olkhon island tour

How To Visit Olkhon Island (Backpacker’s Guide & Itinerary)

April 12, 2020.

Everything you need to know about visiting Olkhon Island, one of the most beautiful places in Siberia. Covers all practical info such as how to get there, where to stay, and things to do.

Olkhon Island is one of Siberia’s hidden gems. It’s located in the middle of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake. It’s a fairly common summertime destination for Russian tourists, but very few foreign tourists visit it.

Olkhon Island is best visited as a stop along the Trans-Siberian Railway (or Trans-Mongolian), as it’s pretty far from the big Russian cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

I’ve created this detailed Olkhon Island travel guide to provide you with all the details you need to know to plan your trip. Let’s get right into it!

• 1 Why visit Olkhon Island?
• 2 When to visit Olkhon Island
• 3 How to get to Olkhon Island
• 4 Where to stay in Irkutsk
• 5 Where to stay on Olkhon Island
• 6 Things to do on Olkhon Island
• 7.1 Day 1 – Irkutsk to Olkhon Island
• 7.2 Day 2 – Cape Khoboy Day Trip
• 7.3 Day 3 – Return to Irkutsk
• 8 Olkhon Island Guide Wrap-Up

Why visit Olkhon Island?

Olkhon Island is the world’s third-largest lake island and is inhabited by the indigenous Buryat peoples, and most of it the island is covered in untouched nature.

It is a paradise for people who just like to get out into nature and do their own thing. There’s so much untouched land here, so you can get creative! Cycling, kayaking, and hiking are just a few of the activities that are possible.

More and more people are discovering Siberia’s beauty, and I think that it’s only a matter of time before more international tourists begin to visit Olkhon Island.

When to visit Olkhon Island

Olkhon Island is best visited in the summer months if you’re looking for warmish weather. June to September is ideal for outdoor activities like swimming and kayaking.

In the wintertime, Lake Baikal freezes and there’s very little tourism to Olkhon. However, Siberia is very unique in the winter – and it’s a really interesting time to visit as long as you’re prepared with warm clothes.

No matter what time of year that you’re in Siberia, I still recommend trying to visit Olkhon Island. It’s a magical place and has a unique look with every season.

How to get to Olkhon Island

Olkhon Island is about 250 kilometres north-east of the Siberian city of Irkutsk.

During the summertime, you can get to Olkhon Island by bus or marshrutka (or private taxi, if you’re not worried about price).

By road, it takes between six and seven hours to reach Olkhon Island, including a 15-minute ferry ride along the way. The Olkhon Island ferry runs only from May to December. In the winter, the lake is completely frozen and an ice road is created across it (so vehicles can drive directly to the island).

During the mid-seasons when the lake isn’t completely melted, nor completely frozen, there is a mini hovercraft that takes travellers to the island for an additional 400 RUB/per person.

The easiest way to get to Olkhon Island is to arrange a bus ticket with your accommodation in Irkutsk. Your hostel or hotel will be able to arrange you a round-trip ticket to the island for about 2000 RUB, including a small commission.

If you wish to take a bus, there are four buses departing daily from Irkutsk’s central bus station.

Where to stay in Irkutsk

You’ll need to stay a night or two in Irkutsk before and after your Olkhon Island trip, so here’s where I recommend staying when you’re there.

Budget: Rolling Stones Hostel is an awesome Rolling Stones themed hostel located in the center of the city. It’s even got a bar, and they’ll be able to help you arrange transport to Olkhon Island.

Check the latest Rolling Stones Hostel prices here

Mid-range: Hotel Marx is a modern hotel in the heart of Irkutsk. Includes an awesome free breakfast. This is a fantastic place to stay if you’re looking for privacy and comfort.

Check the latest Hotel Marx prices here

Where to stay on Olkhon Island

The main village on Olkhon Island is called Khuzir, and that is where your transport from Irkutsk will drop you. There are a couple of very nice homestays in Khuzir that offer full room and board, and offer day trips to other parts of the island.

Budget: Mini Hotel Baikal has single rooms available for solo travellers, and is one of the most affordable places to stay on Olkhon Island. It’s located right beside town on a nice beachfront property.

Check the latest Mini Hotel Baikal prices here

Mid-range: Guesthouse Voskresenie is one of the nicest places to stay on Olkhon Island. It has really nice rustic-themed rooms and great facilities.

Check the latest Guesthouse Voskresenie  prices here

Camping : There’s a number of campgrounds on the island, so if you have a tent with you these could be a good option. The island is massive, so if you want to explore a bit there are a ton of places to wild camp.

Things to do on Olkhon Island

Olkhon Island has a ton of different things to do . In Khuzir, you can visit the beach, along with the incredible Shaman Rock (make sure to see it at sunset!).

For excursions outside of Khuzir, I’d recommend booking with your guesthouse. I found them to be reasonably priced, and you’ll get your transport and lunch covered. There isn’t any public transportation around the island, so unless you have your own vehicle this is the only way. There are a few places that can also be accessed via bicycles that can be rented from your accommodation.

Cape Khoboy : This is a must-do activity when visiting Olkhon Island. Cape Khoboy is the northernmost tip of the island and offers incredible views of Lake Baikal. My guesthouse offered tours to the cape for 1000 RUB ($13), which included all transport, entrance fees, and a small lunch.

Other possible excursions include fishing, boat tours, and camping trips. Almost all excursions can be booked the day before, so feel free to just show up and decide when you get here!

3-Day Olkhon Island Itinerary

Three days is the perfect amount of time for a first timer’s visit to Olkhon Island, although if you can stay for longer than don’t hesitate to!

Day 1 – Irkutsk to Olkhon Island

Get picked up from your hostel in Irkutsk around 9 am, and arrive in Khuzir at 2 pm or so. Views along the way are beautiful, so try to get a window seat!

In Khuzir, take an afternoon walk to the Shaman Rock and watch the sunset over Lake Baikal.

Day 2 – Cape Khoboy Day Trip

Arrange a tour with your accommodation to visit Cape Khoboy on the northern end of the island. This is a full-day trip – you’ll leave in the morning and arrive back in Khuzir in the late afternoon. You’ll get to see some really beautiful parts of the island during this trip, so don’t forget to bring your camera!

Day 3 –  Return to Irkutsk

Depart Khuzir in the morning, and arrive back in Irkutsk in the afternoon.

Olkhon Island Guide Wrap-Up

I hope this post has helped you plan your trip to Olkhon Island. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been – I’m sure you’ll love it. there

Of course, feel free to ask in the comments if you’ve got any other questions!

In the meantime, why not check out some of my other posts:

• The 9 Most Incredible Trans-Siberian Railway Stops – If you’re planning on taking the Trans-Siberian Railway to Olkhon Island, here are some other places that you need to stop along the way!
• 61 Useful Tips for Travelling to Mongolia (Backpacker’s Guide) – If you’re continuing onto Mongolia after visiting Siberia, be sure to check out this post for everything you need to know.
• 65 Useful Tips for Travelling in China (Backpacker’s Guide) – The final destination on the Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian Railway is China, so here’s all my advice for travelling there!

Yay transparency!  There are affiliate links in this guide. If you book or buy something using my links, I’ll make a bit of money  at no extra cost to you.

21-year old Canadian dude who loves to visit off-the-beaten-path places, climb tall mountains, and try delicious foods.

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7 thoughts on “ How To Visit Olkhon Island (Backpacker’s Guide & Itinerary) ”

Thanks for this post. How many days/nights did you spend on Olkhon Island?

No problem! I spent three nights there if I remember correctly. So that means two full days to explore Olkhon Island 🙂

This looks absolutely amazing! I have some very vague plans to visit Lake Baikal one day and you just convinced me that I absolutely have to do it!

Your experience inspired me a lot. Thank you for useful information.

Happy to help! Safe travels 🙂

Amazing post! I’m currently having so much wanderlust (due to the pandemic probably) that I am unsure where to travel first after most of this is over. I had some time to google more about Russia and I am amazed by how beautiful the nature is. I’ll make sure to pay Olkhon Island a visit.

All the best from Germany, Vanessa

Russia really is beautiful! I hope you get a chance to visit when it’s safe to 🙂

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Olkhon Island tours

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OLKHON ISLAND 2 DAY TOUR

OLKHON ISLAND 3 DAY TOUR

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Shaman Rocks

The unmistakable Shaman Rocks are neither huge nor spectacular, but they have become the archetypal Baikal vista found on postcards and travel-guide…

Khuzhir’s small museum displays a random mix of stuffed animals, Soviet-era junk, local art and the personal possessions of its founder, Nikolai Revyakin,…

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Olkhon Island with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

A guide to Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal, Russia

If you’re travelling the Siberian railway, the chances are you’ll stop off at Irkutsk, Russia in Siberia. And, if you do, then a trip to Olkhon Island is one of the best things to do in Irkutsk!

Olkhon Island is a popular Siberia holiday destination thanks to its wildness and beauty.

If you’re trying to decide whether to extend your stay in Russia and travel to Olkhon Island be sure to check out this guide to Olkhon!

Useful resources and articles for planning your Trans Mongolia Railway trip

• Our Trans Siberian Railway itinerary
• How much did our trip cost?
• How to book and plan a Trans Siberian Railway trip
• Lonely Planet Trans Siberian Railway guide
• Booking.com for great deals on accommodation
• Getyourguide.com to find great small-group tours

About Olkhon Island

For people visiting Irkutsk, if they’re not travelling to Listvyanka, they make the long journey out to Olkhon Island.

