The Miracle of Baikal

1st

Sightseeing tour of Listvyanka

10:00 Group gathering at the airport of Irkutsk.

Excursion to pos. Listvyanka is perhaps one of the oldest Russian settlements on the shores of the great lake. From time immemorial Listvyanka was the Gate to Baikal. Now it has turned into a tourist center, with equipped sights, museums, cafes, restaurants, hotels and riding centers.

On the way, we advise you to visit the architectural and ethnographic museum "Taltsy" (for an additional fee), where you can not only see the wooden architecture and life of the peoples of the Baikal region, but also taste real Siberian pancakes with oil in the "Trapeznaya".

In Listvyanka, we will make a sightseeing tour of the village with a visit to the observation deck to the famous Shaman Stone, listen to the romantic legend of Baikal, visit the functioning Orthodox Church of St. Petersburg. Nicholas the Wonderworker is the patron saint of all travelers and navigators.

Those wishing to learn more about Baikal can go on an excursion to the Baikal Ecological Museum (for an additional fee), where many exhibits telling about the inhabitants of Baikal are collected, they can even be seen live in aquariums located in the museum.

For tireless travelers, there is an opportunity to ride a boat along Baikal (for an additional fee), walk or on quad bikes (for an additional fee) along the forest shore of this picturesque lake.

This busy day will end with a visit to the souvenir market, adjacent to the fish rows, where you will be offered all the variety of Baikal fish prepared in different ways. We assure you that you will not resist the temptation to try Baikal delicacies.

Return to Irkutsk. Hotel accommodation.

Length of crossing: 65 km. Travel time: ~ 1 hour.
Meals included: Lunch at the hotel.

2.

Departure to Olkhon Island

Today we go to meet with Baikal: on the road along the steppes past the ancient Buryat villages, through the picturesque spurs of the Pribaikal ridge, the Siberian taiga, which are then again replaced by the Mongolian landscapes of the Tazheran steppe.

The crossing to Olkhon Island is the largest of the 26 islands of Baikal, its geographical, historical and sacred center, even in its shape resembling the outlines of the lake.

The crossing takes about 40 minutes. You will see both the “Small” and “Big” seas – two parts of Lake Baikal, separated by Olkhon, and the famous Olkhon Gate Strait, which runs between the island and the mainland.

From the Gulf of Zagli (Tashkai Bay), next to which the ferry will moor, we begin to explore the vast expanses of the island and marvel at this creation of nature: the bay has a record amount of sunlight per year (more than on the Riga coast) and a record low amount of precipitation (as in the dry steppes of Kazakhstan).

The bay is connected to Lake Nur (or Nur), where the water warms up well in summer. On the shore of this lake, choose a place for an overnight stay and set up camp.

Length of crossing: 300 km. En route: ~ 6 hours.
Walking crossing: ~ 5 km.
Meals included: breakfast in the hotel cafe, hot dinner at the stake.

3

Transition to the western part of the island - Hul Bay, Cape Shara Shulun

Today you will have a long but interesting walk along the western coast of the legendary island.

First, the picturesque Gulf of Khul is a place of feeding schools of the famous Small Sea omul, the Mare's head peninsula, where according to legend, the soldiers of Genghis Khan stayed.

Then the Khorgoy peninsula with the remains of the defensive fortifications of the ancient Kurykan tribes, the rocky Cape Shara Shulun, opposite which you will see the island of Ogoi with the sacred Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment.

In the evening - a hot dinner at the stake and a well-deserved rest after a busy day under the lulling noise of the surf.

Walking crossing: ~ 20 km.
Meals included: breakfast in the camp, hiking lunch, hot dinner at the stake.

4.

Transition of Shebet Bay – Gulf of Togoi

Start again in the morning!

Today, your route will pass along the shore of the Shebet Bay, then over the impregnable sea Cape Shebetsky (trans. from the Buryat "shebee" means "wall"), which in ancient times was fenced from land by the Kurykan wall, to the Gulf of Togai.

Near the bay there is an interesting lake Khanhoi. From the north it is separated from Lake Baikal by a powerful rock ridge, and from the east it is communicated with it by a narrow duct in a sandy spit.

The lake is known for its warm water and abundance of fish, which makes it a mecca for tourists, especially fishing enthusiasts.

In the evening - a hot dinner at the stake and a well-deserved rest.

Walking crossing: ~ 20 km.
Meals included: breakfast in the camp, hiking lunch, hot dinner at the stake.

5

Transition to Khuzhir

The third day of walking will end in the capital of Olkhon – the fishing village of Khuzhir.

Here you can relax from tents in cozy wooden houses, steam in a Russian bathhouse (for an additional fee), and those who miss civilization - charge mobile phones.

Accommodation at the camp.

Walking crossing: ~ 20 km.
Meals included: breakfast in the camp, hiking lunch, dinner at the camp.

6

Free walks in the vicinity of Khuzhir

This day we offer you to spend yourself or explore with a guide (for an additional fee) local attractions: walk along the posh. Khuzhir, visit the sacred Cape Burhan (Shaman Rock) - one of the 9 shrines of Asia, equally revered by shamanists, Buddhists and Lamaists.

It is also worth going to the local museum, which presents a collection of ancient objects reflecting the life and culture of the islanders.

In addition, those who wish can make an excursion to the neighboring village, during which you will be introduced to the crafts, folklore and original cuisine of the Olkhon Buryats.

Meals included: breakfast, dinner at the camp.

7

Car excursion to Cape Khoboy - North of Olkhon Island

Today you will find a car tour for the whole day to Cape Khoboy - the northern tip of the island, near the widest part of Baikal.

On the way you can see all the diversity of the Baikal natural landscapes concentrated on the island: steppes with deep gulfs, sand dunes, mixed deciduous forests with areas of relict spruce, picturesque rocks on the shore of marble covered with red lichens.

On the cape itself, from where a panoramic view of the northern part of Lake Baikal opens, and in good weather you can see the outlines of the Ushkany Islands and the St. Nos peninsula - a walk around the neighborhood, during which the guide will tell you about the legends, traditions and customs associated with these places.

Recently, at the foot of Cape Khoboy, a unique Baikal seal is often observed - the only freshwater relative of the seal, which basks in the sun on Baikal stones.

Meals included: breakfast at the campground, hot lunch at the stake, dinner at the campground.

8.

Free walks in Olkhon

Today you have a free day and everyone can choose entertainment to their taste.

If you like to travel around Olkhon by car, we recommend you to visit (for an additional fee) Lake Shara-Nur (trans. from Buryat - "yellow lake"). It is the only lake on the island with mineralized water.

The lake surrounds a heterogeneous natural landscape, you can observe the life of wildlife - birds and animals. The water in the lake has healing properties. Mud from the lake helps with various diseases.

If, on the contrary, you want active recreation - we offer to ride around the Olkhon expanses by bicycle (for an additional fee).

Fans of laziness in the sun awaits the sandy beach of the Sarai Bay.

Meals included: breakfast and dinner at the camp.

9.

Return to Irkutsk

After breakfast, fees and room vacancy.

Transfer to Irkutsk.

On the way – stop for lunch in a roadside cafe (for an additional fee).

The estimated time of arrival in Irkutsk is 20:00.

Length of crossing: 300 km. Travel time: ~ 6 hours.
Meals included: breakfast at the camp.