I have never seen such a miracle...

Day 1

Saturday

Meeting of the group at the airport of Irkutsk at 10.00. Transfer to post. Listvyanka (65 km, ~ 1 hour).
Day of the beginning of the journey and acquaintance with Baikal. We offer to start from the village of Listvyanka. 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.
Lunch at the cafe.
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. Pay attention to the purity of the water, the transparency of which can be assessed by looking at the water from the height of the coastal cliffs.
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.
Return to Irkutsk. Hotel accommodation.
Meals: lunch.

Cities: Irkutsk, Listvyanka

Attractions: Architectural and ethnographic museum "Taltsy", Baikal Museum, Shaman-stone

 

Day 2

Sunday

Breakfast at the hotel cafe. Transfer by regular tourist transport to the island of Olkhon (300 km, ~ 6 h.) on the road running along the steppes past ancient Buryat villages, through the picturesque spurs of the Baikal Range, the Siberian taiga, which are then again replaced by the Mongolian landscapes of the Tazheran steppe.
The crossing to Olkhon 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 the “Big” seas – the two parts of Lake Baikal, separated by Olkhon, and the famous Olkhon Gate Strait, which runs between the island and the mainland.
From Zagli Bay (Tashkai Bay), next to which the ferry will dock, we begin to explore the vast expanses of the island (walking ~ 5 km). And be surprised 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 a tent camp.
Hot dinner at the stake.
Overnight in tents.
Meals: breakfast, dinner.

Cities: Olkhon district

Attractions: Olkhon Island, Small Sea

 

Day 3.

Monday

Breakfast at camp. Walking passage (~20 km). Hiking has a lot of advantages, as you can see what is not visible from the car window, stop in any place you like and make unique shots. Today you will have a long but interesting journey along the western coast of the legendary island. First, the picturesque Gulf of Khul - 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 tribes of Kurykan, the rocky cape Shara-Shuloun, opposite which you will see the cleanest island of Baikal - the island of Ogoi with the sacred Buddhist Stup of Enlightenment. Hiking lunch.
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.
Overnight in tents.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Olkhon district

Attractions: Olkhon Island, Cape Mare's Head, Cape Khorgoy, Ogoy Island

 

4th day

Tuesday

Breakfast at camp. Start again in the morning! Walking passage (~20 km). Today, your route will pass along the shore of the Shebet Bay, then over the impregnable sea Cape Shebetsky (translated 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. Hiking lunch.
Hot dinner at the stake.
Overnight in tents.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Olkhon district

Attractions: Olkhon Island

 

5th day

medium

Breakfast at camp. Walking passage (~20 km). 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 (additional fee), and those who miss civilization - charge mobile phones.
Hiking lunch. Accommodation at the camp. Dinner at the campground.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Hujir

Attractions: Olkhon Island

 

Day 6

Thursday

Today we offer you to explore local sights on your own or with a guide (additional fee): 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 (additional fee).
In addition, those who wish can make an excursion (additional fee) to the neighboring village, during which you will be introduced to the crafts, folklore and original cuisine of the Olkhon Buryats.
Food at the campground. Accommodation at the camp.
Meals: breakfast, dinner.

Cities: Hujir

Attractions: Cape Burkhan, Olkhon Island

 

Day 7.

Friday

Breakfast at the campground. Well, today for a change you are waiting for a car tour. The island is an island, but there are such distances and roads that if you go on a tour, it is for the whole day. So this day will almost entirely go on a full-day excursion to Cape Khoboy - the northern tip of the island, near the widest place of Baikal.
On the way you can see all the diversity of the Baikal natural landscapes concentrated on the island: steppes with deep inland and well-heated in summer bays, sand dunes, mixed deciduous forests with areas of relict tree, picturesque rocks on the shore of marble covered with red lichens.
And 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 Barguzin Peninsula - a walk around the neighborhood, during which the guide will tell you about the legends, traditions and customs associated with these places. And if the local gods are quite complacent, they will give you the opportunity to see the unique Baikal seal - the only freshwater relative of the seal.
Hot lunch at the stake.
Dinner at the campground.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Cities: Hujir

Attractions: Cape Khoboy, Olkhon Island

 

8th day

Saturday

Today you have a free day, and everyone can choose entertainment to their taste.
If you liked to travel around Olkhon by car, we recommend you to visit the lake Shara-Nur, translated from the Buryat language - "yellow lake" (additional fee). 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, from dissolved mineral salts when bathing in the lake, the body seems red. Mud from the lake helps with various diseases – for example, arthritis.
If, on the contrary, you want more active rest - we offer to ride through the Olkhon expanses by bicycle (additional fee).
Well, lovers of laziness in the sun awaits the sandy beach of the Sarai Bay.
Accommodation at the camp.
Meals: breakfast, dinner.

Cities: Hujir

Attractions: Saray Bay, Olkhon Island

 

9th day

Sunday

Breakfast at the campground. I really do not want to return to the usual city life, bustle and bustle, so the fees are delayed. But time is coming, the bus is waiting, time to leave. Transfer to Irkutsk by tourist transport (300 km, ~ 6 hours). The road to Irkutsk takes place in memories of the time spent, funny and amusing cases, interspersed with exclamations of surprise from the views outside the bus window.
Approximate time of arrival in Irkutsk, the city center (hotel "Angara") - 18.00.
Meals: Breakfast.

Cities: Khuzhir, Irkutsk