Trip to the Uskany Islands

Dates

February – March (11 days/10 nights)

Descriptif

Adventure tour sometimes in extreme natural conditions mainly by the amphibian-type boat Khivus (700 km.) A strong team spirit is needed, since the success of the trip depends on the active involvement of everyone. Accommodation in warm wooden houses with the facilities in/out door. For those who would like to experience a night in a tent on the ice of Baikal, it can be arranged on request.

1st day	Flight Geneva-Moscow. Transfer to the domestic flights terminal. Flight Moscow-Irkutsk.
2nd day	Arrival in Irkutsk early in the morning. Departure to Listvyanka village. Discovery of the Lake Baikal Shaman Rock emerging from the mouth of the Angara. Arrival in Listvyanka. Accommodation in a guesthouse in Listvyanka. Lunch at the local restaurant, where it is possible to try the main dish of Baikal cuisine: smoked “omul”, fish which can be found only in the Baikal. Visit to the Baikal Museum, with an aquarium of local seal and fish. Optional climbing of Chersky Rock by cable-car or on foot in order to reach a wonderful panorama down on the lake and the Angara River. Supper. Russian sauna on request.
3rd day	Breakfast. Start of the trip by the amphibian-type boat “Khivus”. Stops for taking pictures of the Baikal shores on the way. Stop in the bay Peschanaya and a walk to a nice view of Baikal. Picnic. Transfer by boat to the Buguldeyka village and accommodation in a tourist camp in twin rooms. Horse sledging to Baikal taiga (depending of weather conditions). Supper. Free time.
4th day	Breakfast. Trip to the Krestovsky Cape. Stop on the way to visit the Aya bay and see petroglyphs. Passing of the Olkhon Gates to the Small Sea with short stops to see the most interesting sights. Accommodation in Bencharovy’s guesthouse, first entrepreneur in Olkhon in the field of tourism. Lunch. Free time. Meeting with a local shaman. Supper. Sauna on request.
5th day	Breakfast. Travel by boat around the Olkhon island up to the rocky cape Khoboy and the “Baikal Pole” – the deepest point of the lake (1637 m.). Lunch at the meteorologists’ in the Uzury village. Trip along the eastern shore of Olkhon. Back to the guesthouse. Supper. Free time.
6th day	Breakfast. Travel by boat to the Ushkany islands, the favorite rocks of Baikal seals. Accommodation at the forester’s. Boat trip around the islands. Lunch on the ice. Supper. Russian banya and bathing in an ice-hole on request
7th day	Breakfast. Trip to the Chivyrkuysky bay, fishing on request, visit to the Snake bay, bathing in hot springs, picnic on ice. Back to the forester’s. Supper.
8th day	Breakfast. Starting the way back toward the resort Tchayka (Sea-Gull), which is located in the Kurkut bay, 500 meters away from the Small Sea shore and surrounded by a larch wood. Picnic on the way. Arrival in the resort Tchayka, accomodation. Supper. Sauna on request.
9th day	Breakfast. Departure to Irkutsk by bus. Some stops at picturesque holy places to make offerings to the spirits of the places (old Buriat shamanist tradition). Lunch on the way at the Buriat restaurant. Arriving to Irkutsk in the afternoon. Homestay.
10th day	Breakfast. Excursion by bus to the Open air Museum of Siberian Architecture “Taltsy”, horse sledding and cow-skin tobogganing from a big hill. Lunch. Back to Irkutsk. Farewell supper. Homestay.
11th day	Breakfast and transfer to the Irkutsk airport early in the morning.Flight Irkutsk-Moscow. Transfer to the international flights terminal. Flight Moscow-Geneva.

Price

starting from CHF 4'000.- / € .- (homestay), CHF 4’600.- / € .- (hotel and dog sledding)

Possible extension of one day for dog sledding and optional hotel instead of homestay, but the price can considerably increase.

I ncluded: plane tickets, invitation, registration in Irkoutsk and in Moscow, accommodation according to the program, meals during the tour, all transfers, excursions, entrance fee to museums, permits for visiting national parks and nature reserves, interpreter and instructor services

Not included: the visa, the saunas, alcoholic drinks, private talks by satellite telephone
Participants must have very warm clothes, whose list will be provided as they register for the trip and an individual medicines kit for their own needs.

In case of bad weather the tour operator shall take the liberty of changing the programme after having informed the participants and the service will be replaced by another one equal in price and quality.

Warning

Participants must have very warm clothes, whose list will be provided as they register for the trip and an individual medicines kit for their own needs.