Baikal winter Fairytale

This tour gives a great opportunity for nature lovers and photographers to see a magic world of winter Baikal. You will get acquainted with the unique Baikal region, where life and the traditional cultures remain relatively unspoilt, where the wildlife viewing is spectacular, where the landscapes are breathtaking. Moreover you will observe the endemic Baikal Seals - nerpa - in their natural conditions, and to take dog sled journey. You will discover the sacral center of Lake Baikal - Olkhon Island - and visit Siberian cities Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude. Come get to know the secrets of Baikal winter fairytale!

1st day: Irkutsk
Arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to hotel. After having settled in and breakfast guided city tour. Visit to Irkutsk`s museum of Regional Studies. Free time. (L,D)
2nd day: Irkutsk - Listvyanka
After breakfast depart for Listvyanka (68 km), located on Lake Baikal in the mouth of the Angara River (the lake's only outlet). By the way visit to museum of Wooden Architecture 'Talzy'. Accommodation at guest houses. Then visit to Baikal Limnological Museum which has one-of-a-kind collection of exhibits about the origin of the lake, historical investigations, nature, surrounding area. (B,L,D)
3rd day: Listvyanka - Circumbaikal railroad
After breakfast excursion to the old Circumbaikal railroad by amphibious boat. Afternoon visit to the station of the sledge dogs. Trainings journeys. Accommodation at guest houses. (B,L,D)
4th day: Listvyanka - Tankhoy (across Baikal)
After breakfast start of the active part of tour on the frozen Lake Baikal from Listvyanka to Tankhoy settlement on the southeast shore (40 km). Accommodation at guest houses. (B, L,D)
5th day: Tankhoy - Posolskoye - Ulan-Ude
Visit to the visitor centre of the Baikalsky Biosphere Reserve. Drive to Ulan-Ude (240 km). By the way excursion to the Orthodox Cathedral of Configuration of the Savior in the Posolskoye settlement. Accommodation at hotel. (B, L, D)
6th day: Ulan-Ude - Ivolginsky Datsan
After breakfast a guided city tour. Visit to the History Museum. Excursion to the Ivolginsky Datsan, the most important Buddhist temple in Russia (40 km from Ulan-Ude). Visit to traditional Buryat family to enjoy folklore entertainment and traditional Buryat dinner. Return to the hotel. (B, L, D)
7th day: Ulan-Ude - Ust-Barguzin
After breakfast drive to the Ust-Barguzin settlement (264 km). Accommodation at homes of local families (homestay). Enjoy real country cooking and experience Siberian banya. (B, L, D)
8th day: Ust-Barguzin - Zabaikalsky National Park (Sacred Nose peninsula, Ushkany Island)
Tour by mini-bus (off-road) on a special road on the frozen Lake Baikal by Barguzinsky Gulf to the Svyatoy Nos peninsula (Chivyrkuisky Gulf). Visit on the way the famous Ushkany Islands with the biggest rookery of endemic Baikal Seal (nerpa). Ice fishing. Accommodation at check-point of the Zabaikalsky National Park on the Bolshoy Ushkany Island. (B, L, D)
9th day: Zabaikalsky National Park - Barguzinsky Nature Reserve (Davsha)
Transfer to Davsha village, administrative center of Barguzinsky Nature Reserve, which is the oldest protected natural area in Russia. Baikal Seal (nerpa) watching. Ice fishing. Accommodation at wooden houses with local families. (B, L, D)
10th day: Barguzinsky Nature Reserve (Davsha)
Visit to museum of Barguzinsky Nature Reserve, talk with local scientist. Hiking excursion through the winter Siberian taiga to the lookout, from which there is a fabulous view of the Lake Baikal, with fantastic opportunities for photo and video filming. Return to Davsha. (B, L, D)
11th day: Barguzinsky Nature Reserve - Chivyrkuisky Gulf, Zmeinaya bay - Ust-Barguzin
Tour on a special road on the frozen Lake Baikal by Chivyrkuisky Gulf. Excursion to the islands of Chivyrkuisky Gulf, whose grottos are adorned with beautiful icicles. Opportunity to try mineral baths in the Zmeinaya bay. Ice-fishing. Arrival in Ust-Barguzin. Accommodation at homes of local families (homestay). Enjoy real country cooking and experience Siberian banya. (B, L, D)
12th day: Ust-Barguzin - Ulan-Ude
Departure for Ulan-Ude (264 km). Free time. Accommodation at hotel. (B, L, D)
13th day: Ulan-Ude - Old Believers` village
After breakfast visit the Ethnographic Museum and see collections of traditional dwellings, clothes and furnishings of all ethnic groups of the region. Visit to the Old-Believers` village (a Russian religious group that split off from the Russian Orthodox Church in the seventeenth century) and introduction to the original folklore and cuisine of Transbaikalian Old Believers. Return to the hotel. Transfer to the railway station. Overnight Trans-Siberian train to Irkutsk (8 hrs.). (B,L,D).
14 th. day:
Transfer to airport.(B)

