Why go?
See the legendary ice of the world's purest lake, shrouded in myths and legends, and do it in comfort.
Adrenaline and exoticism
Baikal is a true legend, a world unto itself, with diverse nature and contrasting landscapes that are breathtaking at any time of year. In winter, it's a vast expanse of ice with unique patterns and frozen air bubbles, icy grottoes, and splashes. Here, it's easy to find a balance between quiet contemplation and active recreation: admiring sunsets, conquering the slopes and slicing through the ice, immersing yourself in the culture…
Maximum comfort
Unconventional and hard-to-reach destinations aren't a reason to forgo comfort and embrace the rugged romance of camping! We offer VIP tours and comfortable transportation to all locations. Depending on your chosen program, we offer business-class vehicles, a Bell 429 helicopter, hovercraft, and powerful trekols. We also arrange accommodations in the most luxurious hotels and chalets.
Personal program
We'll take every detail into account and create a personalized travel plan: a special menu, a selection of activities, unique itineraries... And most importantly, 24/7 support from professionals! You'll be able to relax and forget about the logistics—just enjoy an adventure that will captivate even the most discerning travelers.
Baikal
Baikal is an unusual, sacred lake. It is a place of power, full of secrets and unexpected discoveries. The landscapes along its shores are varied and astonishing: there are endless forests, fields and steppes, majestic mountains, beaches, bays and coves... Baikal also boasts numerous and very different islands: from sacred Olkhon to gloomy Zamogoy.
Lake Baikal's water is 40 meters clear: if you toss a coin into the lake, you can follow its fall for its entire length. In winter, this incredibly clear water freezes without losing its clarity, creating amazing patterns of cracks and frozen bubbles. On a trip around the lake and its surroundings, you'll discover the full diversity of Baikal ice, see the legendary Olkhon and Ogoy islands, Peschanaya and Aya bays, the Khamar-Daban mountain range, and other unique sites.
Winter season on Baikal: from February 1 to April 30.
Available transport: comfortable Toyota and Hyundai minivans, prepared Land Cruiser SUVs, Mi-8 and Eurocopter 350 helicopters, trekols and hovercrafts
Olkhon Island
This island is considered the largest of Lake Baikal's 26 islands, covering an area of 730 square kilometers. Olkhon's natural environment is as diverse as the landscapes surrounding the vast lake. It features steppes, deciduous and fir forests, sheer cliffs, bays, and sandy beaches. The island is also renowned for its history. People have inhabited it since the Paleolithic era, and it is rightfully considered one of the most important centers of northern shamanism.
Peschanaya Bay
Hard to reach, yet one of Lake Baikal's most famous landmarks, the stilted trees are a highlight of this location. The water washes away the sand, and the wind blows it away from under the trees, so their roots are located on the surface rather than in the ground. In summer, the bay is a great option for a beach holiday, and in winter, you can observe incredibly beautiful phenomena: methane bubbles frozen in the ice and fantastic ice splashes on the rocks.
Ogoy and Zamogoy Islands
Two islands located one after the other. Despite their proximity, Ogoy and Zamogoy are polar opposites in their energy. Ogoy, with its Buddhist stupa of enlightenment, has remained uninhabited throughout its history. It is a place of power with stunning natural beauty. Zamogoy is considered a dark island by locals because it was once home to leprosy sufferers. It is rarely visited, but there is a chance of seeing Baikal seals (not guaranteed).
Aya Bay
One of Lake Baikal's most picturesque bays—endless expanse, unearthly beauty... and a must-see on any trip! These fantastic landscapes are breathtaking: it's not for nothing that the word "Aya" means "beautiful." This is a masterpiece created by nature itself and left untouched for centuries. A hundred meters north of the bay are petroglyphs dating back to the 3rd to 5th centuries AD.
Circum-Baikal Railway
The railway is a monument to engineering excellence: 424 engineering structures were erected along its short 89-kilometer stretch, including 39 tunnels, 47 stone tunnels, and 3 iron galleries. In terms of the volume, timeframe, complexity, and cost of construction, this section was unrivaled among Russian railways. However, the Circum-Baikal Railway boasts not only engineering marvels but also numerous natural landmarks.
Snezhnaya River
One of the largest, full-flowing tributaries of Lake Baikal, with a unique landscape stretching along its banks. The river gets its name from its icy, crystal-clear water, which remains warm even during the hottest summer months: it originates under centuries-old snow on the peaks of the Khangarulsky Range. It also offers excellent fishing, including winter fishing: the river is home to grayling, lenok, taimen, pike, and perch.
