Irkutsk
is the grand gateway to Lake Baikal
Welcome to Irkutsk
The de facto capital of Eastern Siberia, pleasantly historic Irkutsk is by far the most popular stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway between Moscow and all points east. With Lake Baikal a mere 70km away, the city is the best base from which to strike out for the western shoreline. Amid the 19th-century architecture, revived churches, classy eateries and numerous hostels, plentiful English-speaking agencies can help you plan anything from a winter trek across the lake’s ice to a short walking tour through the city.
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Irkutsk activities
Tour to Circum-Baikal Railway
Program: • 09:00 Departure from Irkutsk. We pick you up from any point you requested • 11:00 Arrival in the starting point of trekking. From here we will start walking part of the tour. We will go downhill from the new line of the Transsiberian through the valley to Lake Baikal • 13:00 Coming to the lake, village of Staraya Angasolka. Staraya Angasolka is a small station and few buildings, there are art galley and good eatery with tasty pancakes during summer! • 13:15 Picnic (not included) and walking by the old Transsiberian line till the station of Kultuk.After the village we will follow the tracks, coming through three tunnels, several bridges and small stations (4 km). We will also see some leftovers of disassembled second line of Transsiberian. • 16:00 Lunch at cafe (not included). Our guide/driver will wait for you at the Circum-Baikal Railway monument, which is built right on the railway. After the final shots of the lake we will drive to the top of the mountain, where we can have a lunch (not included) with a beautiful view of the lake. By the way, "kultuk" in turk language means "dead-end". • 16:30 Departure from Kultuk • 18:30 Arrival in Irkutsk. We arrive to Irkutsk and drop you off to where you need
3 hours Irkutsk City Tour
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Irkutsk Walking Tours, Irkutsk, Irkutsk Oblast, Siberian DistrictIrkutsk city center: War memorial, Church of a Savior, Moscow Gate, Catholic Cathedral), Orthodox churches (Kazan Church, Znameskiy Cathedral, Epiphany Cathedral), The oldest cemetery with the graves of Decembrist (first russian revolutionaries)House of Europe (Lace House)Historical places of Irkutsk«130th quarter» (old style district)Central Market, shopping mallAny other places upon your requestDuration: 3 hours
Barbecue picnic on the shore of Lake Baikal
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productDuring the picnic, guests can enjoy a 5-course lunch with soft drinks.Duration: 4 hoursLocation: Angara River, Siberian DistrictWe can organize transferand picnic for you from Irkutsk to Listvyanka settlement that is located on the shore of Lake BaikalDuration: 5 hoursLocation: Lake Baikal, Siberian District
Transfer from the Airport or Train station
Guests will enjoy the comfort of a Shuttle service. The price already includes: 1. Meeting with a sign with the name and name of the hotel 2. transfer to hotel 3. Help with Luggage 4. Assistance in checking into the hotel 5. Drinking water without gas in bottles at the rate of 0.5 liters per person. Additional services (available for an additional fee, can be booked 24 hours in advance): 1. Rent a child seat 2. Professional guide-interpreter. 3. Transfer Irkutsk-Listvyanka 4. Transfer Irkutsk - lake Baikal. 5. Support during the entire stay in the Irkutsk region. 6. Seeing to the airport or train station.
(private) Tour the Best of Lake Baikal
ItineraryDay 1: Arrival in Irkutsk & City TourStop At: International Airport Irkutsk❖ In the morning at the airport, you will be met by a personal guide. Then, on a comfortable minibus, you will drive to Irkutsk. If there will be free time before settling in the hotel, then we will spend it for a pleasant breakfast in one of the colourful cafes.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Kupechesky Dvor❖ After you check into the hotel you will have some free time to relax after a long flight.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Krestovozdvizhenskaya Tserkov'❖ Today you will have a sightseeing tour in one of the seven cities of Russia, which has the status of a city with a unique historical and cultural heritage. Irkutsk is an ancient Siberian city, the oldest buildings of which date back to the 18th century. and built in a unique style – the Siberian baroque. The city has preserved the city’s stone buildings and wooden lace houses. Initially, the city of Irkutsk was built in the 17th century as a winter park for important colonization and trade and trade routes connecting the European part of Russia with China, Mongolia and the Russian Far East....NOTES: You stroll through the historic centre of the city while walking you will have time to rest on the late lunch.Duration: 3 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast: Breakfast in the colourful cafe. Included • Lunch: Not included • Dinner: Not includedAccommodation included: ★ Double accommodation in a hotel in the centre of Irkutsk (Hotel Kupechesky Dvor 3*)Day 2: Irkutsk → Buddhist Stupa → Rookery of the Baikal Seal → Olkhon Island, 320 kmStop At: Yurta❖ Today we are going to a meeting of Baikal. Outside the window, there will be picturesque landscapes – colourful fields and steppes, lakes and forests. In the way, stop for lunch in the cafe, where you will try the dishes of Buryat cuisine....