Within only a week you will get to know Baikal, experience different winter activities and learn about Baikal, its rich history and fauna. You will have fun downhill skiing on the famous Sobolinaya Hill, ride in an ice hovercraft across the lake, walk and snowmobile on the ice of Baikal and visit the most interesting museums. If you wish, you can even try out dog sledding. And, most importantly, you will discover the grandeur of Baikal and enjoy its winter beauty.
Day 1
Arrival in Irkutsk by a morning flight from Moscow, meeting at the airport. Transfer by coach to Listvyanka settlement located on the shore of Baikal, in the mouth of Angara-river, 70 km away from Irkutsk. On the way we will stop at the obo site – site once upon a time worshipped by local shamanism believers where you’ll be invited to follow the custom – to “sprinkle some vodka or milk “ in order to do an offering to the local master-spirits. Further stop at the source of the Angara river, the only river flowing out of Baikal, to listen to a beautiful legend.
Arrival in Listvyanka, check in at the hotel***. Lunch of tasty Siberian cuisine, during which we will try freshly smoked omul fish and tea from samovar while chatting with the hosts.
After lunch we will visit the Baikal Ecology Museum to learn interesting facts about the lake’s formation, about its flora and fauna, to see an interesting video about Lake Baikal and visit the Baikal fresh water seal aquarium. Time at leisure to discover Listvyanka settlement on your own. Dinner and overnight back at the hotel*** in Listvyanka (twin-basis)
Day 2
Breakfast and check-out. Our day starts with snowmobile activities! We departure for the Center of Active outdoors of Listvyanka settlement. After the safety and snowmobile driving instructions, we start out by snowmobiles (2 pax/snowmobile) towards the Chernaya Pad’, located in the Pribaikalsky National Park (one way 18 km). We will make several stops en route to enjoy the views of snow-topped peaks of Khamar-Daban mountain range on the other shore of Baikal and crystal-clear ice of Baikal.Lunch at the cafeteria of the retreat lodge in Chernaya Fold. Some time on your own before you change places on snowmobile. Back way to Listvyanka (18 km).
Russian steam sauna – Banya. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel*** (twin-basis).
Day 3
Breakfast. Today we will have a look at Siberian huskies. In the first part of the day we’ll visit the Dog sledding center of Listvyanka, meet the dogs and the musher, find out a lot interesting information about the dog’s farm, dog training and care. Optional: you can try out Siberian husky sledding in the vicinity of Chelpanov meadow in the taiga-wood (appr RUB 5500 for 10 km)
Then we will visit the local village family for the lunch. Talking to the hosts you can learn a lot of interesting things from everyday life of the natives and learn more facts about the Lake, Siberian myths and legends.
After lunch we will have a trip to the open-door wooden architecture museum “Taltsy”, exhibiting over 30 specimens of Siberian architecture, including a Buryat yurt and an Evenk traditional tent.
Dinner and overnight back at hotel*** (twin-basis).
Day 4
After breakfast, get ready for a new experience. Today we will go by ice hovercraft (or ACV, also called Hivus like one of the winds) across the ice of Baikal, towards the Baikalsk, located on the eastern shore of Lake Baikal in its southernmost point, with a few stops on the way to enjoy the marvelous views of the Lake, its mountainous and taiga-covered shores, and have a better view of the tunnel, bridges, supports, and walls of the famous Circumbaikal railway, a monument of architecture and engineering art. When we reach the town of Baikalsk where, at the foothills of Hamar-Daban Range, the alpine skiing center is located, we will check-in at a guesthouse or cottages scenically located not far from lake Baikal. Lunch
Today we can enjoy time at leisure or depart to the Sable Mountain to enjoy mountain skiing for a couple of hours (on your own).
Delicious dinner of Siberian cuisine. Overnight in the guesthouse in Baikalsk (twin-basis)
Day 5
Breakfast. Full day skiing on Sable Mountain (ski lift and equipment rental for extra-charge on spot, appr RUB 3500 per day)Lunch and dinner back at the guesthouse. Overnight in the guesthouse in Baikalsk (twin-basis)
Day 6
After breakfast, we check out and depart by coach first to the settlement of Utulik located on the western shore of Lake Baikal (2 hrs) and further another 180 km along the picturesque Tunkinskaya valley to the settlement of Arshan (arjaan stands for “pure springs” or “pure waters” in the Buryat language), a popular local resort with the Irkutians and the Buryats.
13.30 - check in at the guest house. Lunch at the cafeteria.
We will take a walk around Arshan to visit a small Buddhist datsan that once became the end-point of pilgrimage to the valley of the Shumak river, the route of pilgrimage changed because of snowstorms and a statue of white elephant – a symbol of happiness – was left here. We will walk to the springs to taste different types of healing water from artesian wells. You can continue exploring the surroundings on your own and visit the frozen waterfalls of the Kyngyrga river.
Dinner of traditional Buryat cuisine back at the guest house, overnight in Arshan
Day 7
Breakfast, check out and departure for Irkutsk. During our long way (240 km by coach) we will make a stop to visit the settlement of Zhemchug, hosting the thermal springs Hongor – Ula (+43C). We will have a chance to take a shower or a bath or apply medicinal muds. The place is not very well planned and resembles a naturally-occuring mini-resort. Optional: a horse ride (for an extra-charge to the local grooms).
Lunch at one of the roadside cafeteria
At around 5 pm we will arrive in Irkutsk and check in at a new hotel level *** located in the city center. Time on your own to walk around the historical part of the city.
Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Irkutsk
Day 8
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for departure by flight to Moscow
The Tour Operator reserves the right to introduce alterations to the itinerary due to weather conditions or other factors out of control by the Tour operator.