Hamar-Daban
The Khamar-Daban mountain range is located in the Baikal region. We'll see these majestic mountains in the Mamai River gorge. The power and beauty of nature here are stunning: you'll see mighty centuries-old cedars, enormous boulders, gentle and steep slopes covered in snow... You can conquer these slopes on a snowboard or skis, or if you're dreaming of a more contemplative vacation, simply survey the surroundings from a helicopter.
Bora-Bora
A true polar station in the heart of Lake Baikal! In an atmosphere reminiscent of the Arctic and Siberian exploration of the 19th and 20th centuries, you'll see live tulips growing in the ice, stroll through an ice tunnel, ride a kick sled, send postcards to friends and family, and sample delicacies from the chef! A visit to the station will be equally captivating for both adults and children—it's a truly unique experience.
Tazheran steppes
A unique natural complex that's easy to miss on a solo trip to Lake Baikal—but not with us! These steppes are remarkable for their landscapes: from sand dunes to relict spruce forests and salt lakes. You can also find shamanic shrines, mysterious petroglyphs, and caves here. Along the steppes along Lake Baikal's coast are numerous beautiful secluded bays.
Pribaikalsky Park
An ideal place to explore Lake Baikal's fauna. The park maintains a population of wild animals: specialists care for young animals, treat sick animals, and raise orphaned cubs. The animals come very close, offering a great chance to capture stunning photos of red deer, wild boar, wild goats, yaks, chipmunks, and birds, of which there are 303 species in the park.
How to Take the Perfect VIP Tour of Lake Baikal
Tour program of your choice
Arrival at Lake Baikal
You'll land at Irkutsk Airport. Your guide will meet you—the journey begins! From this moment on, you'll be surrounded by care and attention every minute. Available options:
- Meeting at the airport business lounge
- Meeting at the gangway
We organize transfers by business-class car or helicopter. On your first day in the region, you can choose from a variety of activities: stay in Irkutsk and explore the city with a guide, or head to Listvyanka or Olkhon for your first glimpse of Lake Baikal. If you choose to transfer to the lake by car, we can make stops along the way at scenic spots and observation decks, and visit the open-air Taltsy Museum of Wooden Architecture.
Today is important to acclimatize and rest after a long flight, so we suggest spending the day in a relaxed manner. After checking into your hotel, you can visit a Russian banya and dine at a restaurant.
Comfort
First acquaintance
Waiting for adventure
Hotel Anastasia Lake View 4*
The hotel is located on the shores of Lake Baikal, offering stunning panoramic views of the lake, the source of the mighty Angara River, Shaman Rock, and the peaks of Khamar-Daban.
The hotel complex is constructed primarily of precious woods—Siberian pine, ash, and oak. The luxuriously appointed rooms meet the highest international standards. Our service and cuisine will satisfy even the most discerning guests.
A Russian banya, styled like a majestic frigate, a Finnish sauna, an outdoor pool, and a yacht pier are also available.
Helicopter tour to Olkhon
If Baikal is the "blue heart" of Siberia, then Olkhon is the heart of Baikal. We suggest you experience Baikal's most famous island from a bird's eye view! Flying over the lake, you'll see the diverse patterns of Baikal ice from the most striking angle. During the flight and after landing, you'll be treated to breathtaking panoramas, a diverse landscape, and a powerful boost of Baikal's energy. A guide will accompany you throughout this excursion. They'll tell you about the many legends and rich history of Olkhon Island and answer any questions you may have.
The program also includes a traditional lunch cooked over a campfire: fish soup made from local fish, vegetables and Baikal berries, and traditional drinks. The tour lasts from 2 hours.
Meals: Fish soup made from fresh Baikal fish.
Transportation: Airbus Helicopters H130 (EC130 T2), Airbus Helicopters H125 (AS350B3e), Robinson R-44, Bell 206 B3, Bell 206 Long VIP.
Diverse landscapes
Northern shamanism
Smoky Lunch
Listvyanka and ice rafting
One of the most exotic winter activities on Lake Baikal is ice rafting on the Angara River! Today, we invite you to visit the village of Listvyanka, one of the most cozy and interesting settlements on Lake Baikal. It's home to the Baikal Museum, which you can visit if you wish to learn more about the lake's amazing fauna and even take a virtual dive to the bottom in a bathyscaphe.
The highlight of the day will be a rafting trip down the Angara River. It takes place on a pre-cut ice floe, guided by a hovercraft. The activity is completely safe and organized in accordance with the Ministry of Emergency Situations' regulations. The journey will take you from Lake Baikal downstream along the Angara River, and during the rafting, you'll not only admire the snow-covered landscapes but also sample local beverages. Please note: this activity requires specific weather and ice conditions.
