In this article, we will consider a vacation on Olkhon, food prices, travel, tours, accommodation at camp sites. Find out where to stay and how to get to the island during the summer holidays.
Olkhon Island is perhaps the very place on Lake Baikal, which has preserved its pristine nature and primitive civilization. Believe it or not, the village of Khuzhir, which is located on the island, received such a benefit of civilization as electricity only seven years ago.
This is a place where you rest with your mind and body, where you get a huge boost of energy, being near the sacred Lake Baikal or climbing the Shamanka rock, seeing off the passing day.
In this article we will try to give all the answers to the questions that may arise when planning your trip and vacation on Olkhon Island. You will learn how to get to Olkhon and why tourists from all over the world come here to learn what a real rest for savages on Baikal is.
How to get to Olkhon?
Before getting to Olkhon you need to book a hotel and buy cheap flights to Irkutsk.
If you decide to get to Lake Baikal and its secluded places not only from the Olkhon side, then I advise you to read the article on how to get to Baikal.
You can get to Olkhon in winter by car or minibus, in the spring months (starting from mid-March) the crossing is closed and you can get to the other side only with the help of a hovercraft.
In summer, buses, minibuses go to Olkhon, or you can get there by car. Let's take a closer look at all the ways and prices for a trip to Lake Baikal.
You can get from the Irkutsk bus station using such transport as:
- Minibus taxi (route No. 507, the price of a trip by minibus is 450 rubles one way, plus luggage from 100 rubles);
- Bus (bus fare 420 rubles one way plus luggage);
A ticket to Khuzhir can be bought online on the bus station website: avtovokzal-on-line.ru, here you will also find out the current flight schedule.
Travel time by minibus is 4 hours.
If you arrived in Irkutsk by train, then from the railway station you will have to take tram number 2 to the "Central Market", next to the stop there is a parking lot with private minibuses that travel in different directions to Lake Baikal, from Listvyanka (travel 150 rubles) to Ohon (fare 850 rubles).
You can also save on travel costs, walk from the "Central Market" along Timiryazeva Street (all the time straight) to the bus station and take municipal transport, where the fare will be from 420 rubles.
Map of points where you can take a minibus:
It will not be difficult to get to Olkhon by car on your own. The road to the ferry crossing is very good and was completely paved last year.
The path runs through the Yakutsk tract, you just have to admire the flickering views from your car window for 4 hours. The distance from Irkutsk to the ferry crossing is about 260 kilometers.
Where is the best place to refuel? We recommend replenishing gasoline supplies on the outskirts of Irkutsk at Rosneft filling stations. According to tourists' reviews about their holidays on Olkhon, many complain about refueling on the highway and the quality of fuel.
So, we got to the ferry crossing and here it is the cleanest lake on earth - Lake Baikal right in front of you.
Ferry Crossing Schedule
While you are spending time waiting for your turn for the ferry, you can enjoy the fresh air of this wonderful lake and admire the landscapes of pristine nature, and in good weather you can even see the village of Khuzhir, located on the island where you are actually going.
The only disadvantage of traveling by car is the queue, because fixed-route taxis and buses are served out of turn, but how many inconveniences you can experience while driving a huge bus without stops.
Three ferries go across Lake Baikal: "Dorozhnik", "Olkhonskiye Vorota", this year the third ferry "Semyon Batagaev" was launched. Travel is free.
The schedule of all ferries can be viewed on the website vsrp.ru/passengers/trips/mrs-olkhon/
And now, you have reached your destination. After you get off the ferry, registration awaits you, but it is not mandatory. Registration is needed to count tourists, they say that in the near future more than the prescribed number of tourists will not be allowed, but we are Russians, we will break through other ways.
Holidays on Olkhon, prices
Flights to Irkutsk, cost
Olkhon camp sites, prices
Holidays on Olkhon 2021 can be arranged at tourist centers or you can settle yourself in tents.
All hotels on Olkhon are very comfortable and with all the benefits of civilization, but most tourists come to the island as “savages”, accommodating themselves in tents right on the picturesque shore of Lake Baikal, thereby saving a decent amount.
In the midst of the season (July - mid-August), hotel rooms cost from 2,500 rubles per person per day, a separate house will cost from 3,500-12 thousand rubles. In many hotels only breakfast is included for this money.
If you are a city person who cannot live without a shower, toilet and other benefits of civilization, then we choose to rest on Olkhon at camp sites. If this does not play a big role for you, then a tent and songs by the fire until the morning in solitude with nature will be an ideal option.
The best hostels in Olkhon according to reviews of tourists and their own experience:
- Tourist base "Baikalov Ostrog", prices for accommodation start from 1,500 rubles per person in the main building, taking into account breakfast for the low season. A room in the house can be rented for 4450 rubles for double occupancy per day with breakfast. The camp site has its own beach with sun loungers, a restaurant with a program in the evenings, an observation deck.
- Baikal View Hotel is very popular among wealthy tourists, prices for accommodation start from 5 thousand rubles in a double room for the low season, suites with two bedrooms will cost from 17 thousand. The hotel is located on a hill, so the view here is simply gorgeous. There is a swimming pool, a good entertainment program, excursions and other aspects for a good holiday on Olkhon in the summer.