Olkhon Island, Russia is the largest island in Lake Baikal and the 3rd largest lake island in the world! It makes a great 2 day/3 night trip if you’re visiting Siberia.

There’s only one town on Olkhon Island, Khuzhir. Expect sandy roads (there are no paved roads on the entire island of Olkhon!), and restaurants run out of Ger camps .

This is where all the hostels and hotels in Olkhon are and also where to go for food and Baikal gifts.

Considered one of five global poles of shamanic energy by the Buryat people, Olkhon Island is popular with both tourists and locals. Although, from what we could tell, the locals tend to view it as a camping destination rather than splashing out on the more expensive hotels in Khuzhir.

• Top tip: Take cash as there aren’t any cash machines on the island!

Where is Olkhon Island?

Olkhon Island is an island in Lake Baikal. It’s the largest island in the lake and is around 300km away from Irkutsk in Siberia.

How to get to Olkhon Island

Getting from Irkutsk to Olkhon Island requires a car and a short ferry trip (20ish minutes). You can either hire your own car or take a bus to Olkhon Island from Irkutsk.

Self-drive to Olkhon Island

If you want to be able to stop off when and where you want then you can get an Irkutsk car rental and drive to Olkhon Island yourself.

The advantage of this is you can leave when you want and don’t need to go around the hotels and hostels in Irkutsk as the buses do.

You can also use the car on Olkhon Island to tour the island a bit more without having to pay for a tour.

However, there are some disadvantages. If you’re renting make sure your rental agreement allows you to take the car offroad.

There aren’t any paved roads on Olkhon Island and the road is dusty, bumpy and pot-holey. You don’t want to do have to pay for any damage!

The other disadvantage is that you may get stuck in a super long queue for the ferry. The queue is pretty much unavoidable in the summer which is peak season for Olkhon Island.

If you’re on a bus your driver will go straight to the front of the queue which can save several hours.

I use comparison sites like DiscoverCars and RentalCars to book my car rentals as it’s easy to check prices and compare the best deals!

Getting to Olkhon from Irkutsk by bus

We chose to get the bus to Olkhon from Irkutsk.

This was very easy to arrange at our hostel and pretty much every hostel and hotel in Irkutsk will be able to help you with this.

The standard cost when booking through a hostel seems to be 1000 rubles each way.

You can find it cheaper if you book through another company or go directly to the bus station. If you do go from the bus station you’ll need to book in advance as the tickets are usually sold out.

A ticket to Olkhon on this bus is approximately 500 rubles and 100 rubles for one piece of baggage.

The bus does take a long time and sometimes the drivers are late (ours was 2 hours late picking us up) but you do get to skip the ferry queue which is a bonus when you see how long it gets!

Staying in Irkutsk for a few days? See what to do in Irkutsk here!

Where to stay on Olkhon Island

There’s a lot of variety in places when it comes to where to stay on Olkhon Island. There are hostels, hotels and hippy-looking domes. Here are a few of the best places.

Olkhon Island hotels

• Baikal Wood Eco Lodge & Spa: We treated ourselves on Olkhon Island and booked somewhere more expensive than we’d usually stay. The rooms here are lovely and the hotel has great facilities. (however I wouldn’t recommend eating in their restaurant for dinner, it’s way more expensive than elsewhere and not necessarily worth the money).
• Hotei Guest House: Including breakfast, the Hotei Guest House has a bar, terrace, restaurant and shared kitchen and even karaoke.
• Olkhon Story Guesthouse: Has double or twin guest rooms with a private bathroom. The Olkhon Story guesthouse also has free bikes and a terrace.

Olkhon Island hostels

• Nikita hotel: Nikita lodge is perhaps the biggest accommodation on Olkhon Island. The Nikita homestead guest house has been hosting travellers for around 15 years. Serves tasty food, organises tours around the island.  Book in advance as fills up quickly.
• Sunny hostel:  Private rooms & 4-bed dorms, price includes breakfast.

What to do on Olkhon Island

Be sure to add these things to do on Olkhon Island to your list!

Shaman Rock

Shaman Rock (also known as Cape Burkhan, Shamansky Cape, Cave Cape) is one of the most popular places on the whole island. There are prayer flags, a few beaches and, of course, the rock. We spent the morning hanging out in the sun by the rock and taking dips in the water and it was lovely.

Have a Russian sauna experience on the beach

On Saraiskii Bay Beach there are a couple of small wooden saunas. On our trip down to the beach one evening we had a great time watching people coming out of the saunas and running into the lake to cool off before heading back to the sauna again.

Omul is the name given to Baikal fish. While you’re staying on Olkhon Island make sure to eat some!

Catch the sunset on the beach

We loved watching the sunset on Saraiskii Bay Beach It was absolutely beautiful and the sand here is super nice.

We’re pretty sure it must’ve been imported from somewhere since it’s totally different from anywhere else and there’s a noticeable difference between the sand towards the back of the beach, and that near the lake’s waters.

Swim in Lake Baikal

We’d been told that the waters in Lake Baikal were absolutely freezing but we were pleasantly surprised. Maybe we’re just used to the waters around BC which tend to be pretty cold too!

I’m sure the water is cold further away from the shore but be sure to pack your swimsuit as you won’t want to miss taking a swim in Lake Baikal on a hot day.

Take a kayak tour on the lake

You can arrange a kayak trip through some hotels or the tourist information trip. Most tours are 2 hours which is plenty if you’re not used to kayaking!

Hunt out secret beaches and get a different viewpoint of the lake and the island from the comfort of your kayak!

Take an Olkhon Island tour

Olkhon Island tours go to the north of the island and the standard tour takes a whole day. Tours take place in a UAZ minivan that you’ll see everywhere on the island.

On the tour, you’ll go up to Cape Khoboy which is at the very northern tip of Olkhon and is where seals sometimes hang out.

Most accommodations on Olkhon Island will be able to help you organise a tour if they don’t run their own.

Lake Shara-Nur

Shara-Nur (Yellow Lake) is a brine lake on Olkhon Island. It’s a great place to swim if Baikal is too cold for you since it’s sheltered from the winds by forest and hills!

Last Updated on March 13, 2023 by Hannah

Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe , a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada , you’ll find posts on all of this.

Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.

Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.

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Summer Olkhon Island Tour (2 days)

• Private transportation
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• All Fees and Taxes
• Entry/Admission - Cape Burkhan/Shamanka Rock
• If you need: 1st day lunch, 2nd day diner
• Irkutsk Airport, Irkutsk Russia
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Infant seats available
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Most travelers can participate
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