Meals: lunch in a cafe, refreshments during the rafting
A unique experience
Water expanses
Landscapes of Lake Baikal
Peschanaya Bay - Aya Bay
We'll visit two of Baikal's most picturesque bays: Peschanaya Bay, with its fantastic stilted trees, and Aya Bay, framed by hills and rocky cliffs.
These bays are fascinating not only for their surrounding scenery but also for the diversity of Baikal ice: unique patterns and frozen air bubbles (methane bubbles). You can skate on the ice or even play hockey!
We'll travel the route on an unusual form of transport—a hovercraft. Along the way, we'll make stops at picturesque locations: Cape Kobylya Golova, Skriper Rock, Saagan-Zaba Cliff, Cape Kadilny, and more. If you wish, you can visit petroglyphs dating from the 3rd to 5th centuries AD.
Transportation: Khivus - hovercraft
Meals: lunch in a cafe, optional catering on the ice
Cracks and bubbles
Unity with nature
Unusual transport
Hotel Bukhta Aya
This intimate hotel with a homely atmosphere is located near the Maloye More, near a picturesque bay sheltered from all winds. The sandy beach is just 70 meters away!
Enjoy breathtaking views of the wide crescent-shaped beach, the vast expanse of the Great Lake, and the endless steppe. This secluded, tranquil spot is ideal for immersing yourself in the magical atmosphere of Lake Baikal.
Active travelers will appreciate the beach volleyball court and the provided sports equipment, including balls, badminton, and yoga mats. For those looking to unwind and relax with their companions, a barbecue area and board games are available. A steaming sauna is the perfect way to end the evening.
Circum-Baikal Railway
This iconic railway section will impress those interested in engineering achievements and dream of exploring the route dubbed the "Golden Buckle of Russia's Steel Belt." This magnificent testament to human technological achievement has not destroyed the unique ecosystem, but rather harmoniously integrated into it! Therefore, throughout the entire journey, you will be delighted not only by the galleries, bridges, and tunnels, but also by the surrounding landscapes.
How exactly you explore the Circum-Baikal Railway is up to you, and we'll arrange any transportation you need! You can admire it from above on a helicopter tour from Irkutsk or the Valley of Dreamers. You can also see the legendary railway route from a vantage point—from Lake Baikal itself, cutting through its ice on snowmobiles or a hovercraft. And, of course, we can arrange stops to see interesting sections up close and take beautiful photos.
Transport: helicopter, hovercraft or snowmobiles.
The spirit of travel
The grandeur of nature
Rich history
Helicopter excursion to Khamar-Daban
The Khamar-Daban is the main mountain range of the Baikal region, visible from many popular locations in the area: its bluish-hazy peaks rise on the horizon, striking in their grandeur, while the slopes are covered in picturesque forests. The Baikal Nature Reserve is located in the central part of the range, and the range is nicknamed the "Siberian jungle" for its incredible diversity of flora and fauna. Many interesting locations are easily accessible and don't require any special physical fitness for trekking. Fishing trips, including winter fishing, can be arranged in the Snezhnaya River, where you can enjoy fish soup made from your fresh catch.
But Khamar-Daban isn't just for nature lovers. The Mamai River Gorge is a true mecca for snowboarders and skiers. If you're a freerider and want to conquer the gentle slopes of Khamar-Daban, a helicopter can take you to one of the peaks, complete with your gear. We'll select the appropriate slope based on weather conditions and snow cover.
Meals: Fresh fish soup.
Transportation: Airbus Helicopters H130 (EC130 T2), Airbus Helicopters H125 (AS350B3e), Robinson R-44, Bell 206 B3, Bell 206 Long VIP.
Alone with nature
Adrenalin
Fragrant fish soup
Bora-Bora Polar Station
Boro-Boro is the first Arctic station on Lake Baikal! The atmosphere of the 19th- and 20th-century Arctic and Siberian exploration has been lovingly and meticulously recreated here. At the station, you can learn about these brave explorers and step into their shoes: study ancient maps, observe the weather using instruments, and don sheepskin coats for the most colorful photos!
Taking memorable photos at Bora-Bora isn't just for polar explorers. There are many unique and picturesque locations, such as tulips growing right in the ice and an ice tunnel. There are also activities for every taste: kick sledding, ice bowling, skating, hockey... And to commemorate your visit, we suggest sending a postcard from the heart of Lake Baikal! For lunch, enjoy delicious local cuisine: smoked Angara trout, ukha (fish soup), and Siberian delicacies.
Conquest of the Arctic
Subglacial tulips
Aromatic dishes
Art Hotel Port Olkhon
An atmospheric hotel with a local flair, located right on the shores of Lake Baikal. The rooms are designed to reflect the natural beauty of Lake Baikal, allowing you to truly connect with this magical place. The hotel is located close to numerous attractions. Guests can enjoy a bar, a restaurant serving European and Russian cuisine, and, of course, a beautiful sandy beach.
