Leave a request on our website. Our manager will contact you to confirm the details.
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Cruise program:
Day 1
- "THE GOLDEN BUCKLE OF RUSSIA"
12:00 Boarding the cruise ship in Listvyanka settlement. This is the starting point to your leisure at Lake Baikal. The tourist settlement of Listvyanka is located on the south-western shore of Lake Baikal, at distance of 65 km from Irkutsk, near the source of the Angara River. The city is linked to the settlement by a scenic paved highway. Accommodation in cabins. Meeting the crew, safety instructions, instructions regarding behavior on board and at Lake Baikal. Trip to Circum-Baikal railway (approximately 2 hours). Circum-Baikal Railway is a unique historical and cultural complex, which includes monuments of history, equipment, engineering, nature and absolute unique landscapes. Man-made structures and civil objects left by the previous cultural epoch are in direct contact to geological complexes. By the quantity of various works per 1 km of railway, the Circum-Baikal Railway surpasses all other railways in the world, and well deserves the right to be called the most scenic among all railways of the world. The railway includes 39 tunnels, 500 troughs, drain pipes, bridges and overpasses, including 6 troughs, 15 stone pipes, 411 small metal bridges etc. A visit to Circum-Baikal Railway is a must element of a fully-fledged leisure at Lake Baikal. Lunch on board. After lunch, a guided walking tour of abandoned tunnels and galleries of early XX century, the route starts from Ulanovo station (Khvoinaya – 98 km of Circum-Baikal Railway) and runs along the lake shore (approximately 1.5 km) among scenic nature.
Khvoinaya (Ulanovo) station. Khvoinaya is the only station, which was dismantled after the railway turned into a dead-end branch. Few structures remained to our days: a stone water tower with a chimney, foundations of once existing buildings. 4 station buildings were restored to demonstrate the "Nicholas railway empire" style. Dinner on board. Night on board in one of convenient bays of Circum-Baikal Railway. In case of adverse weather, captain may decide to travel to Bolshie Koty settlement (40 km from Circum-Baikal Railway) for the night.
Bolshie Koty is a settlement on the western shore of Lake Baikal, which is located 20 km north of Listvyanka. The settlement derives its name from the word "kotki" or "koty". This was the local name of wooden boots given to prisoners in the past. Bolshie Koty was founded as the village of gold miners. Gold mining began here in 1842 in valleys of Bolshie and Malye Koty rivers, as well as Sennaya river. Total of more than 160 kilograms of gold was mined in the area of Koty over half a century. Lately, the settlement became one of the most convenient and popular spots for the tourists coming to Lake Baikal for recreation. This is due to close distance to Irkutsk and Listvyanka, while still being quite isolated, which enables to preserve the local scenic nature. The "Baikal Studies Museum" and the aquarium of biology institute are in Bolshie Koty. In addition, local souvenir stands sell unusual Baikal souvenirs, while the surroundings offer opportunities for walking tours. - "PESCHANAYA BAY - THE PEARL OF BAIKAL"
At about 6 o'clock, the ship departs from the night mooring location to Peschanaya bay. Peschanaya bay is famous for its walking trees, magnificent views of the lake from the surrounding cliffs, and an excellent sandy beach. Two-hour walking tour to Sennaya bay – station of Pribaikalsky national park – along a scenic mountain path running along the shore through offsets of Primorsky range (at the discretion of guests). On the way, you will visit Babushka bay – one of the most attractive bays of Lake Baikal.
Russian sauna on the shore of Lake Baikal in the evening (paid as a separate fee to the local staff). Try following a good steam in sauna with dipping into cool waters of Lake Baikal! Dinner and night on board. Water journey 100 kilometers, journey time 6 hours.
Day 3 - "PETROGLYPHS OF SAGAN-ZAPA CLIFF"
At about 6 o'clock in the morning, the ship departs from Sennaya bay and travels north along the western shore to Olkhon island (trip time 8-10 hours), the largest island of Lake Baikal and one of the sacred spots of the Buryat nation and shamanism. Lake Baikal is the blue heart of Siberia, and Olkhon is the heart of Lake Baikal. The island is the geographic, historical and sacral center of the lake – the focal point of ancient legends and historic tales. Few people coming to Lake Baikal leave without visiting Olkhon island! Breakfast on board. The ship passes through the Minor Olkhon Gates – a narrow strait between Olkhon and mainland. At approximately 14:00, passengers disembark in Sakhyurta (MRS) settlement at the Small Sea. If requested, passengers may disembark at Olkhon island in the area of ferry jetty (please inform in advance).