• Boris L 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles 非常好的體驗 雖然這趟旅程在住宿方面出現了一點點阻滯，不過Andrew & Alexander 盡他們最大努力去解決事情，令我們得到方便及理想的住宿. Alexander 風趣幽默有禮，令我們的旅程添加一隻色彩。Without him for guiding us in this trip, it will not be wonderful. Thanks Alexander and Andrew. Read more Written March 13, 2024
• nuch0311 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Incredible trip We (a group of 4 of us) had the opportunity to travel to Irkutsk and Baikal lake organized by Baikal Vision. We are well traveled and have high standards and we were very happy with our private tour conducted by Baikal Vision. The schedule and appointments worked out well and the journey by car in Baikal lake were good and careful. We had opportunity to taste local food dishes which included delicious freshly cooked fish soup, dumplings, and other tasty local food. We would recommend Baikal Vision to anyone who wants to have great experience in Baikal. Our guide Andrew was brilliant - super friendly, helpful, considerate and extremely knowledgeable - educating us not only the culture but also Omul fish 😝 Andrew was an outstanding person to spend the day with. Visiting Baikal by his guidance becomes one of our incredible trip. Read more Written March 6, 2024
• Tang B 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Baikal the Sacred lake! We, a group of 15 with ages ranging from 30s to 60s were intially apprehensive going on this tour. The difficulty of sending downpayment and getting travel insurance ( due to US sanctions), applying Russia e-visa and reading about the bone chilling temperatures in Siberia ( negative 20-30C ) The alternative was to join a tour group like Apple, which is way more expensive and too short a stay. But if you can overcome the initial huddles, the vacation around Irkust and Lake Baikal is great fun. Baikal Vision is a legit tour organiser and their top guide Andrew is fantastic. He is a Buryat ( a local ) and very knowledgeable not only the way of life,customs and history, he also fight for the group to get first in line for toilets and Instagram worthy sites. He has his own drone to take great shots. ( No need to pay extra as in some tour groups to hire a professional photographer to accompany you) Accomodation in guesthouses, gave us opportunity to interact with locals which is really enlightening rather than dealing with the usual inpersonal hotels staff. Food is ok. We had time to try out local delicacies otherwise not offered to normal tourists. We travel on vans, cars, hovercrafts and the famous trans Siberian Russian train. Was a remarkable journey Btw the art museum in Irkurst is not to be missed. Highly recommended! We all had a wonderful time and I strongly recommend Baikal Vision, if you do think of going to Irkurst and lake Baikal. Make sure your guide is Andrew! Read more Written March 5, 2024
• PohTrip 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The Satisfying Kingdom of Ice We had a good time and there were 15 of us from Malaysia! The 7-day Kingdom of Ice trip was so packed with activities that we enjoyed so much every day. It was lucky that we had free time for ourselves after the dinners which were preceded by a bit of shopping of ice-creams, fruits, and drinks. The Circum-Baikal Train was amazing. We were simple tourists who were so worked-up with excitement to watch the Sun-set and the sighting of the Moon from our coaches! The mountains and caves of beautiful nature of icescape were fascinating. The lunches on the ice-land, could not believe that we were eating food cooked by the van drivers on the lake! The temples and holy shrines of the Buddhists and Sharmanists with colourful khatas and ribbons. The distinguished food of the local Buryat, Mongolian, and Chinese were interesting. We can name a few after the trip: the starter beetroot soup, deep fried Huushuur meat pie, the omul fish in soup and grilled, the home-made tvorog cheese, the mushrooms cooked in different ways, and the staple in the forms of porridge, pan cakes, and bread. We missed rice, until we had a good dinner in the Pekinskaya Utka with Beijing Duck on a private room with a 15-seat round table, when we were back in Irkutsk on the last day of the tour. We stayed another two nights before heading home. The main factor of the satisfying trip was the experienced guide, Mr Andrew, who is a local Buryat fluent in English. He was so caring, especially to this old man who was most of the time last in the line, giving special assistance on the slippery ice-surface of the Baikal Lake! Read more Written March 5, 2024
• 752htt 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Scenic and great experience on ice. Very good friendly guide. Overall very good. Quite an interesting experience on walking on ice, picnic on ice. Very beautiful scenery. Tour guide Andrew very gentle, good sense of humor, well organized, taking good care of the group. Read more Written March 4, 2024
• G5250XXwillw 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Baikal kingdom of ice Absolutely fun and smooth journey , Mr Andrew was very kind and helpful , taking care of us along the trip and help us taking pictures . We have seen many amazing places and enjoyed the companionship thoroughly Read more Written March 4, 2024
• 26charmainet 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Baikal Lake ( Kingdom of ice) with Baikal Vison The views are amazing and fun. We enjoy very much. Our guide Andrew is very helpful and kind to everyone. Quick to respond when email or WhatsApp him. I highly recommend a visit to Baikal Lake with Baikal Vision. Read more Written March 4, 2024
• sonnyt 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Warm hospitable and unique experience We had a very unique experience on this lake turned to a winter wonderland by the frozen surface.The ice caves , various features on the surfaces and ice carrving was very special. Memorable and great photographic moments. Especially thankful for very efficient and helpful guide Andrew from Baikal Vision. One of our tour members broke his arm and Andrew helped him get excellent treatment. And all the xrays, fracture reduction and treatment at the cost of USD50. Our guide arranged for us to stay at Oikhon Island with a clean and comfortablehomestay run by Sergei and Tuyana who were very gracious hosts who even treated us to a farewell drink of vodka. Despite being from the tropics we enjoyed this very hospitable and unique holidays in sub freezing climate. Thoroughly recommend it. Read more Written March 4, 2024
• 658thl 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Life time experience-YOLO I came from Malaysia , a tropical climate where there is no snow fall or winter . This journey serves as an eye opener for me as the acute climate provided such a wonderful living conditions that produces wonderful people ,the hospitality provided to us, the cross culture and historic places , not to mention those wonder mother natural landscapes under the creation of God. I really enjoy This trip . Read more Written March 4, 2024
• Fearless11211746614 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Pictoric, Unique Baikal Lake The trip is amazng, Baikal Lake was so great, its really worth for a visit, it was unique and beautiful, the blue Ice, crack, ice cave etc are gorgious, even the weather was crazoky cold, it doesnt discourage u to stay on the icy lake, continously take photo with yr freezing hands, luckily the warm car facilitate us to warm us by going in and out, thanks for the comfirtable tour arrangement to get us all the comfort under this extreme cold weather. Andrew, our guide, he is very nice, easy to talk with , responsive on all our question and enquiries when we book the tour, very patient to our request along the tour, and will try his best to fullfill. He is knowledgeable, well arrange for all detail of the tour, attentive, and safe driving. We enjoy a lot the tour,we even tell Andrew that we plan to com in summer and join his tour again, hope we get discount as the early bird😂😂 Read more Written February 22, 2024
• tsungww 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A journey beyond expectations with guide extraordinaire! I've traveled all over, and usually, guides ask me to leave reviews, but I often say no because I'm not thrilled or just too lazy. This is my first review for an excursion, and Andrew from Baikal Vision was so on top of things, spoke great English, and made the whole experience super easygoing and enjoyable. Leading our group of three for 5 days – Arshan, Listvyanka, and the last three on Orkhlon Island – every day was a blast. The coolest part was Andrew taking us to explore these hidden ice caves along Lake Baikal's frozen shore, not in the original plan but way more fun and surprising. He also snapped some amazing photos for us, showing how passionate he is about his job. Seriously impressed! Totally recommend Baikal Vision! Read more Written January 24, 2024
• H6106BGmichaelh 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Olkhon Island Excusion This tour is a highlight of my Russia trip. You will get to experience many new things that would you are unable to experience in the cities of Russia, including walking on ice, cooking in the snow, and playing with clear ice shards. Since I did not visit during the usual tourist periods, the place was practically empty. But this allowed us to fully experience the tranquillity of Olkhon Island and Lake Baikal. We were able to hear the soft gurgling of the lake and cracking of the ice. We also saw many fox trails and were lucky enough to see a fox. In December, the lake hasn’t frozen over, so no ice skating. However, there was no shortage of things to do. Our tour guide, Andrew, was very familiar with the journey and knew a lot of information about the Lake Baikal, the way of life there and Shamanism. He was also very adaptable to our interests and plans. We were not that keen to travel all the way to the tip of Olkhon Island to see capes as planned in the itinerary. We were interested to try new things. Andrew accommodated to our interests and brought us to many interesting locations around the village we stayed at. If you are looking for a tour around Olkhon Island, I recommend this one! Read more Written December 27, 2023
• Companion40972613965 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Good people who loves their job Hello to everybody! I was in Baikal last month. And I choose Baikal Vision company. Why I choose them: 1) they answered me very fastly 2) they have excellent reviews 3) manager was very polite and explained me everything 4) they have good price Amd it was right choice because my tour was exxellent!!! We did 2 days tour Olkhon Island. Why it was excellent: 1) good guide who was all the time with us and explained us everything 2) comfortable and clean car 3) nice accommodation with good location 4) tasty local food Next time I hope to come in winter and 100% I will choose whis company for my vacation organization. Surely recommend to everybody. You will never regret and will see real Baikal Read more Written November 2, 2023
• Voyage56646463100 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Nice company and best prices It was very nice trip with excellent guide, good itinerary, and great atmosphere. They choose for us very good hotel. I guess we will come in winter too and we will take Baikal Vision service again. 100% recommended! Read more Written September 27, 2023
• 616antonyk 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Baikal 😍 I did 3 excursions of 1 day each (Listvianka , Orhon Island and Arhan ) , together with my partner and they were really magnificent . we saw amazing places and the guide told us every detail everywhere they went. Absolutely recommend! Read more Written August 17, 2023

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Summer Olkhon Island Tour (2 days) provided by Baikal Vision

Olkhon Island on Baikal Lake

Olkhon is a beautiful nude land that seems to have emerged from the fresh waters of Baikal. The surface of the island is green and smooth like meadows, and crumbles down in Baikal in rocky cliffs on the edges. Olkhon is covered by grass and aromatic plants on the side facing the coast (steppe), and by small pine trees (taiga) on the side facing the middle of the lake. It’s about 70 km long and 15 km wide.

Olkhon is a great place to get away from civilization, to feel the nature, to live right next to Baikal lake, and to enjoy the magnificent energy of the lake. It’s not as touristic as Listvyanka  and still has quite good infrastructure, so you can always enjoy modern life amenities, if you so wish. It’s possible to rent mountain bicycles, motorbikes or even off-road cars from the locals. There are also kayaks for rent as well as some water activities available. You can also make trekking walks and make tours to the parts of the island that are not populated.

Map, Location & How to Get There

Olkhon island is located about 250 km north-east from Irkutsk  and is reachable overland or by the sea. The ferry runs only from the beginning of May until the end of December, so if you travel within those dates you will be able to reach Olkhon quite easily. 

In the Soviet times, when nobody was saving on anything, there was a small plane flying every day from Irkutsk to Huzhir, the main village at Olkhon. But now, as the service stopped, usually people travel six hours by car or by a local bus from Irkutsk to MRS, the place where they can board their vehicle on a ferry . While waiting for the boat you can climb up the cliffs just opposite Olkhon, and taste local tea with pepper from the tea shop, which is situated in a yurt just next to the lake. After a 15-minute ferry crossing, people drive out their vehicles and Olkhon land is theirs to discover. Also, cruise ships often include a stop at Olkhon Island as a main feature of their Baikal holiday trip. 

For up-to-date ferry schedules between Irkutsk, Okhon  and Ust-Barguzin , check out the website of VSRP Irkutsk river transport company on http://bit.ly/ vsrpbaikal  

Olkhon Island Landmarks

Khuzhir Village

Shaman Cave

Beaches and Yurt Camps

Peschanaya Village and an Abandoned Factory

Three Brothers Rock

Khoboy Cape

What to Do at Olkhon Island

Where to Stay on Olkhon Island

You can either stay in Khuzhir, which is more practical for comfortable living (including shops, organized trips, and buses to Irkutsk), or in the felt-yurt camps, that are about 4 km from Khuzhir. Olkhon is also great for camping. Just bring your tent and walk an hour north from Khuzhir and you'll find a lot of nice spots in the forest there right on the beach, where you can also make fire, cook local fish and other stuff.  

