This Lake Baikal Photography Tour will grant intrepid photographers the honour of focusing their lenses on some of Siberia’s most famously beautiful frozen landscapes. Summer sees the bulk of tourist activity in the area, but it’s in winter that the most devoted photographers make the pilgrimage, hoping to capture once-in-a-lifetime images of the natural world at its most powerful and surreal.
Arrival
Departure
Accomodation
Trip style
Irkutsk
Irkutsk
3* hotels
Photography
Duration
Action rating
Group size
Type of tour
8 days / 7 nights
 
2-8 people
Guaranteed Departures
Welcome to the astonishing Baikal region of Siberia and the winter photography expedition of a lifetime! Your journey begins with your arrival at Irkutsk airport, where you’ll be met by our staff, ready to answer all your questions on the mission to come.
At 10am, we’ll waste no time venturing straight to the shores of the mighty Lake Baikal. From Irkutsk, we travel by road to Olkhon Island (approximately 300km, 5 to 6 hours) off the western coast of Lake Baikal. During winter, the narrow channel between the mainland and Olkhon is completely frozen over, allowing us to safely commandeer our 4wd transport over the metre-thick ice to reach our destination in western Olkhon.
Our home for the next nine days is Khuzhir, the main village on the island. You’ll stay in a basic but comfortable hotel with a welcoming local atmosphere.
Over the next 5 days, we will visit the most picturesque destinations in and around Olkhon including the ice grottos of Kharantsy Island, the ice mounds of Khoboy Cape, the Buddhist stupa on Ogoy Island, the bubbles at Belenky Island, the tiny settlement of Uzury and the steppe landscapes on the southern part of Olkhon. Because of the weather-dependent nature of the trip, there’s no fixed, day-by-day itinerary – we choose destinations based on the most opportune conditions on each day.
Our expedition complete, after lunch we transfer back to Irkutsk to spend the evening relaxing, celebrating and sharing favourite photos and memories.
Final morning in Irkutsk, with transport provided to the airport ready for the journey home.
Group arrival and departure airport transfers
Transportation on tour according to the itinerary (4WD cars)
Hotel accommodation on Olkhon Island (6 nights)
Hotel accommodation in Irkutsk (1 night)
Breakfast, lunches and dinners while on Olkhon Island
Professional photographer guide
Local English-speaking tour leader
Experienced driver
All sights indicated int he itinerary, depending on the weather
Russian visa support documents
Flights
Travel insurance
Visa and visa fees.*Russian visa can be arranged by 56th Parallel for an additional cost (for Australian citizens only). Apply for comprehensive visa service here.
Optional excursions
Individual transfers
Alcohol
Dates | Availability | Price | Single sup. | |
---|---|---|---|---|
25 Jan - 1 Feb, 2020 Guaranteed Departures | Available | US $2,500 | US $300 | Reserve |
2 Feb - 9 Feb, 2020 Guaranteed Departures | Sold out | US $2,990 | US $600 | |
2 Feb - 9 Feb, 2021 Guaranteed Departures | Available | US $3,140 | US $620 | Reserve |
Kurt SuterAustralia
Heather FitzpatrickAustralia
Chris WrightAustralia
Sandra Thomas and Pat FarrantUK
Katja RiedelNew zealand
Welcome to the astonishing Baikal region of Siberia and the winter photography expedition of a lifetime! Your journey begins with your arrival at Irkutsk airport, where you’ll be met by our staff, ready to answer all your questions on the mission to come.
At 10am, we’ll waste no time venturing straight to the shores of the mighty Lake Baikal. From Irkutsk, we travel by road to Olkhon Island (approximately 300km, 5 to 6 hours) off the western coast of Lake Baikal. During winter, the narrow channel between the mainland and Olkhon is completely frozen over, allowing us to safely commandeer our 4wd transport over the metre-thick ice to reach our destination in western Olkhon.
Our home for the next nine days is Khuzhir, the main village on the island. You’ll stay in a basic but comfortable hotel with a welcoming local atmosphere.
Over the next 5 days, we will visit the most picturesque destinations in and around Olkhon including the ice grottos of Kharantsy Island, the ice mounds of Khoboy Cape, the Buddhist stupa on Ogoy Island, the bubbles at Belenky Island, the tiny settlement of Uzury and the steppe landscapes on the southern part of Olkhon. Because of the weather-dependent nature of the trip, there’s no fixed, day-by-day itinerary – we choose destinations based on the most opportune conditions on each day.
Our expedition complete, after lunch we transfer back to Irkutsk to spend the evening relaxing, celebrating and sharing favourite photos and memories.
Final morning in Irkutsk, with transport provided to the airport ready for the journey home.
Group arrival and departure airport transfers
Transportation on tour according to the itinerary (4WD cars)
Hotel accommodation on Olkhon Island (6 nights)
Hotel accommodation in Irkutsk (1 night)
Breakfast, lunches and dinners while on Olkhon Island
Professional photographer guide
Local English-speaking tour leader
Experienced driver
All sights indicated int he itinerary, depending on the weather
Russian visa support documents
Flights
Travel insurance
Visa and visa fees.*Russian visa can be arranged by 56th Parallel for an additional cost (for Australian citizens only). Apply for comprehensive visa service here.
Optional excursions
Individual transfers
Alcohol
If you have any urgent questions or enquiries, please give us a call +61 2 9388 9816