The Sunny Island

Exploring Olkhon - the biggest island of lake Baikal, its geographic, historical and sacral centre.

The tour program:

In the morning – departure from Irkutsk by bus to Olkhon island. The road goes over the splendid spurs of the Pribaikalskiy range covered with the Siberian taiga, which then change to Mongolian-type landscapes of the Tazheranskaya steppe (time en route over the mainland – approx. 4 hours).

Crossing the famous Olkhon Gate Strait separating Olkhon from the mainland*. On the way you will see both the Maloye (Lesser) and the Bolshoye (Larger) Seas – two parts of Baikal split by Olkhon.

Arrival at Olkhon Island – the biggest of the 26 Baikal’s isles; the lake’s geographic, historical and sacral centre, which resembles it even by shape. Transfer to the tourist lodge (time en route – 1 hour).
Accommodation in log cabins. Lunch.

A walking sightseeing tour of the outskirts: Khuzhir settlement, sacred Burkhan cape (Shaman-Mount) – 1 of the 9 Asian shrines, equally worshipped by Shamanists, Buddhists and Lamaists.

Return to the tourist lodge. Optionally – for extra charge – Russian “banya” (steam bath). Dinner. Overnight.
After breakfast – departure for a whole-day trip to Khoboy Cape – the island’s northernmost point located at the widest place of Baikal. On the way you will see all the diversity of Baikal’s natural landscapes concentrated on the island: steppes, bays jutting deep into the shore, sandy dunes, mixed deciduous forests interspersed with relict fir woods and magnificent marble rocks spotted with red lichens. Arrival at the Cape; walking tour around the outskirts, during which the guide will tell you about the legends, traditions and customs connected with this place.
Lunch – picnic in the open air.
Return to the tourist lodge. Dinner. Overnight.
After breakfast – transfer back to the mainland. Transfer to Irkutsk.

Number of people	Price per person, RUR
10-14	23 000
15-20	21 000
21 and more	20 000

Tour price includes:
- accommodation in a tourist-lodge (2 nights) on twin-sharing basis;
- meals as per program;
- guided transfers and excursions as per program.

Number of people	Price per person, RUR
1	58 000
2	34 550
3-5	28 000
6-9	21 500

Tour price includes:
- accommodation in a tourist-lodge (2 nights) on twin-sharing basis;
- meals as per program;
- guided transfers and excursions as per program.

*  Ways of crossing the Strait between Olkhon and mainland depend on season:
- during navigation period (from 17 May till 17 December) – by ferry,
- during the periods of ice formation (from 17 December ~ till late January) and melting (~ from mid-April till 17 May) – by hovercraft,
- after the lake’s icing over (from late January till April) – by car on the ice.