Kochevie Yurt Camp

Located on the main land on Irkutsk side, just opposite of Olkhon island not far from the ferry. This Yurt Camp is in the middle of the steppe and beautiful grasslands, the water is slightly warmer than anywhere else on the lake, so it’s quite good for swimming. They are opened until the end of August and offer private or shared accommodation in real yurts. Prices start at €30 per person per day. This is an eco-camp, so the facilities are quite basic, but environment friendly. They also offer a range of activities and boat trips to Olkhon island. Can be a good place to start exploring, then you can simply get a boat to Khuzhir and go on from there. The camp is ran by a tourist agency called In The World of Fantasies, so it’s best to book through them directly. Another yurt camp is located on the opposite side of Baikal lake near Goryachinsk. Address: Khagdan Dalay bay, Maloe More, near Olkhon island +7 (3952) 33-22-31 +7 (914) 895-16-87 Book online: www.bit.ly/yurtolkhon  

• Yurta Hotel
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Olkhon Island, Russia: a full travel guide to the gem of Baikal Lake

My guide to Olkhon Island, one of the most beautiful places in the world!

Siberia, one of Russia’s most vast regions, has many natural wonders, and Baikal Lake is one of them. The surroundings of the lake are rich in landscapes, including mountains, taiga, steppes , a volcanic depression, spectacular bays. While I wanted to visit all of them, Olkhon Island in the middle of Baikal was a priority for me.

I have heard many stories about how beautiful Olkhon is. I googled for pictures, and they were stunning, but the reality is much better. I regret that I had planned 4 days only for the island, I would have loved to stay longer! So here is everything I know to ease your planning efforts and decide on the itinerary.

Before we go further, some info about me: I am a native Russian speaker, but I am not a citizen of Russia but of Moldova, a former Soviet Republic. This is the reason that I do not need visas to enter Russia. I travelled to Baikal solo from mid-June till the beginning of July. I was on Olkhon during the last week of June.

Some of the links below may be affiliate links, meaning that I will get a small commission (it won’t cost you anything!) if you click and book tours or accommodation.

Where and what is Olkhon Island

Olkhon, territorially located in Irkutsk Oblast, is the biggest and the only inhabited island on Baikal Lake in Russia’s Siberia. It is about 73 kilometers long and 15-20 kilometers wide. Olkhon can be translated from Buryat as a little bit woody .

For such a small piece of land this island has an interesting variety of landscapes. One third of Olkhon is covered in forests, which are a highly protected area. Its rugged northern shores are steep and rocky, and its southern part is hilly and treeless. And the island is surrounded by clear blue waters of Baikal that are inviting when the weather is nice.

Olkhon is precious for its incredible landscapes, there is nothing here for architecture or museum lovers. The pristine nature of the island is perfect for slow travel and long meditations sitting on the shore and looking at the snowy capes of the mountains on the opposite side. Olkhon is the place where people find peace.

The island is considered sacred by the aboriginal people, and every cape here has a legend. Some capes are three brothers turned into stone because the rocks resemble faces, others remind fangs (like the famous Khoboy Cape : khoboy is fang from Buryat language). Shamanka Rock was considered to be the home of Burkhan , the most powerful god of Baikal, hence its second name Burkhan Cape .

These legends and spectacular landscapes were enough to put the island to my bucket list and I am more than happy that I have visited Olkhon.

Where to stay on Olkhon Island

There are a few villages on Olkhon Island with about 1,700 residents in total. Khuzhir is the biggest village and, most likely, the only one where there is infrastructure for tourists. Maybe, except some camping sites around the island. Naturally, all tourists, who prefer to stay in hotels, opt for Khuzhir.

Despite Olkhon being a popular tourist destination, I struggled to find a suitable accommodation. I did not have a huge budget, but everything that was cheap enough for me had bathroom outside the room, and in many places toilets were outside the house itself. I was not ready for this level of comfort, so I had to compromise 🙂

I have heard many nice things about Nikita Bencharov’s Homestead on Olkhon, it seemed to be the most popular hotel among tourists, and I decided to book with them. As singles were expensive, I opted for a room with twin beds which meant that I might have a neighbour. I was not afraid of this, as I had stayed in hostels before, and this room had an en-suite bathroom, so I booked it. And I did not regret it even for a moment!

Nikita’s Homestead consists of many wooden buildings with different levels of comfort. Buildings are decorated with paintings and carvings which is quite interesting. Everything inside the rooms is wooden: shelves, beds, walls. This rustic style is very appealing for me, and it felt nice and cozy. The bathroom had a shower cabin, but there were no shampoos or shower gels: it is not a complaint, it is just for you to know that you have to bring your own. But they provided towels. Internet was a bit weak, but it was enough for my needs. Overall, the room was spacious, comfortable, clean and tidy.

But the best thing about my booking was that it included breakfasts and dinners ! I had no idea about it when I booked the rooms, so it was a nice surprise. Despite being a bit outside of my budget, it helped me to save on food, so I was happy in the end 🙂 For breakfast they had crepes, eggs, sausage, cheese, salads, cereals, fruit and soups (yeah, I know 🙂 ). For dinner it was soups, salads, boiled rice or buckwheat, fish and meat. In general, it was a nice selection. Tea was available the whole day: the dining room is open for self-service. In addition, there is a tap with potable water and everyone is free to fill their bottles.

And I just have to mention the staff: they are the friendliest people I have ever met! Many of them are not locals, and they come to work there every year. All of these mean that I can wholeheartedly recommend this place 🙂

Below are some alternatives to Nikita’s Homestead (as always, I select the best options, but read the reviews first anyway). They have pretty much the same facilities as the hotel I stayed at. When it comes to Villa Malina Hotel , I have heard about it from a family that I was together with on a tour. They said that the hotel is new, the rooms are comfortable and the breakfast is exceptional.

– Villa Malina – Volna Plus Hotel – Guesthouse Voskresenie – Philoxenia – Na peskah – Holiday Park on Olkhon – Mini Hotel Shamanka

Things to do on Olkhon

This is a quick guide to things to do on Olkhon: a longer and more detailed one is here .

As I have already said Olkhon is famous for its nature, so the main tourist attractions here are capes, mountains and picturesque views.

As far as I know the biggest part of the forest on the island is forbidden to visit, so visitors mainly stick to the waterfront areas.

The most popular tour on Olkhon is to the north of the island: it starts in Khuzhir and goes in the direction of Khoboy Cape. The driver stops at Kharantsy village, at Peschanka , Three Brothers, Khoboy and Love Capes . The final destination of the tour is Uzury village and from here the driver take tourists back to Khuzhir.

Another tour is to the south of Olkhon. Unlike the tour I mentioned above, there are no rugged rocky shores here, but hilly valleys with incredible views. This tour allows getting closer to the water, the driver stops at Kurykan wall (Kurykans were an aboriginal people), at a cape that allows magnificent views of Ogoi Island with a Buddhist stupa, at some peculiar rock formations that I do not know the names of and Khalzany Bay , where a rock formation reminds Joseph Stalin in profile.

Ogoi Island with the Buddhist Stupa is an interesting tour as well. It is combined with a visit to sacred springs in a forest on the mainland.

I had no car, and I am not one of the people who can live in tents: I need access to proper bathroom and kitchen facilities. But I have to admit that it is much better to explore Olkhon hiking it from one end to the other. I know for sure that there are people who do that, and I would love to do that one day as it gives you the freedom to see the places you want and to spend as much time there as you want.

Things to do in Olkhon Island, Baikal

Everything about circum-baikal railway tour, baikal: visiting tazheran steppe from irkutsk, visiting listvyanka, a village where the angara meets baikal, what local food to eat around baikal lake, 30+ things to do in irkutsk, russia, visiting taltsy ethnographic museum on a day trip from irkutsk, travel tips for travellers to baikal lake, like it pin it.

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Lake Baikal & Olkhon Island tour

6days/5nights

Tour grade: Easy

Style: Traveller

• Asian Blue pearl – Lake Baikal - UNESCO world heritage site, Taltsy open-air museum. Chersky viewpoint
• Olkhon Island, Shamanic Rock
• Irkutsk city sightseeing tour including Decembrist museum
• Meet people and make friends! You will be part of a group of 4-8 people during the tour as it is a group departure.

Tour Overview

Definitely, the Lake Baikal is a spot of superlatives: it’s the world’s the deepest, the oldest, the clearest lake that contains the largest volume (20% of the total) of the world’s freshwater. Moreover, Baikal is the largest lake in Eurasia, and the deepest lake in the world. That’s why the Lake Baikal is one of the UNESCO’s World Natural Heritages.

Once you travel to Lake Baikal make sure you visit these three most important tourist destinations: Irkutsk, Listvyanka settlement and Olkhon Island. Our fully guided program allows you to see the most interesting sights of Irkutsk during panoramic sightseeing tour around the historical center of the city. Tour includes all major attractions - Znamensky Orthodox Cathedral, old-style wooden houses with distinctive hand-carved trims, the Monument to Russian Pioneers of Siberia topped by a bronze statue of Russian Emperor Alexander III, ice-breaker "Angara" that used to carry Trans Sib passengers across the lake, and many more.

