One of the best things to do at Lake Baikal is to go for a hike. In this case, everyone must know about the Great Baikal Trail. Result of this organization is the system of trails around the Lake. Specially created for eco-tourists, this provides a great opportunity for people who like to discover nature on foot.
Here is the list to trails and description:
https://greatbaikaltrail.org/en/tropi/
Travel to Lake Baikal like a local. This video tells you how to get to Listvyanka village from Irkutsk. It is just one hour ride and costs 120 RUB per person one way. More information and helpful details in this video.
From Irkutsk there are several opportunities to go hiking. One of the most popular way is to take a train south direction and find oneself on Olkhinskoye plateau, it is mountanous area in the southwest shore of lake Baikal.
During several hour walking it is possible to visit several beautiful locations and enjoy fresh air and quietness of the forest. It is fresh and clean when everything starts to be covered with snow. Siberian Winter Hiking has its own interesting characteristics. Also keep in mind, that you have to dress smart.
Picnic lunch near the fire and great stories create a friendly atmosphere.
Totally the trip can take about 7-8 hours with departure and return at the trainstation in Irkutsk.
Nature is preperaring for winter sleep. Animals try to make last preparations before the cold season starts.
The landscape is almost always flat, until you clim up a little hill where you see that there are many flat mountains covered with thick forest and river valleys between them.
October 2018 is extremely warm, and they say on the radio that winter is going to be very warm this year. I hope cold enough to freeze the lake, we will see. But for sure it is great news for winter outdoor activities lovers as we are!
Today we walked through the city and captured some great wooden architechture. Every building has great and interesting history. Most of them are connected to important historical figures and events.
Google Maps link to Incognito cafe: https://goo.gl/maps/BnP4GiPopuw
Sometimes it is healthier to spend time fishing instead of eating in a crowded cafe on a hot summer day.
No fish, no lunch.
We love to go for a ride on Olkhon Island. The day was not sunny and not hot. Very nice for a day trip to the next small village Kharantsy from where there is a trail to the forest with nice clean water spring. It is very green in the forest and air is fullfilling you with powers of nature. You just can’t stop. But it is time to go home, we return and have great local traditional lunch in a village cafe. Dogs dictate us to go to have a nap after a great lunch.
Come visit us and we will show you something like that. With pleasure.
Today we went for 1 hour bicycle ride to the top of the hill with spectacular view on Khuzhir vllage on Olkhon Island. Going up the hill is hard, but the reward is great. The funny thing is that the view was covered with thick fog. After hard work up the hill it was a little upsetting. But still, the view was amazing anyway.
Second part of the trip is the best when return downhill back to the village.
We left just when cars with other traverlers started to arrive 🙂
I went for a morning forest ride today on Olkhon Island. Picked up some pine tree cones for making health potion later. I was happy to see many snowdrops on the way, these flowers appear first in our forests. The weather was great and it is a great opportunity for one to have such a great excercise trip in the morning.
Best wishes to everybody. Welcome to Olkhon Island.
