RESERVES OF BAIKAL
Tour Itinerary
Day 1. Irkutsk – Baikalsk (lunch, dinner)
Meeting. Transfer to Baikalsk. Excursion around Baikalsk. Dinner on the shore of Lake Baikal.
Meeting at the airport of Irkutsk, railway station in Irkutsk or railway station in Baikalsk. Transfer to the hotel in Baikalsk. Accommodation. Upon arrival at the hotel, you can have lunch, shower and relax from the road. At 18.00 local time, we will begin our bus tour of the Baikalsk city, which is located on the shore of the famous lake-sea. We will acquaint you with our cozy town, tell its short, but at the same time difficult story, show you where you can go in your free time from excursions. After that, our bus will take us to the shore of Lake Baikal, where our guides will be waiting for us with a prepared dinner of traditional Baikal dishes, a fire and a guitar. Dinner today will take place right on the shore of Lake Baikal overlooking the sunset.
Day 2. Baikalsk – Circum-Baikal Railway (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Excursion by boat, on Circum-Baikal Railway
The excursion starts at 11.00 and lasts about 6 hours.
An exciting boat trip is waiting for you. You will see with your own eyes a unique monument of the engineering art of the early 20th century Circum-Baikal Railway . You will walk along its ancient tunnels and bridges and learn why this road is called the " golden buckle of the steel belt of Russia. '' After the excursion, a delicious lunch awaits you, where you will taste real fish soup from Baikal fish prepared according to the old Buryat recipes of Baikal fishermen. And after lunch, you can swim in Lake Baikal or sunbathe under the warm rays of the sun. Then you will go back by boat and return to the hotel. Dinner.
During the movement of the boat, it will most likely be windy and cool, for this excursion you need to bring a warm sweater or jacket. We advise you to dress comfortably and bring your swimwear.
Day 3. Baikalsk – Khamar-Daban (breakfast, lunch)
Excursion in jeeps to the Khamar-Daban ridge along the old Mongolian caravan road (Mamai).
The excursion starts at 10.00. Duration is about 6-7 hours. The excursion implies a trip in specially prepared 4x4 jeeps, over rough terrain, overcoming streams, swamps, mud, ruts. Today you will need sportswear, good sports shoes, and optional bathing accessories.
We will take a trip to the Khamar-Daban mountains. Let's see the amazing forms of the mountain landscapes " circuses ''. We will walk to the waterfall and see a mountain lake. Let's prepare a picnic in the open air. Upon our return from Mamai, our cars will take us to another amazing place, to the taiga lake. The lake is of glacial origin, and therefore not very deep. The water in the lake warms up quite well, so you will have the opportunity to swim.
Day 4. Baikalsk – Khamar-Daban – Devil`s finger rock (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Hike to the Devil's Finger, the foothills of Khamar-Daban.
Start excursions at 11-00. Duration is about 6 hours. The excursion involves a hike along the Solzan River to the Devil's Finger cliff, about 4 km long one way. Lunch will be on the route and is a barbecue of meat cooked in your presence. We recommend dressing in sportswear: sweatpants, sneakers, T-shirt. Bathing accessories on request.
You will walk through the Baikal taiga, along one of the tributaries of Lake Baikal, the purest mountain river Solzan. Get acquainted with the variety of vegetation in Eastern Siberia, taste real tea made from Baikal herbs. And for lunch you will find a barbecue made from fresh meat. The most courageous will conquer the peak of " Devil's Finger '' and enjoy the stunning panoramas of the Khamar-Daban ridge. Here you will have the opportunity to swim in a noisy mountain river, after which we will return to the hotel. Dinner.
Day 5. Baikalsk – Snezhnaya river (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Aeroboat excursion to the upper reaches of the Snezhnaya mountain river.
The excursion starts at 10.00 and lasts about 6-7 hours. You will need not only sportswear, but also shoes that dry easily, like good slates.
Today we will have an exciting trip by airboats upstream of the mountain river Snezhnaya. The Snezhnaya River is the administrative boundary between the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia. The Snezhnaya River cannot be called absolutely calm, there are rifts and rapids here. Our boat will take us to the so-called 'arrow', the confluence of the two rivers Selenginka and Snezhnaya. We disembark on the right bank of the river, while our guides are preparing a picnic, we will walk to the very beautiful Grokhotun waterfall. Picnic by the river. Return to the federal highway, where our bus will be waiting for us. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner.
Day 6. Baikalsk – Tunkinsky national park (Buryatia) (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Excursion to the Republic of Buryatia, Tunkinsky National Park, with a visit to mineral and hot springs.
Start at 9.00. Distance by bus, about 170 km. one way. You will need comfortable clothes and shoes, as well as bathing accessories.
