Europe Private Tour Russia (RUS004) Lake Baikal 7 Days 6 Nights

We will meet you at Irkutsk International Airport, Russia, and take you to Olkhon Island, the largest island in Lake Baikal, surrounded by many beautiful natural sites. The views from the car along the way are stunning, with landscapes of steppe grassland alternating with small and large hills. We make 2 restroom stops along the way, and the journey takes about 5 hours. We will take you to see Shaman Rock, and watch the sun set over the edge of the frozen lake at the same time.

hotel Overnight Olkhon Island : BaikalWood Eco Hotel & Spa

Today we travel along the coast toward the south. The highlight of this route is the many ice caves, large and small, along the way. Inside the caves you will see icicles and ice stalagmites of all sizes hanging down like chandeliers. When they catch the natural light, the sight is as beautiful as a chandelier created by nature itself. Next, we take you to Ogoy Island, home to the sacred stupa of the goddess Dragina Tromanakmo, which stands on top of a hill on Ogoy Island. We then continue to the Kurkan Wall, a mysterious ancient stone wall believed to have been built by the Xiongnu, ancestors of the ancient Mongols, to protect their territory.

Afterwards, we continue to the southernmost tip of Olkhon Island, where you can enjoy the view of a vast sheet of ice stretching as far as the eye can see, contrasting with the cliff tops that rise into the sky. We then head back along the same route, following the coast to the Shaman Rock below, to watch the sun set over the water to end the day.

hotel Overnight Olkhon Island : BaikalWood Eco Hotel & Spa

Today we travel along the coast on the route heading north. Along the way, we may stop at various ice caves as time allows. We visit Khoboy Cape, an ice field of huge sheets like giant mirrors piled on top of one another and pushed up from the water's surface. Then we drive along the cliff-lined coast, from the Little Sea into the Big Sea, along a smooth road across the frozen lake, stretching as far as the eye can see.

We then continue along a route cut across the width of the lake, heading to the other side of the lake, which is the Republic of Buryatia. Once we reach the Buryatia shore, we come ashore along a route past the harbor, where you will see boats frozen in place and unusable (in winter) and small ice-fishing huts lined up in the winter. We stop to take photos of the atmosphere before heading to our accommodation.

hotel Overnight Ust-Barguzin : Alexander Beketov's Guesthouse

We visit Zabaykalsky National Park, home to the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula, whose name means "Holy Nose" with 5 mountains. We stop to take photos at various places, such as the edge of the forest along the lakeshore and a pure spring whose water is safe to drink.

We stop for lunch at a fishing village on the other side of the peninsula. You will see the wisdom of the local people, who use an ancient stove system to cook food and heat the home with the same stove.

Next, we go to see the rarely seen ice fishing by local fishermen, before visiting various landscapes, such as ice caves that are more unusual and better preserved than those on the Olkhon side, and a hot spring onsen at the foot of the mountain with natural hot spring water at 45-50 degrees Celsius with a faint scent of sulfur. The heat helps the blood vessels, constricted by the cold, to expand and improves blood circulation in the body. You are welcome to soak and relax away the cold at your leisure.

hotel Overnight Ust-Barguzin : Alexander Beketov's Guesthouse

Today we travel to Ulan-Ude, the capital and administrative center of the Republic of Buryatia, heading south along the lakeshore and through the taiga forest. The journey takes about 3.5 hours.

Once we arrive in Ulan-Ude, we visit Ivolginsky Datsan, the largest Buddhist temple in Russia and the center of Buddhism in Russia, built in the style of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist architecture. The head Lama, the leader of Buddhism in Russia, resides here. You can visit, pay respects, and buy amulets and souvenirs at your leisure.

In the evening, we take you into the city of Ulan-Ude to visit the Ice City festival, with ice sculptures carved into various forms, such as people, animals, fairy-tale characters and mazes, along with colorful lights, at Lenin Square, the wide plaza in the city center where the world's only giant monument of Lenin's head stands.

In the early evening, we have dinner, then travel to Ulan-Ude railway station to board the Trans-Siberian train to Irkutsk, which takes approximately 9-10 hours. Tonight we sleep in a sleeper compartment on the train.

hotel Overnight Overnight on the train

We arrive at Irkutsk railway station in the morning. We take you to leave your belongings at the hotel, then travel to Listvyanka along the Baikal Highway, about 1 hour. We visit the Baikal Museum, which tells the geological history and general ecosystem of the lake. As a special treat, you can enter a simulation room that takes you down to the bottom of the lake as if you were sitting in a submarine exploring Lake Baikal.

We have lunch at a local restaurant at the foot of the mountain, where you will taste omul fish, found only in Lake Baikal. While you eat, you will see the mouth of the Angara River and Lake Baikal, and you can take photos at your leisure.

Then enjoy a ride with clever Siberian Husky sled dogs, and we continue to Chersky Peak, a mountain named after the geologist who explored Lake Baikal, riding a ski chairlift to the top. We then take photos at the shaman pavilion at the summit, where you can clearly see the mouth of the Angara River, Lake Baikal and the Buryatia mountain range in the distance. We wait to watch the sunset here on the last day.

In the evening, we return to the city to Quarter 130, the largest shopping district in the city. You may shop for items such as Siberian cosmetics, Baikal seal dolls and small souvenirs at your leisure.

Today is the last day of the trip. We take you to the airport 3 hours before your flight to check in for your journey back to Bangkok. If your flight is in the afternoon or evening, with spare time in the morning, we will show you around Irkutsk for any last sights or souvenir shopping, as you wish. Then we take you to Irkutsk airport (International Airport Irkutsk).