IRKUTSK

CRUISE «THE GREAT JOURNEY»

Route: Listvyanka Settlement – Circum-Baikal railway (CBR) – Peschanaya Bay – Maloye More(the Small Sea) – Olkhon Island – Chivyrkuisky Gulf – Maloye More(the Small Sea) – Peschanaya Bay – CBR – Listvyanka Settlement
Schedule of excursions:Summer
Number of people in group: 2-12

Cruise program:

Day 1. (29.07) «Circum-Baikal Railway»
From12:00 -Embarking and accomadation on board the motor-ships in Listvyanka Settlement
Tourist settlement Listvyanka is located on the southwest shore of Lake Baikal, 65 km away from Irkutsk, at the source of the Angara River. The city and the settlement are connected by picturesque asphalt road. Embarking and accomadation on board the motor-ships
A passage to Circum-Baikal Railway (CBR)
Circum-Baikal Railway is a unique historical and cultural complex including monuments of history, technology, engineering, nature and absolutely unique landscapes. Constructive works and civilian objects left by past cultural epoch most directly touch with geocomplexes.
Circum-Baikal Railway surpassed all the built rail tracks in the world in the number of various kinds of work per 1 km of track and the difficulty of their implementing. It is indeed considered to be the most beautiful railway in the world. 39 tunnels, 500 gutters, culverts, bridges and viaducts including 6 gutters, 15 stone culverts, 411 small metal bridges and so forth were built on the railway.
The motor ship stops for a night in the convenient bay of Circum-Baikal Railway.
Guided walk through abandoned tunnels and galleries.
Lunch on the board of the ship.
Walking guided tour through abandoned tunnels and galleries of the beginning of the 20th century after dinner. The route starts from Ulanovo station (Khvoinaya – 98 km of CBR) and takes place along the lake shore (about 1.5 km) among a most beautiful nature.
Khvoinaya station (Ulanovo). Khvoinaya is the only station that was abandoned after the line had become a deadlock. There are still a few facilities. They are a stone building with a water-lifting pipe and the foundations of lost buildings. Four station buildings of "Nicholas Train Empire" style were re-constructed.
Dinner aboard the motor ship
Overnight stay on board the motor ship in one of the convenient bays of Circum-Baikal Railway. The captain can take a decision to bring the motor ship up on the night in Bolshie Koty Settlement located 40 km away from Circum-Baikal Railway due to poor weather conditions.
Bolshie Koty is a settlement located on the western shore of Lake Baikal, 20 km to the north of Listvyanka settlement. Its name originates from the words “kotky” or “koty”. It was a name of wooden shoes that was made for convicts in this place. At first Bolshie Koty was a settlement of gold diggers. Gold mining began there in 1842. Exploration has been conducted in the valleys of the rivers Bolshie Koty, Malye Koty and the river Sennoy. More than 160 kilograms of gold have been mined near Bolshie Koty for half a century. The settlement has become one of the most convenient and popular tourist des-tinations in recent years due to its proximity to Irkutsk and Listvyanka on the one hand and due to its sufficient isolation allowing to preserve the picturesque local nature on the other hand. There is a Mu-seum of Baikal and the Aquarium of the Institute of Biology in Bolshie Koty. One can also buy unusual Baikal souvenirs in local souvenir shops and have interesting walking tours.

Day 2. (30.07) «Peschanaya Bay»
Start of voyage from lodging place to Peschanaya Bay at about 6 a.m.. The bay is famous for its stilted trees, magnificent sea views from the cliffs surrounding the bay and a great sandy beach.
Breakfast aboard.
As an option you can have two-hour walking tour to Sennaya bay, a cordon of Baikal National Park, along the scenic mountain path passing over the lake shore along the spur of the Primorsky Range. On the way you would visit Babushka Bay that is one of the most beautiful on Lake Baikal.
Russian banya on the shore of Lake Baikal in the evening should be paid for separately to maintainer at destination. After good warming up in banya one can take a dip in cold water of Baikal.
Lunch on the board of the ship.
Dinner on board the motor ship.
Overnight stop on board the ship.
The distance of the voyage is 100 kilometers, travel time is 6 hours.

