ADVENTURE / BAIKAL Multi-adventures at Winter Baikal

Arrival in Irkutsk by a morning flight from Moscow, meeting at the airport. Breakfast. 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 a cottage. 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 cottage in Listvyanka

Breakfast and check-out. Our winter adventure begins with a half-day ice trekking on the ice of Baikal to Chernaya Pad’, located in the Pribaikalsky National Park (day trekking distance - 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, and have a snack.

Late lunch at the cafeteria of the retreat lodge. Time at leisure on your own before a visit to Siberian steam house – banya and dinner. Overnight in wooden houses with small stoves (basic conditions, rooms for 2 and 4 persons, sanitary facilities outside) in Chernaya Pad’

Breakfast. Today we will have another winter experience – we will take Siberian husky sleds to go amidst the taiga-woods or along Baikal ice back to Listvyanka settlement.  

Time to explore the settlement on your own. You could walk up the Chersky hill to have a panoramic view of Baikal or visit St Nicholas chapel, have a look at the local souvenirs at the central square. Dinner and overnight back at the cottage in Listvyanka.

Early breakfast. Check-out and departure for the Center of Active outdoors of Listvyanka settlement. Safety and snowmobile driving instructions.

At 9 pm we start out by snowmobiles (2 pax on a snowmobile) towards the town of 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 famous for the best in the Lake Baikal area alpine skiing center at the foothills of Hamar-Daban Range, 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. Delicious dinner of Siberian cuisine. Overnight in the guesthouse in Baikalsk

Breakfast. Full day skiing on Sable Mountain (ski lift and equipment for extra-charge on spot)

Lunch and dinner back at the guesthouse. Overnight in the guesthouse in Baikalsk

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 further 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

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 natural resort. Here you can take 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 located in the city center. Time on your own to walk in the historical part of the city. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Irkutsk

Breakfast and transfer to the airport for departure by flight to Moscow