- "Daryana Club Manor" will be one of the budget accommodation options on the island, prices for accommodation start from 1,500 rubles.
- Mini-hotel "Baikal" is popular among tourists, prices for standard rooms start from 1,500 rubles per day, houses can be rented from 4,500 rubles. The hotel is located next to the Shamanka rock, delicious food here, perfect for family holidays.
View all Olkhon tourist centers →
Perhaps you will be interested in recreation centers in other parts of Lake Baikal, for example, on the Small Sea, in Utulik, Baikalsk and other interesting places.
Food on Olkhon, prices
Where to eat on Olkhon? You can take food with you for self-preparation, since many camp sites have the necessary equipment, you can go to a cafe or buy food in stores.
Prices for food in Olkhon cafe:
- borscht - 150 rubles,
- buhler - 190 rubles,
- mashed potatoes - 80 rubles,
- cutlet - 45 rubles,
- pies - 35 rubles,
- tea - 30 rubles,
- fruit drink - 50 rubles,
- sagudai - 180 rubles per serving 100-150 grams,
- hot smoked omul - 150 rubles for a small tail, 250 rubles for a large tail,
- Cold smoked omul - 200 rubles for a small tail, up to 350 rubles for a large fish.
A set lunch for two tourists will cost 500 rubles, dinner from 600 rubles excluding alcohol.
Which cafe to choose for meals? We recommend taking a closer look at the places where tourists most often eat. There are many small food outlets on the island that you should definitely not go to in order to avoid poisoning.
The prices for food in stores are almost the same as in the city of Irkutsk, the choice of products is not great, here they sell only everything that is necessary for the local population and tourists.
Excursions on Olkhon, prices
A trip to the island's attractions should be a must. The local population practices tours by water transport and by Bukhankah cars. You should definitely buy boat trips to Cape Haboy and a sightseeing tour of the island.
At many tourist centers, you can rent bicycles, the rental price starts from 150 rubles / hour.
Excursion prices:
- Boat excursion to Cape Khoboy - 1500 rubles,
- Walk to Lake Shara-Nur - 1200 rubles,
- Sightseeing tour of the island from 600 rubles,
- Haga-Yaman, car and horse tour to all significant places - 2700 rubles,
- Sunset boat trips - 1000 rubles,
- Pad Hatha - 800 rubles,
- Horseback riding from 4500 rubles,
- Evening walk around the islands of the Maloye More by water transport from 1000 rubles,
- Excursion to the seal rookery from 2500 rubles,
- Walking and water excursion to Cape Khoboy for prepared tourists from 2500 rubles,
- Fishing from 2500 rubles.
All excursions are accompanied by a guide, an exciting program and lunch (for a long tour). Most of the excursions take place in all the famous sights.
Where to buy excursions? There are several excursion agencies on the island, located on the central streets of Khuzhir, the prices for tours are almost the same, you can safely contact any operator.
Weather on Olkhon
The best time to visit the island will be the end of July - mid-August, prices in this period are maximum, but the number of sunny days will not let you get bored on vacation.
Average climatic indicators:
It will be interesting for you to learn about winter Baikal and what to do at this time of the year, where to go.
Olkhon beaches, where to rest?
You can spend a great day with children and swim in the warm water of the lake at Saraiskiy beach, which is both a tourist attraction and a sandy beach for camping.
Saraysky beach is located about two kilometers from the Shamanka rock, the width of the beach is about 60 meters, in the distance there is a forest area where you can stay in a tent. The descent into the water is at first gentle (about three meters), then there is a sharp decline to 1.5 meters in depth.
There are local baths on wheels on the beach, the cost is 500 rubles / hour. The bathhouse is located right next to the water, so when you decide to take a desperate step into the water, you won't have to run far.
Location map of Saraysk beach on Olkhon:
Tips for relaxing on Lake Baikal:
- There are no gas stations on the island, so decide the fuel issue in advance! Do not forget about the tools needed when repairing a wheel, if you are going to have a rest in your car, the road here does not spare the suspension of cars.
- In order not to stand in line for the ferry all day, take the queue from early morning on any day of the week except Friday and Saturday (on these days you can stand in line all day long). The busiest season for holidays on Olkhon in 2021 starts from May to early August.
- Be sure to book hotels a few months before the planned trip, or guests from abroad will do it for you, who very often buy everything here even before the holiday season.
- Before booking hotels, be sure to read the article about good hotels and places to book a place.
- If you are a lover of outdoor activities, be sure to take your bike with you. If you do not have a bike, you can rent it at the nearest hotel (the rental price is 100 rubles per hour or 500 rubles per day).
And of course, if you are going to have a rest on Olkhon Island, do not forget to take your bike with you, without it anywhere. By bike, you can go around the entire island and enjoy nature one hundred percent.
But we told how to choose the right bike for ourselves in our previous article. In addition to renting a bike, you will be offered to ride around the island on ATVs, such an exciting activity will cost you about 500 rubles per hour.
This information about holidays on Olkhon, prices, and how to get there will be useful for both beginners and experienced tourists who like to spend their holidays on the coast of Lake Baikal.
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