Day 3. (31.07) «Petroglyphs of the rock Sagan-Zaba»
Start of voyage at about 6 a.m. from Sennaya bay along the western shore to the North to Olkhon Island, the largest island on Baikal and one of the sacred places of the Buryat people and shamanistic religion. Travel time is 8-10 hours.
Lake Baikal is a blue heart of Siberia and Olkhon Island is a heart of Baikal. The island is a geographi-cal, historical and sacral center of the lake and the center of ancient legends and historical tales.
Breakfast on board the motor ship.
Passage the strait Malye Olkhonskye Vorota (Small Olkhon’s Gate) that is the narrow strait between Olkhon Island and mainland.
Disembarkation of passengers at about 2 p.m. in Sakhyurta (MRS) Settlement on Maloe More (the Small Sea). As an option one can disembark in Olkhon Island near ferry line (it’s necessary to notify about it in advance).
Supper aboard the ship.
The distance of the voyage is 100 kilometers, travel time is 8 hours.

Day 4. ( 01.08) «Islands of Maloe More (the Small Sea)»
Breakfast
A small boat trip along the Little Sea.
About from 12 to 2 pm disembarkation of passengers in the village of MRS (Sahurta).
The end of the cruise «Journey to Olkhon».
Around from 2 pm to 3 pm passengers boarding in the village of MRS (Sahurta).
The beginning of the cruise «The Mini Golden Ring of Lake Baikal».
Accommodation in cabins of new participants of the cruise. Familiarity with the team, briefing on safety and the rules of conduct on board and on Lake Baikal.
Lunch on board the ship
Crossing the Little Sea from the southern tip of Olkhon Island to the northern one.
If time and weather conditions permit, visit the island of Ogoi
Dinner aboard the ship.
Overnight at the discretion of the captain in one and the gulfs of the Small Sea.
The distance of the voyage is 70 kilometers, travel time is 5 hours.

Day 5. (02.08) «Bays of Chivyrkuisky gulf»
Breakfast on board the ship
Passage through Chivyrkuisky gulf
Visiting Zmeinaya Bay during the day
This bay is famous for its healing sulphurous baths with water temperature from +41 to +45 degrees.
Lunch on board the ship
Visiting islands of Chivyrkuisky gulf. Sightseeing of great cormorant nesting place from the water
Visiting Krohalinaya Bay
Dinner aboard the ship.
Banya on board the ship as an option
Overnight stay on board the ship in one of the bays of Chivyrkuisky gulf.
The distance of the voyage is 110-120 kilometers, travel time is 8-10 hours.

Day 6. (03.08) «Rest in Chivyrkuy Bay»
Breakfast on board the ship
Walking along the Gulf of Chivyrkuya, fishing will be organized for everyone. Who is not interested in fishing can lighten the day for rest, bathing or simply to ride a boat across the bay. Possible spinning fishing for pike, perch and carp. Our cook will gladly cook for you for lunch your catch
Lunch on board the ship
Waterway to the island of Bolshaya Baklaniy. There are seven islands on the Chivyrkuisky Bay. And the largest of them, the island of Bolshaya Baklaniy (Shimai), which is listed in the state monuments of nature (landscape monument). Sometimes on the island you can meet an elk.
Walking along the island, it is possible to arrange spinning fishing for grayling, pike. For lovers of beach rest and tanning, a magnificent beach and warm water.
Dinner aboard the ship.
Overnight stay on board the ship in one of the bays of Chivyrkuisky gulf.
The distance of the voyage is 20-30 kilometers, travel time is 1-2 hours.

Day 7. (04.08) «Ushkan Islands»
Breakfast on board the ship
Passage to Ushkan Islands
Tour around the islands
The rocky shores of the islands are rookery of the unique Baikal mammal Baikal seal or nerpa. The largest Baikal rookery of nerpa is located on the western side of Tonkiy Island. According to scientists, the number of nerpas at the rookery ranges from 2,000 animals and it hasn’t changed since 1934. Nerpa is cautious. If one speaks loudly and makes noise approaching nerpas, they dive from stones. Usually there aren’t nerpas at the rookery right after storm or in case of waves on the water (as an option you can visit the island at an additional cost).
Lunch on board the ship
Further visiting the islands
Dinner on board the ship
Overnight in one of the gulfs of the Small Sea.
The distance of the voyage is 120 kilometers, travel time is 8-10 hours.

