Where to relax on Lake Baikal in autumn. Golden autumn on Baikal
Day 1 Arrival in Arshan
You will be met at the Irkutsk airport and taken to a restaurant serving Siberian cuisine for breakfast. Afterwards you will be transferred in a comfortable minibus to the village of Arshan. At first, the road will go along a serpentine surrounded by dense forest past the southern point Baikal. Then you will drive through the picturesque steppes, against which lie the Eastern Sayan Mountains with snow-capped peaks.
Along the way, you will make stops for photography in the most picturesque places. In Arshan you will have lunch in a cafe where you will try the dishes national cuisine: Buryat poses, giant chebureks and traditional tea with milk.
You will devote the rest of the day to walking around the village, and in the evening you will go to the Khoymorsky datsan “Bodhidharma” and take sunset photography. Afterwards you will return to the hotel in Arshan, have dinner (additional charge) and relax.
Day 2 Coymore Lakes and Circum-Baikal Railway
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred by UAZ to the Coymore Lakes. Getting to these places is quite difficult, but the scenery here is simply incredible. Mountains, covered in morning fog, are reflected in the mirror-like surface of the lakes, and the autumn taiga adds colorful colors to these pictures.
You will arrange landscape photography on the lakes, and then go to the village of Kultuk, located on the very shore of Lake Baikal, surrounded by mountains. On the way you will have lunch, taking lunch boxes with you.
Will be waiting for you in Kultuk speed boat, which will take you to the famous Circum-Baikal railway. Legendary tunnels and ancient viaducts, powerful retaining walls and wooden buildings from the early 19th century - all this combined with picturesque nature Lake Baikal is a unique photo zone.
Then you will go to the village of Listvyanka, where you will stay in a cozy hotel. In the evening you will have dinner (additional charge) and relaxation.
Day 3 Along west bank Baikal on a comet
On this day, you will have a boat trip on a comet from Listvyanka to the village of Bolshiye Koty. Here you will make an easy climb to Cape Skriper, which offers magnificent views of the vast expanses of Lake Baikal.
In this picturesque place you will have a picnic, and then continue your photo walk along the shore of the lake and through the taiga. You will admire the amazing Baikal nature and take a lot of photographs. To Listvyanka you come back already in the evening, relax and share your impressions and pictures of the past day.
Day 4 Ogoy Island
After breakfast, you will pack your things and set off along the Baikal Highway through Irkutsk to Big Baikal. You will drive past the Tazheran steppes and stop for lunch at a local cafe.
In the afternoon you will arrive at the Small Sea - famous strait, separating Olkhon Island from the mainland. Here a boat will be waiting for you, on which you will go to Ogoy Island.
The island itself is small and no people have ever lived here. Therefore, it is considered a “pure land”, free from negative energy. On the island of Ogoy in 2005, the Stupa of Enlightenment was installed, symbolizing the goal of the Buddhist path - knowing yourself and your mind.
On Ogoy Island you will take sunset photography, and then take a boat to Olkhon Island. You will disembark in Khuzhir and be accommodated at a recreation center. In the evening you will have dinner and relax.
Day 5 Landscapes of Olkhon Island
Today after breakfast you will have a walk around Khuzhir and a visit to its main attraction - Cape Burkhan (Shamanka rock). According to legend, the spirit of Olkhon, Khan Khute-baabai, lives in the cave of this cape. This place has long been considered sacred by shamans.
Then you will drive a UAZ to the north of the island. This route will allow you to see all the natural diversity of Olkhon. First, the road will pass through a small forest, which will gradually give way to hills and colorful steppe. Next you will move through the Peschanoye tract, where you will see real dunes.
By evening you will arrive in the area of Uzury, where only one family lives. The hosts will warmly welcome you and invite you to dinner, and you will spend the night in their guest house.
Day 6 Travel to Cape Khoboy
You will devote your entire day to photographing the various landscapes of Olkhon Island.
First you will go to the northernmost tip of the island - Cape Khoboy. Its name is translated from the Buryat language as “fang”. Indeed, the shape of the cape is a columnar rock, reminiscent of a sharp fang. This place is shrouded in many legends and is considered sacred for the Buryat people.
