Day Schedule

➤ Breakfast and check out

➤ 2-hour buggy safari ice tour

➤ Transfer to Olkhon Island by an off-road vehicle (UAZ) with stops at ice grottoes and caves

➤ Picnic in a one of ice grottoes

➤ Settle in a hotel in Khuzhir village

➤ Free time to visit Shamanka Rock (Cape Burkhan)

➤ Dinner

➤ Optional: Russia Banya

We will see breathtaking ice toros, mysterious grottoes and caves, majestic mountains and picturesque plaques. Accommodation and tour to Shamanka Rock, where the Baikal ruler lives according to local beliefs. Explore the Khuzir settlement, making photos of ice caves and grottoes.

It is impossible to stay calm while driving on ice when we see such a universe under our feet. And the farther from the shore, the less snow we see, the ice become clearer. We never know where exactly we will get the most impressive photos but you can be certain of that: Baikal will grow upon you and reveal some secrets.

During the winter, methane bubbles trapped in Baikal's ice create an extraordinary visual display. These bubbles appear as frozen white formations in the ice and can be seen in several parts of the lake. However, some locations are particularly notable and easily accessible:

Small Sea (Maloe More)

The Small Sea is a shallow strait between Baikal’s western shore and Olkhon Island. Its shallow waters freeze quickly in winter, preserving the bubbles in the ice. The frozen surface can be traversed by vehicles, making it an ideal destination for those looking to view this phenomenon.

Olkhon Island and Lake Khankhoy

Olkhon Island, known for its legends and spiritual significance, offers spectacular sights of methane bubbles at Lake Khankhoy on its southern edge. This smaller lake, separated from Baikal by a narrow land strip, becomes a winter wonderland with frozen methane formations that attract photographers and tourists alike.

Bolshoye Goloustnoye

Located about 120 km from Irkutsk, Bolshoye Goloustnoye is a historic village on Baikal’s western shore. It’s one of the most accessible places for observing methane bubbles, thanks to its proximity and well-maintained transport links. Visitors can enjoy both stunning views of the frozen lake and the unique methane bubbles that appear near the shore.

Transfer to Olkhon Island by van. On our way to Ogoy island, you pass by Buddhists’ Enlightenment Stupa with various Buddhist relics, and a bronze statue of the dakini Troma Nagmo, the mother of all Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism. We will travel to Cape Khorgoy to see its 185 meters long ancient Kurykan protective wall. As we travel the icy surface of Baikal, you will see how local use the benefits of nature to arrange their daily routine and how useful the ice can be! Most of our travelers say Baikal ice was the strongest impression of winter in Russia, and the power of nature they experience here at Baikal is the supreme Siberian experience.

Accommodation in a comfortable lodge. Free time to enjoy the power of nature and the power of Olkhon.

Sarge are ritual wooden pillars of Buryat and Yakut people. They symbolize the "tree of life," the roots in the lower worlds of demons and branches in the heavens where the Noyons live. Sarge are bound with multicolored patches of fabrics.

It is believed that when the wind shakes the ribbon with the prayers written on it, the one who hung it sends his prayers to heaven, even if he is busy with other things at that time. When coming to Olkhon, you must definitely bring offerings to the spirits of the area: sprinkle milk or any white food on the pole of the serge, feed the spirits.

Ancient shamanic traditions tell of 13 northern Noyons - the sons of the divine Tengrii, who descended from heaven to judge people and chose various places of residence. The eldest and strongest of them, Khan Hute-baabai, chose the cave on Cape Burhan of Olkhon Island as its habitat. In honor of 13 brothers, 13 pillars of serge were installed on the island.