On Baikal by kayaking: Olkhon

Olkhon Island is the largest island on Baikal. There are dense forests on the east coast, and harsh marble cliffs, and sandy beaches with dunes in the west, and bare steppes. The smell of steppe grasses, warm bays, light groves of pine and larch and taiga with thick wind. And the relic tree is a witness to the ice age. No wonder this island is considered the heart of the Siberian Sea, this is how Lake Baikal is called here.

From the Buryat word "Olkhon" is translated in two ways. It can be interpreted as “ladder”, “a little wooded” – “oh-hon”. According to another version, the name came from "olkhan" - "dry". And both options reflect the essence - there are rare forests on the island, but most of it is occupied by steppes. During the year, about 200 mm of precipitation falls here. For the Siberian climate, it is almost a desert.

Our kayaking trip passes through the territory of the Baikal Natural National Park. The island is rich in birds, only about fifty species. And the forests are populated by hares, red foxes, squirrels, ferrets and weasels. There are no large predators on Olkhon, except that wolves come on the ice in winter. In the last century, the fauna of Baikal suffered a lot from man, and today the situation is being restored - marals and Siberian deer were brought to the island. And what a Baikal without fishing! Sig, black and white charius, sturgeon, taimen, Siberian char, Amur sazan, Baikal omul - and even our experienced species instructors do not know such a variety of fish. But how to catch, they will tell =

The forests of the island are rich in berries - raspberries, blueberries, black and red currants. And especially delicious Olkhon lingonberry. And if you are attentive and look below the shrubs, you can collect healing herbs. Olkhon is famous for its variety of herbs. Then in the long winter, a cup of herbal tea to return to Baikal.

Olkhon is undoubtedly the pearl of Siberia. What are we all about land? After all, we go on a kayaking trip and spend a lot of time in the literal sense of the word “on Baikal”.

The small sea where we start rafting is a good place to learn how to row. Waves are rare here, you can calmly paddle, and winds are predictable. The water here warms up well, and warm as on the southern sea. Local Baikal is often called the sea. Let the tides here are not, and water without salt, but otherwise it is a real sea. At Cape Hoboi can play a real storm. When we get there, we’ll have experience. But we will go at dawn, when calm and as safe as possible.

For the Siberian Sea, we have prepared comfortable and comfortable kayaks of Khatanga 3 Sport. These vessels are a good compromise between speed, convenience and safety. They are comfortable and stable, turning over accidentally is almost impossible. The Khatangas are well-kept and easy to manage. At the same time, the speed is not much inferior to frame kayaks and kayaks. We are waiting for transitions, 10-25 kilometers a day. Therefore, we recommend this trip for confident and familiar with kayaks.

A kayaking trip is an opportunity to see grottoes and rocks from the water. In some grottoes, we swim, examine the shore in detail and stop at parking lots, where you can only approach from the water. There will be many caves along the way, which we will approach by kayaking. Baikal seals can emerge right at the boat, cormorants nest on rocky ledges, where you can only approach from the water.

Olkhon is one of the most significant points of mystical Baikal. Shamanism and Buddhism are intertwined here. Shamanka Rock with a through cave, which we will visit, served as a place of shamanic rites. There are no more articles and books written about Baikal than about Olkhon. The source of myths and legends - this island is called the sacred center of the lake, the abode of Baikal spirits guarding their home. Many of our routes pass through sacred places. Here and there are holy things. And there is no contradiction in this - nature is sacred. This approach is shared by our instructors. We love purity and pristineness, respect traditions and know how not to leave traces. In the last century, the ecology of Lake Baikal suffered a lot, and now we recreate a respectful and reverent attitude to our beautiful nature.

Olkhon has been inhabited since ancient times. On the island found 143 archaeological sites — cave-parking of ancient man, cave paintings, settlement, and burials. At Cape Khorgoy there are ruins of an ancient fortress, we will go there. It was discovered in 1879 by Ivan Chersky, a Siberian explorer. By the way, he, like us, traveled a lot on Baikal by boat. According to historians, the creators of the sacred buildings of Olkhon were the Kurykans - the ancient Turkic people who lived in the Baikal region in the VI-XI centuries.

Russians came here for the first time in the middle of the XVII century. In 1643, the Cossack Kurbat Ivanov with 75 “hunting, serving and walking people” went along the Sarma River to the shore of the Small Sea and crossed to Olkhon. Cossacks lost many coins there, which archaeologists find today. During the time of the Gulag, prisoners were taken to Olkhon. The water around and the impassable taiga outside the lake did not require special protection, and this was the beginning of the Olkhon fish farm for the production of the famous Baikal omul. Now local residents are engaged in tourism.

We'll live like this, in tents. And get up a little light at 6 a.m., sometimes earlier. In the morning, Baikal is the calmest. And extraordinarily beautiful. When the dawn silence is only interrupted by the first chirping of birds, the animals go out to the watering hole and the sun rises above the water. We will cook food on gas tile - in the steppe with firewood there is not much. We will share on duty, and instructors will help and teach the wisdom of the hiking kitchen.

There are practically no mosquitoes and gnats here and there are no ticks at all.

Sometimes there is cellular communication, but not very high-quality (MTS, MegaFon and BaikalVestCom). In summer, the weather can be changeable. Therefore, clothes need different, from a swimsuit and Panama to a warm jacket and hat. Baikal loves the prepared. But as a rule, in July-August on Olkhon dry and warm. According to statistics, this is the driest place of Baikal.