- Join our 6-day tour to discover the magic of Lake Baikal in Southern Siberia
- Explore Olkhon Island and spot some Nerpa seals as they sunbathe on the rocks.
- Taste smoked Omul – a savory whitefish endemic to Lake Baikal.
- Hike up to the observation platform for spectacular views of the lake.
- Ride the old-fashioned steam train along Baikal.
- Step into the world of Siberia, and learn about Russian rural life.
- Visit Irkutsk – a modern city, but also an excellent introduction to the history of Siberia.
- Explore the wilderness of Olkhon, the largest island on Lake Baikal.
- Taste Ukha – a local fisherman’s soup, which is delicious and highly nutritious.
Accommodations |
Marriott 4* hotel in Irkutsk Guesthouse on Olkhon Mayak 4* hotel in Listvyanka |
Included |
Museum Entrance Fees Expert guides 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners, daily bottled water Train tickets for the Baikal steam train Transportation on comfort vehicles including arrival and departure transfers Visa support, registration fees |
Not included |
Air tickets Visa processing Gratuities |
Day 1: Welcome to Irkutsk
You arrive in Irkutsk. You will be met, greeted, and escorted to Marriott hotel. Check-in.
After lunch, take a leisurely walking tour and explore the center of the city. Visit the magnificent Kazan Cathedral and the historic Irkutsk Museum. Stroll down the pedestrian streets of the 130th district famous for its unique and beautiful wooden architecture, with lots of cafes and shops.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Listvyanka Village
This morning depart to Listvyanka, a small settlement on the shores of Lake Baikal. You will visit Taltsy, the open-air museum of ethnography, to learn about the local people and culture. You will learn about the rural life of Russians in the 17th through 19th centuries, as you stroll through the collection of wooden buildings of Siberia.
Next you will tour the Listvyanka village, and visit the splendid Church of St. Nicolas – the guardian angel of travelers. Visit the Baikal Ecological Museum to learn about the lake’s flora and fauna. After lunch you can shop at the vibrant and bustling local fish market.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Steam Train Ride
Today go back in time as you enjoy a slow and leisurely ride on the historic hundred-year-old steam train along Lake Baikal. Admire the picturesque view of the spectacular lake and surrounding mountains. This massive lake is the deepest in the world, and has more water than all of the Great Lakes combined.
The short, picturesque stretch of railway running between Slyudyanka and Port Baikal, allows you to appreciate the sheer feat of engineering it took to build this section of railway. As the steam engine chugs along the shore, barely faster than walking pace, it’s fun to count the number of tunnels and bridges.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Olkhon Island
Indulge your wilderness-conquering fantasies on the dramatic cliffs and secluded sandy bays of Olkhon, Lake Baikal’s largest, sparsely inhabited island.
Enjoy your lunch at the traditional Buryat café, to eat one of their favorite dishes, Pozy, a local variation of Mongolia’s national dumpling, made with lamb, beef, pork, or chicken.
Visit the Khoboy peninsula in an antiquated Soviet army jeep to view the largest of the shaman ritual sites. Shamans still come here to conduct sacred ceremonies.
Lake Baikal is inhabited by Nerpa seals, which have a uniform grey coat. If you are lucky, you could spot them sunning on the rocks along the shore during the day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Cape Khoboy
In the morning visit the northern part of Olkhon Island and Cape Khoboy. You will view the spectacular Sand beach, beautiful Three Brothers rock, Lion and Crocodile islands, Uzury village and at the most northern part of Olkhon – the magnificent Khoboy mountain!
Have a picnic lunch and taste Ukha, the local fisherman’s soup made from Omul whitefish. Ukha is prepared with fish heads, bones, and fillets, and it is famous for it’s taste and high nutrition value.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Irkutsk
After breakfast depart to Irkutsk. Walk the historical part of the city and do some souvenir shopping. Then depart to the airport for your flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Private Journey Travel Any Day
Double room $3,335 per person
Solo traveler $4,485 per person
Friends & Family Discount – Travel as a group of 3 or more and save $50-$100 per person
Payment Conditions:
Deposit: 10% of the price
Final Payment: 90 days prior to departure
*Payment with MasterCard or Visa +3%, American Express +4% to the prices
Cancellation Fees:
91 days prior to departure or more: 10% of the price
90-61 days prior to departure: 20% of the price
60-31 days prior to departure: 50% of the price
30 days prior to departure or less: 100% of the price