Winter Baikal is beautiful, and many associate it with picturesque ice and real Siberian frost. However, you can find many places on Baikal where you can warm up, even in the middle of winter. The fact is that the northern coast of Baikal is full of hot thermal water outlets, which also have healing properties.
We will go on a journey in which we will combine walks along the picturesque Baikal bays and capes, decorated with bizarre ice, with hot water procedures in the middle of fabulous winter forests. We will cross Lake Baikal by transport right on the ice to find ourselves at a tourist center, where several days of rest in a beautiful bay near a healing thermal spring and exciting walks around the surrounding area without luggage await us. We will also visit several off-site excursions to the most beautiful and interesting places of the Severo-Baikalsky District of the Republic of Buryatia. This is truly a tour where you can relax both your soul and body!
Duration
8 days
Comfort
Group
up to 5 persons
Age
16+
Region
Buryatia/Russia
Tour organizer and guide on the route:
VICTORIA SHATALOVA
Professional traveler, organizer of author's tours with 16 years of experience. Has visited 37 countries of the world and 82 regions of Russia. Participant and organizer of many hikes, rafting and climbing trips, including climbing the highest and most dangerous volcano in Eurasia - Klyuchevskaya Sopka (4850 m), skiing trips in the northern and polar Urals, Murmansk region and Kuznetsk Alatau.... Read more
Itinerary day by day:
Severobaikalsk
We meet at the Severobaikalsk train station at 13:00, check into a hotel, rest a bit from the road, have lunch and go on an excursion to the Museum "BAM History". The museum exposition is dedicated to the various stages of the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline, and also presents exhibits dedicated to the nature and culture of the region. The museum is part of the Museum and Exhibition Complex, which also includes the Severobaikalsk Art Gallery and a salon where you can buy souvenirs. In the evening, you can take a walk around the city and admire the views of Lake Baikal from the observation deck.
Overnight at a hotel in Severobaikalsk.
Read more
Village Baikalskoye - Cape Ludar - Khakusy Bay
In the first half of the day, we will have a fascinating trip around the outskirts of Severobaikalsk. We will visit the village of Baikalskoye, which, according to many, is considered the most beautiful settlement of Northern Baikal: wooden huts stand right by the water, overlooking the great lake, the center of the village is the wooden Innokenty Church built in 1901-1902, and Cape Ludar hangs over the village from the north, to which we will take a walk. We will approach the cape on the ice of Lake Baikal to examine the picturesque ice grottoes and splashes that form on the rocks of the cape during freeze-up, and we will climb to the top of the cape to enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the lake and its surroundings.
Mys Ludar is not just a beautiful place, but an ancient settlement that became the center of shamanic rituals about 1,500 years ago. The settlement was discovered in 1963, but only in 1978 was it described and studied in detail. Also on the way from Severobaikalsk to Baikalskoye, we will stop at the observation deck on the pass of Mys Onokochansky. From here, a beautiful view of the Onokochanskaya Bay opens up, and there is also the Buddhist Stupa of Friendship and Reconciliation, the first sacred relic on the northern shore of Lake Baikal.
In the afternoon, we will be transferred to the tourist center in Khakusy Bay, famous for its thermal springs. We will cross Lake Baikal from west to east and find ourselves in a picturesque wooded bay, where we will be accommodated in a house on the shore. There are no land roads to Khakusy. The bay can only be reached via Lake Baikal: by boat in summer, and by hovercraft or car in winter. This place is also interesting because there are no settlements here - only a few tourist centers, which gives a greater sense of unity with nature.
Having settled into our rooms, we set off to explore the thermal springs. The basis of the springs is a hot stream that flows down the cliff and flows into Lake Baikal just south of the Khakusy pier. Some of the water is diverted through a pipe into the pools. The water in the stream is mineral, belongs to siliceous high-thermal weakly mineralized mineral waters of hydrocarbonate-sulphate-sodium composition with a slightly alkaline reaction of the aquatic environment. It has been proven that regular water treatments for several days significantly improve well-being and help get rid of many diseases. The high water temperature (47°C) allows you to take baths all year round, including in winter, right in the open air - this is a feature of the thermal springs. Just imagine: a hot pool in the middle of a snowy forest on the shore of the largest freshwater lake in Eurasia! And in the evening you can take hot mineral baths right under the stars.
