buryat as “the road ends”
Overnight in the guesthouses. Dinner.
Accommodation : a wooden house , two mix dorm rooms with kitchen. Long drop toilet outside. No electricity. No shower. No mobile connection.
Day 11 / Distance to cover 60 km
This is a final day of our expedition.
We drive along the Small Sea again to the main land!
During our ice drive we have covered 777 km (what a number!) on the ice and 420 km on the surface roads. The total distance covered is 1460 km.
Vehicles: UAZ minivans, Hyundai Starex. Each vehicle takes 6 people.
Ideal group size is 12 people (2 vehicle)
Crew: The ice capitano – driver, second driver, cook.
We take a field kitchen + all utensils needed. One vehicle has a 12-220 V inverter.
Prices:
Options A (recommended!)
525000 Rub / equivalent of USD 8080 (for the group of 12 people (43750 Rub / USD 680 PER PERSON)
Price includes: 2 vehicles, the crew is 3 people, 10 nights accommodation, meals as noted, National Park fees.
If the Rubles falls again we use the USD equivalent of the price.
What to bring:
– wooled hat
– winter feather and down coat with the hood
– winter pans + windstopper with hood + sleeveless down jacket
– sweater
– thermal underwear (2 sets)
– long sleeve T-short
– duffel to wear in the hotels
– normal pan to wear in the hotels
– winter boots
– Valenki (Russian wooled boots) or winter super zero fishing boots
– sandals to wear in the hotels
– wooled socks (the more the better)
– cotton thin socks (the more the better)
– mittens and gloves
– warm sleeping bag
– thin photo camera gloves
– sunglasses
– lipstick and skin cream
If possible. take skates or tubing with you for fun.
