The Baikal Lake is famous for its crystal clear water. Freezing, it turns into blue transparent ice that fascinates with its view. There are ice hummocks and caves on rocky shores and ice cracks that are spread to many kilometers. All this beauty shines and shimmers during the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. And fresh clean air saturated with the smells of the Siberian taiga makes these places unique. The winter season on the Baikal lasts till the middle of March which is the best time to visit Olkhon Island and see that amazing ice of the Baikal.
23 Feb - 29 Feb 2020
Itinerary
Day 1, Irkutsk — Khuzhir village, Olkhon island (February 23)
— Arrival to Irkutsk;
— Meeting at the airport or at the Irkutsk railway station;
— Transfer to Khuzhir (the trip will take about 4-5 hours);
— Accommodation in the tourist camp hotel;
— The welcome dinner and the group acquaintance;
Day 2, Khuzhir, Olkhon (February 24)
— Morning shooting at Burkhan cape and the Shamanka rock.
— Having a rest;
— Evening shooting at Burkhan cape and nearby places;
— Dinner, having a rest.
Day 3, Khuzhir — Hoboi cape (February 25)
— An early start. Going to the Southern point of Ogoy Island. Shooting at the sunrise.
— A trip to Cape Khoboy which is the northernmost point of the island. The trip includes stops at the most interesting and legendary locations such as Saagan-Khusun cape, - the so called ‘Three Brothers’ due to its three rocks. Also we will inspect ice grottoes and caves that discover their secrets only in winter;
— Having lunch during the tour right on the ice;
— Coming back to the hotel, dinner, having a rest;
— Night shooting of Burkhan cape and nearby places.
Day 4, Khuzhir — 'Maloe More' islands (February 26)
— Breakfast;
— Trip to 'Maloe More' islands: Zamogoy (Elenka), Izhihey. Visiting ice grottoes and caves on the way;
— Lunch outdoors;
— Coming back to the hotel, dinner, having a rest;
Day 5, Khuzhir — Ogoy Island — the Khorgoy Cape (February 27)
— An early start. Sunrise shooting at the Shamanka rock;
— A full day trip to the southern part of Olkhon Island which is considered to be the one of the places of power of Baikal. There is the famous Buddhist mortar in the very centre of Ogoy Island – the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment which contains a bronze statuette of the dakini Troma Nagmo who is considered to be the mother of all Buddhas;
— An outdoor luch;
— Visiting Khorgoy Cape on the way back. The place is famous for the Kuryakyn wall which was discovered in 1897. The wall is made of stones only without any other fixing material. It might have been built for defense against enemy attacks;
— Evening shooting near Khuzhir village;
— Dinner, having a rest.
Day 6, Khuzhir (February 28)
— An early start. Leaving for Uzury village. The morning shooting of ice, grottoes and caves;
— The ice shooting at 'Maloe More' bay;
— A walk along the streets of Khuzhir village, visiting souvenir and tourist shops;
— Farewell dinner. Having a rest.
Day 7 (February 29)
— Breakfast;
— Arrival to Irkutsk (a trip will take about 4-5 hours).
In order to have only good and warm memories after the winter photo tour to Baikal, it’s better to be equipped with warm and functional clothes. We strongly recommend you to have a winter set of warm clothes as an essential part of your gear. Average daily temperature can drop to -35 C. That’s why, warm footwear and multi-layer clothes with a hat and gloves are extremely necessary in these conditions. Heating pads, sunglasses and a sunscreen are welcome as well.
Recommended equipment and gear
- DSLR or MILC camera
- Lenses: telephoto, wide, normal
- Gradient (hard, soft) and CPL filters
- Tripod and remote shutter release device
- Headlight or torch for the night shooting
- Spare batteries
- Windproof trousers
- Warm winter trousers
- Down jacket
- Windproof jacket
- Fleece jacket
- Base layer
- Hat, scarf and windproof gloves
- Warm socks
- Winter waterproof boots
- Spare pair of boots
- Indoor shoes (sneakers or slippers)
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