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

"I take a step and with the cracking sound I fall down with two feet under the ice. For some seconds I become numb and shocked. Pictures rush through my head like ice water is now pouring into boots and the river flow starts carrying me away under the ice. "Get out"  - a signal bumps into my head but heavy backpack is pulling me down. I get my feet out to the edge of ice and look down — it’s empty and the dry ice has broken off, and only at the bottom there is rushing water :-) Uh, thanks God! - I breathe out with relief. From this ice-hole we took drinking water for dinner, and the next morning the river got frozen again. " - notes from the diary of the weekend hike on the river. M.Zangisan, January 2019. Along the canyon of Zangisan river Frozen shores of the river Trekking in the frozen forest in Siberia At this place I fell down under the ice Camping in the forest in winter, Tunkinskaya valley

Dreaming about travelling among endless spaces of frozen Baikal? Baikal lake is freezing very soon, it is -31C today! And in southern corner of Baikal there is already thin layer of ice! Can't wait to walk on the ice just like we do? Then you have a real chance to join us for ice-trek to cross Baikal from Listvyanka to the opposite shore! It is avaiable from middle of February till end of March. During this tour you will ice-trek in the middle of frozen Baikal lake, spend one night in tent on ice, listening to Baikal breath, walk on skis in deep snow of wintry taiga, experience warm sauna and spend the night in wooden hut in the silence of surrounding forest. Also you will try traditional Russian cuisine and may experience dog-sledding (optional). The approximate itinerary is: Day 1.Transfer Irkutsk - Listvyanka (70 km). Start of trekking on ice. Day-distance is about 20-25 km. Overnight in tent. After you arrive to Irkutsk you will be met by a local guide. Transfer to...

With reindeer of Northern Baikal On the North of Baikal lake, in the highlands of Verkhnelenskiy mountain range there is a reindeer farm. This remoted place has preserved old unique culture, lifestyle of Evenki people - the native people of Siberia. They are called "Deer people" as reindeer breeding, hunting and fishing used to be their main activity. I was lucky to meet these people myself this June 2017. We stayed and travelled together for 5 days in dense untouched taiga and tundra. We have met no other people during all that time except for the Evenki who live there and watch for the reindeer. A little piece from my notes which I made during my stay: "This trip is adventure of the lifetime. I still remember clearly the valley where our deer were eating the moss, the place where we set up our Chum, the meadows of the wild flowers and Rhododendron blossoming, the fresh footprints of bear on our path, the grace and mighty of this huge wild animal chasing away u...

Dear friends and travellers! You are welcome to join our on-going tour "Trekking along the shoreline of Baikal lake" and "Trekking to Cherskiy Peak" from 29 July 2017 till 6 August 2017! The program is below: Day 1. (24.07.17). Arrival Day. Day 2. (25.07.17) Transfer to Olkhon island, excursion to Burkhan cape 10.00 - Transfer to Olkhon Island – the biggest island on Baikal lake by public mini-bus. It takes about 6 -7 hours to cover the distance of 300 km. Our way runs partly through the forest, flowering meadows, little villages on both sides of the road. You can stop for some special local ritual of worshipping the local spirits. You’ll have a lunch stop on the way in one of the road cafes. For lunch you can try traditional Buryat dish – Pozy (Boozy). When you arrive to Small sea – part of Baikal which is separated from main part by Olkhon Island from one side and Primorskiy mountain range from another – you’ll cross Olkhon Gates Strait by a ferry...

We invite you to make an exciting one-day trip by train along the old Circum-Baikal railway. You can see the grand structures of the Circum-Baikal railway, get off the train on the most remarkable sights, walk through the tonnel, visit an old village along the way, may have a swim in the water of Great Lake. Arrival to Irkutsk late in the evening. For season 2017: On Thursdays  and Sundays  the excursion program starts at 8-00 am (8.30) from Irkutsk (departure by bus from Drama theatre), then transfer by bus to the village of Listvyanka, then get on ferry from Listvyanka to Port Baikal (started at 10-00). Visit museum in Port Baikal, board on train and start the train ride to Sludyanka village  (arrival at 18.00) and further to Irkutsk train station (arrival at 21.00). On Wednesdays and Saturdays the tour starts from the central Irkutsk train station at 07.45.  Board on train and ride to Sludyanka (arrival at 10.10) and at 10.45 start to Circum-Baikal ra...

Glorious sea - Sacred Baikal When we welcome foreigners to Baikal lake, we try not just show them the most beautiful places, try the most exciting activities, taste the local food specialties, but also try to make them feel welcomed by our Siberian hospitality. We tell them about our culture, traditions and beliefs. Learning about the local traditions help them to understand the way of our life. On the last day of our tours we usually invite for festive dinner, where we exchange the impressions about the trip, share the experience and knowledge and present souvenirs. We also sing together - sing our Russian songs, simple folklore but so meaningful! We love to share. This is a little peace of our singing in the video. We sing our native anthem to Baikal - Glorious sea, sacred Baikal! Славное море — священный Байкал Славное море — священный  Байкал , Славный корабль —  омулёвая  бочка. Эй,  баргузин , пошевеливай вал, Молодцу плыть недалечко. Д...