Dates:

23 – 29 February, 2021

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Number of participants:

up to 10 people

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Difficulty level:

easy tour

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Price

€1 150

Lake Baikal is famous for its crystal-clear water. When it freezes, it turns into transparent blue ice, forming shapes that enchant us with their beauty. Kilometer-long ice cracks and beautiful ice caves shine during some of the most stunning sunsets and sunrises. And the uniquely clean, fresh air, filled with the scent of the Siberian taiga, makes these places truly exceptional. Winter on Baikal lasts until mid-March, and the beginning of spring is the best time to visit Olkhon Island and see the extraordinarily beautiful ice of Baikal.

Program

Day 1, meeting at the airport

Khuzhir village, Olkhon Island

— Arrival in the city of Irkutsk; — Meeting at the airport in the city of Irkutsk; — Transfer to Khuzhir village (the journey takes about 4-5 hours); — Check-in at the hotel; — Dinner and introduction of the group members; — Rest.​​

Silhouette of a traveller standing at the entrance of an ice cave on Lake Baikal at sunset
Ice cave at Lake Baikal with frozen stalagmites and a hiker in a red jacket standing in low winter sunlight
Woman in a pink gown standing inside a Baikal ice cave with hanging ice formations and light from the entrance

Day 2

Khuzhir village, Olkhon Island

— Morning photos at Cape Burkhan and Shaman Rock. — Rest; — Afternoon and sunset photos at Cape Burkhan and its surroundings; — Dinner. Rest.

Shattered transparent ice slabs with a jagged upright shard on frozen Lake Baikal under a blue winter sky
A UAZ van driving across the frozen surface of Lake Baikal under a clear blue winter sky
Frozen methane bubbles trapped beneath the ice of Lake Baikal

Day 3

Khuzhir village — Cape Khoboy

— Early rising. Travel to the ice of the southern parts of Ogoy Island and photographing the sunrise there. — Travel to the famous Cape Khoboy, towards the northernmost point of the island. Along the way we will stop at the most interesting and legendary places, such as Cape Saagan Khushun, which, thanks to the three rocks located there, has another name — ‘Three Brothers’. We will also explore the ice cracks and caves that reveal their hidden beauty only during the winter period; — We will have lunch during the excursion in nature, on the ice of the lake; — Return to the hotel; — Dinner. Rest. — Night photography at Cape Burkhan and its surroundings.

Frozen Lake Baikal with cracked transparent ice in the foreground and a rocky island under a clear winter sky
Rocky island on frozen Lake Baikal with cracked ice in the foreground and a low winter sun
Cracked transparent ice of Lake Baikal with ice formations covering the rocky shoreline cliff

Day 4

Khuzhir village — the islands of Maloe More 

— Breakfast; — Excursion trip to the islands of Maloe More: Izokhoy (Elenka), Izhilkhey and others. We will also explore the ice caves and cracks we encounter along the way; — We will have lunch during the excursion in nature; — Return to the hotel; — Dinner. Rest.

A shaman beating a ritual drum by a bonfire on the frozen surface of Lake Baikal at dusk
White Buddhist stupa on a rocky hilltop beside frozen Lake Baikal at sunset
Shaman poles wrapped in colorful ribbons at Cape Burkhan on the frozen Lake Baikal under a clear winter sky.

Day 5

Day 5, Khuzhir village — Ogoy Island — Cape Khorgoy 

— Early rising. Watching the sunrise in front of Shaman Rock and morning photos. — Trip to the southern part of Olkhon Island, to Ogoy Island – one of the most energetically powerful places on Lake Baikal, where we will spend the whole day. In the center of Ogoy Island stands a Buddhist stupa of enlightenment, containing a bronze statuette of the dakini Tromo Nagmo, who in Buddhism is considered the mother of all Buddhas; — We will have lunch during the excursion in nature; — On the way back we will visit Cape Khorgoy. It is known for the fact that the ancient Kurykan wall, discovered in 1879, is located there. The wall is made of stones without the use of any binding material and was probably built for defense against enemy attacks; — Afternoon and sunset photos in the vicinity of the village of Khuzhir; — Dinner. Rest.

Frozen Lake Baikal with a web of cracks across dark ice and Shamanka Rock visible on the horizon at dusk
Shattered slabs of clear ice piled up on Lake Baikal's frozen surface at low winter sun
Frozen Lake Baikal with a web of cracks across clear ice and a rocky island rising in the distance under a crisp winter sky

Day 6

the village of Khuzhir

— Early rising. Trip to the village of Uzury, sunrise photos of the ice and the cracks there. — Photographing the ice of the Small Sea bay of Lake Baikal; — A walk along the streets of the village of Khuzhir, visiting souvenir shops; — Dinner. Rest.

A hiker in a red jacket stands at the mouth of a rocky cave overlooking frozen Lake Baikal at golden hour
A translucent turquoise ice block resting on snow-covered frozen Lake Baikal under a blue sky with wispy clouds
Lake Baikal frozen surface with methane bubbles trapped in clear ice and radiating cracks across the sheet

Day 7

— Breakfast; — Transfer to the city of Irkutsk (about 4 – 5 hours); — Arrival in Irkutsk.

Frozen Lake Baikal with pressure ice ridges in the foreground, Shamanka Rock silhouetted in the background at sunset
Lone tree silhouetted on a hilltop at sunset over frozen Lake Baikal
Ice cave on Lake Baikal with hanging ice formations and a UAZ van parked on the frozen lake in the background

The sequence of the program may change depending on weather conditions or other factors.

Recommended equipment and gear

Equipment

  • Smartphone with a camera
or
  • Camera (entry-level) with your favorite lenses
  • Remote shutter release for long exposures
  • Spare batteries
and
  • Drone

Gear

  • Headlamp for night photography
  • Laptop – optional
  • Windproof and waterproof jacket
  • Windproof and moisture-resistant trousers
  • Warm trousers (winter or ski)
  • Down jacket
  • Fleece
  • Thermal underwear
  • Hat, scarf and warm windproof gloves
  • Warm socks
  • Waterproof winter shoes
  • Spare shoes (winter)
  • Regular shoes and slippers

Price

Included

  • Transfer from Irkutsk city
  • Accommodation
  • Breakfasts and dinners
  • Local guide services
  • All road and tourist taxi
  • Travel insurance
  • Training from experienced photographers

Not included

  • Flight
  • Single room supplement
  • Lunches
  • Rental of a traditional Russian bathhouse
  • Personal expenses
  • Overnight stays in the city of Irkutsk (if needed and upon prior request)

To book

Call us at: +359 895 055 907 or leave your details and we will contact you as soon as possible.

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