What can be more natural than discover Baikal by kayak?
You will explore the steppes and woods of the Olkhon island from the water, live in a tent in the pic
Feel the na
Day 1
Arrival in Irkutsk. Our guide will meet you at the airport and a coach will bring you to Zagli Bay – a cozy, sunny bay in the southern part of Olkhon Island. Lunch in a café. Upon arrival we set up a tent camp. Dinner. Overnight in tents.
Day 2
Early breakfast. We start our kayaking adventure along the western coast of Olkhon Island. We have a short stop for an inland excursion to the ruins of an ancient fortification wall built by the Kurykany people. The Kurykany, an ancient tribe and predecessors of the present day Siberian peoples, are historically called “Kurumchi Blacksmiths” for their skills in iron processing and building artificial irrigation systems. Dinner. Overnight in a picturesque bay in tents. Day paddle trip length is approx. 25 km. Day 3
We continue kayaking, with a short stop for lunch and rest at Khuzhir village. Khuzhir, with a population of over 1,200 people, is the largest settlement on Olkhon. We overnight in a private tour lodge, located in Khuzhir (in rooms for 2-3 persons). Before dinner, we can enjoy a real Siberian banya (sauna). Day paddle trip length is approx. 25 km.
Day 4
We take a short break from kayaking and enjoy an easy hike to Khuzhir village. Here, we will visit the local Ethnographic Museum where our guide will tell us many interesting stories about the legendary and mysterious Olkhon Island. If Baikal is the pearl of Siberia, then the island is the heart of the lake. There are dense taiga forest and wide plains, high cliffs, sandy bays and grassy hills on Olkhon and it is surrounded by ocean-like waters. The local Buryat people believe that the island is a place where the spirit of the lake, Burkhan, lives. We go on a walking excursion to the Cape of Burkhan to see the famous Shaman Crag, worshipped both by local shamans and Buddhists. Lunch back at the tour lodge. Then free time for your leisure. Overnight in the tour lodge. Day 5
We continue our paddling trip along the western side of Olkhon up to Peschanaya Bay. This deserted place was once the site of a community of fishermen. But it was so exposed to the winds that in less than 50 years the village was completely buried under sand dunes. From Khuzhir and further north, the steppe gradually gives way to a beautiful pine tree forest that grows right up to the sand dunes. Vegetation is so tender and vulnerable that one needs to be very careful not to damage it. Dinner and overnight in tents at Peschanaya bay. Day paddle trip length is approx. 20 km. Day 6
As we paddle further north, the flat lands become steeper and the banks higher, with fewer places to beach. Our destination is the mysterious Khoboy Crag - the northernmost point of the island and one of its main attractions. The Crag itself looks like a female’s head and bosom and is famed for a number of legends that are associated with it. This place is also considered to be a very good spot for meditation. After lunch, we paddle another 10 km to Uzury village – the only place on the eastern side of Olkhon Island where one can beach. Overnight in tents.Day 7
After nourishing breakfast, we depart from our lodge to the ferry-station. Further transfer by a tourist minibus to Irkutsk (5 hours drive). Stop for lunch. Overnight in a hotel in Irkutsk (double-basis).
Day 8
After breakfast, we will go to the Decembrist museum which is situated at Prince Volkonsky Mansion (XIX-th century built mansion used to belong to one of the leaders of Decembrist revolutionaries - Russian aristocracy who were banned to Siberia after their ill-fated attempt in December of 1825 to overthrow the Russian Czar.). After that we’ll visit the central market of the city. Then you can enjoy the second part of a day to explore the Irkutsk city on your own. Dinner on your own, overnight in the hotel.
Day 9
After breakfast and check out transfer to the local airport or train station. Farewell. Have a good flight and hope to see you again on other tours with RussiaDiscovery!
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.
