Baikal. Trekking tour "Travel Olkhon"

Of the 26 islands of Lake Baikal Olkhon - the biggest. And resorting to poetic images, we can say that Lake Baikal - a blue heart of Siberia, and Olhon - the heart of Lake Baikal. Repeating the lake even in form and assembled on its surface all Baikal landscapes, the island also became a center of shamanism - the oldest religion on the shores of Lake Baikal. But even here the record amount of sunlight, natural monuments and ancient legends ... However, in all this you will see yourself on a journey through this miracle of nature on foot. You will pass through the southern part of the island and along the coastal area facing the Straits of Small Sea and indented with deep bays and coves. But that did not get around on foot - make up during road trips!

Type of tourism: combined (trekking, excursions)
Duration: 9 days / 8 nights
Difficulty: In tour can take part as the beginners having good level of physical preparation, and skilled tourists;
Children accompanied by adults are supposed to participation in tour from 12 years. The obligatory requirement – good physical preparation;
Tour Price: by request Surcharge for single occupancy in hotels
Schedule of tours for 2010. (Departure from Irkutsk, Sat at 10:00, end of the program Sun ~ 20:00): 22.05-30.05, 12.06-20.06, 26.06-04.07, 10.07-18.07, 24.07-01.08, 31.07-08.08, 14.08- 22.08, 28.08-05.09, 04.09-12.09.

