On Baikal on kayaks: Holy Nose

1 DAY

Meeting in Ulan-Ude, transfer to the beginning of the route.

The road will take 4-5 hours, we will go 300 kilometers. On the way we will look at Baikal. We'll stop for lunch at the original late. It is like a dumpling, only instead of dumplings there is a national Buryat dish - poses. They are distinguished by a peculiar way of sculpting, like a flower with a hole at the top. For vegetarians there is food without meat.
We come to the parking lot, and now, you can already come and wet your hands with Baikal water. We set up tents, cook food, meet and collect kayaks.

There is a fisherman's house near our parking lot. And if this day was successful not only for us, we will take fresh Baikal fish on the first evening.

2 DAY

Hiking the St. Nose Plateau.

We get up early in the morning and go up. We are waiting for a steep climb to Mount Markov. Who is Markov? Don't know. Near the peninsula there is a village of Markova and a cape with the same name - this surname is known and common in these places since the XVIII century. We will climb to an altitude of 1877 meters. Although it is worth considering that we start from the level of Baikal - 500 meters. The climb up the mountain is quite steep. No wonder it is called the Trail of Testing. The walk will take all day, in the evening we will go down to camp. We bring a supply of water and a snack.

3 DAY

Glinka is the Cape Lower Headboard. 20 km.

We get up early in the morning, have breakfast, gather camp, kayak and disassemble equipment for crews. Instructors will conduct training on rowing techniques and water safety. Today we have a long rowing day and the main task is to learn how to row. We go slowly, paying attention to rowing. We'll stop for lunch sometime in the middle of the day.

Almost immediately after the isthmus, the rocks come to the shore and go almost to the Cape Lower Headland. At the cape there are the remains of the weather station. We circle the Lower Headboard and we have a view of the endless Baikal, at this moment we understand why the locals call it the sea. And the depths are marine. 500 meters from the shore depth of more than 500 meters.

We're already in the wild. There is no road here, only by water. Instructors will tell you the important rules of safe stay on the shore.

4 DAYS

Cape Lower Headland is Cape Markovo. 25 km.

We're kayaking along the shore. In the morning, you can catch perfect weather when there is no wave and the kayak slides on the water surface, like on ice. Get up early to catch this kind of weather. There are no people here, the shores are deserted and wild. We rest and swim in beautiful places.

5 DAY

Cape Markovo is Cape Orlovy. 23 km.

Taiga on the shore and the Baikal Sea opposite it. Eternal duet. Centuries and millennia ago, rare people on boats also walked along the shore and watched the same picture. In 1878-81 Baikal was explored by geologist Ivan Chersky. He went by boat all the coast and on some rocks you can still see the notches left by him to control the water level.

Yeah, kayaking is like meditation. By the way, on the third day you will no longer notice how rowing. The boat itself moves on the water and plunges into thoughts. Or they stop. Everyone will find their own. And the background will be Ushkany Islands - this is the place where seals live. On the rocks near the shore, we can also see them. So are bears. On the beach near Cape Orlovy we will stand in the parking lot.

6 DAY

Cape Orlovy - Chivyrkui Bay. 18 km.

We pass the Cape Upper Headboard, where there are the remains of a barge stranded and fall into the Chivyrkui Bay. The bay is shallow and the water warms up well. We stand in a small bay at the entrance to the bay.

7 DAY

Chivyrkui Bay - Snake Bay. 10 km.

Today, a small transition on kayaks with a stop at thermal springs. They are called Snakes because they like to bask in warm water. We'll stop there for a swim and move on to the parking lot. Snakes should not be afraid, they are not poisonous. They will not like sharing water with us. They'll hide until we leave. Our parking lot is not far, three kilometers away.

8 DAY

A day near Snake Bay.

This means that we are not going anywhere today, resting and swimming. You can go to the springs where we were yesterday, there is a path. Another trail leads to the village of Kurbulik, there you can go to the store. We'll go to the local bathhouse tonight.

9 DAY

Snake Bay - Monakhovo. 15 km.

Today we are going to Chivyrkui Bay, it is quite crowded. We pass the village of Kurbulik, the village of Katun and near the village of Monakhovo get up for the night. Our rafting route is over. But the hike isn't over yet. Disassemble my and dry kayaks, and the evening bonfire will bring us together. We'll discuss the outcome of our trip.

10 AND 11 DAYS

Spare days.
These days can be used to make shorter day crossings and to wait out the wind. After all, our campaign is reconnaissance. And change is possible. But if everything goes according to plan, then these days we use to visit Arangatui Lake, where you can go kayaking.

12 DAY

Monakhovo - Ulan-Ude.

It's the day we drop off the route. Camping in the morning. We get into the car and go to Ulan-Ude. We'll be there after 17 hours. Old Siberian city, which we recommend for independent viewing.

Ulan-Ude was founded in 1666 as a Cossack wintering on the right bank of the Selenga River at the confluence of the Uda River. In 1678, it was already known as an outpost of the advance of the Russian Cossacks to the east. In 1775, as Verkhneudinsk received the status of a city and the coat of arms according to the charter of liberties to the cities of Catherine II. On July 27, 1934, the city was renamed Ulan-Ude (translated from the Buryat language - "Red Uda").