After photographing at Cape Khoboy, you will set off on your way back to Khuzhir. Along the way, you will stop at the most picturesque places for a photo shoot and a picnic. Arriving in Khuzhir, you will stay at the recreation center, and after dinner you will go to catch incredible sunsets on the shores of Lake Baikal.
Day 7 Jeeping in the Tazheran steppes
In the morning you will take dawn photography, then have breakfast and set off to explore the Tazheran steppes in off-road vehicles.
This steppe area itself is unique: about 150 different minerals are concentrated here on every square kilometer. Also in the Tazheran steppes there are the most famous caves on Lake Baikal, unusual stone outcrops and many salt lakes.
You will make stops in bays with magnificent views panoramic views Baikal, photograph the endless expanses of the steppe, which in autumn are painted in bright yellow-orange tones.
In the afternoon you will arrive in Irkutsk and check into a hotel. Afterwards you will have free time for a walk around the city. In the evening you will have dinner on your own and relax.
Day 8 Homecoming
In the morning after breakfast you will be taken to Irkutsk airport, from where you will go home.
Baikal in the fall is especially interesting for mushroom pickers, romantics, photographers, fishermen... The colorful autumn Baikal landscapes will not leave anyone indifferent!
Weather in autumn
September on Baikal is similar to summer August - you can swim and sunbathe. In October, golden autumn comes into its own - everything is still dry, and there is a riot of colors around: it is at this time that excursion and photo tours to Lake Baikal are especially popular. At the end of autumn, in November, the winds increase, it becomes cold and damp. In autumn there are few tourists on Lake Baikal - hotels become empty and prices go down. Active travelers in the fall can go to one of most interesting tours– “Baikal Wanderer”, “Weekend on Baikal”, “Velvet Autumn on Baikal”...
What else to do in the fall?
- Explore the surroundings of Lake Baikal on an ATV or on foot with a camera in hand;
- Pick berries and mushrooms in the Siberian forest (possible “trophies” include boletus, milk mushrooms, saffron milk caps, cranberries, pine nuts);
- Join the horseback riding participants;
- Get a balm from aromatic Siberian herbs at the market;
- The whole family can relax in the rope park on Sobolina Mountain “Wookie Park” (3 routes);
- Visit Listvyanka: the village is interesting with the St. Nicholas Church, the Baikal Museum, observation deck“Chersky Stone”;
- Visit the Circum-Baikal Railway - it runs along the shore of the lake. To view the beauty of the autumn taiga, it is advisable to take a trip on a tourist train;
- The first half of autumn is ideal for visiting Peschanaya Bay - thanks to the mild climate, this area received another name - the Baikal Riviera;
- In autumn, you should definitely visit the largest island of the lake - Olkhon.
Baikal is very beautiful in autumn and is ideal for relaxation for those who value peace and comfort.
Holidays on Lake Baikal in the fall of 2019 are an excellent option for how to profitably spend your vacation in the off-season. Baikal is the most deep lake on the planet - located on the border of the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia.
The lake is surrounded mountain ranges and hills, many rivers and streams flow into it, and its length coastline is 2100 km.
The water in Baikal is so clear that you can see stones and various objects at a depth of 40 m. Over 2.5 thousand aquatic animals live here, about half of which are found only here. The flora of Lake Baikal is also unique.
Holidays on Baikal in the fall of 2019 - recreation centers
One of the most popular holiday destinations among tourists is the village of Listvyanka, which is located 65 km from Irkutsk, on the shores of Lake Baikal at the source of the Angara River. Many cruises on the lake start from here.
Other favorite places recreation - “Baikal Harbor” near the Barguzin Bay, the villages of Novy Enkheluk, Zarechye, Sukhaya, where you can stay in holiday homes, recreation centers and even yurts, Chivyrkuisky Bay, where there are many picturesque bays and healing springs.
Tourists visit the Svyatoy Nos peninsula, hydrogen sulfide thermal source Zagza near the river with the same name, Posolsky Sor Bay, where the recreational area Baikal Surf - Kultushnaya.