We will visit the Republic of Buryatia again, however, already another part of it. We will get acquainted with the life and life of modern Buryats, try the national Buryat cuisine. The village of Arshan, located at the very foot of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, will acquaint you with the Buddhist datsan, in which you will learn what Buddhism is among the Buryats, the history of its appearance in these places, and it is also possible to be lucky to visit the ritual conducted by local lamas. The most beautiful rapids on the Kyngyrga river and one of 12 waterfalls will not leave you indifferent. And our guides will be happy to tell you about the healing properties of mineral springs, which you can personally taste. After lunch, you will have free time, which you can spend on a visit to the local market with Buryat-Mongolian souvenirs, various useful herbs growing on the Eastern Sayan and the slopes of the Khamar-Daban ridge. Then our excursion will continue, and we will visit the village of Zhemchug, where, in the search for various minerals in 1988, two thermal springs of 38 and 56 degrees were discovered. And, of course, you will have the opportunity to swim in them, or sunbathe on the banks of the Irkut River. Dinner upon return to the hotel.
Day 7. Baikalsk – Irkutsk (breakfast)
Transfer to the airport or railway station. Baikalsk is located 150 km from Irkutsk, the federal highway Moscow – Vladivostok, as well as the Trans-Siberian Railway. This means that if you are leaving us by train, then it is more convenient for you to take tickets for the return journey directly from the Baikalsk station. If you are leaving by plane, then we will take you to the airport of Irkutsk.
Overview
Itinerary: Irkutsk–Baikalsk–Circum-Baikal Railway–Khamar-Daban–Devil`s finger rock–Snezhnaya river–Tunkinsky national park (Buryatia)–IrkutskDays: 7 days / 6 nights
Group: от. 1 pax, max. 15 pax
Accommodation: 3★ or apartment
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)
Transport: tourist buses 16-18 seats. (Fiat, Mercedes, Ford, Peugeot)
Accommodation: comfortable hotel in the Baikalsk city (shower, toilet, TV in the room)
Accompaniment: Experienced guides, guides
We begin to meet you at the airport of Irkutsk from 6.00 local time.
The meeting takes place as follows: the first car meets guests arriving from 6.00 to 8.00, the second from 8.00 to 10.00, the third from 10.00 to 12.00 and the fourth from 12.00 until 14.00.
The transfer to the hotel in the Baikalsk city is also carried out: at 8.00, then at 10.00, at 12.00 and 14.00, respectively.
If you are planning to travel by rail, it would be more expedient for you to consider purchasing a ticket directly to the Baikalsk station. Thus, you will exclude unnecessary transfers and will be at the hotel much faster.
Schedule
Available departure dates in 2024: нет
Available departure dates in 2025:
Fees
The price of the tour per pax (without airfare), USD:in an apartment ★★, AO (accommodation only) | in a hotel 3★, FB (full board) | |
½DBL (double accommodation) | 37,100 | 46,300 |
SNGL (single accommodation) | — | 58,500 |
Children under 5 years old without a separate seat are admitted free of charge, up to 12 years old receive a 15% discount.
** These are fully furnished apartments in large-panel apartment buildings. With a good repair, all the necessary equipment, furniture, dishes. With bathroom and toilet. Walking from apartments to the lake about 15 minutes at a leisurely pace. The houses are 2 or 3-storey, no elevator. No one lives in the apartments we offer, they are kept as commercial real estate. The apartment is fully rented, without strangers moving into it. If you arrive as a couple, you will accordingly be provided with a one-room apartment with two sleeping places.
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 the selected location in the Baikalsk city:
in the hotel (standard, toilet and shower in the room):
mini-hotel «Severny sklony», these are fully landscaped logs cottages, autonomous heating, warm floors
hotel «Cosmos»
in apartment :
fully furnished apartments in large-panel apartment buildings, with good repair, all the necessary equipment, furniture, dishes, with a bathroom and toilet
- meals (when accommodated in an apartment – lunches only; in a hotel – three times a day)
- transfers specified in the program
- excursions specified in the program
- escorting tour guides and guides
- necessary permits to visit specially protected natural areas
- the language of excursions is Russian but the guides speak English.
The place of residence is determined by the Travel Company, taking into account the wishes of the tourist, subject to the availability of free places in the indicated accommodation places or in similar ones.
Fees exclude
- airfare to Irkutsk city and return
- meals not specified in the program
- personal spending
- visit to thermal baths
- earlye check-in or late check-out in hotels
- accommodation in Irkutsk hotels before and after the end of the program
- not included in the program or indicated as additional excursions
- personal English/Spanish guide: 100 USD per required day.
Travel tips
We begin to meet you at the airport of Irkutsk from 6.00 local time.
The meeting takes place as follows: the first car meets guests arriving from 6.00 to 8.00, the second from 8.00 to 10.00, the third from 10.00 to 12.00 and the fourth from 12.00 to 14.00.
The transfer to the hotel in the Baikalsk city is also carried out: at 8.00, then at 10.00, at 12.00 and 14.00, respectively.
If you are planning to travel by rail, it would be more expedient for you to consider purchasing a ticket directly to the Baikalsk station. Thus, you will eliminate unnecessary transfers, and you will find yourself in the hotel much faster.