Olkhon Island is the biggest island in Lake Baikal and you can see many of adherents of shamanism believe that it is one of the spiritual island and the highlight of the island is Shamanic Rock. You’ll visit to Listvyanka settlement and do city sightseeing tour in Irkutsk and optional boat trip on the Lake Baikal. 

Brief itinerary

• Day 1: Irkutsk. City tour. Decembrist museum
• Day 2: Lake Baikal. Taltsy open-air museum. Baikal museum. Chersky viewpoint
• Day 3: Lake Baikal. Olkhon Island. Local Lore museum. Burkhan cape
• Day 4: Lake Baikal, Olkhon Island. Tour to Khoboi cape
• Day 5: Lake Baikal. Irkutsk
• Day 6: Departure

Rafaella, Benedetta, Lidia

Margaret Suganda

Tour images

Full Itinerary

Irkutsk. City tour. Decembrist museum

Arrive Irkutsk. Your guide will meet you at the airport/railway station. Lunch in a café (or late breakfast depending on the time of your arrival). City tour around all of Irkutsk major historical sights. Guided tour to the Decembrist museum in Prince Volkonsky Mansion. Check in to your hotel. Hotel 3* L

Lake Baikal. Taltsy open-air museum. Baikal museum. Chersky viewpoint

Departure to Listvyanka settlement at Lake Baikal waterside. Stop en-route for 2-hour excursion to Taltsy open-air museum of wooden architecture where one can discover the culture and the lifestyle of native Siberians and Russians who lived in this area. Continue to Listvyanka. Check in Listvyanka hotel. Lunch in a local fish restaurant. Visit to Baikal Museum featuring the diverse collection of Baikal flora and fauna. Then take a chairlift to the top of Chersky peak from where one can enjoy breathtaking views on Lake Baikal and Angara River source. Hotel 3* B+L

Lake Baikal. Olkhon Island. Local Lore museum. Burkhan cape

Early breakfast. Transfer to Khuzhir settlement at Olkhon Island (~350 km). Accommodation in a log cabin guesthouse on full board basis. Tour to Local Lore Museum. Walking trip to see the famous Burkhan Cape with Shaman Crag, the sacral place for Shamanist believers. This is one of Baikal’s most famous landmarks that can be found on many postcards. Enjoy sunbathing at the sandy beach of Saraiskiy Bay or even swimming in the lake. Local lodge B+L+D

Lake Baikal, Olkhon Island. Tour to Khoboi cape

Breakfast. Departure by «uazik» (Russian military jeep) for a half day excursion to the cape Khoboi at Olkhon’s very northern tip /shared excursion for groups under 10pax/. En-route visit many picturesque places of Olkhon Island with steep cliffs that plunge down into deep blue Lake Baikal abyss, wide sandy beaches at shallow bays and the endless steppes of the island. Picnic in the open air. Return to your guesthouse for dinner and overnight. Local lodge B+L+D

Lake Baikal. Irkutsk

Breakfast. Free time in the morning for extra activities. Check-out. Lunch. Return transfer to Irkutsk. Check-in at your hotel. Free time to rest or explore Irkutsk city center. Hotel 3* B+L

Breakfast. Transfer to airport/railway. B

Date & Price

• Twin/double share accommodation: Irkutsk and Listvyanka hotels, guesthouse at Olkhon Island
• All meals as stated in the itinerary
• All private car or minibus transfers
• English-speaking guide during transfers in Irkutsk and Listvyanka
• English-speaking guide during all excursions
• Museum entry fees
• Russian visa support
• International Airfare/train ticket
• Travel insurance.
• Accommodation in Ulaanbaatar
• Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, camera or video fees at any sites etc.
• Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary).
• Optional activities such as camel riding, archery, fishing etc

Tour Background

Tour reviews, apr 27, 2024.  the gobi & karakorum explorer.

by Rafaella, Benedetta, Lidia

Aug 08, 2012.  Gobi & Karakorum customized 11 days tour

by Margaret Suganda

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Olkhon Island

• See the most beautiful places of the island
• Ice caves and transparent ice
• See the blue ice hummocks and frozen bubbles
• Taste freshly-made local food
• Get to know local and shamanic culture
• See the frozen cliffs of Khoboy Cape
• Try Russian banya / Steam Bath (paid extra)
• 3-day Budget
• 4-day Budget
• Ground Transport: sedan/minibus, jeeps UAZ, fuel, drivers and drivers' travel expenses (only on standard tours);
• Guides: English-speaking guide; local non-English-speaking guides as required (only on standard tours);
• Activities: Tours, activities and visits as specified in itinerary;
• Meals: As specified in itinerary, to include non-alcoholic beverages;
• Permits & Admission Fees: National Park charges for access to special areas and sites;

• Destinations

Trekking on Olkhon Island

• Trekking along wild and picturesque places of Olkhon island
• Itinerary off the beaten tracks
• Visit of all main sites of the island
• Possibility to hike light while trekking
• All types of the Baikal landscapes
• Overnight in the tent

Go trekking in the steppes of Olkhon and admire the 360° horizon, as far as the eye can see, - here is the essence of this tour. We offer you to discover amazing sceneries, to enjoy unforgettable acquaintances, to sense time and space, to spend night out in the open, to discover sites far away from the touristic crowds off the beaten tracks. While trekking we will only carry our flasks and cameras, all our other things will be transported by our 4x4.

The island represents a geographical, historic and sacred heart of the lake, the land of legends and traditions. Olkhon is the largest island on Lake Baikal. Situated in the centre of the lake, not far from its deepest point (1637m/5370 ft), Olkhon combines all the diversity of the Baikal landscapes. It is a special area with its microclimate, its unique fauna and flora. The island is 72 km/45 mi long and 15 km/9 mi wide with total area of 730 sq km/282 sq mi. Steep cliffs along with sandy bays form the island shoreline, scenery of forests cut with steppes on which work the Baikal winds, such skilful artists. Taiga covers the east shore of the island.

• Day 1 First day of the trekking Khujir  —  Uzury
• Day 2 North of the lake and return to Khujir Uzury  —  Khujir
• 10 : 0 0 Meeting with the group and transfer to Peschanoye place Meeting with the group in Khujir village (the exact time and place will be communicated by your tour manager the day before). Transfer by 4x4 (Russian UAZ) along the western coats of the island to the north. We will get off the car in the place called Peschanoye. All our luggage will be carried by car.
• 11 : 0 0 Trekking to the village Uzury We start our trekking by the sandy beaches to the western coast of the island. Firstly, our road passes by the western coast. Then, we will take the steppe road along the taiga-covered evergreen mountains. We will go to the village Uzury. It's the northernmost village of the island, the place of our first meeting with the great open Baikal. The village is situated in the picturesque valley. There are only few houses and a weather station.
• 13 : 0 0 Picnic on the trip
• 16 : 0 0 Arrival to Uzury According to the weather conditions, accommodation in the guest house or in tents on coast of the lake.
• 19 : 0 0 Dinner cooked by gaz
• 20 : 0 0 Banya (Russian sauna) — Not included
• Overnight in tent

5 h trekking   ( 12 km )

• 0 9 : 0 0 Breakfast
• 10 : 0 0 Trekking to Khoboy cape Today, there will be the most picturesque part of the itinerary. It passes by the wildest part of the island - cliffy and abrupt coast. We will visit the cape Shunte-Leviy and then we will go to the cape Khoboy - the legendary natural site, the northernmost point of the island and one of the sacred places of lake Baikal.
• 13 : 0 0 Picnic on the way
• 16 : 0 0 Return to Khujir Meeting with our driver and return to Khujir village. End of the programme.

1 h transfer   ( 40 km )

Discounts are applied to all services indicated on the official website of BaikalNature. Discounts aren't summarized with special offers and are not applied to individual tour programs.

• English-speaking guide
• Accommodation as per itinerary
• Transport as per itinerary
• Reserves and national parks entrance permissions
• Tent rental
• Meals according to the program
• Personal expenses and tips
• Letter of invitation
• Sleeping bag rental

The indicated price is for the group of 3 participants minimum. If there are less persons in the group, the small group supplement is applied: - for a group of 3 participants, a supplement is 8 200 roubles / per person - for a group of 2 participants, a supplement is 12 600 roubles / per person - for an individual tourist , a supplement is 28 000 roubles. The trekking can be organised any dates from mid-May to mid-September. Optionally, we can book for you private or scheduled transfer from Irkutsk to Olkhon island, accommodation and meals.

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Excursion to listvyanka village, baikal by kayak, baikal active.

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The 20+ best things to do in Olkhon Island, Russia

My guide to the best places to visit and things to do in Olkhon Island, Russia

Olkhon Island is a gem in Baikal Lake region of Russia’s Siberia. This island, where less than 2,000 people live permanently, has stunning landscapes ranging from dense forests to rocky and steep shores. It is equally spectacular in summer and winter, with winter having its special charm when the thick ice sparkles with different colors under the sun.

Visiting the island had been a dream of mine, and I finally did it this year. I had only four full days in Olkhon, and I would have loved to stay longer! So here is my guide to places to visit and things to do in Olkhon Island.

I have a long travel guide with practical information on Olkhon, including ways of getting to the island, where to stay and eat, weather, etc.

