BDI61. Grand Baikal Cruise

        “Sibiryak” is one of the best ship in comfort class. It is constructed and put into operation in 2008. Sibiryak is distinguished by excellent seaworthy qualities, the excellent job of all mechanisms, ergonomics of premises, harmonious work of ship's company. It's equipped with modern navigation system. Up to 12 guests can be accommodated in comfortable cabins with shower and toilet. There is a restaurant, a bar, a sauna, platform for diving and fishing.

Fact sheet:

Cabins: 4 comfortable cabins: TV and DVD electricity 220V 1 shower/toilet for 2 cabins.

Itinerary:

Day 1. Embarkation on the ship in Listvjanka at 12:00 a.m.. Accommodation at the cabins. Passage to the Circum-Baikal railway (2 hours), a walking tour on the thrown tunnels and galleries. Overnight aboard.(LD)

Day 2. Passage towards the Peschanaya bay. 2-hours walking tour to the Sennaya bay - a cordon of Pribajkalsky national park. Visit the Babushka bay - one of the most beautiful bay on Baikal. Optionally Russian banya on the bank of Baikal in the evening. Overnight aboard. (BLD). (Water transition - 100 kilometres, time in a way – 6 hours)

Day 3. Lond passage towards the Olkhon island - one of the Buryat people’s and shamanism’s sacred places. The stop at the white-marble rocks of Saagan-Zaba (only in the absence of a wave) and survey of rock ancient paintings of primitive people. Passage Small Olkhon Gate - narrow passage between island Olkhon and mainland. Overnight aboard. (BLD)(Water transition - 120 kilometres, time in a way – 8 hours)

Day 4. Water walk on the Maloe More - picturesque passage between island Olkhon and mainland. Visiting Khuzhir village and the Ogoj island – there are famous stupa of Budda and remarkable views on island Olkhon and the Maloe More. Overnight aboard. (BLD)(Water transition - 70 kilometres, time in a way – 5 hours)

Day 5. Long passage (8-10 hours) through open Baikal from the west to east coast i.e. the Hoboj cape - northern point of the Olkhon Island, to the Chivyrkujsky gulf. Visiting the Ushkanih islands (only in favorable weather) to view the Baikal-seal-rookery. Visiting rookeries of a seal for additional payment. Arrival in the Chivyrkujsky gulf. Overnight aboard in the Zmeinaya bay -famous for its healing radon baths with water temperature from +40°C to +60°C.(BLD) (Water transition - 120 kilometres, time in a way – 8 hours)

Day 6. Passage to the northt coast of the Davsha village - a cordon of the Barguzinsky Reserve (a place of studying and population preservation of the Barguzinsky sables). Visiting a museum of Reserve. Optionally a walking tour on a taiga track along the coast to the Southern Birjukan river. Overnight aboard.(BLD) (Water transition - 70 kilometres, time in a way – 4-5 hours)

Day 7. Returning in the Chivyrkujsky gulf. Foot walk on the Lokhmatyj island - from the top of island opens unforgettable view on the Big Baikal and the Chyvyrkujsky gulf. Bathing in healing radon baths of the Zmeevaja bay. Overnight aboard.(BLD) (Water transition - 70 kilometres, time in a way – 4-5 hours)

Day 8. Long passage to the Maloe More. Visiting Burhan (Shaman)-rock and the Sarajsky beach near the Huzhir village on the Olkhon island. Overnight aboard.(BLD) (Water transition - 160 kilometres, time in a way – 10-12 hours)

Day 9. Small passage to the Sahjurta village. Free time. Overnight abroad.(BLD)

Day 10. Passage towards Sennaya bay – a cordon of Pribajkalsky National Park. On the way a stop at the white-marble rocks of Saagan-Zaba (only in the absence of a wave) and survey of rock ancient paintings of primitive people. Optionnaly Russian banya on the cost of Baikal. Overnight aboard. (BLD) (Water transition - 120 kilometres, time in a way - 7-8 hours)