Small Sea by airboat or trekol
If you'd like to explore Lake Baikal's ice in all its diversity, we invite you to embark on a fascinating journey along the Maloye More (Small Sea)—the strait separating the mainland from Olkhon Island. Here you'll see stunning patterns on the ice surface, captivating and unique, and frozen air bubbles in the deep blue. You'll also see bizarre splashes on the rocky shores, seemingly frozen in motion, and mysterious grottoes with ice walls and "stalactites." We'll visit all the most beautiful locations: the famous "Dragon's Tooth" on Ogoy Island, the capes of Kobylya Golova, Khorgoy, Tri Brata (Three Brothers), and Khubyn Island.
You can explore the Maloye More by airboats—hovercrafts—or by trekols—amphibious all-terrain vehicles on six huge wheels. Both are comfortable and extremely safe. If you prefer, you can have a picnic on the ice, go ice skating, or play hockey.
Incredible footage
Open spaces
Splashes and grottoes
Ogoy and Zamogoy Islands
Two legendary Baikal islands, so different and so unique, despite their similar names! We invite you to take a Khivus hovercraft trip to Ogoy and Zamogoy. First, we'll disembark on Ogoy Island, where we'll visit the Buddhist Stupa of Enlightenment. This snow-white structure, crowned with a dome and spire, was erected in 2005 and has become one of the most important symbols of Buddhism on Lake Baikal. This sacred site is perfect for making a wish. It is believed that if you walk around the Stupa clockwise a certain number of times, your wish will come true!
Afterwards, we'll stop at Zamogoy Island, associated with many dark legends. Zamogoy was once home to a leper colony, so it's considered the opposite of Ogoy—a land with a sad history and a dark atmosphere. Here, we have a chance to see seals. Fishing is also an option for this day.
Light and darkness
Buddhist relics
Make a wish
VIP Hotel Tsarskoe Podvorie
A hotel where Dmitry Medvedev stayed and top executives from Gazprom and Russian Railways visited. Tsarskoe Podvorie is a top-notch resort where you'll appreciate impeccable service and a secluded atmosphere, a haven of comfort tens of kilometers from civilization.
At your service are the Tsar's Restaurant, a Russian banya, a tennis court, a swimming pool, and an authentic Turkish hammam!
Forge and Husky
Friendly dogs, a sled ride, cultural immersion, and workshops—all in one day! We'll visit a private estate where the owners breed huskies and practice traditional crafts. Here, you can participate in a blacksmithing workshop and learn the secrets of the masters, passed down through generations. Then, enjoy a thrilling ride on a dog sled as a passenger or musher. The role of musher may seem simple at first glance, but give it a try!
After exciting activities, you can warm up with aromatic tea and homemade pancakes. To round off the day, we invite you to visit one of the most popular observation decks on Lake Baikal, Chersky Rock. Situated at an altitude of 800 meters, it offers a magnificent panorama of the lake: Port Baikal, located at the source of the Angara River, Shaman Rock, and the Khamar-Daban mountain range cloaked in a bluish haze.
Friendly dogs
Traditions
Panorama of the lake
Choose the appropriate format
A ready-made program or a personal adventure?
Winter tour to Baikal Most Popular
from 190,000 ₽
per person / from 5 days- Accommodation in the best hotels
- Transfers by minivan or SUV
- Personal guide all days of the tour
- Visit to the Boro-Boro Arctic Camp
- A ride on the Khivus hovercraft
- Excursion to the Golden Horde Ethnopark
- Baikal bath with birch brooms
- Skate rental;
- Lots of fresh Baikal fish
Premium Helicopter Tour HIT
from 690,000 ₽
per person / 5 days- Accommodation in the best hotels
- Individual menu every day
- Transfer by Land Cruiser 200 SUV
- Personal guide throughout the tour
- Rent of the Mars-2000 VIP hovercraft (air cushion vehicle)
- Rafting on an ice floe – SVP “Khivus”
- A meeting with a practicing shaman on the ice of Lake Baikal
- Helicopter tour to Olkhon (optional)
- Baikal bath with birch brooms;
- Golden Horde Ethnopark and a traditional lunch
- and many pleasant surprises every day of the tour..
Personal Adventure Most Popular
individually
/ any groupAfter a 30-60-minute interview with a regional expert, we'll create a customized tour for you. Your itinerary is meticulously planned down to the last detail: timing, daily itinerary, menu, and a list of specialists. The tour can include the best of Lake Baikal—helicopter tours, yacht cruises, flights across the lake, high-speed airboats, jeep tours, ATVs, or jet skis.
A solo adventure can be of any length.
Get the program Get the program
