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The Siberian Exhibition takes you on a winter tour of Lake Baikal, the largest, deepest and oldest freshwater lake in the world. Tucked into the subcontinent of Eastern Siberia and just north of the Mongolian border this geological marvel features 27 islands abundant with wildlife and vistas of unparallel beauty.
Known as the ‘Galapagos of Russia’ Lake Baikal is a snowmobiler’s paradise. Tours along the ice studded shoreline unveils an expansive landscape rich in forests, mountains and unique geological formations. Travel into remote and sacred places where shamans, hunters and fishermen are the only people to be encountered.
Hop aboard a hovercraft and cruise across the ice at thrilling speeds, ride a dogsled pulled by Siberian Huskies, sleep on the ice in a traditional Mongolian Ger, nourish yourself on smoked Omeu fish and fresh venison and soak in relaxing hot pools in Cape Katelnikovsky.
The wonders of this astonishing place are endless. The warmth and hospitable nature of its people is off-set by the raw and desolate beauty of the land where water has turned to ice.
At a Glance Your Siberian Snowmobile Adventure
Today you will explore this incredibly dynamic city by tour bus. You’ll see the most interesting attractions that eight hundred years of Russian history can provide. After a day full of sight-seeing, from medieval architecture to monuments of Imperial Russian and the Soviet Union, you will be ready to relax on a night flight to Irkutsk in Eastern Siberia.
We arrive in Irkutsk and travel 40 miles to the small resort community of Listvyanka on the shores of Lake Baikal. Your first view of this enormous lake is one of immense space surrounded by beautiful mountains. After a cozy lunch at a local restaurant, perhaps sampling the popular smoked Omul fish, you will receive snowmobile instructions and take your first ride on the ice.
Today you have the chance to experience the thrill of dog-sledding or if ice-skating is more to your taste, lace-up your skates and glide over the deepest ice-skating rink in the world! In some places the ice is incredibly smooth and transparent, take a peek at the stones and fish under the thick layer of ice!
We also have the chance to stop at the beautiful nook of Peschannaya Bay to see the “walking trees”. This is a wonder of Lake Baikal, where sand erosion has exposed much of a tree’s delicate root structure to give the impression of it walking on stilts. When we arrive in the hunting center of Buguldeika village, we’ll have a short ride to Talovskoye hotel where we’ll sleep in cozy wooden houses. It is likely we’ll enjoy deer for dinner.
The real adventure starts today! We ride quads to Tazheranskay steppe, a unique natural composition of hills, steppes, lonely rocks, caves and lakes. The distinctive geological formations of Tazheransky Steppe were formed about 300 to 400 million years ago, and it is one of the most scenic and exotic places in the Baikal area. Due to its incredible wealth of mineral and rock, the eastern-Siberian region is mined for many resources. On the way we’ll make a stop at a marble quarry, where we’ll see a pit with smooth, blue and white monolithic walls.
Baikal Lake is known as one of the most mysterious and unusual places on our planet. Since ancient times, Buryat Buddists and Mongolian tribes have spiritualized this area. We will visit the sacred Erd Mountain where we’ll meet a shaman and have lunch in a Mongolian Ger. We’ll end our incredibly full day at a hotel in the bay of Maloye More or ‘Small Sea’.
Today we ride snowmobiles to explore some unique places in the region of the Small Sea where beautiful iced grottoes and glistening frozen rocks dot the landscape.
We’ll visit the largest island on Baikal Lake known as Olkhon Island. This island was originally inhabited by the Buryat people who are the largest indigenous group in Siberia and a major northern subgroup of the Mongols. The island is home to numerous Buddhist and Shamanistic shrines. We’ll stop at Shamanka Rock, a site endowed with mystical powers. Since ancient times the rock has been considered a sacred place, inhabited by the spirits of the island.
After lunch we’ll leave the Small Sea and ride on Big Baikal. From here we will enter the wilderness where we will occasionally encounter hunting cabins. We’ll stay the night in wooden houses; though they are new and clean, the facilities are found outdoors.
You will notice more snow accumulation while riding further north. Take your time listening to ‘Baikal Breath’ the fascinating sound of new cracks forming in the ice shield. Lunch is served on the ice! We’ll meet few if any people here except some fishermen or hunters. These places are remote and hidden from tourists, which makes it astonishing to find a comfortable hotel with hot pools. Our hotel is an oasis after a long and tough day of riding.
We’ll spend the night in authentic native Mongolian Gers erected on the ice. Small holes in the floor of the Ger facilitate fishing while in bed. Be ready for this unique experience as the latrine is, once again, outdoors! Enjoy star gazing in the icy desert.
We have the option to spend the night in simple guest houses in UstBarguzin, this will add 60 km to our route.
Today we will ride on the oldest, deepest and most voluminous lake in the world for the last time. We will cross Baikal Lake at its center and traverse where it is deepest (1637m). Before we reach the same hotel we stayed at previously in Hadarta, we will make several stops to admire the severe and breathtaking landscape. We will venture to Olkhon Island again but from the side of Big Baikal. On arrival we will have time to relax in a comfortable hotel room before dinner.
The following is included:
- Airport transfers for all flights.
- Moscow tour and entertainment on Moscow free day.
- All breakfasts and dinners and most lunches.
- Airline tickets from Moscow to Irkutsk, and from Severobaikalsk to Moscow (via Ulan-Ude).
- All lodging (double occupancy) in “best available accommodations”, ranging from authentic native gers (yurts) to comfortable wilderness lodges and resorts to 5-star hotels. Except for the night spent in the gers, all accommodations will have ensuite facilities.
- All vehicle rental expenses, including snowmobiles and 4×4 vehicles where used.
- Snowmobile clothing. The gear is very basic, but adequate. Experienced snowmobilers who own their own gear may wish to bring it along.
- Snowmobile instruction
- All vehicle fuel
- All entrance fees and event fees for activities included in the Adventure.
- The services of all local, experienced guides responsible for leading the Adventure.
Deposit per person: $800
2017 Schedule
Date | 2017 Adventures | Days | Price (USD) | Co-rider | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Feb 25 - Mar 10 | Siberian Snowmobile Adventure | 14 | $9 400 | $6 400 |