Tour Itinerary

Day 1. Irkutsk – Olkhon Island – Khuzhir (lunch)
Meeting at the airport or railway station of Irkutsk.
Departure by bus to Olkhon Island – the largest island on Lake Baikal. The island is deservedly considered one of the most beautiful and mysterious places of Lake Baikal. Amazing sacred and cult places of the island made it a cherished gathering place for sorcerers and shamans from all over the world.
Ferry crossing to Olkhon island, transfer to the capital of the island – the village of Khuzhir.
Accommodation at the recreation center, free time.
Dinner.

Day 2. Olkhon Island – Khuzhir – Cape Burkhan (breakfast, lunch)
Breakfast.
Citytour of Khuzhir. Rock Bogatyr, observation deck. Excursion to the sacred "Cape Burkhan" (Shamanka rock), this is one of the nine shrines of Asia. There is a through cave in the rock. According to legend, this cave is inhabited by the spirit of the owner of the island. Having visited this place, you will be charged with the energy of Lake Baikal for a long time.
Free time. Those who wish can go sunbathing on the 5-kilometer Saraysky beach with white sand.
Dinner.to the airport or railway station.

Day 3. Olkhon Island – Cape Khoboy (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Breakfast. Travel by car UAZ to the northernmost point of the island – Cape Khoboy.
A place of extraordinary energy and beauty. From a bird's eye view, there is a view of the widest place of Lake Baikal (80 km) and an indescribable view of the open, or as it is also called by the locals – Big Baikal.
Lunch: picnic.
Upon returning to the recreation center – free time.
Dinner.

Day 4. Olkhon Island (breakfast, lunch)
Free time.
You will be offered excursions (optional, for an additional fee):
- excursion to the local history museum;
- excursion to Lake Shara-Nur;
- excursion to the Buryat village;
- horse rides;
- fishing;
- visiting a mobile bath on the shore of Lake Baikal;
- ATV rental.
Dinner.

Day 5. Olkhon Island – Irkutsk (breakfast)
Departure by bus to Irkutsk. 16.00-20.00 arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to the airport or railway station.

Overview

Visa: citizens of 58 states that hold all types of passports are eligible for visa-free entrance to Russia for a period up to 14 days (you can see the list on the official website), citizens of the 52 countries will be able to obtain a single e-visa of up to 16 days (you can see the list on the official website)

Schedule

Fees

Payment schedule: 5% – at booking, 95% – 15 or 30 days prior to arrival.

Payment methods:
- bank transfer in USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AED, ILS, DKK etc.
- credit/debit card online on our website

Fees include

- accommodation in a hotel of the selected category

- transfers according to the tour program

- food: according to the program

- necessary permits to visit specially protected natural areas

- the language of excursions is Russian but the guides speak English.

Category of accommodation for unclassified hotels:
2^★ – standard, toilet and shower on the floor or for two rooms;
3^★ – standard, toilet and shower in the room;
4^★ – increased comfort, toilet and shower in the room.

The place of residence is determined by the Travel Company, taking into account the wishes of the tourist, subject to availability of places in the indicated accommodation or in similar ones.

Fees exclude

- airfare to Irkutsk city and return

- meals not specified in the program

- insurance of the risk of cancellation or interruption of the trip (we have approximately 3% of the cost of the contract, if desired)

- personal spending

- early check-in or late check-out in hotels

- personal English/Spanish guide: 100 USD per required day

- accommodation in Irkutsk hotels before and after the end of the program.

Travel tips

The best time to visit Lake Baikal in winter – from February 10 to March 8. In January, the ice finally hardens, gains strength, becomes transparent, and in early February (usually in the 2nd week) the official ice crossing is opened at island Olkhon . Earlier these dates, the ice is not guaranteed strength, and later snowstorms begin, it warms up, and the ice grows dull.
The period of freeze-up is on average from January 9 to May 4. Baikal freezes as a whole, except for a small, 15 – 20 km long, section located at the source of the Angara. The shipping period for passenger and cargo ships is usually June to September; research vessels begin navigation after the opening of the lake from the ice and end it with freezingm of Lake Baikal, that is, from May to January.
By the end of winter, the ice thickness on Lake Baikal reaches 1 m, and in the bays – 1.5 – 2 m.In severe frost, cracks that have the local name " back cracks '' break the ice into separate fields. The length of such cracks – 10 – 30 km, and width – 2 – 3 m. Fractures occur annually in approximately the same areas of the lake. They are accompanied by a loud crackle, reminiscent of thunder or cannon shots. It seems to a person standing on the ice that the ice cover is bursting just under his feet and he will now fall into the abyss. Thanks to cracks in the ice, fish on the lake do not die from lack of oxygen. Baikal ice, in addition, is very transparent, and the sun's rays penetrate through it, therefore planktonic algae, which release oxygen, develop rapidly in the water. On the shores of Lake Baikal you can see ice grottos in winter.

Map

Irkutsk city

Olkhon island