Festive Baikal Wonders-

Festive Baikal Wonders-

New Year’s Eve on Lake Baikal is an extraordinary experience: on some parts of Lake Baikal, the surface has already turned into fairly transparent ice. However, in some places, it’s still possible to look into the water and ride a boat around! The different sides of the lake are something special that we invite you to experience for yourselves. We will fill your trip with the most exciting items, such as a dog-sled ride through a winter wonderland, a snowmobile tour over the Taiga Forest ridge, a pleasant time in a Russian sauna, scenic views from the observation points, and so on. Accompanied by hospitable and warm professionals, it’s a very welcome way to get acquainted with the area and find out what winter on Baikal is like.

Itinerary

Day 1: The capital of Eastern Siberia is fabulous Irkutsk.

Stop At: Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk, ulitsa Nizhnyaya Naberezhnaya, 2, Irkutsk 664011 Russia
In winter, Irkutsk is no less beautiful than in summer; the golden domes of churches are covered with the overflow of fresh snow, the narrow streets are full of cozy lights, and the city center appears in all its glory with a Christmas tree at the center. And today we want to share this magical atmosphere with you, guests of our city. We want to give you a piece of the Irkutsk warmth, get acquainted with Siberian banya (sauna) and night swimming in the Angara River afterwards, and, of course, have you understand what Siberian cuisine tastes like. Meeting with an English-speaking tour guide at the Irkutsk Airport or on the Irkutsk Railway station. Transfer to a hotel. After taking a rest, there will be a sightseeing tour around the historical part of the city, and lunch in a cafe that features Buryat cuisine. There will then be a short ride within the city to get acquainted with Siberian winter activities. Experience a Siberian bath with a swim in the Angara River afterwards.
Duration: 6 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel room with a private bathroom.

Day 2: Listvyanka village is the Baikal gateway.

Stop At: Baikal Museum, Listvyanka rp, Listvyanka 664520 Russia
This is your first day on Lake Baikal and we want to fill it with only good emotions! After a delicious breakfast, we will go to the shore of Lake Baikal and the village of Listvyanka. At the entrance to the village we are met by the Angara River, the only river that drains Lake Baikal. Since time immemorial, local tribes have worshipped spirits at the source of the Angara, and we want to introduce you to one of these rituals. The further you go, the more you see! Voilà, and you will find yourself already on a boat that plows the expanses of the deepest lake in the world and observing the Circum Baikal Railway! And the final stage of today will be an excursion to the Siberian Husky center, where we will ride a dog sled and enjoy hot herbal tea with Siberian delicacies. What a day is waiting for you!
Duration: 7 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel room with a private bathroom

Day 3: Olkhon Island is waiting to be discovered!

Stop At: Olkhon Island, Olkhon Island, Olkhonsky District, Irkutsk Oblast, Siberian District
Today, you will begin discovering Olkhon Island and the most fascinating ice around it! You will go to the north for 300 km, and in a few hours, find yourself in the middle part of the lake. Olkhon is considered the heart of Lake Baikal. It’s a must-see regardless of the season. In winter, because of relatively small depths and special microclimate in the area, the island is surrounded by fairly transparent ice. In some of the places, one can find even astonishing frozen bubbles. Them and many other amazing things done by winter and its subzero temperature, we will see today in the southern part of Olkhon Island.
Duration: 8 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel room with a private bathroom

Day 4: Jeep tour in the northern part of Olkhon Island

Stop At: Buryatskaya Village, Olhon, Olkhon Island 666137 Russia
We made it such a long way to discover Olkhon Island, destination №1 on Lake Baikal, so here it is! There is no time to waste and we want you to see and find out about this place as much as possible! Olkhon is full of shamanistic sacred sites surrounded by legends and various beliefs. For a very long time, many sites were forbidden to be visited by women and children. In some of the places only very skilled shamans were allowed. But it's not only this shamanistic story that attracts a lot of travelers from all over the world to come here. By visiting only one island, you may see the entire diversity of Baikal landscapes such as steep, taiga forest, long sandy beaches, huge rock formations, and others. Our professional guide and driver will lead you on off-beaten paths and routes, show what other travelers don't even know about, and naturally, tell you the most interesting facts and stories about this place. What a day has been!
Duration: 7 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a hotel room with a private bathroom

Day 5: Trekking tour to an observation point on Olkhon Island!

Stop At: Olkhon Island, Olkhon Island, Olkhonsky District, Irkutsk Oblast, Siberian District
The last day on Olkhon is not going to be empty in terms of views or events. On a short trekking tour, we want to take you to an observation point, to show off the lake panoramic views, centuries old mountains, and, of course, swell of the largest island on the lake. To us, it seems it's the most elegant way to say "Big thank you!" to the place you've visited and come back to Irkutsk. After lunch, you depart the island by car, along the same route you took 2 days ago. The approximate time of arrival in Irkutsk is about 9:00 PM.
Duration: 9 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: No accommodation included on this day.