 (1)_1761823851.jpg "The Baikal Ice Express")
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Experiences you'll have
In just three days, you will have time to visit the lake's most beautiful spots and witness the incredible ice of Baikal in all its forms: in caves, grottos, splash formations, and across the vast surface. You won't be limited to the Small Sea area but will also venture onto the open expanse of Big Baikal aboard an hovercraft. These areas are renowned for having the most beautiful and pristine ice on the planet.
This trip is ideal for photographers, with enough time allocated for shooting in the most picturesque locations. It is also suitable for families with children over 8 years old. The program includes walks into ice caves, transfers in a heated amphibious vehicle, and comfortable accommodation.
Itinerary
Your journey begins in Irkutsk. You need to arrive there by 9:30 AM on the first day of the program.
Please note: The itinerary may change due to weather or other unexpected circumstances.
Day 1 Meeting Baikal
You will be met at the airport or picked up from your hotel (if you arrived the day before), and we will set off by minibus towards Lake Baikal. The journey will take you through the Tazheran Steppe, where you will see landscapes unusual for the taiga of Siberia. Along the way, we will make a stop at an ethnographic center. There, you will be treated to traditional Buryat cuisine and enjoy a folk performance.
At the Kurkut Bay, you will transfer to a UAZ vehicle, which will take you across the ice of the Maloye More (Small Sea) Strait. Upon arrival in the village of Khuzhir, you will check into the hotel and have dinner on your own.
Please note: Before the official ice road to Olkhon Island opens, the transfer across the Maloye More ice will be conducted by hovercraft.
Route length: 260 km by minibus, 50 km by UAZ vehicle or amphibious boat.
Day 2 Exploring the Maloye More (Small Sea)
You will spend the day exploring the Maloye More (Small Sea) — the strait between the mainland coast of Baikal and its largest island, Olkhon.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will board a hovercraft (an amphibious boat) and set out across the ice to discover the northern part of the strait. You will visit capes Zunduk and Aral, as well as Izhilhey Island. Along the way, we will make stops to explore ice grottos, intricate splash formations, and caves adorned with fantastical stalactites.
Lunch will be served at the "Boro-Boro" Ice Station - the first arctic-style base on Lake Baikal. Here, you can learn about the region's geography and research, visit various photo zones, and even send a postcard from the very center of the lake. You will be treated to aromatic hot-smoked Angara trout, a hearty fish soup (ukha), and a selection of traditional Siberian pickles and preserves.
Afterwards, the journey continues to Olkhon Island, often called the heart of Baikal. Here lies one of Asia's most sacred sites - the revered Shamanka Rock (Shaman Rock) at Cape Burkhan. Legends say that an invisible palace of the chief spirit, the Master of the Lake, stands upon this rock.
In the evening, you will return to the hotel for dinner on your own.
Route length: 100 km by hovercraft.
Day 3 Ogoy Island and the Ice of Big Baikal
After breakfast, you will set out by hovercraft to the iconic ice locations of the southern Maloye More. Your first stop will be Ogoy Island, home to the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment. Here, you can make a wish by walking around the stupa and photograph the stunning panoramic views of Baikal.
The journey continues to Khubyn Island and two other picturesque capes. You will also stop at Cape Kobylya Golova (Mare's Head), renowned for its fantastic and intricate ice splash formations.
Lunch will be served at a cafe on the shore of Baikal, offering beautiful views of the Olkhon Gate Strait.
In the afternoon, you will venture onto the ice of Big Baikal, visiting Orso Bay. This area is famous for its exceptionally clear ice, where you can see the legendary trapped methane bubbles, dramatic ice ridges (torosses), and giant fissures.
Upon reaching Kurkut Bay, you will transfer to a minibus for your return journey to Irkutsk. After checking into your hotel, you will have time to rest and have dinner on your own. You can end the day with a stroll through the city's historic center.
Route length: 120 km by hovercraft, 260 km by minibus.
Day 4 Departure
After breakfast at the hotel, you will independently transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
Accommodation during the trip
Please note: The hotels listed may be substituted with others of a similar category.
Hotel "Tochka Baikala" (Baikal Point) (2 nights)
Located on Olkhon Island, two kilometers from the village of Khuzhir. You will stay in comfortable twin/double rooms featuring a double or two single beds, an ensuite bathroom, TV, refrigerator, and a hairdryer.
Hotel amenities include a restaurant with a seasonal menu and dishes made from local produce. Mobile network coverage and Wi-Fi are available.
Hotel "Irkutsk" (1 night)
Located in the historical center of Irkutsk. You will stay in superior twin/double rooms with a double or two single beds and an ensuite bathroom.
Hotel amenities include a restaurant, café, lobby bar, and grill bar. Mobile network coverage and Wi-Fi are available.
Common questions
Daytime temperatures in February typically do not drop below -20°C. From the beginning of March, spring arrives at Baikal, and the temperature rises every day. However, sudden cold snaps and strong winds are still possible. The average daytime temperature in March ranges from -5°C to -15°C, while at night it can drop to -25°C.
Documents:
passport (for children — birth certificate)
health insurance policy
Personal Items:
a warm down jacket with a hood (we recommend brands like Bask, RedFox, Sivera, Marmot, Millet)
warm, windproof, and comfortable trousers made of waterproof materials, suitable for walking
comfortable and warm winter or demi-season boots with good synthetic insulation and a sole with a shallow tread made of "soft" rubber
warm hats with windproof membranes (e.g., Windstopper, Windbloc)
thin gloves made of fleece or Polartec and overmitts made of waterproof materials, plus woolen mittens
a set of winter thermal base layers made of fleece or Polartec (we recommend brands like Guahoo, Red Fox, Virus, Bask)
woolen socks
winter trekking socks
sunglasses with UV protection of at least category 2
sunscreen with at least SPF 20
personal toiletries
a personal first-aid kit
photo and video equipment with spare memory cards and batteries
a power bank with a capacity of at least 10,000 mAh
a headlamp with spare batteries
a lightweight sit pad (for sitting on the ice)
microspikes / ice cleats (optional)
Throughout the entire tour, you will be accompanied by an experienced Baikal guide.
Breakfasts at the hotels and lunches on days 1-3 are included in the price. Dinners are to be paid separately.
Airport transfers and hotel transfers are organized in comfortable minibuses (Mercedes Sprinter or Toyota HiAce). Travel on the ice of Lake Baikal will be in a UAZ vehicle and a hovercraft.
You will have network coverage throughout all days of the tour, but it may be unstable at times. During excursions on the Maloye More, the signal will periodically be lost. Wi-Fi is available at the hotels.
Booking
Accommodation during the trip
Languages
double occupancy accommodation in hotels
breakfast at the hotels, lunches on days 1–3
airport transfer upon arrival and all transportation according to the itinerary
guide services, interpreter services
guided excursions per the program and a folk show at the "Golden Horde" Ethnopark
recreation fees
airfare to Irkutsk
dinners
airport transfer on day 4 (departure)
single occupancy at the hotels (tour price is 2622 USD, on request)
skates rental (+600 RUB per person per day)
double occupancy accommodation in hotels
breakfast at the hotels, lunches on days 1–3
airport transfer upon arrival and all transportation according to the itinerary
guide services, interpreter services
guided excursions per the program and a folk show at the "Golden Horde" Ethnopark
recreation fees
airfare to Irkutsk
dinners
airport transfer on day 4 (departure)
single occupancy at the hotels (tour price is 2622 USD, on request)
skates rental (+600 RUB per person per day)
The Baikal Ice Express
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