Baikal winter Fairytale - alternative option

1st day: Irkutsk
Arrival in Irkutsk. Transfer to hotel. After having settled in and breakfast guided city tour. Visit to Irkutsk`s museum of Regional Studies. Free time. (L,D)
2nd day: Irkutsk - Listvyanka
After breakfast depart for Listvyanka (68 km), located on Lake Baikal in the mouth of the Angara River (the lake's only outlet). By the way visit to museum of Wooden Architecture 'Talzy'. Accommodation at guest houses. Then visit to Baikal Limnological Museum which has one-of-a-kind collection of exhibits about the origin of the lake, historical investigations, nature, surrounding area. (B,L,D)
3rd day: Listvyanka - Irkutsk - Olkhon Island
Drive north 250 km along the Primorsky Mountains on Baikal's western shore to Olkhon Island. Accommodation in Khuzhir settlement at homes of local families (homestay). Enjoy real country cooking and experience Siberian banya. (B, L, D)
4th day: Olkhon Island
Morning visit the Shamanka rock. Visit to museum of Olkhon Island. Trip by mini-bus (off-road) on a special road on the frozen Lake Baikal to Khoboy cape (north cape of Island). Return in Khuzhir. Accommodation at homestay. (B, L, D)
5th day: Olkhon Island - Irkutsk - Ulan-Ude
Return to Irkutsk. Free time to explore. Take an overnight Trans Siberian train to Ulan-Ude (8 hrs.). (B, L, D)
6th day: Ulan-Ude - Ivolginsky Datsan
After breakfast a guided city tour. Visit to the History Museum. Excursion to the Ivolginsky Datsan, the most important Buddhist temple in Russia (40 km from Ulan-Ude). Visit to traditional Buryat family to enjoy folklore entertainment and traditional Buryat dinner. Return to the hotel. (B, L, D)
7th day: Ulan-Ude - Ust-Barguzin
After breakfast drive to the Ust-Barguzin settlement (264 km). Accommodation at homes of local families (homestay). Enjoy real country cooking and experience Siberian banya. (B, L, D)
8th day: Ust-Barguzin - Zabaikalsky National Park (Sacred Nose peninsula, Ushkany Island)
Tour by mini-bus (off-road) on a special road on the frozen Lake Baikal by Barguzinsky Gulf to the Svyatoy Nos peninsula (Chivyrkuisky Gulf). Visit on the way the famous Ushkany Islands with the biggest rookery of endemic Baikal Seal (nerpa). Ice fishing. Accommodation at check-point of the Zabaikalsky National Park on the Bolshoy Ushkany Island. (B, L, D)
9th day: Zabaikalsky National Park - Barguzinsky Nature Reserve (Davsha)
Transfer to Davsha village, administrative center of Barguzinsky Nature Reserve, which is the oldest protected natural area in Russia. Baikal Seal (nerpa) watching. Ice fishing. Accommodation at wooden houses with local families. (B, L, D)
10th day: Barguzinsky Nature Reserve (Davsha)
Visit to museum of Barguzinsky Nature Reserve, talk with local scientist. Hiking excursion through the winter Siberian taiga to the lookout, from which there is a fabulous view of the Lake Baikal, with fantastic opportunities for photo and video filming. Return to Davsha. (B, L, D)
11th day: Barguzinsky Nature Reserve - Chivyrkuisky Gulf, Zmeinaya bay - Ust-Barguzin
Tour on a special road on the frozen Lake Baikal by Chivyrkuisky Gulf. Excursion to the islands of Chivyrkuisky Gulf, whose grottos are adorned with beautiful icicles. Opportunity to try mineral baths in the Zmeinaya bay. Ice-fishing. Arrival in Ust-Barguzin. Accommodation at homes of local families (homestay). Enjoy real country cooking and experience Siberian banya. (B, L, D)
12th day: Ust-Barguzin - Ulan-Ude
Departure for Ulan-Ude (264 km). Free time. Accommodation at hotel. (B, L, D)
13th day: Ulan-Ude - Old Believers` village
After breakfast visit the Ethnographic Museum and see collections of traditional dwellings, clothes and furnishings of all ethnic groups of the region. Visit to the Old-Believers` village (a Russian religious group that split off from the Russian Orthodox Church in the seventeenth century) and introduction to the original folklore and cuisine of Transbaikalian Old Believers. Return to the hotel. Transfer to the railway station. Overnight Trans-Siberian train to Irkutsk (8 hrs.). (B,L,D).
14 th. day:
Transfer to airport.(B)

Baikal winter Fairytale: General info

Baikal winter Fairytale: map of route