From Ulaanbaatar one can fly to Irkutsk or take the Trans Siberian train, then transfer to Lake Baikal, "Pearl of the World". Enjoy a 3-day hiking experience in the mountains and taiga forest along the edge of the world’s largest fresh water lake which is located in Siberia beyond the northern border of Mongolia.
The hiking is gentle, without any steep ups and downs, as the path from Bolshoe Goloustnoe to Bolshoe Koty mainly follows a path along the lake shore. Trekking 50km over three days, overnight accommodation is camping or a guest house and on the last day there is an option to travel to Listvyanka by boat rather than on foot. Landscapes around Lake Baikal are diverse. There are mountains with the Siberian taiga forest, rocks of peculiar shapes, plains with different colours of wildflowers and sunny bays.If you enjoy camping and hiking and love nature, the experience is for you !
Arrive in 'Irkutsk' and transfer 122 kilometers to 'Bolshoe Goloustnoe', an old Buryat village by the lake. Begin hiking to Kadilny Cape, stopping on the way for a picnic lunch. Enjoy marvellous views of the lake Baikal and overnight camping.
After breakfast, hike to 'Bolshoe Koty', a small village closely associated with the gold mining era which started in 1842. There are no roads leading to the settlement; you can only arrive on foot or by boat. Overnight at a guest house in the village.
Hike from Bolshie Koty to village 'Listvyanka', a fishing settlement by the lake, then transfer 72 km by car back to 'Irkutsk'.
The hike is a wonderful chance to spend three days in the Baikal National Park and to enjoy the untouched beauty of nature.
Most of the hiking route runs along the shore of Baikal, with fragrant smell of the pine-forest, fresh breeze from the lake and spectacular views of Lake Baikal and Siberian Taiga Forest.
Lake Baikal tour description:
The following items are included in the price of the tour:
The following items will be in addition to the price of the tour:
The things you will see along the way:
Bolshoe Koty is a quiet settlement on the western shore of Lake Baikal. The history of the settlement is closely tied to the beginning of gold mining near Baikal in 1842. The village is only accessible by boat or on foot.
The world’s largest source of fresh water, the lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crystal clear water is home to 1700 species of plants and animal, including the world’s only freshwater seal.
A picturesque place on the shore of Lake Baikal within the Baikal National Park. There are whole meadows of edelweiss in the summer season, and wonderful views of the lake.