Baikal tours

Lake Baikal (etymologically meaning “the nature lake” in Buryat language) is a pearl of Siberian land. The Baikal is a rift lake, located in the southern part of Siberia. Baikal Lake is the largest freshwater storage reservoir in the world. It contains about 22% of the world’s fresh surface water. It is the oldest (about 25 million years old) and clearest lake in the world. The Baikal is also the world’s deepest lake with its depth of 1,642 meters.
Lake Baikal was geographically formed as an ancient rift valley. Historically it was and still is a home to some Buryat tribes, residing on the eastern shore of the lake and breeding goats, sheep, cattle, etc. About 2600 species and subspecies of aquatic animals inhabit the Baikal. More than a half of these animals are endemic, which means that they live only in this very lake. In 1996 Baikal Lake was declared as a site of UNESCO World Heritage.

PANORAMIC TOURS IN BAIKAL & BAIKAL LAKE

Walking tour along the shore of Baikal Lake includes visiting the local sights of Listvyanka village (the settlement located on the Baikal shore) such as St. Nicolas Church, Shaman stone, local fish market and traditional Baikal souvenirs marketplace. Also this tour comprises climbing up the Chersky Rock (by cable way) to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of Baikal Lake and its surroundings from the highest point of the Baikal. From this observation point of Chersky Rock you can see all the beauties of the unique local nature and make amaizing panoramic photos of fantactic Baikal views. In addition to this you can also visit the famous interactive Baikal Limnological Museum, where you can not only get acquainted with the Baikal nature, see the local seal and many other representatives of underwater life of the lake, but also have a possibility to make a virtual dive to the bottom of Baikal Lake. To see the Baikal nature from the water, we can offer you to make a boat trip (by motor boat) on Baikal Lake, along its picturesque shores, enjoyng the marvellous views and mistery of the Baikal’s waters. Another alternative and interesting tour to see the local lanscape beauties is to make a one day travel along the Circum Baikal Rail Road. This Circum-Bakal Railway is 89 km long and goes from Slyudyanka to the Port Baikal. Until the middle of the 20th century the Circum Baikal Rail Road was part of the main line of the Transsiberian Railway. Its stone galleries and tunnels are consedered to be a unique achievement in engineering.This trip along the Circum Baikal Railway will certainly give you the unforgettable impressions and wonderful opportunity to see many beautiful places picturesque sights of the area around Lake Baikal. For this tour you will be taken from your hotel to the Listvyanka’s harbour (Rogatka). From there you will go to the Port Baikal (by ferry) and then finally you will take the Circumbaikal (Krugobaikalskiy) Express Train. During this train travel you will have a few stops on the way. The meals and guide service will be provided for this tour.

NB! Prices are indicated PER PERSON in EUR.

NAME OF THE TOUR	2 PAX	3-4 PAX	5-6 PAX
Walking tour in Baikal with Chersky rock – along Baikal Lake shore (Listvyanka village) – 4-5 hours
Walking tour in Baikal with lunch and visiting Chersky rock & Baikal Museum – along Baikal Lake shore (Listvyanka village) – 6-7 hours
Boat trip on Baikal Lake (by motor boat) – 1 hour
1-day tourist trip along Baikal Lake by the Circum Baikal Railway with lunch & dinner (12-13 hours)

ETHNOGRAPHIC TOURS IN THE BAIKAL: customs & history

We offer you to make a one day tour to the Olhon Island by a hydrofoil “Cometa”. Olhon is the biggest island of Baikal Lake, situated about 300 km from Irkutsk. The Olhon Island is called “the heart of Baikal”. It is also a geographical, historical and sacred center of Baikal Lake. According to the legend, from this place the Buryat people had originated. The island is full of the mysterious local spirit, shamanism and ancient Buryat legends. The tour to Olhon Island comprises visiting the village Khuzhir, Cape Burhan, Shamanka Rock, Saraysky Bay (Beach), etc. One more ethnogrphhical excursion is a giuded visit to the Taltsy open air museum of local wooden architecture, that is located on the bank of the river Angara. The Taltsy museum possesses a unique collection of exhibits, dedicated to the history, culture and traditions of the Buryats and some other ethnical groups living in Pribaikalye.

