Baikal. Russian Great Lake (active tour)
Baikal. Russian Great Lake (active tour)
Dates in 2016
From June to August on request
Dates in 2017
28.07-04.08.2017
8 days/7 nights
Group size from 6 pax
From757 euro per person
Itinerary:Irkutsk —Listvyanka — Olkhon Island — Irkutsk
We invite you to visit a place every Russian must see at least once in his life, one ofthe Russian Great Lakes: Lake Baikal. Just the word "Baikal"resonates with the power of nature, enigma and beauty. Visit the biggest islandOlkhon, try local specialities and travel the Circumbailkal railway.
The touroffers the perfect base for a holiday. We stay in several hotels, allowing usto enjoy the variety of landcapes. During the week we explore the area with amixture of walks, by motorboat andoff-road cars. The program is rich with activities, yet you have some time for your owndiscovery.
Day 1
Irkutsk
Upon arrival we take you for breakfast, followed by a tour of Irkutsk. You willbe pleased with the vast open views of the wide avenues, nice theaters, andEuropean architecture mixed with the pretty 200-year-old wooden houses of thefirst settlers – the Cossacks. Lunch at the hotel upon check-in. In the eveningwe visit the Decembrist museum. The Decembrist Revolt was the only uprising inworld history where the crème-de-la crème of society fought for democracy. Theyfailed. More than 600 young men from the best Russian families were stripped ofrank, title and fortune and exiled to Siberia. They brought the era ofenlightenment to this forsaken place in the 1830's.
Dinner on your own. There are plenty of nice restaurants around. We recommendtrying Buryat or Mongolian food. Ask the concierge for the directions.Overnight in the hotel in Irkutsk (half board).
Day 2
Irkutsk — Listvyanka
Check out and transfer to Lake Baikal. Travel on the historic CircumbaikalRailway, built along the southern shore of Baikal in the early 1900's andcalled "the golden buckle on the steel belt of Russia" due to thescenery, difficulty of construction, and scale of investment. Picnic lunch.
The final stop is Port Baikal depot. Ferry across the mouth of the Angara Riverto Listvyanka village. Overnight in Listvyanka hotel (full board).
Day 3
Listvyanka
After breakfast, transfer to the Baikal Limnological Museum. (A transfer isnecessary because although Listvyanka is a tiny village with 2,000 people andjust one street, the steep banks of the lake form no shoreline and the streetis about 10km long.) The guide will tell you many interesting facts about thelake, the history of its formation, and its unique fauna and flora. Here youcan watch a short documentary film and see an aquarium with representativeBaikal fauna. Walk (approx. 3km) from the museum up Chersky Hill to have anexcellent view over Baikal, the mouth of the Angara River, the bay and amountain range.
After lunch with a local family, we proceed to the local market where you cantaste and buy the famous omul fish, or purchase souvenirs. Free time.Recommended sights include St Nicholas church, a Siberian Husky center, and asmall gallery. Overnight in Listvyanka hotel (full board).
Day 4
Listvyanka
Today we cruise along the western shore of Baikal up north, towards BolshyeKoty, founded in the late 1800's by miners during the Russian gold rush. Aneasy hike (3 km round-trip) will take us to a gold mine, located on a creek inPad'Chernaya. Here you'll get a chance to try your hand at digging for gold!
Return to Litsvyanka village by the same boat; lunch on board. We highlyrecommend trying the local specialty "sagudai." It's a Buryat-styleceviche, made from the local omyl fish, caught less than 20 minutes ago. Thefish is so delicate that it doesn't last longer. Even in Irkutsk, which is a1.5-hour drive away, you can't have sagudai. Overnight in Listvyanka hotel(full board).
Day 5
Listvyanka — Khuzhir, Olkhon Island
(120km by boat)
Check-out. By local hydrofoil we go to Zagli Bay at Olkhon Island (5hrs). Uponarrival, we travel like locals – by 4WD – to Khuzhir, the main settlement onOlkhon. Olkhon Island is a sacred land, a place of unknowable forces. Put asidethe rational mind, purify your way of thinking, be quiet and calm. Walk toShamanka Rock, a ritual site with both Baikal and Mongolia shamans. We ask thatyou treat sites on Olkhon seriously and respectfully. If you see shamans oranyone else praying, please walk away at once; don't stay and don't stare.
Next we direct our feet to the rock in Youth Bay, where you may bathe to keepthe soul young. Or you might want to visit the Local Lore museum to listen toisland stories & legends (optional). A Russian Banya – a type of sauna – isincluded. Overnight at the guesthouse lodge for two (full board).
Day 6
Khuzhir, Olkhon Island
Full-day exploration of Olkhon Island. Travel in a Russian 4WD to thenorthernmost point – Khoboy Cape – through a light forest, across mud tracksand sandy dunes. The widest part of Lake Baikal starts from the Khoboy rock. Asmuch as 80km of the purest water lies between you and the opposite shore. Lunchpicnic. Return to Khuzhir in late afternoon, time at leisure. Overnight at theguesthouse (full board).
Day 7
Khuzhir, Olkhon Island — Irkutsk
Walk to the beach for an interesting mix of hot sun and icy Baikal water (4°Cin summer). You might also rent a bike or a horse (optional). After lunch, bidfarewell to the sunny island. Transfer to the ferry boat to cross the Small Seaand return to the mainland. Continue by bus to Irkutsk (approx. 5hrs).Overnight in Irkutsk hotel (full board).
Day 8
Check out. Transfer to Irkutsk airport.
Included:
— all transfers, incl. boat rides
— 7 nights accommodation TWIN & DBO, according to the itinerary
— breakfast always included, other meals as specified in the itinerary
— guide-interpreter (English/German/French)
— admissions
— visa support letter
Not included:
— early check-in on Day 1
— all items of a personal nature
— laundry
— drinks
— gratuities
— international/domestic flights
— visa
— travel insurance
The TourOperator reserves the right to introduce alterations to the itinerary due toweather conditions or other factors out of the control of the Tour operator.
Participantswill need the following equipment:
— small backpack
— trousers
— t-shirts
— light waterproof jacket with hood
— long-sleeved shirt
— sweater
— wooly hat
— wooly and cotton socks
— footwear: trekking shoes, slippers
— photo and video equipment
— sunglasses
— flashlight with a set of spare batteries
— sunscreen and after-sun cream
— personal first-aid kit