Hot Winter on Baikal

Route: Irkutsk - Khuzhir - Ushkanyi

Island - Davsha - Hakus - Severobaikalsk - Kotelnikovsky - Sunny - Khuzhir - Irkutsk

Route map:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=102l-v4m4hb9i4GZkt5IogyKciQg&usp=sharing

Most of the people who come to Baikal visit only a small part of the southern tip of the lake - we will leave these places for the summer, and now we want to invite you to the inaccessible, absolutely different from the South, rich in wildlife and thermal springs - North Baikal. The uniqueness of our expedition will be a regular visit to the hot springs at the edge of the icy desert!

Sometimes we will live far from civilization, without communication in absolutely wild places! This is the whole point, with no tents, but the accommodation conditions will sometimes be basic. We will bathe mostly in the bath, like true pioneer hunters. This journey is only for those who are able to break away from civilization and plunge into the unique world of Lake Baikal waking up after winter. You will see the hidden corners where the foot of an ordinary tourist does not step, accessible in summer only with the help of expensive water transport. Visit a real “bear corner”, where you will learn to distinguish the footprints of wild animals and walk on snowshoes like real inhabitants of the north. In Davsha, you can observe the Barguzin sable in wildlife. Take a ride on the purest Baikal ice, swim in hot springs of different temperatures on the eastern and western sides of Baikal. At the end of March, there is an opportunity to observe a newborn seal (squirrels) near the Ushkany Islands.

We have checked that these places give a powerful charge of energy for a long time! And we will also play golf on the Baikal ice, a cooking master class on smoking Baikal fish and, of course, fishing, and the most extreme members of our team will experience a real kiss of Baikal!

The most athletic of us will have the opportunity to walk a couple of kilometers of our skating route on the transparent ice of the Great Lake!

Dates: 20.03.2017- 27.03. 2018

Day 1. March 20, 2018, Tuesday

Arrival in Irkutsk before 10 am, meeting at the airport at 10:00. Meet me, we're going to Olkhon.

We drive to Khuzhir on the official ice crossing - acquaintance with the Baikal ice will begin here! On the way we visit Ogoi and grottoes, make stops in picturesque places. Welcome to Baikal. Next we go to Khuzhir. In Khuzhir we will go to the symbol of Baikal Shaman-skale, and in the evening there will be a welcome dinner of delicacies of Buryat cuisine! After free time (can I take skates or bicycles) Aren't they bicycles? - rented. Night at the guest house/hotel.

Distance: 300 km

Meals: Welcome dinner

Accommodation: Huzhir, Guest House (either Daryan, or Nabaymar, or Campus - accommodation 2-bed, or twin, or family, toilet, shower in the room.

Day 2. March 21, 2018, Wednesday

Today, the main part of the route begins - we go to the northern part of the island. On the way, we stop in picturesque places - inspect grottoes, caves, hummocks, transparent ice - after Khoboy - the northern cape - we keep our way to Ushkanyi Islands. On the Ushkany Islands, we will examine ice surges, grottoes, hummocks, at this time there will be an opportunity to observe seals with binoculars. We will stay in the guest rooms of this weather station. There will only be a satellite phone of our guide. Bath night.

Distance: 80 km

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Big Ushkany Island, Guest House at the weather station of the Trans-Baikal National Park. Accommodation for 2-3 people in three guest rooms of the weather station, comfort on the street. Bath.

Day 3. March 22, 2018, Thursday

Move out after breakfast, keep the way to the Chivyrkui Bay, visit the hot springs in the Snake Bay - here you can swim, the water temperature is +40 +45 degrees in a mustard spring; inspect the caves on the island of Shakhmaty and go to the cordon of the Trans-Baikal Reserve to Davsha. Here you can see sables in wildlife!

Distance: 90 km

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Davsha, Hotel at the cordon of the National Trans-Baikal Reserve. Accommodation of 2 people in the room, comfort on the street. Bath night.

