Ural Expeditions &smp; Tours
Tours

The Ice of Baikal

Ice -cycling, ski-joring, snowmobiles, downhill skiing

Duration: 7 days, 6 nights
Dates: on request from February 1 to April 1

It can sound strange but winter and early spring on Lake Baikal offer many more opportunities for travelers than summer time. A great number of remote areas become accessible thanks to the ice of Baikal that covers the lake from the mid of January to the last weeks of April. One can travel for days on this huge ice shell on foot or skies, skates, snowmobiles, ice boats or whatever.
The trip we offer starts with a 60 km long cycling route on the ice of Baikal. The next day you will try on your cross country skies and our huskies will pull you at a speed of an Olympic champion.  Later on you’ll cross Lake Baikal on a snowmobile from West to East and complete your vacation on the best alpine skiing resort of Baikal region.

Day Itinerary Notes

 1 Day

 Arrival in Irkutsk. Meeting and assistance for further transfer to hotel.  Check in and time at leisure.  Meals at your own expenses. City tour on request. (In case of early arrival you might have to wait at the reception for check in hours 12:00)

2 Day

 After breakfast transfer by mini van 130 km to Bolshoye Goloustnoye village – the starting point of our adventure (*). To make things go faster and reach Listvyanka village before it gets dark we shall follow one of the few ice roads that are frequently used by locals. Huge areas of open ice and cracks are possible (**).  

Listvyanka village will welcome your arrival with a nice cozy guest house, Russian sauna and dinner. (BLD)

 * On a cycling trip snowmobile is not expected so minimum of personal things and food tourists will carry in their packs. The rest of the cargo will be delivered directly to Listvyanka village by car.

** The traveling speed depends on a number of factors. Apart from the calisthenics there is a great number of other factors, such as ice cracks hummocks snow and other obstacles.

3 Day

 Free day in Listvyanka for leisure and sightseeing.  (B

4 Day

 After breakfast our guides will help you harness the dogs and give some basic instructions to ski-joring. Depending on your weight and experience you will have 2-3 dogs to pull you(*).  The route runs from Listvyanka village across the source of Angara river towards the legendary Circum Baikal railroad. After lunch served on the ice of Baikal our guides will take the dogs back to Listvyanka and you will continue your trip on snowmobiles across lake Baikal in the direction of Baikalsk – one of the few industrial towns on the lake and place to the best skiing resort in the whole Baikal area. Accommodation in a guesthouse. Dinner and overnight. (BLD)

 * Ski-joring is a really exciting way of traveling but if you have never done that before you might find it difficult to stay on your feet the first 5 km.    But after a while the dogs slow down and you will have a chance to look around and enjoy the scenery. 

5 Day

 Full day downhill skiing from Sobolinaya mount (*). (B).  Lunch in a café at your personal expenses.

 * Sobolinaya – is the biggest and most popular alpine resort in the whole region.

6 Day

 After breakfast you will have about 3 hours for downhill skiing before we set off back to Irkutsk city on a mini van.  The last night on this trip you spend in a hotel in Irkutsk. Lunch and dinner at your personal expenses (B)

7 Day

 Transfer to the airport.

NOTES:
1. The tour is available from February 1 to April 1. 
2. Maximum group size – 10 pax.
3. It’s required that customers have cross county skiing and cycling experience
4. Be prepared to stay in the cold for long hours.  
5. Average day temperatures -5C in March and -15C in February.
6. Outfit and gear: mountain bikes, cross country skies for ski-joring, snowmobiles (1 for 2 pax) with sleds to carry your personal gear.
7. Snowmobile assistance provided for the Trans Baikal crossing
8. Ask your manager for a detailed list of personal equipment.

The cost includes:
· transfers on mini van;
· DBL accommodation in guest houses and hotels;
· mountain bikes;
· 2-3 dogs for ski-joring and cross country skis;
· snowmobile rent (2 pax on a snowmobile);
· meals as noted in the itinerary (B- breakfast, L – lunch, D - dinner);
· guide on days 2, 3, 4;
· insurance;
· sauna.

The cost does not include:
·ski rent and ski lift

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