The tours of Olkhon Island: my experience

It takes about 6 hours to get from Irkutsk to Khuzhir , the biggest village in Olkhon and the place where tourists usually stay as there are dozens of hotels there. I embarked on my trip on an early Monday morning and was supposed to get to my hotel around 2 PM. Well, the bus broke about 20 kilometers away from the village, but, luckily, some drivers stopped to help us out. By the time I checked in at the hotel it was well after 3 PM, and I fell asleep immediately as I had to wake up early a couple of days in a row (and I don’t like waking up early 🙂 ). This meant that I lost that half of the day which I reserved for exploring the village. There is not much to see except a museum and a church, so a couple of hours were enough, and I would have loved to visit them.

To make it even better, it rained the next day. It was a heavy rain, and, considering there are no asphalted roads anywhere in Olkhon, the soil is clayey, and the proximity of water means dense fogs, there was not much to do: trust me, wellingtons wouldn’t be of much help 🙂

It was still rainy and foggy on Wednesday, but I did not want to spend another day inside, considering that I had only four full days on the island (including the rainy Tuesday when I did not go anywhere). I decided to take a tour anyway.

If you, like me, don’t drive or don’t have a car, you will have to opt for organised tours when it comes to exploring the island: seeing it on foot might take a week. There are two tours : one is to the rocky northern part of Olkhon with Khoboy Cape being the highlight, and the other one is to the hilly southern part.

I decided to start with the tour to the northern part of the island. It was a rainy Wednesday, and I could clearly see the fog crawling up the rocks. So, forgive me for the dark pictures 🙂 I wish I could say that everything went smooth, but that’s not true 🙂 As the island is hilly and the roads are slippery during rain, many cars just got stuck in the mud, including ours. I even thought we would have to push it out 🙂 Luckily, these are sturdy Russian cars and the driver managed to get us out without pushing 🙂 But it was a bit scary to see other cars getting stuck or rotating or just going down the hills backwards. Still, adds to the experience 🙂

The northern tour starts in Khuzhir and continues along the coast (where it is possible) in the direction of Khoboy Cape. There are about 6 stops along the road and the tour ends at Uzur village . When it comes to the way back, there are two options: by car or by boat (a more expensive one). As I thought it would be boring to take the same road back to the village, I opted for a boat tour. I am still not sure whether it was a right decision as it was still foggy and rainy and extremely windy, and even life vests and covers did not help. Basically, instead of enjoying the island from the water the entire group hid inside the boat. Still, we got to see something as the sky cleared a bit closer to the evening.

But the next day the weather was perfect! It was sunny and warm, with little wind and blue sky, and I loved every minute of the tour. I took the tour to the southern part of Olkhon, and we had a very nice driver, much more talkative than the first one 🙂 I guess, weather influences many things 🙂 I loved this tour, the places we visited were more than stunning, and the views… the views were majestic! This part of Olkhon is not as rocky, and there is a possibility to get closer to the water.

Basically, these two tours cover almost every place open to tourists. I mentioned it before, but I will say it again: Olkhon is a protected area, part of Pribaikalsky National Park , so some parts of the island, specifically forests, are closed for visits. In case you decide to explore the allowed area of Olkhon by yourself, you will need a permit from the forestry unit: more info about it here .

Some info about the tours of the island:

• Tours start around 10 AM and take about 7-8 hours. And it means nobody has to wake up early 🙂
• There are no guides , just drivers who pick up tourists at their hotels and tell some stories about the places along the route. Usually they do not speak English, but you might get lucky to meet someone who speaks both Russian and English so that they can translate these stories. That’s what I did during one of the tours as there was a couple from Germany who did not speak Russian.
• Drivers take care of permits.
• Drivers cook soup from canned fish somewhere in the middle of the day: it means there is no need to take substantial food supplies with you. In addition, they serve salad, cookies and tea, but no water, so you might want to take care of it yourself.
• It is my understanding that drivers can omit some stops and go to other places. I do not know what the route depends on, maybe, it is the weather or driver’s mood 🙂

As I had seen the island during the tours only, I decided to take a stroll along the coast on Friday, my last day on Olkhon. I got the permit at the forestry unit, which was a quick process, and spent the whole day walking and taking pictures. It was fantastic to spend some time alone, enjoying the views, without any hurry or crowds. This is the day when I understood why people find Olkhon peaceful and re-energising: if you need some alone time to re-think your life, this is the place!

I am not someone who enjoys long hiking trips and sleeping in tents, but my honest opinion is that the best way to explore Olkhon is on foot. Naturally, you will need more than a couple of days to cover the island, as it is about 72 kilometers long, but I think it is so worth it! If you are not afraid of lack of showers and, probably, hot food, if you don’t cook, then this might be perfect.

Now, back to the places to see and things to do in Olkhon island. Below are the places I saw during the tours and some places I missed.

Things to do in Olkhon Island outside the tours

There are some other things to do in Olkhon Island outside the tours I mention above:

1. Shamanka Rock

Shamanka Rock or Burkhan Cape is the most famous place in Olkhon together with Khoboy Cape.

It is located at the northern end of Khuzhir village which makes it a famous pilgrimage place among tourists. Every evening dozens of people go to the cape to watch the sunset.

The white Shamanka Rock is probably the most sacred place in Olkhon. As I said, its another name is Cape Burkhan: Burkhan is the main god of Baikal, and the rock with its through cave is considered the place where he lives. Only shamans who made sacrifices to gods on the very cape could enter the cave, others were forbidden even to get close to it.

I suppose, but I don’t know for sure, that today tourists can visit the cave. I didn’t do it myself, but I saw people getting close to the rock, but I am not sure anyone entered the cave. Well, maybe, nobody wants to anger the gods 🙂

2. Take an evening boat tour

This tour is different from the one I mentioned above: it is an evening tour for 2 hours at the sunset. It takes passengers along the coast so that they can enjoy the island and Baikal Lake in the rays of the setting sun. Jeez, you can’t even imagine how much I regret not taking this tour!

3. Lounge at Saraisky Beach

There are many beaches on Olkhon, some shorter, others longer, but Saraisky is the most famous one as it is located next to Khuzhir village. Its soft sands attract tourists and locals alike, but, as I noticed, everyone prefers to stay as close to the village as possible.

The beach is more than a kilometer long, so if you go a bit further you will have plenty of space.

The waters of Baikal are cold, and on hot summer days the temperature at some bays can be 18 degrees Celsius. The only thing I did was wetting my feet, but I saw people swimming on Saraisky beach.

4. Watch sunsets in Olkhon

One advantage of being on an island is the opportunity to watch incredible sunsets. And sunsets on Olkhon are incredible! Just come to Shamanka Rock closer to the evening and enjoy a rave of color. The best thing is that each sunset in Olkhon is unique: one day you will be treated by deep orange light, and the next day it will be delicate pink with dark blue.

You will not be alone enjoying the sunset: in addition to tourists the locals who must already be fed up by sunsets (but aren’t!) come to watch this show of nature. If you want to contemplate it alone, just walk away from Shamanka Rock and you will have everything for yourself.

5. Revyakin’s Khuzhir Local History Museum

I think this is the only museum on the island. Revyakin was a teacher and director of the local school in Khuzhir and together with his students found about 20 neolithic sites on the island and collected many ethnographic materials.

Nowadays the museum has about 5,000 objects that tell the history of the island, archaeological findings, sacred objects related to shamanism, geological materials, etc.

6. The Church of Our Lady Derzhavnaya in Khuzhir

It is a very small church with interesting paintings inside. Its white walls with blue domes certainly attract attention. The church is new, it was built in the beginning of the century, so just go in after you visit the museum as they are close to each other.

The tour of the northern part of Olkhon Island

The tour of the northern part of Olkhon is the first one I took on the island. We had six stops along the road, mainly at the most famous capes with, I suppose, magnificent views as because of the fog I could not see much.

6. Kharantsy Cape

Kharantsy Cape next to Kharantsy village was the first stop along the road. Because of the weather we did not explore the place much, but what we saw was still spectacular. There is a beach at the right side of the cape, and, even despite the fog, we could see a couple of funnily shaped islands. One of them called Crocodile looked like a crocodile peeking out of the water. I wish the weather was better and we could get to the beach. Maybe, you will be luckier 🙂

7. Peschanoye

Peschanoye or Peschanka is quite an interesting place. The name translates as sandy which is not a surprise as there are sandy beaches in Olkhon but here they form something similar to dunes which go far inside the island. Now, imagine sands with bright blooming field flowers: the landscape is spectacular.

In the last century inmates lived in the barracks here. They worked at the local fish processing factory. The work was very difficult as there were no facilities and they had to carry ice from the lake in carriages. A part of the pier is still there as a proof.

Now there are a couple of houses not far from the pier, a souvenir shop and a small cafe. And a paid toilet for 20 RUB 🙂

8. Three Brothers Cape or Sagan-Khushun Cape

Oh, this was an interesting stop 🙂 In addition to rocks covered with vibrant field flowers and orange-colored lichen, there is a legend about this place. And this is not the first legend you will read here 🙂

The main part of the cape is made of three white rocks , and the legend is about them.

Once there lived a shaman who had three sons and a daughter. The daughter fell in love with a guy her father did not approve of and ran away with him. The shaman sent his sons after her, and they did catch her. But the girl was very convincing telling her brothers that she loved the guy and wanted to spend her life with him, so they let her go. When they came back, they told their father that they did not find her. The shaman knew they were lying and turned them into stone as a punishment.

