"Baikal - Amikan", individual tours and nature at Baikal Lake

Taltsy museum of wooden architecture This March I was honored and pleased to organize and quide a group of close friends from Germany and Australia, very positive, extraordinary, creative and kindest people. The weather during the trip was bright and sunny, as we say: "For good people - good weather". We had cold and warm days, some were wearing up to 15 pieces of clothes not to get frozen, had frosty strong wind blowing in our faces and gentle warm sun which nobody believes we have in Siberia. Thank you, Baikal, and thank God, and thank all the people who made tris trip possible and unforgettable for all of us. Some pho tos from the trip and activities together with places which we visited. On Day 1  we visited the most picturesque sights of Listvyanka and its surroundings. We went to the  open air Taltsy museum of wooden architecture which is located at the picturesque shore of Angara river, had lunch in Traktir with tasting the local cousine and Medovukha drink mad...

To get to the biggest island on Baikal - Olkhon in winter you have to take an ice-road from the mainland. It usually goes from one of the bays of the Small sea of Baikal. Now the thickness of ice on Lake Baikal in a place where usually ice crossing is opened does not exceed 45 cm. For the road to be officially opened and equipped for travelling ice thickness of  not less than 70 cm is needed.  If the temperature stays at the current level (about -20 degrees Celsius) during another 2 weeks, crossing will be opened for cars with a total mass not exceeding 10 tonnes. The ice crossing to Olkhon operates until about mid-April, its length is about 12 km.

Once staying home for quite a while and then going away from the city I found a great burst of enjoyment in everything that happens beyond the usual routine life. Even the smallest things like funny shaped old toilets along the road on our way to Baikal and the simple food in the road cafe which tasted deliciously ever! So there we started to the Maloye more on Saturday morning eager to catch still frozen Baikal lake. It was me who passionately wanted to touch its ice shield most of all.  For those who don’t know, Baikal Lake freezes over in mid January and remains frozen until mid May usually. Usually, not always. The lake is especially beautiful in winter time! To read more...