TOP-10 WINTER ENTERTAINMENT

Take your skates with you or at a local rental - and go to the largest natural skating rink in the world through the ice spaces with a variety of patterns - cobwebs, bubbles, frozen needle-like streams of air. Skate rental points are available in Irkutsk, Listvyanka, Bolshoye Goloustny and in Khuzhir on Olkhon. Don't forget about safety - the ice of Lake Baikal is not like on an artificial ice rink, but rough and cracked.

If you include a trip on Khivus in your trip, you will have a better chance to get to hard-to-reach places, make stops where there are fewer people, and see the beautiful grottos and caves of Lake Baikal, which are still untouched by crowds of tourists. It is best to ride Khivus from Listvyanka to Olkhon, because it is on this route that you will most likely see all the variety of ice - hummocks that do not repeat themselves in any year, its clean surface, bubbles of different shapes and sizes in Bolshoye Goloustny and Buguldeika.

There is a lot of snow in many valleys and ridges around Lake Baikal, and this is a great opportunity to arrange snowmobile adventures. Take a look into the most secluded protected corners, climb at speed to the tops of the hills and admire the beautiful views. The ideal places to go on a snowmobile trip are the villages of Listvyanka, Baikalsk, Utulik and Mamay. This is an option for brave and hardy winter adventure lovers.

The abundance of snow in the southern part of Lake Baikal provides excellent opportunities for fans of active winter sports. Sobolinaya Mountain and Baikal Mountain are great options for those who want to go skiing or snowboarding down the mountains with views of the Baikal expanses. And then you can relax in the cafe with a cup of local invigorating Sagaan Dali tea (a kind of rhododendron, the leaves of which have a pleasant taste and tonic effect)

At the Boro-Boro ice station, which is located 7 km from the village of Khuzhir, you can taste Siberian dishes, participate in a master class on cooking raskolotka, a freshly frozen local endemic fish (omul), play ice golf and send friends a postcard from Lake Baikal.

Winter fishing on Lake Baikal has many features: fish are found at a certain depth, you need to choose a period when the probability of catching is greater. But local experts will bring you up to date, provide you with gear, tell tales and real stories, in general, they will make you an experienced Baikal fisherman. Fishing can be arranged in different parts of the lake, depending on your route.

After your winter adventures, it's ideal to warm up in the steam room on the shore or on the ice of Lake Baikal and add to the experience by diving into the ice hole. Cheeks will flush from such a contrast - hot air and cool water. Your body will perk up, and your strength will definitely increase for further adventures. You can jump into Lake Baikal while traveling around Lake Baikal on Olkhon, on the Small Sea, and in Listvyanka.

This is the most pleasant element of the trip - catering on Lake Baikal. You can try fish soup made from fresh omul, saguidai, a finger-licking snack, pies, Siberian tea, and all this against a beautiful backdrop of Baikal ice. The fans of outdoor dining will also appreciate the local dome restaurants and ice cafes located near the villages of Khuzhir and Sakhyurta.

Every year, an ice sculpture festival is held in Olkhon. And those who get to Lake Baikal on the dates of the festival are the real lucky ones. After all, they can see with their own eyes how skillful craftsmen turn the ice of Lake Baikal into works of art. Over the years, you could see the heroes of fairy tales about Lake Baikal, and various animals, real and fantastic, ships, monuments, and even the famous Olkhon "loaf" (UAZ car). And in the evenings, your eyes will be pleased with the laser show and the magical illumination of these sculptures.