❖ Still literally half an hour on the way, and we will arrive at Baikal!Duration: 3 hoursStop At: Lake Baikal, Ogoy island❖ On the ferry, we will expect a speedboat, on which we will make an excursion to the island of Ogoi. On the island there is a Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment, a special atmosphere of tranquillity and peace prevails here. The island is located in the centre of the Small Sea Strait, which separates the island of Olkhon from the mainland. From the top of the island, there is a beautiful panorama of the Small Sea with its many islands....❖ After visiting the stupa, we will make a boat transfer to another island, called Zamogoi. In the last two years, a seal-rookery has been formed on this island. If we are lucky, we can watch the Baikal seal in its natural conditions.Duration: 3 hoursStop At: Sarai tourist complex❖ In the evening we will arrive on the island of Olkhon – in the very heart of Lake Baikal. Accommodation in a hotel complex, which is located on the shore with a beautiful view of the lake, further free time for rest.Duration: 3 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast: In the hotel. Included • Lunch: In traditional coffee on the way to Baikal. Included • Dinner: Picnic in a picturesque place. IncludedAccommodation included: ★ Double accommodation at the hotel on the island of Olkhon, the village of Khuzhir (tourist complex “Saraysky”)Day 3: Olkhon Island → Shamanka Rock → Ethnocomplex → Fishing, 80 kmStop At: Cape Burkhan/Shamanka Rock, Khuzhir, Olkhon Island, Olkhonsky District, Irkutsk Oblast, Siberian District❖ After breakfast in the hotel, you will find a short walk to the main attraction on the island – the Shamanka rock, which is a visiting card of Lake Baikal.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Buryatskaya Village, Khuzhir, Olkhon Island, Olkhonsky District, Irkutsk Oblast, Siberian District❖ Then you will go to get acquainted with the life and culture of the local population in the ethnocomplex “Buryat village”, which is a family mini-museum organized by the residents of the island of Olkhon. The Yohor dance, Buryat wrestling, songs, riddles and, of course, the national cuisine are waiting for you on this day.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Хужирский Порт❖ After lunch, we offer you to get acquainted with the most common fishery on the Baikal – fishing. In a mini-tour of the bays and gulfs of the sacred lake, you will be accompanied by an experienced fisherman who knows and loves his work. Those who will fish for the first time in life, the instructor will tell and show how to correctly knit flies and feel the glue....❖ Fresh fish will be cooked for you as soon as you catch it yourself – they will fry or make a sagoodai (local dish) from it. What could be more delicious than the fish’s own delicacies caught?Duration: 4 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast: In the hotel. Included • Lunch: In the ethnocomplex “Buryat village”. Included • Dinner: Picnic in a picturesque place. IncludedAccommodation included: ★ Double accommodation at the hotel on the island of Olkhon, the village of Khuzhir (tourist complex “Saraysky”)Day 4: Olkhon Island → Crossing from South to North → Cape Khoboy, 72 kmStop At: Sarai tourist complex❖ After so many days of rich program we offer you to enjoy the landscape in the morning, a walk along the beach, or bike or just read under the sound of the waves. We do not hurry anywhere.Duration: 4 hoursStop At: Cape Sagan-Khushun, Olkhon, Irkutsk Oblast, Siberian District❖ In the afternoon, after lunch, in comfortable mini-buses, you will explore the northernmost part of the island.This road – from south to north, allows you to see all the natural diversity of the island: First, the road will go through a small forest, then you will see hills and meadows. You will drive on the sand tracks . The bay justifies its name, you will see real dunes!...❖ Then you will see a unique “rock complex”, here stands Cape Sagan-Khuchun (we call it “Three Brothers”).Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Hoboy Cape, Olkhon, Irkutsk Oblast, Siberian District❖ Finally, you arrive at the extreme north of the island – Cape Khoboy (in Buryatia “Fang”), a special, sacred place. It is here that you can feel like on the edge of the island, and on the edge of the earth, after all in front of you will open an infinite aquatic expanse of Lake Baikal, and you will feel part of the universe .Rocky cliffs, absolute silence, the infinity of the sky with the aquatic surface – it seems that Eternity settled here....❖ After a dinner-picnic, filled with impressions and strength of Baikal, you will return to Khuzhir.Duration: 3 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast: In the hotel. Included • Lunch: In the hotel. Included • Dinner: Picnic in a picturesque place. IncludedAccommodation included: ★ Double accommodation at the hotel on the island of Olkhon, the village of Khuzhir (tourist complex “Saraysky”)Day 5: Trip 4x4 → Petroglyphs → Cruise on Yacht, 300 kmStop At: Cliff Sagan-Zaba❖ After breakfast, we will wait for a pumped off-road car.Today we are waiting for the mountain of Shebety, from which a dizzying view of the Baikal and the Primorsky Range opens. Further transfer to the Pribaikalsky national park, before us the magnificence of the wild nature will open. Our main goal of visiting the national park is petroglyphs (rock carvings) engraved on the rocky cliff of Sagan-Zaba....