Day 8. (05.08) «Islands of Maloe More (the Small Sea). Olkhon Island»
Breakfast on board the ship
The end of the cruises «Golden Ring of Baikal" and "Mini golden ring of Baikal».
Disembarkation of tourists in the village of Sakhurta (MRS).
After disembarking passengers, departure to one of the bays of the Small Sea.
The beginning of the cruise «The Heart of Baikal».
Embarkation is from 2 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Sakhyurta (MRS) wharf on Maloe More (the Small Sea)
Lunch on board the ship
Having passed the strait the motor ship goes to the Great Baikal, the lake’s middle basin with a maximum depth of 1400 meters, and passes along picturesque western lake shore to the south.
If the water is calm sightseeing stop at the white marble rock “Sagan-Zaba” and viewing rock paintings (petroglyphs) of III-V centuries AD are possible on the way. The academician Okladnikov says: “petroglyphs of Sagan-Zaba are the real pearl of ancient culture and art of the peoples of Eastern Siberia. They are the most complex of all known rock paintings on the entire territory from Ural to the Pacific ocean due to their composition, writing and diversity of scenes.”
Arrival in Sennaya Bay which is a cordon of Baikal National Park is in the evening. In the evening one can visit Russian banya located on the shore of Lake Baikal.
Dinner and overnight stay on board the motor ship.
The distance of the voyage is 120 kilometers, travel time is 8-10 hours.

Day 9. (06.08) «Pearl of Baikal»
Breakfast on board the ship
As an option one can have a walking tour along Baikal shore from Sennaya Bay to Peschanaya Bay (6 kilometers). The excursion route takes place along the picturesque mountain path passing along the Primorsky Range. Peschanaya Bay is famous for its stilted trees, magnificent sea views from the cliffs surrounding the bay and a great sandy beach. The motor ship will wait in the bay. Lunch on board the ship
Passage to Circum-Baikal railway (CBR).
Circum-Baikal Railway is a unique historical and cultural complex, which includes monuments of history, technology, engineering, nature and absolutely unique landscapes. Constructive works and civilian objects left by past cultural epoch the most directly touch with geocomplexes.
Circum-Baikal Railway surpassed all the built railway lines in the world by the number of various kinds of objects per 1 km of track and the difficulty of their implementation. It’s considered to be the most beautiful railway among all the others in the world. There are about 39 tunnels, 500 grooves, culverts, bridges and viaducts including 6 grooves, 15 stone culverts, 411 small metal bridges and so forth on the railway.
The motor ship stops for a night in one of the convenient bays of Circum-Baikal Railway.
Walking guided tour through abandoned tunnels and galleries.
Dinner and overnight stay on board the motor ship.
The distance of the voyage is 100 kilometers, travel time is about 8 hours.

Day 10 (07.08) «Farewell to Baikal»
Breakfast on board the motor ship.
Passage to Listvyanka, located at the source of the Angara River, after breakfast (2 hours). The end of the cruise.
At 12:00 p.m. disembarkation on the main wharf of Listvyanka opposite the biggest hotel on Lake Baikal – the hotel "Mayak".
The distance of the voyage is 20-30 kilometers, travel time is about 1-2 hours.

The price includes:

• excursions
• accommodation aboard the ship
• meals (FB)
• fees for visits to national parks
• the medical insurance
• guide services
• on-board sauna use
• insurance
• fishing equipment
   

Discounts:

• children under 3 years old free of charge (without a seat)
• children from 3 to 7 years old - 10%
• children from 7 to 12 years old - 5%
   

Price:

Steam-ship class comfort
Double accommodation
Dates of the tour: from 29th July to 07th August

The time of embarkation and disembarkation can changed, additionally specify when booking a cruise.
 

You are welcome to Siberia: Irkutsk and Baikal Lake!