BAIKAL "WINTER OLKHON"

Dates:

18 - 21 February 2025.

February 25-28, 2025.

04 - 07 March 2025.

March 10 - 13, 2025.

Dates of individual tours on request

Brief description:

4 days on the ice of Lake Baikal by car and amphibious boat HIVUS. You will see sparkling Caves with ice stalactites and giant Spits on the rocks. Patterns of icy cracks, millions of Bubbles and blue Toros. The program includes Olkhon Island and Shamanka Rock, Bath with a hole in Baikal, Skates on open ice and winter Bicycles, colorful dawns and sunsets, sunset on Khivus, Traditional Buryat ear, National throat singing with dancing, Marble quarry and much more.

Full description by day:

Day 1

Olkhon Island. Ethnopark. Shamanka Rock

We leave at 09.00 from Irkutsk by minibus to Olkhon Island. We will visit the Golden Horde Ethnopark, it is among the top 10 best ethnic parks in Russia. Here you will be greeted with a colorful rite of consecration with fire, listen to national throat singing, play on the homus, complete with a joint ritual dance and receive well wishes in the Buryat traditions. True greeting of Baikal with all honors! Then you will have a hot lunch and familiarity with traditional cuisine: delicious bouzas and other Buryat treats. And ahead of the ice crossing and acquaintance with Olkhon Island. It is rightly called a place of power, it is imbued with the spirit of shamanism and ancient Buryat legends. No wonder it is visited by pilgrims from all over the world. And you're bound to feel it. We are staying in comfortable rooms in the pos. Khuzhir. Within walking distance of Baikal, sights, atmospheric cafes and shops, souvenirs and gifts, galleries, etc. With those who want to walk to Cape Burhan. Traditionally, according to Buryat customs, we will tie ribbons on the pillars of Sarge and make wishes. Burhan is decorated with a two-top Shamanka rock consisting of marble covered with a bright red lichen. Deservedly Shamanka became the hallmark of Lake Baikal. Currently, it is considered one of the nine shrines of Asia, and in ancient times, cult sacrifices were made here to the owner of the island, who, according to legend, lived in the cape cave. Dinner's an introduction.

Day 2

Southern tour. Ohoy Island. Ear. The hole bath.

After breakfast, we go on a Southern excursion. First on the island we will go to the observation room with a view of the Strait of Maloe Sea and Khuzhir, as well as to Lake Nura with bubbles, then we will go along the island to the South. The first point is Ogoi Island. At the highest point of the island is the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment. It is believed that it has a purpose to dissolve negative obstacles and promote prosperity. According to tradition, we will walk around the stupa three times, charging with the energy of this sacred place. The island is simply charming, saturated with an atmosphere of harmony and peaceful energy. For lunch you will find a traditional Buryat ear in a picturesque place. And of course, Dragon Rock is one of the top locations for photos! We will also visit the island of Zamogoi and Cape Mare Head (Horin Irga). There will be a lot of ice with intricate patterns, huge Sokui - ice splashes on the rocks, shining grottoes! In the evening, you will find a hot steam bath with a hole right in Baikal. This is an unforgettable experience and energy for the year ahead! A great end to the day will be a dinner together. Night at the same base.

Day 3

Northern Hivus Tour. Bicycles and Skates

After breakfast, we offer to walk around Khuzhir, get acquainted with the local color and sights. See ice figures or abandoned ships with unusual drawings of graffiti and art objects, buy souvenirs and delicious gifts. You can even send home postcards with Baikal greetings! Those who wish can rent bicycles or skates and ride on the ice in the area of Cape Burhan, and maybe even further. After lunch, we go to Hivus for the Northern excursion. You are waiting for the iconic place of Olkhon's power - Cape Khoboy. Along the way, we admire the unique creatures of nature - sokui, hummocks of various shapes and colors. Build a traditional ice pyramid of desires from clear ice! We will visit Cape Sagan-Hushun (three Brothers) and the cave right under Big Brother. The caves in winter are a real Narnia with ice stalactites and stalagmites. We will admire the islands of Lvivnok and Crocodile, the picturesque cape of Harants and grottoes nearby. We recommend renting skates and riding on the ice during the ride on the hivus! Dinner together tonight. We sleep at the same base.

Day 4

Tageran steppes. Marble quarry. Bubbles.

In the morning, those who wish can walk to Baikal to meet the dawn and say goodbye. After breakfast we take the minibus back. On the ice crossing we say goodbye to Baikal. Let us rise to the bronze figure of the Eagle - the patron of the steppe expanses of Tazheran and Olkhon. From here you can clearly see the unique natural complex of the Tazheran steppes, which was formed long before the lake itself. This panorama is breathtaking, and the rocky remains of mystical forms in the valley of stone spirits will excite your imagination for a long time. Next, you will find an atmospheric place - one of the largest in Russia Marble quarry. It offers stunning views of Baikal and huge marble pillars. And in Buguldeika we will find those very clusters of Methane bubbles and make top photos on the ice! Return to Irkutsk in the evening, approximately at 18.00. Goodbye until we meet again!

Included

• Transfer by minibus and ouazi
• Accommodation (3 nights)
• Meals (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners)
• Hivus tour
• Rent skates
• Bath with a hole in Baikal
• Visit to the ethnopark and a program of acquaintance with Buryat traditions and folklore
• Entrance tickets to national parks
• Guide escort