For vacationers, horseback riding and hiking, cruises on motor ships, boat trips with visits to numerous islands and islets. For independent travel You can rent boats or ATVs.
Holidays on Lake Baikal in the autumn season mean picking berries, mushrooms, pine cones and, of course, fishing.
Excursion routes for tourists for 5 days in September-October along the route Irkutsk - Olkhon Island - Irkutsk will cost 13 thousand rubles per person, weekend routes - 5 thousand rubles per person
Holidays in the fall of 2019 on Lake Baikal - prices at recreation centers
Holidays on Lake Baikal in the fall of 2019 are offered by numerous recreation centers. During this period, prices here are lower than in summer.
A double room at the Solnechnaya recreation center on Olkhon Island with two meals a day will cost from 950 rubles per day, without meals - from 600 rubles, a double house - from 1150 rubles per day; Children under five years old are accommodated free of charge.
The recreation center offers a beautiful panorama of Lake Baikal; nearby is the famous Shamanka rock and the sandy beach of Saraisky Bay.
At the Laguna Ranch camp site (Kurma, Small Sea) you can rent comfortable rooms for 1070 rubles per day, a double house for 670-770 rubles, a cottage with a bathhouse for 1570-1870 rubles.
Experienced instructors will help beginners master horse riding skills, and experienced riders will have an exciting ride.
Autumn is the time for photographers, mushroom pickers and romantics. The first ones do not have time to change drives: the colorful Baikal landscapes are breathtaking, because the most colorful season is just around the corner. If September more like August then in October golden autumn is coming. It’s still dry, but a real extravaganza of colors is unfolding around. The taiga is colored in all shades of gold - from shining yellow to ocher tones, red and green.
Weather
IN September or October The most cunning people go to Baikal to relax: they know that at this time golden days come to the lake. Until August, the water column slowly but surely warms up, and from September it begins to release heat to the air and ground. Therefore, the weather in Listvyanka in the fall is five to ten degrees warmer and milder than in Irkutsk, the city closest to Lake Baikal. The days are usually warm and calm at this time.
Peace and quiet
In autumn, Listvyanka becomes even quieter. This time is preferred by people who love peace and solitude. The tourist flow dries up and no one bothers you to enjoy the views of the clear sky, white clouds and blue water. The occupancy of hotels and tourist centers is decreasing, and housing prices are falling. And yet the majority excursion programs until mid-October are quite accessible, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on something interesting. Quad biking, trips to hot springs in Arshan, trips to Olkhon, horseback riding, fishing - all these are quite autumn activities, just like hiking. After a busy day, guests flock home. And it’s nice to greet the onset of darkness with a cup of tea, flavored with a balm of aromatic Siberian herbs. These balms are sold very close by, at a small market on the Listvyanka pier. It’s already getting colder in the evenings, and the most pleasant thing is to take a steam bath in the Siberian one, which is a stone’s throw from our house. November pleases lovers of fish and fishing: at this time the catch of omul, the main Baikal delicacy, is the largest. True, the weather at this time is already harsh, this is the time of storms and winds.
“Golden Autumn” is the most famous work of the Russian artist Levitan. But today the conversation will not be about paintings, but about autumn landscapes around Lake Baikal in the southern part of Eastern Siberia - deepest lake on Earth.
Reference.“Golden Autumn” is a painting by Russian artist Isaac Levitan (1860-1900), painted in 1895. The painting is part of the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery. The painting was painted in the Gorka estate on the territory of the Vyshnevolotsky district of the Tver province. Levitan in general, but the painting “Golden Autumn” is one of the artist’s most famous works. (Clickable, 1600×1040 px):
Needless to say, like most travel sufferers, Baikal has always been a special place for me that I definitely wanted to visit. The year before last in October, having abandoned a bunch of unfinished tasks, at the invitation of letica, I flew to Irkutsk.
From Listvyanka to Goloustnoye
The first part of the trip was exclusively on foot, under a backpack. It was an easy 3-day walk, just what you need to understand that you are on Lake Baikal, to feel what a real Golden Autumn is, to understand why local residents They call Baikal the sea...
Baikal is located in the center of the Asian continent on the border of the Irkutsk region and Buryatia. The lake stretches from northeast to southwest for 620 km in the form of a giant crescent.