You can’t really see these three rocks from the land, they look much more spectacular from the water. And, it is said that if you look really close – from a boat – you might see faces in these rocks. I couldn’t 🙂

9. Khoboy Cape

People come to Olkhon to see Khoboy Cape . When I was there I could not see anything through the fog so I do not understand the excitement. Apparently, there are many spectacular places at the cape, like two grottoes where tourists can spend the night and face the sunrise, or long grottoes, accessible only in winter when the ice is thick.

Khoboy translates as fang from Buryat, but the legend I have heard about the place has nothing to do with fangs. There lived once a woman who was very envious of her husband whom the gods gave a stunning palace, so she asked for a better one. As a punishment for her greediness the gods turned her into stone. I should mention that locals call the rock a maiden and it looks like a torso of a woman from the water.

The stop at Khoboy Cape was the longest one, and this is when we had the fish soup. There was enough time to explore the place, but because of the fog, I could not see much. The view must be amazing when the horizon is clear.

PS: there is another toilet at this stop, but I wish I did not need to use it!

10. Shunte-Levyy Cape or the Cape of Love

Do you want kids? This is the place you should go to wish for one. Shunte-Levyy is a forked cape, so the right side is responsible for conceiving girls, and the left one – for boys. If you want twins, just go straight and make a wish.

The cape reminds me a lioness’s head, but, apparently, others see bent legs of a woman, which explains the belief.

11. Uzur village

The tour ends at Uzur village in Khaga-Yaman Bay : the bay surrounded by fancy rock formations is more spectacular during a sunny day. There is a meteorological station in the village and some neolithic sites nearby, but we did not get to see any, unfortunately. It was cold so we just went right to the boat hoping we would see all these capes I mentioned above from the water. Well, I managed to see some of them, so it was not a complete disaster 🙂

The tour of the southern part of Olkhon Island

I took this tour on a sunny and warm day. As this one is less popular, though I do not understand why, because the places we saw were spectacular, there were only four people in our group. We had really nice time together and it is the best day I spent around Baikal.

FYI: there are no toilets on this route.

12. Panoramic deck of Khuzhir

The panoramic deck was our first stop. Don’t be fooled by the mention of Khuzhir as the deck is still far from the village, about four kilometers away, I think. But the views are breathtaking! You can see really far from here, not only the village, but some farther parts of the island, mountains on the opposite side, capes, hills, forests… everything leaves speechless!

13. Khankhoi Lake

It is a bit hard to call Khankhoi a lake: it is separated from Baikal only by a narrow line of sand. Still, it is a lake and due to its specifics its waters get warmer which makes it popular among tourists. You will see many people with tents here and, I think, fishing is allowed. During the high season this place is bustling with people, so it is a much better idea not to go there in July and August.

Interesting fact: khankhoi might derive from a Buryat word khaankhai , which means closed .

14. Yelgai Cape

Oh, I loved this place! It is close to Khankhoi Lake, and the views are majestic! This is one of the few places where there are trees which make the landscape even more dramatic.

But I was mostly interested in the piles of stones which were everywhere on the cape. I had seen piles like these before in Tazheran Steppe and it is my understanding that this is a way of appeasing gods. Naturally, I was surprised to see so many of them in one place, but as our driver told they were erected by builders who worked in the area. So, they have nothing to do with local beliefs.

I have read some articles claiming that this is a dangerous practice as it is harmful to the local flora and fauna, so refrain from doing it.

15. Seven Pines

Our next stop was quite an interesting place. Its name Semisosny can be translated as seven pines , but there are no pines there, just a lonely birch tree. Naturally, there is a legend about the birch 🙂

Many years ago two tribes lived there, and they were at feud with each other. It happened so that a girl from one tribe and a boy from the other one fell in love, but no one would bless their union. So they went to a local shaman who married them. When the people found out about it, they decided to punish the shaman by killing him. Before the execution the shaman said that if a birch tree grew on his grave, then he did the right thing marrying the couple.

Well, that’s not the only legend, you will most likely hear a different one, as I noticed that versions differ from one driver to another 🙂

Anyway, the birch is sacred and it is believed that if one hugs it and makes a wish it will be granted. Frankly, it is difficult to do it as nowadays there is a fence around the tree 🙂

16. Shara-Shulun Cape

Tours stop at this cape due to one reason only: it is the best place to see the famous Ogoi Island with a Buddhist stupa on top (more on the island below).

While it is definitely a highlight, the views of the mountains on the opposite side, rugged indented shores of Olkhon, blooming field flowers make the place even more appealing.

17. Khorgoy Cape

Another cape with breathtaking views: yes, all views here leave speechless 🙂

The cape is famous for the ruins of a Kurykan wall . Kurykans were aboriginal people, but there is not much info about them, and scientists still argue who they were.

And when you go to the farther end of the cape, you will see an island that looks like a baby whale 🙂

There is a bay at the foot of the cape and this is the place where we had lunch. We had about 40 minutes to explore Khorgoy while our driver was cooking.

18. Green rocks of Khula

This is my favorite place on the island! When I was preparing for my trip I marked all the capes I considered interesting in Google Maps, but I had no idea this place existed. You see, the maps of Olkhon are far from being detailed and it is hard to find less known places. So I will try to explain its location: the southern end of the island looks like a trident, and the rocks are somewhere in the middle ‘prong’.

The rocks are not green per se, it’s just that some parts are covered with green lichen. Locals call them Trident, Dragon’s tooth or Khula Castle . As the rocks are on high ground, the opening views are magnificent! From there it is possible to see one of the ‘prongs’ with the famous Mare’s head Cape or Chorin-irgi (it is a popular place, but we did not go there. I think partly it is my fault as I spent much time taking pictures in other places). When we came to Khula Rocks, the sun started setting down, and it was getting darker. Still, the rocks themselves with purple flowers and green lichen and the views were stunning.

19. Khalzan Bay

Khalzan Bay was our last stop. Well, it was not the bay itself, as we could see it from above only, but a rock, the lower left part of which reminds of the profile of Stalin. Yep 🙂 I honestly struggled to see it, but once I did, it was hard to unsee it. Do you see it?

The rock has different names: Angel, Eagle, Eagle’s Head , so call it whatever you want 🙂

When it comes to the bay, it seems to be a popular place. There is a beach there, and tourists put up tents there. It is not easily accessible, but the place is worth all the efforts.

Tours from the island to other parts

In addition to the things to do in Olkhon Island itself, there are a couple of tours to some other parts in the area.

20. A visit to a Buryat village

Buryats are a nomad people aboriginal to the region. The conditions of life in Siberia led to the appearance of specific types of dwellings, traditions and cuisine. A visit to a Buryat village is a fantastic opportunity to see their way of living and everyday objects and eat buuzy , a type of Buryat dumplings, if you have not had them already.

21. Zama and Zunduk

Both Zama and Zunduk are located in the mainland, so you will have to take a boat first. I have not been to these places but considering what I have seen in the region, they must be spectacular. Imagine clear blue waters, dense virgin forests, views from the cape… Just keep in mind that it is not a flat road but a steep ascent, so make sure you are fit enough for this trip.

22. Ogoi Island and the sacred springs on the mainland

Ogoi is one of the biggest islands close to Olkhon. On the top of the island there is a white Buddhist stupa with relics. The stupa is made of three levels: under the first one weapons are buried as a symbol of keeping away wars, coins are in the second level as a symbol of prosperity and protection against poverty, and the main part is reserved for sacred texts. If you want to cleanse yourself of problems and sorrows, you should make 8 circles around the stupa barefoot.

The sacred springs are located about 3 kilometers away from the shore. Locals consider them curative, so drinking it should help cure some diseases. And, apparently, one spring helps women, and the other one – men.

The tours do not cover the eastern part of the island. I do not know why, maybe, it is difficult to get there by car. Another reason may be that that part is covered with forests that are closed for visits. I think there must be boat tours that allow to see the eastern part of Olkhon, but I didn’t research it as I didn’t have time for that anyway.

I did not have a car, so I had to opt for organised tours, but if you have a possibility to get a car, do it. It is so much better to be able to go wherever you want and spend there as much time as you want. And it is even better if you opt for hiking the island with a tent.

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4 Amazing reasons to visit Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal

Home / Russia Travel Experiences / 4 Amazing reasons to visit Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal

Visiting Olkhon Island is just like traveling back in time, a journey back to nature. I will never forget my trip to Olkhon Island because in many ways it cleansed my soul. Olkhon Island is located in the middle of the worlds largest and the deepest freshwater lake, Lake Baikal is aptly named “Reach Sea” (in the native Buryat Tongue).

My story starts as I step off the ferry (which transports you from the mainland to Olkhon island) into an untouched land, unpaved open roads, temperamental electricity and friendly faces. I felt so at ease with the calm atmosphere and beauty, perplexed by this place that barely gets a mention in travel guidebooks. A place that other travellers pass over because it’s too far out of the way, a place that I would otherwise keep secret forever. My days were filled with exploration, as guides and maps were few and far between. This was not a problem as what stretched before was a breathtaking and incomparable beauty. My base for adventure was Khuzhir, the main village on Olkhon Island. I found myself going for walks, long strolls that would loop the hills and the empty streets, just to get a glimpse of the endless water views.

Olkhon Island is a place that time has forgotten, where iPhones and MacBooks should never be seen. This is a place of raw, natural beauty. Enough about me and the rambles from my head, because I want to share with you 4 reasons to tick off Olkhon island from your travel bucket list.