NB! Prices are indicated PER PERSON in EUR.

NAME OF THE TOUR	2 PAX	3-4 PAX	5-6 PAX
Tour to the Olhon Island (by hydrofoil boat “Cometa”) with lunch box included – 12-13 hours
Excursion to the Taltsy museum (on the transfer between Irkutsk and Listvyanka) – 1,5 hours / NB! The cost of the transfer (from Listvyanka to Irkutsk / from Irkutsk to Listvyanka) is NOT included in the tour price!

ACTIVE SUMMER TOURS IN BAIKAL & BAIKAL LAKE

We suggest you some active tours that can be organized for you in summer while your stay at Baikal Lake. One of these active options is to try local diving. Baikal diving is a unique opportunity to dive in the deepest and one of the biggest lakes in the world. This tour perfectly combines adventure and watching the unique and amaizing underwater world of Baikal Lake. The diving tours and diving training in Baikal is usually arranged at the diving center “Three Dimensions”, that is located in Listvyanka village, exactly on the shore of Lake Baikal. For those, who enjoy walking a lot, we can offer wonderful trekking tours along the shore of the Baikal – between Listvyanka and another local village Bolshie Koty. This tour starts with fascinating ‘jeep-safari’, that brings you at one of the peaks of Primorsky mountain ridge, from where the trekking begins. During this active walking tour you will have several stops, one of which will be a picnic, made the shore of Lake Baikal. In the end of this Baikal trekking tour you will be taken back to Listvyanka by a motor boat.

NB! Prices are indicated PER PERSON in EUR.

NAME OF THE TOUR	2 PAX	3-4 PAX	5-6 PAX
Diving in Baikal Lake (1 dive of 30-45 min)
Trekking adventure tour in Baikal with picnic and transfers by jeep & motor-boat – 9 hours

ACTIVE WINTER TOURS IN BAIKAL & BAIKAL LAKE

One of the most popular winter activity on Baikal is a tour by the hovercraft “Hivus 10” along the ice and snowy surface of Lake Baikal. Fantastic winter landscapes, magic snow fairy tale on the Baikal shores, frosty fresh air will give you a lot of unforgettable impressions and positive emotions. One more winter active tour is a snowmobile ride across Baikal Lake, covered with snow and ice. High speed, a lot free space and snow around will certainly surprise and amaze you. Lots of thrilling emotions will combine with enjoying the magnificent nature of winter Baikal scenery. We can also suggest you to make a dog sledge ride in the most beautifull places of Baikal land. This tour will give you a unique opportunity to try yourself not only as a passenger of a dog sledge, but also run (drive) it on your own. You will definitely enjoy this local winter adventure, love the dogs and admired the fantastic Baikal nature around you. If you prefer traditional winter sport, you can take a ski tour along the shores of the Baikal. Or you can also try various skiing activities in the special ski-center “Eastland”, located at the Chersky Rock, near Listvyanka. Besides this we can offer you a very Russian winter activity – winter ice-fishing on Baikal Lake. It is a winter kind of fishing, comprising drilling the holes in the ice surface of the lake and fishing under the ice with special equipment. This tour usually lasts 3 days and includes staying at the tourist camp “Baikalskiye Duny”

NB! Prices are indicated PER PERSON in EUR.

NAME OF THE TOUR	2 PAX	3-4 PAX	5-6 PAX
Tour by hovercraft along the Baikal shore (1 hour)
Snowmobile ride on Baikal Lake (1 hour)
Dog sledge ride on the Baikal (10 km)
Skiing activities on the Baikal (2-5 hours)
Ice-fishing on Baikal Lake (3-days tour)