One day trip to lake Baikal which is mostly walking along the Circum-Baikal Railway. Actual walking on rail-tracks gives you a real filling of the site as well as physical exercise.
Sometimes called a unique achievement in engineering, the Circum-Baikal is one of the picturesque sights of the area around Lake Baikal. More on Wikipedia
The main idea of the tour is that you will be driven to the starting point of the walk - Angasolka village . Once you are there, you will be directed to your walking route and after that moment you walk independently i.e. without a guide to the meeting point - the Southern most village of Baikal - Kultuk.
If you wish to do it yourself - please check Do It Yourself - Circum Baikal Walk
Description of the 1 day tour Walking along the Circum-Baikal Railway (all year round, but heavy snowfalls may restrict arranging this tour in winter!)
You'll be picked up from my hostel (or train station or any other place in Irkutsk) at 10 am. Vehicle: a 8 sit minibus or a car.
We drive the federal road M55 eastwards. It is quite hilly, with lots of turns, up-hills and down-hills. This way gets relatively dangerous to drive in winter. Driving this way in summer is ok.
It takes 2hr in summer and longer in winter to cover 100 km to get from Irkutsk to your starting point, a village called Angasolka. From there, you leave you driver and walk down the valley through the forest. You will reach Old Angasolka village, located on lake Baikal, in 2hr.
Then you turn right, and start walking along the Circum Baikal Railway. You will be seeing an Angasolka Bridge, and 3 tunnels, and, of course, a magnificent view of Baikal.
You will reach the village of Kultuk in 2.5 or 3hr, depending how much time you spend on taking photos or exploring the tunnels. Total walking distance is around 12 km.
After that, you will meet your driver and be transferred back to Irkutsk, another 1.5 hr.
What to bring: water, some food for a snack.
Return by road to Irkutsk by 5-7 pm.
Overnight in Irkutsk at Baikaler Hostel can be arranged.
Price for the group from 1 to 3: 3000R (you hire a car+driver, cost is shared)
Price for the group from 4 to 7: 4000R (you hire a minibus+driver, cost is shared)
To the tour please contact Jack Sheremetoff
Prices include all services, pointed in the itinerary:
private car transportation.
No hidden costs.
Our driving route. View it in a
larger map
Our walking route. View Circum Baikal Walk in a larger map