Read more
Khakusy: Cape Aman-Kit, Cape Turali, Papakha Rock
We begin to explore the beauty of our shore of Lake Baikal. Today we will go for a walk to the south from Khakusy Bay. During the walk we will visit Cape Aman-Kit, which separates the Khakusy Bay and the Bolshoy Samdakan Bay and belongs to the Frolikhinsky State Nature Reserve.
The picturesque cliffs of Cape Aman-Kit look very different from different sides. They appear as majestic pillars from the Khakusy Bay side and are mysteriously beautiful from the Bolshoy Samdakan Bay side. The stone pillars here are replaced by turrets and reliefs, reminiscent of castles to some, and other figures to others. If you look closely, you can see the profile of a beautiful oriental girl in a Mongolian headdress. According to Evenk myths, the rock on Cape Aman-Kit personified the powerful deity of Baikal - Dianda. The peculiarity of the arc-like stone cape Aman-Kit is a powerful and clear echo, which has no equal on Baikal. We will also approach Cape Turali. One of the natural attractions is located here - the Papakha rock. It is worth visiting Turali in order to see a miracle of nature - bottle larches. At the root of such trees, the bark thickens, and the trunk begins to resemble a bottle in shape. The same larches grow on the Ushkany Islands, but getting there is much more difficult than visiting Turali.
The walking route will be 20 km, along the way we will have a snack with hot tea. After the walk we will return to the base.
Khakusy: Biraya Bay, Tukalagardy Bay, Ayaya Bay
This time we will go to explore the natural beauty located to the north of our base. The walk will take the whole day (if you wish, you can stay at the base and rest).
We will pass through Biraya Bay and Tukalagardy Bay, past the capes of the same name, and come out to Ayaya Bay, one of the most beautiful on Baikal. Its waters cut into the shore for almost five kilometers and are surrounded by steep slopes, which protects the bay itself from the winds that walk there. In the summer, Ayaya Bay often serves as a refuge during a storm, as a quiet harbor to wait out the bad weather. The beauty of these places is also indicated by the name of the bay. There are two opinions about its origin. The first is that it comes from the Evenki "Aya" - which literally translates as "beautiful", "wonderful". And secondly, once upon a time, a long time ago, a lost hunter, having come to the shore of the bay, exclaimed in amazement, "Ayaya, God, how beautiful!".
Having looked at this beauty, we return to the base. The walking route will be about 30 km, but since we will be walking on the smooth ice of Lake Baikal lightly, this will not be difficult, we will take hot tea in thermoses and a hearty snack with us. In the evening we will return to the base.
Khakusy: rest at the base
We will dedicate this day to rest at the base: we will walk around the area, admire the lake shore and picturesque forest, and warm ourselves in the springs.
Khakusy - Severobaykalsk / Goudzhekit
Transfer from Khakusy Bay to Severobaykalsk. Accommodation at the hotel. If desired, for an additional fee, in the afternoon you can take a trip to Goudzhekit by taxi (35 km from Severobaykalsk), there are also hot springs, on which a bathhouse was built - a two-story wooden house, under the veranda of which there are two pools with hot water in the open air. The house has two changing rooms, living rooms and a large hall with a billiard table, in the basement there is a cafe and a hotel complex. The cost of visiting is about 300 rubles for 1.5 hours.
Overnight at the hotel in Severobaykalsk.
Dzelinda
We will have an excursion to an amazing place, also famous for its hot mineral springs and picturesque nature - Dzelinda. Here, too, there is a recreation center with mineral pools, but the most beautiful place is not in this, but in the so-called "wild" springs. Among the fabulous winter forest, about 2 km from the tourist center, there is one of the exits of a hot spring. In winter, when the cold air here meets the steam from the source, everything around is covered with thick sparkling frost. It is so beautiful that you can't call it anything else but a fairy tale. Trees in crystal frost, mountain masses, snow and silence. There is also a font and a changing house, so you can swim in hot water in the middle of a snowy forest. One nuance: the changing room is not heated, however, given the water temperature of about 45 degrees, if you do not delay the process of changing clothes, you are unlikely to freeze. If someone wants to swim in greater comfort, they can use the paid pools at the recreation center.
