Example Itinerary

Lake Baikal Winter Adventures

Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Amazing Landscapes
Destinations
Siberia & Russian Far East

Please note: Due to international sanctions, we are currently unable to accept bookings for Russia.

Surely the most magical time of year should be spent in a magical location. From the natural beauty of Lake Baikal to the gorgeous architecture of Irkutsk, there is nowhere quite so perfect as Siberia to immerse yourself in true winter. Stay in luxury accommodation and enjoy a thoroughly Russian experience, from traditional folk performances to home-cooked meals with local families. Sample humble regional dishes and dine on the finest authentic cuisine, sipping vodka and champagne. Discover layers of history and tradition, while taking in breathtaking scenes of a winter wonderland.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Bird's Eye Views: A hovercraft ride over scenic Lake Baikal offers gorgeous aerial views of the icy landscapes below.
  • Winter Pastimes: What better way to enjoy the season than with a scenic picnic and hot tea atop the frozen lake.
  • Food: In Irkutsk, you're invited to join a local family at their dacha house for a traditional dinner.
  • Culture: The Buryats are an ethnic group that predates Russian Siberia and their folkloric traditions are still going strong.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Irkutsk

Arriving into Irkutsk's airport, you'll meet with your guide and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you'll head out into the city for a tour of one of Siberia's oldest settlements. Explore the restored historical district, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then pay a visit to the Museum of Decembrists, which details a failed 1825 rebellion against the emperor and the exile of rebel leaders to Siberia.

Hotel Options
About

Irkutsk is a city full of aging and rundown hotels, but thankfully the recent opening of Courtyard by Marriott addressed this problem, offering modern and comfortable rooms alongside a range of facilities and amenities. Heralded as the best hotel in the city, this three-star hotel has a globally-recognized name that all travelers can trust.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 2

Olkhon Island

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll transfer to Olkhon Island, an isolated, rustic and picturesque area of Lake Baikal. Along the way, you'll pop into the Museum of Ethnolography at Ust-Orda Village to learn about the Buryats, a local ethnic group that predates Russian Siberia. The Buryats mostly follow shamanic traditions and you'll enjoy a folklore performance and shamanic show here before lunch in a yurt. Heading to your lakeside accommodation for the evening, you'll be treated to an epic sunset over the lake.

Hotel Options
About

This delightful hotel situated on Olkhon Island does exactly what its name implies, offering superb views of the surrounding Baikal Lake – a UNESCO World Heritage Center. The hotel itself is modern, comprising 90 standard rooms and two suites, all of which face the picturesque lake and mountains countryside as a backdrop.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Olkhon Island
Olkhon Island

Day 3

Olkhon Island

Today, you'll explore the region via an off-road vehicle with a trip to Khoboy, a northern cape with a splendid view. Other scenic spots you'll encounter include Uzury Bay, Bukhan Cape and Shaman Rock. Tuck into a picnic lunch atop the ice of the lake before returning to your hotel for the evening.

Day 4

Olkhon Island

Next, you'll head to Ogoy Island and Kobylya Golova, also known as Mare's Head Cape, which was awarded the status of natural monument in 1981. Kobylya Golova Cape is a great photography location, as is the white Buddhist stupa situated on the island. Take in your surroundings with a picnic lunch before heading back to your hotel for the evening.

Olkhon Island
Olkhon Island

Day 5

Irkutsk

Today you'll return to Irkutsk, stopping in a local cafe along the way for lunch. The journey takes around six hours and you'll arrive back into Irkutsk in the evening, ready for dinner and to check in to your hotel.

Hotel Options
About

Irkutsk is a city full of aging and rundown hotels, but thankfully the recent opening of Courtyard by Marriott addressed this problem, offering modern and comfortable rooms alongside a range of facilities and amenities. Heralded as the best hotel in the city, this three-star hotel has a globally-recognized name that all travelers can trust.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 6

Irkutsk

Your last full day includes a trip to nearby Listvyanka, where you'll visit the Open-Air Museum of Wooden Architecture and the Museum of Lake Baikal. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll take a two-hour ride on a hovercraft over Baikal's ice, stopping for hot tea mid-way. Upon your return to Irkutsk, you'll drop into a dacha house belonging to a local family, where you'll be welcomed for a traditional dinner.

Irkutsk
Irkutsk

Day 7

Departure

After breakfast at your hotel and depending on your flight time, you'll transfer to the airport in plenty of time for your onward journey.

Why Remote Lands?

Exclusively Asia

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

Travelogues

An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.

What Others Say

Here is a small selection of the kind words our clients have said about us recently.