❖ By lunchtime, we will arrive at the pier, from where we will go on an impressive cruise on a cruise boat.Duration: 4 hoursStop At: Bukhta Peschanaya❖ We will make a pleasant water transition to the Peschanaya Bay. During the water transfer for you, the chef will hold for you a master class on national Buryat cuisine, the dishes of which you will taste for dinner....❖ In the evening we will reach one of the most beautiful places on Baikal – a bay with pink sand. Having moored, we will have time for a romantic walk along the beach at sunset. After the walk, you will be offered a Russian sauna on the wood, which will melt for you on the boat with access to the bathing deck.Duration: 6 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast: In the hotel. Included • Lunch: Included • Dinner: On a yacht. IncludedAccommodation included: ★ Night on the comfortable motor yacht “Sagan”Day 6: Cruise on Yacht → Fishing → Peschanaya Bay → Kadilny Cape (camp), 52 kmStop At: Parking places❖ Today we will spend the first half of the day in Peschanaya Bay. We will go to “walking trees”, “stones of strength”, rocks Malaya and Bolshaya Belfry, and later to the famous bay of Grandmother.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Stoyanka Na Myse Bol'shoy Kadil'nyy❖ During lunch on the ship, we are expected to make a small transition to Cape Kadilnogo, where we will make a stop. This place is remarkable for its amazing beauty: a large glade covered with alpine edelweiss and numerous meadow flowers is surrounded by a coniferous forest. The cape is ideal for walks and picnics, the boat will spend three hours here. During the stay, fishing from under the propeller will be organized. The essence of such fishing is that the boat, resting its nose on the shore, with a screw raises from the bottom of small crustaceans. After 20 minutes, grayling and small fishes approach the stern – excellent fishing begins....❖ While the barbecue is prepared and the fish is smoking, you can relax, take a walk along the cape, look at the cave where the ancient Neolithic man’s parking lots were found, and collect fragrant herbs and Siberian berries from which we will make aromatic taiga tea....❖ We will completely immerse ourselves in the wild beauty of Lake Baikal and this night we will spend near Cape Kadilny in the tent camp, equipped with modern equipment. A magnificent evening by the fire behind a cup of tea with the smell of haze, the splashing of waves and the deep starry sky.Duration: 6 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast: On a yacht. Included • Lunch: Fish BBQ. Included • Dinner: Fish BBQ. IncludedAccommodation included: ★ Night in a comfortable camping on the shore of the Kadilny CapeDay 7: Kadilny Cape → Trekking → Listvyanka Village, 13 kmStop At: Bolshiye Koty Jetty❖ Today we are expected to walk along a picturesque path from Cape Kadilny to the village of Bolshie Koty. The path is comfortable for fans of active rest of any age – without steep ascent and descents. We will make stops for rest and photos in amazingly beautiful places. Good condition of the trail is supported by volunteers from around the world from the international project “The Great Baikal Trail”. The daily mileage is about 8-10 km.Duration: 3 hoursStop At: Listvyanka❖ Having reached the village of Bolshie Koty, we will be picked up by a high-speed boat, which will take us to the pier in the village of Listvyanka....❖ For dinner, you will have a table with a view of Baikal and the source of the Angara River.Duration: 5 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast • Lunch • DinnerAccommodation included: ★ Double accommodation at the hotel Listvyanka (hotel “Anastasia” 4*)Day 8: Listvyanka Village → Nurpinary → Airport (Departure), 270 kmStop At: Nerpinariy❖ This is our final day at Lake Baikal. Before leaving for the airport, we will visit the Nerpinarium, which hosts a show of Baikal seals. You will be delighted with these intelligent and cute animals.Duration: 1 hourPass By: International Airport Irkutsk❖ Then transfer to the airport for check-in. DepartureMeals included: • Breakfast: In the hotel. IncludedNo accommodation included on this day.
Best experience on Baikal: Listvyanka and Irkutsk!
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: AngaraStarting with a stroll along the Angara river, you will see how large and clean water ways in Siberia might be and, also, learn a lot of curious facts about Siberia and the Irkutsk Region in particular.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Taltsy Museum, Taltsy, Irkutsk Oblast, Siberian DistrictAn open-air Taltsy Museums is waiting to be discoverd! Its visitors may spend a lot of time walking old Siberian houses, cafes and the Angara River. It fits perfectly for all ages and generations. Everyone is going to find something interesting there!Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Listvyanka near Baikal LakeSee the deepest lake in the world, learn some curious facts about Siberia’s exploration, taste delicious Russian pancakes and regional drinks, ride chair lifts while observing snow capped mountains in a distance, race the waves on a boat excursion, and send a postcard to your dears from the oldest lake in the world.Duration: 4 hours