Day 4. March 23, 2018, Friday

In the morning, after breakfast, those who wish can visit the museum of local history and try to ride real hunting skis, if possible, we can even ride dog sleds. Then we go to Hakusa Bay, which is interesting for its thermal springs (temperature +47C). There will be lunch on ice on the way. Free time at the Hakus. Swimming in hot healing baths is included in the price. Dinner.

Distance: 110 km

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Hacuses, wooden cottages, each for 2 and 4 people in the room. wintery

Day 5. March 24, 2018, Saturday

After breakfast – a short move to Severobaikalsk. Severobaikalsk is a city of BAM builders.

Here we will go ashore, visit the souvenir market, buy products. Then we proceed to Cape Kotelnikovsky. There is a sanatorium with thermal baths. The place is unique - the only outlet of hot waters on the west bank.

Distance: 100 km

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Cape Katelnikovsky, Sanatorium, Accommodation for two people, toilet for 2 rooms, hot shower next to thermal baths.

Day 6. March 25, 2018 Sunday

Keep your way back - overnight at the Sunny weather station. We'll all sleep in the same room. Bath night.

Distance: 130 km

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Sunny weather station, up to 10 people in the room, bed linen provided, toilet on the street. bath

Day 7. March 26, 2018, Monday

We'll be back in Khuzhir, around lunchtime. Then we go to Irkutsk. Hotel accommodation. Final dinner at one of the trendy restaurants in the city.

Distance: 380 km

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Accommodation: Irkutsk, hotel or Green Hotel or Atlas, toilet, shower in the room.

Day 8. March 27, 2018, Tuesday

Transfer to the airport / station. Departure anytime. End of the programme

Distance: 5 km

Meals: Breakfast

The cost of the tour per person, taking into account comfortable accommodation in Hakus: 69700 rubles

Group: 8 (or +4)

The price includes:

Accommodation for two or three people in a room along the route, in 6 days accommodation in a common room of a weather station for 10 people. Toilet, hot shower if possible in rooms where there is no possibility - on the street, bath;

Moving the group on ice and roads on Two UAZs while driving experienced ice captains;

Three meals a day (except for lunches on the way to Olkhon and back);

All entrances to national parks;

Services of an accompanying person;

Golf on the ice of Baikal;

Participation in a master class on smoking Baikal fish;

Ice fishing;

Bathing in thermal springs along the route;

Visit the local history museum in Hakus.

In addition, the following are paid:

Flight to Irkutsk and back;

Health insurance;

Additional activities:

Rent skates in Khuzhir; 150p per hour

ATV rental in Khuzhir 500r 15 minutes

Dog sledding in Hakus (if possible). Price about 2500r in 15-20 minutes

Snowshoe rental in Hakus; 300p. hour

Alcohol;

Tipping guides;

Lunches on the way to Olkhon in the cafe and back;

Souvenir products.

List of necessary things:

On the ice tour of Baikal you need good equipment.

Although the daily temperature during the trip is close to -10 C, but in the evenings it is still cold in winter, and this is -20 - 25 C. During the day, the sun’s rays, reflected from the ice surface, warm the air and create comfortable conditions for rest.

1. Particular attention should be paid to shoes. Best suited sports winter shoes with soft rubber soles – it does not slide on the ice.

2. Take two pairs of winter trekking socks and one warm of wool.

3. In outerwear, observe the three-layer principle - thermal underwear for medium activity, then a fleece kit and a windshield jacket (with a hood) and trousers with a membrane on top.

4. Puff

5. Warm unblown mittens or gloves,

6. It's a nice non-blown hat.

7. As the upper layer suitable ski costumes.

8. Do not forget about sunglasses and sunscreen – the sun is very bright in spring!

From other equipment you need to have:

9. Backpack or transport bag.

10. Sleeper up to -7 or -10 degrees of comfort (you can not take, but for those who freeze - be sure

11. A circle, a bowl, a spoon.

12. Hygiene supplies.

13. Individual first aid kit

14. Headlight and battery supply.

15. Thermos (0.5-1 litres). Anti-slip shoes (sold in any sports store). - Camera.