Authentic Olkhon Island! Jeeping, boating, and hike!

Itinerary

Day 1: From fabulous Irkutsk to authentic Olkhon island.

Stop At: Monument to the Founders of Irkutsk, ulitsa Nizhnyaya Naberezhnaya, 2, Irkutsk 664011 Russia
Today, our Olkhon journey begins! However, we can't leave Irkutsk City without visiting its historic center, where we will learn some curious facts about Siberia, see the iconic buildings of the town, and have lunch at an atmospheric Russian-style restaurant. On the way from Irkutsk to Olkhon, we will see the diversity of the Baikal Region, Russian countryside, swells of Siberian steppe, taiga forest and many other things. We will make a few stops to welcome local spirits by a special ritual, and drop by several sacred places of the Buryat people. Then, at the end of the day, get on board the Baikal ferry and, finally, step our feet onto the soil of the mysterious Olkhon Island. The distance between Irkutsk City and Olkhon Island is about 300 km (approximately 190 miles).
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-star hotel

Day 2: Olkhon jeep tour in the north of the island! We can't get enough!

Stop At: Olkhon Ferry, Olkhon Island, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, Irkutskaya oblast', Russia, 666135
We made it such a long way to discover Olkhon island, destination №1 on Lake Baikal, so here it is! There is no time to waste and we want you to see and find out about this place as much as possible! The journey begins from an acquaintance with a Russian off-road vehicle named UAZ-452. Because of its external similarities to a loaf of bread, the van has been nicknamed "бух`анка" ([bukhanka], a loaf of bread). Although the design of this model was created more than 45 years ago in the USSR, it's still in use and basically has not been redesigned since then. Inside such a van, one won't find anything fancy or luxurious but it is easy to accept because it was made for off-the-road areas, a pretty large amount of which we will see today. Olkhon is full of shamanistic sacred sites surrounded by legends and various beliefs. For a very long time, many sites were forbiden to be visited by women and children. In some of the places only very skilled shamans were allowed. But it's not not only this shamanistic story that attracts a lot of ravellers from all over the world to come here. By visiting only one island, you may see the entire diversity of Baikal landscapes such as steep, taiga forest, long sandy beaches, huge rock formations, and others. Our professional guide and driver will lead you on off-beaten paths and routes, show what other travellers don't even know about, and naturally, tell you the most interesting facts and stories about this place. At the end of the day, you will have some luxury rest in an open-air cafe with a Baikal view. What a day has been!
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-star hotel


Day 3: Trekking tour to an observation point on Olkhon island!

Stop At: The observation deck, Baikal View Hotel, Ольхон, Иркутская обл., Russia, 666137
The last day on Olkhon is not going to be empty in terms of views or events. On a short trekking tour, we want to take you to an observation point, to show off the lake panoramic views, centuries old mountains, and, of course, swells of the largest island on the lake. To us, it seems it's the most elegant way to say "Big thank you!" to the place you've visited and come back to Irkutsk. After lunch, you depart the island by car, along the same route you took 2 days ago. The approximate time of arrival in Irkutsk is about 9pm.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.