The width of Lake Baikal varies from 25 to 79 km. The bottom of Lake Baikal is located at 1,167 meters below the level of the World Ocean, and its surface is 453 meters above.
The water surface area of Baikal is also impressive - 31,720 sq. km. (excluding islands), which is approximately equal to the area of countries such as Belgium or the Netherlands. Although in terms of water surface area, Baikal ranks only 6th among the largest lakes in the world (1st place behind the Caspian Sea).
As already mentioned, Baikal is the deepest lake on Earth. Modern meaning maximum depth lake - 1642 meters - was established in 1983. Average depth The lake is also very large - almost 745 meters.
Besides Baikal, only two lakes on Earth have a depth of more than 1,000 meters: Tanganyika in Central Africa (1,470 m) and the already mentioned Caspian Sea (1,025 m).
The water reserves in Baikal are gigantic - about 19% of the world's lake fresh water reserves.
Cape Kadilny
We spent the night at Cape Kadilny. We settled in a deserted base where, in Soviet times, workers lived who slaked lime in a nearby abandoned quarry. Hence the name of the place - Kadilny.
In the evening the clouds gathered. Desertion, cold and a black bull walking between the houses created a gloomy and alarming mood. However, with the onset of morning, everything again sparkled with the colors of life.
In winter, Baikal freezes entirely, except for a small section of 15–20 km in length located at the source of the Angara. There is a very beautiful report about this on the website “”.
Malomorye. Hurricane and sunset
The road from Irkutsk to Baikal lies through ridges of hills decorated with golden larches. First a good highway, then a tooth-crushing primer. The hills give way to semi-steppe areas. And from one of the peaks there is a view of the part of Baikal called Malomorye. This is a picturesque coastline, indented by small bays and bays. We find an overnight stay at one of the camp sites that are empty during the off-season, so that we can move on in the morning.
Hurricane! This was a case where you shouldn't spit into the wind. And who would have thought that such a gloomy and stormy day would end with an explosion of colors at sunset!
Early the next morning. Having overcome sleep, I crawl out of the warm house in the hope of catching the sunrise. But the sky is overcast. It looks like the promised bad weather has finally caught up with us. Sad. It seems that you can relax until the evening. But I was wrong. See for yourself.
Farewell to the Small Sea and the Anga River Delta
We turned off the highway and drove along the dirt road towards the Anga River delta. Even on topographic map she looked picturesque. We drive past inquisitive, friendly calves:
Past the horses!
Along the most picturesque steppe...
Autumn Baikal:
Delta of the Anga River. The contrast of the yellow grass and the smooth, pattern-drawn, dark blue bends of the riverbed is magnificent:
In the mountains of Eastern Sayan
And then there was an unexpected offer from a good friend to rush towards Mongolia, to highest point Eastern Sayan, Munku-Sardyk.
A little before reaching the border with Mongolia we found a decent cafe. Having agreed with the owner that he would look after the car, we took our backpacks and walked up the river bed, which was dry at this time of year:
Suddenly we noticed a cloud of dust ahead. At that moment I was glad that I had a telephoto lens, but was upset that for shooting wildlife The increase would need to be 2 times greater, at least! For the first time in my life I saw a huge herd of Siberian mountain goats! There they are, preparing to cross the canyon. Just a little time - and they are already on another part of the gorge, climbing an almost vertical wall at a speed impossible for humans!
The night is coming:
“The one who walks will master the road!” - the spirit Munku-Sardyk tells me:
This is somehow how I imagined Siberia all my life, even before I got to know it.
One evening and one morning on Olkhon island
This is Olkhon Island - largest island Lake Baikal. Length - 71 km, width - up to 12 km, area - 730 sq. km.
Not far from the outer side of Olkhon there is also deepest place Baikal (1642 m).
On Olkhon you can find all the diversity of natural landscapes: there are also steppes, completely “Baltic” sandy beaches with dunes, hills and coniferous groves, and dense forests, and harsh marble rocks, and even swamps, lushly overgrown with aquatic plants.
What else should I write?..) Look.
Baikal is the deepest lake on Earth.