Table of Contents

1. Olkhon Island enjoys unbelievable panoramic landscapes

Olkhon Island is home to spectacular landscapes, which are second to none. It is especially true for the northern region of Olkhon Island, where you will see the majestic and unforgettable panoramic views of the endless sea below (Lake Baikal). It is the ideal spot for nature lovers and landscape photographers alike. Here you will find untouched wildlife, virgin forests and jaw-dropping landscapes.

Shaman Rock

You may have seen it in pictures but the sight of Shaman Rock in real life is one to behold. Standing tall at the edge of the west coast of the island is the ninth most sacred places in Asia. If you are a photographer or just like taking beautiful snaps, this place is a must-visit.

Cape Khoboy

If you have one spare day and I guarantee you do, you must visit Cape Khoboy. This is the northernmost point of Olkhon Island, Cape Khoboy captures the best of the best in terms of landscapes and picturesque views. The endless blue lake makes the peninsula stretch on forever feeding the soul. Home to beautiful red cliff faces and crystal beaches, seagulls and if you’re lucky, even Baikal seals. From the earliest times, Cape Khoboy was considered to be a sacred place and served for performing religious rites. This magic and intimidating beauty of this place will excite your spiritual emotions.

2. It’s a spiritual journey

Olkhon Island is the place to go on Lake Baikal both for Russian and foreign tourists seeking to dig deeper into their own spirituality. Home to the Buryats of ancient Mongolian origins; it is a spiritual epicenter for Shamanism and Buddhism.

This expression of spirituality manifests itself in the form of pray flags or ribbons that I found wrapping trees, poles and stones around the island. The legend says that the winds carry spirits that read your prays and wishes, that is why they are always placed on the highest point available.

Stupa of Enlightenment on nearby Ogoy island

An eight-metre-high Buddhist stupa of Enlightenment was raised at the highest spot of Ogoy islet in 2005. A Buddhist stupa is an object of worship and means “a support for gifts”. 

This holy place will reach within the depths of your consciousness in such a way that the modern world no longer affects your being. The stupa of enlightenment symbolizes in the modern interpretation the goal of the Buddhist path. This goal is to understand one’s own mind. It is the place where love is expressed with remarkable power; where you can obtain harmony with the environment. This harmony is experienced by being surrounded with the living power of nature.

Meet the shaman of Olkhon Island

By traveling to Baikal you can witness the shamanic rituals in their purest form, see the ‘Sacred places” full of gifts for the Spirits and meet a real Shaman in person. Some locals on Olkhon island simply have their own beliefs and Shaman is a part of their lives as a doctor or priest is part of our everyday life.

In late July, the island becomes home to an annual gathering of shamans. They arrive from Ulan-Ude, all over the Altai Region and Mongolia to perform their rites, which involve long drumming sessions to put them in a trance, sprinkling stones with the milk brandy and putting colored ribbons on trees. This is worth seeing at least once.

Olkhon is widely believed to be endowed with magic powers to draw tourists back. No one knows the secret but dozens of tourists come to the island for a second – or even a third – time.

3. Travel back in time

Khuzhir – the local “capital”.

Khuzhir is the main village on Olkhon Island. There are only a few thousands of inhabitants, making it a peaceful place. It is located close to the shores of Lake Baikal where the ferry docks and the adventure starts.

Khuzhir is where you can find food, drink, accommodation and festivities. Some locals offer vegetables for sale straight from their garden. Every Sunday there’s a market on the main street, where local people sell handmade items and fresh food.

In 2005, Khuzhir was finally wired for electricity. Since then, tourists have been flocking to the town, giving locals a chance to make some extra money by renting out rooms and bicycles. The streets of Khuzhir are now as often filled with Russian as they are with French, German and English.

Buryat village

You will learn the peculiarities of past and present life of the local Buryat people and their traditions. You will see their traditional housing, furniture, their everyday and holiday clothing, traditional dancing and singing in the Buryat language. You will also be treated to traditional dairy dishes of the Buryat people.

4. Enjoy active adventures in pristine nature

Horse riding along pristine beaches of olkhon island.

Nothing beats a nice hike by foot, but since the island is so huge, therefore horse riding is a common way of transportation. An incomparable way to see and do everything the island has to offer.

By leaving cars and conventional transport behind you feel a greater sense of immersion to the culture of Olkhon Island. Pristine sandy beaches surround the island, in particular, north of the Shaman Rock. The bays are quite shallow, and in the summer it stays nice and sunny. The waters are cooler then what we are used to and they are clean enough to drink. So take some time out to lay on the beach, have a dip and take a picnic as in summer months the temperature easily reaches above 25 C (77 F).

Kayak or bike around Olkhon Island shores

The best way to experience the whole island is to do it by bike or kayak. Due to the size of the island and the experiences to be had all over, there are different modes of transport that amplify the experience.

Bikes are very common on Olkhon Island as the unsealed roads and isolation of the island make for a bike-friendly environment. Bikes can be rented at Khuzhir averaging $10 a day.

A popular bike route from Khuzhir goes almost all the way across the steppe to the Kurykan Wall. Olkhon has over a hundred archaeological monuments: burial grounds, sites of ancient towns and ruins of ancient walls, including the Kurykan Wall on the Khorgoi Cape in the south of the island. Scientists are still undecided whether its purpose was to protect the locals from nomadic tribes or for offerings and sacrifices.

How to get to Olkhon Island

The  journey from Irkutsk takes some 6-7 hours including a ride on a minibus (paved road till the lake), then getting on a ferry and continuing on bumpy off-road on the island.

Another option is to get to Olkhon by a regular fast boat, but it operates just a couple of days a week, so this option may be not very suitable if you have just a few days in the area. The navigation starts in mid-June and lasts till the end of August, usually, the fast boat travels from Irkutsk and Listvyanka to Olkhon on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the cruise takes around 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Olkhon island accommodation

Olkhon Island is still a somewhat isolated destination. Therefore, the accommodation offer is still developing. Some hotels don’t have constant power or warm water. Our recommendations are:

• Baikal View Hotel
• Tourist Complex Saraysky
• Baikal Wood Eco Lodge
• Villa Malina
• Art hotel Port Olkhon
• Olkhon Story Guesthouse

For information about tours on Olkhon Island and Lake Baikal , feel free to get in touch.

Call us: +61 2 9388 9816 Email us:  [email protected]

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Olkhon sights

Olkhon Island is rich in natural sights; its beauty will leave nobody indifferent. These protected areas have everything: rock, natural sandy beaches of extraordinary beauty, dense pinewoods and broad-leaved forests, rocky shores, intricately peppered with snow-white stones. You can go fishing, take a walk by motor ship, meet real shamans who will tell you legends handed down by the local people from generation to generation for centuries. A visit to Olkhon is the unity with breathtakingly beautiful scenery of Baikal. It is impossible to find the words to describe the pristine and wild charm of these places, while professional photographers claim that virtually every shot, taken on the island is already a masterpiece as such.

Things to do on Olkhon Island

Cape shamansky.

The most famous attraction of Olkhon is sacral cape Shamansky, considered one of the natural wonders of Asia. Cape Shamansky, also known as Cape Burhan used to be a sacred place for the Buryats, who anciently inhabited the Baikal lakesides. In ancient times, cape Shamansky was called Ayha -Shulun (Scary stone) which, for a long time, served as a venue to hold various special ceremonies, including sacrificial offering. More

Sagan Khushun Cape

The western coast of the island is occupied by Sagan Khushun Cape (White Cape). From the water it resembles an extended rocky mass of white marble, but when you look from the land it turns into a rock ensemble that changes its appearance virtually beyond recognition, depending on the perspective. The cape rock is covered with red lichen, contrasting with the bright white cliffs. From the top, Cape Sagan Khushun greets a breathtaking view of the Small Sea, Seaside Ridge and Cape Khoboy.

Cape Khoboy

Cape Khoboy (Fang) is the northernmost point of Olkhon. On the cape, from a distance you can see a rock, whose outline suggests a woman's profile on a Greek galley nose. According to one of the Buryat legends, this rock is a girl whom gods turned to a stone for her envy and evil nature. The most beautiful sunrise is believed can be seen from Cape Khoboy. Once it used to be the place for shamans to performed rituals, while today it is a popular place for meditation among the followers of different spiritual practices.

Lake Shara-Nur

Shara-Nur (Yellow Lake) is a brine lake, located inland at the altitude of 750 m above sea level. Swimming is especially good there, as the lake is sheltered from Olkhon permanent winds by forest and hills. Shara-Nur is famous for curative muds and warm baths, particularly useful for the joints.

Pad Tashkiney

Pad Tashkiney is found on the eastern shore of Olkhon. Its location is convenient for fishing due to the rocky shores surrounding the bay. Seagull Island inhabited by gulls and cormorants, as well as Cape Khorgoy with ruins of the extant ancient Kurykan wall stand out against the background of many other Olkhon attractions.

Saraysk Bay

The Saraysk bay with a sandy beach, stretching for three miles is also worth visiting: the pines growing there remind the Baltic Sea landscapes.

Huzhir, the biggest town in Olkhon, has 1,200 inhabitants out of its total population of 1,500 who live permanently on the island. In recent years, due to the growing popularity of Olkhon among tourists, Huzhir has been sublimating, gradually turning into a resort settlement. More