Itinerary:
Day 1. Saturday. We offer to start a trip from exploring the capital of Eastern Siberia – ancient city of Irkutsk. During the city tour you will visit the historical center, Angara embankment, monuments, and take a trip to the Znamensky monastery with one of the most beautiful cathedrals of Siberia, famous for its iconostasis and burial places (the graves of the Decembrists, Gregory Shelikhov etc.). Upon completion of the exploring the city's sight-seeings, you can buy a souvenir products of local artisans in the souvenir shop or look at an antique shop.
Also, you should visit one of the city's museums (additional): for example, Museum of Regional Studies - one of the oldest museums in Russia, Art Museum - with rich collection of works of art, or a House-museum of Decembrists Volkonsky telling of the uprising December 14, 1825, its participants and their life in exile in Siberia. 10:00 am - Gathering of the airport of Irkutsk. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation at the hotel. City tour. Free time.
Day 2. Sunday. Well, today we go to a meeting with Lake Baikal: on the road running past the steppes of ancient Buryat villages, through the picturesque foothills of Baikal Mountains, Siberian taiga, which is then again replaced by the Mongolian steppe Tazheransk landscapes. Ferry to Olkhon - the largest of 26 islands Lake Baikal, its geographical, historical and sacred center, even in its shape resembling the outline of the lake. The crossing takes about 40 minutes. And you will see both "Small" and "Large" sea - two parts of Lake Baikal, separated by Olkhon, and the famous Straits Olkhon gate, which runs between the island and the mainland.
With a gulf of Zagli (the Tashkajsky lip) near to which the ferry will moor, we start to investigate immense open spaces of island and … to be surprised to this creation of the nature: in a bay record quantity of a sunlight in a year (more than at the Riga coast) and record-breaking low amount of precipitation (as in dry steppes of Kazakhstan). On the bank of lake we choose a place for spending the night and we set up camp. A breakfast in hotel cafe. A transfer on island Olkhon. (300 km, ~ 6 ч.). The pedestrian transition (~ 5 km). Camp set up. A hot supper on a fire. Spending the night in tents. (Incl. a food: a breakfast, a supper)
Day 3. Monday. Hiking has lots of advantages, as you can see thatnot visible from the window of the car, pleasant to stay in any place and make some unique footage. Today you have a long but interesting way on the western coast of the legendary island. First, a picturesque bay Hoole - a place foraging shoals famous Maloe omul, Horse Head peninsula, where, according to legend, Chinghis Khan's warriors stopped, then Peninsula Horgoi with remnants of fortifications of the ancient tribes kurykan, naze Shara Shulun against which you will see a very clean island of Lake Baikal; Ogoy with the sacred Buddhist stupa of enlightenment. In the evening - a hot dinner on the fire and well-deserved rest after a busy day under the soothing sounds of the surf. Breakfast at the camp. Walking transition (~ 20 km). Lunch on a march. A hot dinner on the campfire. Overnight in tents. (inc. meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 4. Tuesday. In the morning again on the road! Today, your route will be along the shore of the Gulf Shebetskiy, then - over inaccessible from the sea cliff Shebetskiy (in Buryat "shebee" means "wall"), which in ancient times was surrounded by land Kurykan wall, to the Gulf Togai. Near the bay is an interesting lake Hanehoi. From the north it is separated from Baikal by a powerful rocky ridge, and from the east is informed with it narrow channel in a tongue of sand. Lake is known warm water and plenty of fish, making it a mecca for tourists, in particular - fishing fans. Breakfast at the camp. Walking transition (~ 20 km). Lunch on a march. A hot dinner on the campfire. Overnight in tents. (inc. meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 5. Wednesday. The third day hiking trip will end in the capital Olkhon - fishing village Khuzhir. Here you can relax in a cozy wooden cabins instead of tents, steam in a Russian bath (extra), and the yearning for civilization - to charge mobile phones. Breakfast at the camp. Walking transition (~ 20 km). Lunch in the field. Accommodation at the tourist camp, dinner. (inc. meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 6. Thursday. Today we offer you to walk with your own or with guide (extra) to explore local attractions. Khuzhir, visit the sacred promontory Burhan (shaman-rock) - one of the nine shrines in Asia, is equally revered shamanists Buddhists and Lamaists's. Also worth going to the local museum where a collection of ancient objects reflecting the life and culture of the islanders (additional). In addition, anyone can take a tour (extra) in the neighboring village, during which you will be acquainted with crafts, folklore and distinctive cuisine of Olkhon Buryats. Meals at the tourist camp. Accommodation at base camp. (inc. meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 7. Friday. Today, for a change, an automobile excursion you waits you. Here, on Olkhon, are very long distances, and if you go on excursion, prepare, that it will takes all day. So this day is almost entirely gone on Excursion to Cape Khoboy - the northern tip of the island, near the widest location of Lake Baikal. On the road you can see all the diversity of Baikal landscapes, concentrated on the island: the steppe to penetrate deep into the land and well warmed in the summer of bays, sand dunes, mixed deciduous forest with areas of relict spruce forest, picturesque rocks on the shore of marble, covered with red lichen. And at the Cape, with its panoramic view over the northern part of Lake Baikal, and in good weather you can see the outlines of Ushkaniye islands and Barguzin peninsula  - walk the neighborhood, during which the guide will tell you about the legends, traditions and customs associated with these places. And if the local gods are just to your good humor, they will give you the opportunity to see the unique Baikal seal - the only relative of the freshwater seal.
Breakfast at base camp. Excursion program. Hot lunch at the stake. Dinner at the hostel. (Inc. meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 8. Saturday. Free day, everyone can choose entertainment for your taste. If you like to travel Olkhon by car, we recommend visiting Lake Shara-Nur, in Buryat language - "Yellow Lake" (extra). This is the only lake on the island with mineralized water. The lake is surrounded by varied natural landscape, here you can see wildlife - birds and animals. The water has healing properties, from the mineral salts in the bath in the lake body seems red. The therapeutic mud from the lake helps in various diseases - such as arthritis. If, conversely, want more leisure - we offer a cycling ride on Olkhon expanses (extra). Well, fans lazy in the sun waiting for a sandy beach Sarayski. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hostel. (inc. meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 9. Sunday. It doesn't feel like to return to usual city life, the hustle and bustle, so the packaging is delayed. But the time is hurry, the bus is waiting, it's time to go. The road to Irkutsk is in memories of the time, funny and amusing cases, interspersed with exclamations of surprise from the window of the bus. Breakfast at base camp. Transfer to Irkutsk (300 km, ~ 6 hours). The estimated time of arrival in Irkutsk - 20:00.

The price includes:
- Accommodation in hotels at the base;
- Meals;
- All transfers under the program;
- Instructor on the route;
- Equipment rental and necessary equipment;
- Accident insurance and tick-borne encephalitis.
* Check-out time at the hotel - 12:00, at the settlement before checkout time and leaving later checkout time is additional charge to hourly / daily rates for accommodation.

Necessary equipment: backpack, sleeping bag, karemat (mat), hiking shoes, extra shoes, warm jacket, windproof suit, rain cape, shorts, bathing suit, 2 shirts, lightweight thermal underwear, a change of underwear, socks, warm and cotton, baseball cap (cap), sunglasses, sun block, personal hygiene and personal first aid kit, insect repellent, tableware (cups, cup, spoon, knife), flashlight with spare batteries.

Tourists are not engaged in cooking, all meals are cooked by guide.
Tourists on the route have the opportunity to fish. Fishing gear is not issued, the catch is not guaranteed;
The price includes insurance board, including the payment of emergency medical expenses and insurance tick bite. The insurance policy issued by the group and has been in the guides on the route.