Day 11. Optionally in the morning 2 hour walking excursion along the coast of Baikal from Sennaya bay to Pechannaya bay (6 kilometres). (The route passes on the picturesque mountain footpath laid on the Seaside ridge).The ship expects in a bay. Passage to the Circum-Baikal railway. `Evening walking tour on the thrown tunnels and galleries. Overnight aboard in a mouth of the Shumikha river. (BLD) (Water transition - 100 kilometres, time in a way – 6 hours)

Day 12. Passage to the Listvyanka village. After breakfast disembarkation to coast (12:00). End of services.(B)

Highlights:

• Circum Baikal railway - the unique monument of engineering architecture of the beginning of the 20th century.It’s at the same time the shortest and the most complicated (in terms of construction) part of Trans-Siberian railway. Relatively short piece of railways (84 km) from Port Baikal to Kultuk has 39 tunnels, lots of viaducts, bridges and stone galleries. This short piece of railways was called a “golden buckle on the steel belt of Russia”. A “buckle” – because Circum Baikal Railways joined broken by the lake Trans-Siberian railway, and “golden” – because the construction of it took up much more money than any other railway in Russian Empire in those days.
  
• Peschanaya Bay - one of the most famous and scenic places of the lake. The Bay was given the name of Siberian Riviera, moreover, it is declared to be under protection as a part of natural treasury. Coming here you feel as if the Creator while working on lake Baikal felt special inspiration exactly here and put all his love into the made by him cliffs, smooth slopes of the hills and perfectly shaped semi-oval of bay beach. Wind and water constantly blow out and wash out sandy soil from under the roots of famous “walking” trees, which grow on the sandy slope in the northern part of the bay.
  
• Olkhon Island - the geographical, historical and sacred center of the Baikal Lake. It is the treasury of ancient legends and historical traditions. With its position in the central part of Baikal, near the maximum depth point (1637m), Olkhon has got the whole variety of natural Baikal landscapes. Olkhon has steppe landscapes with long and well warmed-up bays, rare for these areas sandy patches with dunes and hills, mixed deciduous forest with relic fir-groves, amazing marble cliffs covered with red lichen. For those who love wild nature and photographers it’s a real fount of immensely various landscapes and majestic sceneries.
  
• Shaman Rock – one of the nine Asian places of worship, located not far from Khuzhir settlement, has become a kind of visiting card of the lake, one the most famous key images of Baikal: there is no film or photo album about the lake, which can do without the picture of this place. The cave in the cliff of this cape is called Shamanka and it’s one of the most worshipped sacred places, where they made sacrifices and swore oaths since the time immemorial. Sacred Shaman Rock with the cave going through it and with access to it only for a shaman has been prohibited area for a long time, so nobody could go through the cave and even approach it.
  
• Ushkany Isles - are famous as a protected area with breeding-grounds of seals. The Ushkanii Islands with their natural and climatic conditions; this is an exceptional wonder for Baikal. One could say that here is uniqueness within the unique.
  
• Chivyrkuysky Bay - is a picturesque bay in the Eastern part of the Baikal Lake. The bay is shallow, gets warmed thoroughly and possesses huge hydro biological resources. The territory belongs to Zabaikalsky National Park.
  
• Zmeinaya bay – is famous for its healing radon baths with water temperature from +50°C to +80°C.
  

 Cruise dates - 2010:
    * 03.07.10 - 14.07.10
    * 16.07.10 - 27.07.10
    * 29.07.10 - 09.08.10
    * 11.08.10 - 22.08.10

Costs netto for tour operators and travel agents – 2010:

Discounts for tour operators and travel agents. Please inquire.

Included:

• full board
• excursions, recreational payments
• everyday entertaining programme onboard, fishing organisation.
• fees for visiting of national parks and reserves
• insurance
  

Not included:

• transfers

The time of embarkation and disembarkation can be changed, please specify at cruise booking.

Accommodation, transfers and other services in Listvyanka are available for extra fee. Please inquire.