Basic budget tour to Lake Baikal with many meaningful places included. The tour starts and finishes in Irkutsk city, also it can be easily changed to finish in Ulan-Ude city. Get a better understanding of Lake Baikal area. Experience the distances, the pluses and minuses, also meet many good people on the way during this tour.
This is a mixed tour. Some days with private guide, some days in group tours. Public bus and train transfers between locations.
Visit Olkhon Island and take the tour to cape Khoboy there. Stay in a local guesthouse with home-style meals.
Guided all day tour to Listvyanka, the settlement right on the shore of Lake Baikal. And take a train next day to Ulan-Ude, ride along the shore of Lake Baikal in a comfortable wagon.
Visit Ust-Barguzin with it’s bay and the valley. Absolutely stunning power of Siberian nature on the shore of Lake Baikal. Group tours to the both parts of this national park. Learn interesting things about local culture.
Return back to Irkutsk via Ula-Ude in the end of the tour.
Places of stay
- Days 1, 2 Olkhon Island
- Days 3, 4, 5 Irkutsk
- Day 6 Ulan-Ude
- Days 7, 8, 9 Ust-Barguzin
- Day 10 Ulan-Ude
- Day 11 Irkutsk
Itinerary
Day 1 Go to Olkhon Island
AM 10:00 – PM 5:00 Road trip to Khuzhir settlement located in the middle of Olkhon Island. Public bus, door to door transfer.
Stay in Khuzhir in a small guesthouse, shared facilities.
Self-guided walking excursion to Shaman Rock (cape Burkhan). Less than 2 km (about 1 mile) one way. 1-2 hours total. Walking through main streets in Khuzhir. Great scenery and beautiful sunset.
Home-style cooked dinner served at the guesthouse at PM 7:00.
Day 2 Cape Khoboy off-road trip
Breakfast at AM 9:00
Guide doesn’t speak English. Typical excursion, many beautiful stops.
AM 10:00 – PM 5:00 Off-road adventure to the north part of Olkhon Island. Public group tour. Picnic lunch near cape Khoboy.
Olkhon Island is a magical place and this tour is one of the most popular tours on Lake Baikal.
Home-style cooked dinner served at the guesthouse at PM 7:00.
Day 3 Back to Irkutsk
Breakfast.
AM 10:00 – PM 5:00 Road trip back to Khuzhir on a public bus. Door to door service.
Lunch on the road (not included).
Hotel in the historical downtown of Irkutsk.
Day 4 Listvyanka
Breakfast.
AM 10:00 – PM 6:00 Private guided tour to Listvyanka.
Details of this tour here.
Day 5 Irkutsk
Breakfast.
AM 10:45 – PM 1:45 Walking tour in Irkutsk.
Details of this tour here.
Day 6 Train to Ulan-Ude
Breakfast.
Transfer to the train station in Irkutsk.
7-hour train ride in second class wagon.
Transfer to the hotel in Ulan-Ude.
Day 7 Road to Ust-Barguzin
Breakfast.
AM 9:45 – PM 5:00 Public bus to Ust-Barguzin. Door to door transfer.
Lunch in the road cafe (not included).
Stay in a tiny local hotel near the center of the settlement near the shore of Barguzin river. Hostel type, private room, shared facilities. Room upgrade is available upon request.
Home-style cooked dinner served at the hotel at PM 7:00.
Day 8 Trip to Barguzin valley
Breakfast.
AM 10:00 – PM 5:00 Off-road group tour to the valley. Lunch during the tour.
The guide doesn’t speak English. Typical excursion, many beautiful stops.
Visit mineral water springs, places holy for local people. Buddhist temples with beautiful mountains on the background.
Home-style cooked dinner served at the hotel at PM 7:00.
Day 9 Trip to Barguzin national park
Breakfast.
AM 10:00 – PM 5:00 Public off-road trip to the bay. Lunch during the tour.
The guide doesn’t speak English. Typical excursion, many beautiful stops.
Explore the shore of Lake Baikal from eastern side. Beautiful Holy Nose peninsula and Barguzin Bay. Visit the warmest bay in Lake Baikal where the water is surrounded by thick taiga forest.
Home-style cooked dinner served at the hotel at PM 7:00.
Day 10 Back to Ulan-Ude
Breakfast.
AM 10:00 – PM 5:00 Public bus to Ulan-Ude. Door to door service.
Day 11 Train to Irkutsk
Transfer to the train station in Ulan-Ude.
7-hour train ride in second class wagon.
Transfer to the hotel in Irkutsk. Hotel on this day is included in price.
Included
- All accommodation (good location, private room, shared facilities).
- Breakfast everyday and all meals mentioned in the itinerary.
- All activities, transfers and tours mentioned in the itinerary.
- All train and bus tickets during the tour.
- National park fees.
Excluded
- Meals during bus transfers.
- Meals in Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude.
- Meal during train transfers.