Walking on thin ice

Hppy Omul Cafe on Olkhon Island

Russian Banya (steam sauna)

This is private banya at Nikita's on Olkhon Island.
There are also hot showers available for everybody,
but if you want to experience something really Russian,
go for this one. Cleans body and soul.

Camping in the ice desert of Baikal

Khuzhir village on Olkhon Island in March

Olkhon Ferry Timelapse

Watch how ferry to Olkhon Island works.



The actual transfer takes 15-20 minutes of real time.
Thanks to Shrabikus, great filmmeikah!.

LIttle Church on Olkhon

Stories about orthodox church on Olkhon Island.

We head out toward Lake Baikal, to Olkhon Island. It is so peaceful. Unhurried and in tune with nature. Surrounded by the shimmering waters, framed by towering snow covered mountain peaks and covered by wide open tundra beside towering evergreens. It's feeling, its sense of earthy power, is unmistakable. And I'm not surprised at all to learn that has long been considered a center of shamanic energy. And a hub of shamanic activity. We spend three days there. I bicycle around, in addition to the four wheel drive tours we take. I discover the old cemetery with it's lake of Orthodox crosses and less overtly religious symbols of the Soviet era. I wander the dirt tracks of the village of Khuzhir, finding the 'internet cafe' and a beautiful new Russian Orthodox Church. It sits high on a hill with a commanding view. And it is quite clearly a new construction, post Soviet era!

A small orthodoxe temple on OLKHON island has been painted with beautiful frescos. You can often enjoy the bells ringing either in the morning or in the evening before the sunset.

Church bell ringing video.



Visit Church website (in Russian) and forum (English part).
Also you can contact Sergey, he speaks English and French very well,
his contacts you will find on church website.

Uzury area of Olkhon Island, Baikal Lake

Amazing photos of the north village Uzury on Olkhon Island!

Must see.

Uzury area of Olkhon Island, Baikal Lake

Also these pages with A LOT OF amazing photos of Olkhon Island, and cape Khoboy:

http://dmitry-yurlagin.livejournal.com/157764.html#cutid1

http://dmitry-yurlagin.livejournal.com/157475.html#cutid1

http://dmitry-yurlagin.livejournal.com/159667.html#cutid1

Olkhon Island

Transportation

Minibus is the most popular transport to go to Olkhon Island. They leave in the morning every day and arrive around lunch time in Khuzhir -- the biggest village on the Island (Around 1200 local people). Minibusses usually pick people up from where they stay at in Irkutsk, or you can hop in near the central market or at the central bus station. Also you can book a minibus hostel-to-hostel transfer in advance by e-mail or phone.

Big regular bus leaves very early in the morning and arrives a little bit later, but costs a little less as well. Also, for the big bus you have to buy the tickets in advance in the bus station office, and there is a luggage fee, which has always been a challenge, even for local people.

Personal transfers are a bit expensive, but its cost-effective if you have a team to go with. The benefits are vivid: you can stop wherever you want, and usually the personal car is a lot more comfortable than public transport. Ask for price, its different and depends on the car, driver and your wishes.

Helicopters and airplanes are also available. It is the fastest and the most expensive way.

Accommodation 

Depends on the time of the year. You must be REALLY shure where you are going in winter. In summer its easier, but still  you must be ready to camp, if you really want to do it. But there are plenty of homestays on the island, so if you pay you will have a bed and a place to "take shower".

Actually showers are a luxury on the island. Banya (the oldest type of taking shower, a little bit like sauna) is available in plenty, for rent and sometimes is included in the price of stay. 

If you stay in Irkutsk for at least one night, you can get your accommodation organized and booked on Olkhon Island too. Usually managers at hostels and hotels have opportunities to do that, and it is usually super easy, and is cost effective.

Also some hosts on Olkhon Island started to use international booking systems, so you can find and book something online.

Basic Things to Do

All year

Rent a bike and go to various wild nature places with amazing views.

All day land-water tour with lunch on the very north tip of the island.

Take amazing beautiful pictures.

Meet many different people from all over the world. Exchange. 

Volunteering, interaction with local people. (teaching)
Camping. 
Hiking.

Party.

Summer

Rent fishing equipment and try to catch some fish form the shore.

Fishing tour with professionals.

Cross the lake on a ship, or go to nature excursion by water.

Camping and hiking.

Sitting by the fire at night on the shore.

Swimming, getting sun tan.
Ship cruises and short tours. 

Winter

Diving under ice.

Crossing the lake by ice.

Ship cruises start in the end of winter when south part of the lake melts.

Ice fishing from the end of January to the early April.

Finding the most quite places on earth to relax and read a book.
Ice skating.

Transfer to Olkhon Island is POSSIBLE!

Since the ferry to Olkhon is not functioning any more because of ice, many people ask if it is still possible to go to the Island.
It is possible to go to Olkhon Island, but not everyday.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Leaving every morning from Irkutsk.
There is a boat and hoover craft that takes people across
the half-frozen waters.
It costs extra 150 RUB one way for the water transfer.
Please contact us for booking: +7 904 118 10 75

Travelers saved a man on lake Baikal ice

The ice is very tricky this days. It is very dangerous to walk on it, especially in the end of may. :)

Two french travelers saved a man from a floating piece of ice on the lake. They decided to go for a short hicking trip, and saw a man on the ice. Asked for help from local people who could understand what they are trying to say. Finally this man was saved, by an international team. What a surprise :)

Here is their blog about their eurasian trip.



Thanks to foreign travelers! :) Ура!

Tim, Anika and Children

These two professional videos are in German and Russian and with Russian subtitles. Tim speaks about his experience on Olkhon Island in German. Also videos don't have many speaking, but nice views and music.


Part 1





Part 2

Olkhon Cats

16_09_09

Live at Nikita's pt.1

Nikolay V. featuring Arina in Happy Omul cafe, at Nikita's homestead, on Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal.

Lake Baikal. Island Olkhon. Nikita Bencharov's homestead

There are many different homesteads, hotels and camping areas. But there is one at the lake Baikal on Olkhon Island hosted by Bencharov family, which could be called at least unique. This place is located in a very beautiful place. They know how to do many things which bring great value to the homestead. They involve many different people, cultures, groups and individuals in making their homestead a living thing. Everytime you visit you will see changes and new perspectives.

Nikita Bencharov is a well known name. I wish there be more people like him.
Learn more about Nikita’s homestead.