Ice Lake Baikal Tour

-         Transfer from Irkutsk to Listvyanka, which is is located on the shore of Lake Baikal, 70 km from Irkutsk. This old-style Siberian village is famous for its trade history. From the 18th century its ferry took merchants across the lake to Mongolia and China and the Far East. In the old wooden church of St.Nicholas, you can burn a candle to your safe and successful journey.

-         Tour from Listvyanka village to Bolshie Koty (a small settlement in 20 km north) by ice road to feel the beauty of transparent ice of the world known Lake Baikal. The ice is so clear that you can recognize the bottom stones through it. Usually Lake Baikal is frozen over from mid January to early May. In this period it’s the biggest skating rink with the ice thickness of 1 meter and more. The lake serves as a temporarily road, forming a navigable land route between the settlements at its northern and southern ends. The safest period for such trip, especially in the southern part of Lake Baikal, is from the beginning of February till the end of March. The route goes along the shore of Lake Baikal. You can get off the car and walk around the ice to see how thick and strong it is (the thickness of ice of 75 cm is enough to hold the 15-ton truck on it). The duration of this journey is about 1 hour.

-         Excursion to the Museum of Lake Baikal. It provides information about the origin and wild life of the lake. A video film gives you the opportunity to see the deepest point of the lake’s bottom (1.637 m) from the submarine board. From the museum, a path climbs to an observation point with excellent views of the lake and mountains, Port Baikal and the Angara River.

-         In Listvyanka village, a variety of hot- or cold-smoked and salted omul and grayling fish is on sale. Several private cafes and restaurants offer traditional Siberian or European meals.

-         Return to Irkutsk.