In the evening we return to Severobaikalsk.
To home
Time to say goodbye to the north of Baikal, check out of the hotel before 12:00 and transfer to the Severobaikalsk railway station.
Tour cost: € 1100
The tour price includes:
hotel accommodation in Severobaykalsk (3 nights) and a tourist center in Khakusy Bay (4 nights);
transfer to Khakusy Bay and back;
Meals during your stay at the tourist center in Khakusy Bay: hot breakfast, lunch and dinner (during long daytime walks, a dry ration is provided instead of lunch);
Visiting excursions and attractions specified in the tour program;
all transfers by transport, provided for by the tour program;
work of the tour organizer, accompanying the group all days of the tour and resolving all issues that arise.
The tour price does NOT include:
air tickets and/or train tickets to Severobaikalsk;
accommodation before and after the tour start date;
meals during stay in Severobaykalsk (in the city we eat in cafes and restaurants, ordering from the menu at our own expense);
medical insurance;
other expenses not listed in the “included in price” section
The tour is not difficult and is suitable for everyone, we will have comfortable overnight stays at tourist centers and hotels, short (no more than 1.5 hours) transfers by transport and walks exclusively light. The two longest walks for the whole day are radial exits, and participation in them is not mandatory, you can relax at the tourist center, walk and swim in the hot springs.
Important: if you have serious chronic diseases or cardiovascular diseases, consult a doctor about the possibility of visiting thermal springs. You should not swim in the springs while intoxicated. People with infectious skin diseases are prohibited from visiting the baths.
Read more
March on Baikal is still winter and, since our route includes long walks in the fresh air, it is worth taking the choice of clothing seriously. The air temperature at this time of year is usually - 10 - 20 °C during the day and -15 - 25 °C at night, but frosts down to - 30 °C and below are possible. To make your trip comfortable, you will need a warm winter down jacket and insulated pants (down or similar synthetic ones with insulation, you can use ski pants). Also required: warm winter thermal underwear, fleece or woolen jacket, gloves, insulated windproof mittens, several pairs of woolen socks, a warm hat, a scarf. It would be a good idea to take a ski mask: it perfectly protects from both the wind and the bright sun. Trekking poles may be useful for your convenience. Bring hygienic lipstick and rich cream so that your lips and face do not get chapped in the cold. Choose warm and comfortable shoes, the size of the shoes should allow you to wear warm woolen socks, and their comfort should allow you to take long walks and be on your feet all day. Be sure to take a thermos for tea (at least half a liter) and a small backpack (20-25 liters) for going for walks, excursions and swimming in thermal springs. To visit the hot springs, you will need a bathing suit (swimming trunks), rubber slippers, a towel, and a warm hat (note, not a rubber swimming cap, but a warm woolen one: the springs are outside, and when your body warms up in the hot water, your head is in the cold).
1. If you are interested in this tour, leave a request through the registration form on this page or write to us at WhatsApp, Telegram or by email, we will contact you and answer all your questions.
2. To reserve a place, you must make an advance payment of 30% of the tour cost. The advance payment is made through the website (section Payment) and is refundable 45 days or more before the start of the tour and non-refundable, unfortunately, less than 45 days before the start, if the refund is related to your refusal to participate (for any reason). If the tour does not take place due to our fault, due to the group not being formed, or due to force majeure, the advance payment will be guaranteed to be returned to you in any case.
3. The final payment is made on the first day of the tour. You can pay using the QR code that the tour organizer will provide you, in cash, or through the website.
If you like hotter tours winter hikes, or if you are not satisfied with the program / dates / cost of this tour, pay attention to our hike along winter Baikal:
If you like hotter tours winter hikes, or if you are not satisfied with the program / dates / cost of this tour, pay attention to our hike along winter Baikal:
Winter hike on Lake Baikal
Hiking around the Svyatoy Nos Peninsula
18 – 27 February 2026Complexity: