A Bird's-Eye View of the World

  Russia

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Irkutsk

Dates: inquire for dates

Description: Trekking the splendid Khamar-Daban mountains on the south coast of Lake Baikal.

Highlights:
Day 1
Transfer by bus from Irkutsk to Slyudyanka settlement located on the south coast of Baikal (106 km). Trekking up the Slyudyanka river to the ridge's top. The path twists and curves skipping from one bank to the other and back, crosses the river by log and pole bridges 15 times and goes past the marble quarry, Gorelaya (Burnt) and Kazachya (Cossack) glades, up and up. Crystal-clear river waters, small waterfalls, rocky cliffs and luxuriant vegetation this is the real Khamar-Daban. Light lunch en route. The ascent up the foothills is quite easy, and the surrounding landscapes make you snatch your camera every step of the way. Today you will cover about 24 km.

In the evening you will make an overnight stopover. Depending on the covered distance, this will be either on the Gorelaya Glade or at a campsite at the weather station. The comfort-fans may rent a cabin at the local tourist lodge and relax in the banya Russian bathhouse (for extra charge).
(meals incl.: lunch, dinner)

Day 2
Breakfast in the camp. Having left the heavy outfit down in the camp, you will have a radial trek to the peak of Mt. Chersky. From the weather station the serpentine road goes steeply uphill to the alpine meadows, which open up magnificent vistas of the Khamar-Daban and Eastern Sayan ridges. Having climbed beyond the forest edge, you reach a narrow rocky isthmus Zhandarmskiy (Gendarmes) pass, followed by quite an easy trail along the rocky crest to the peak (2090 m). In fine weather, the peak gives a clear view of Baikal and Serdtse (Heart) Lake hidden at the mountain bottom and named so because of its shape.
(meals incl.: breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 3
Breakfast in the camp. Going down to Slyudyanka. Light lunch en route. Transfer to Irkutsk. (meals incl.: breakfast, lunch)

Cost in US$: 270

Participants Travel to Russia in Groups

Green Express Travel Company's Mission Statement: The key idea of Green Express activities is sustainable development of Baikal region (that brings no harm to the environment) and promoting wonders of Baikal worldwide.

Year Founded: 2001