Baikal is just as beautiful in winter as in summer. It’s cold, of course, but this also has its advantages. The average winter temperature is 20-23 degrees. During the winter months, the flow of tourists decreases significantly, and air tickets and accommodation become more affordable. We have counted 6 reasons why you should visit the deepest lake in the world in winter.
Photo: nat-geo.ru
1. Look at the patterns on the ice
Blue, light blue, turquoise, bright blue – this is how they describe Baikal ice, a legendary and unique feature of the lake-sea. Only here you can see hummocks as tall as a house, and frightening-looking cracks, and completely safe, but incredibly beautiful cracks. The greatest delight is caused by the supernatural transparency of the ice.
Photo: Andrey Kamenyev, nat-geo.ru
Baikal water is rich in oxygen and as pure as distilled water. When frozen, it remains just as transparent and frozen algae and various air bubbles can be seen through the ice. Visibility in some places reaches three meters. At first you don’t want to walk on frozen Baikal; you want to lie down and look at the bizarre figures in the ice. And it’s worth looking around. Baikal is inhabited by thousands of species of birds, animals and fish, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.
2. Take a ride on the most beautiful skating rink in Russia
Baikal is at the same time the largest and most picturesque skating rink in Russia. Skates are also the most convenient means of transportation. The ice is so mesmerizing that you always want to look at your feet, and not around. In addition, it is smooth and very slippery – ideal for skating. It is not recommended to travel far from the coast. Lake Baikal’s weather is quite unpredictable and can change dramatically within an hour, so skiing is recommended only in coastal areas. There is no need to bring equipment from home – there are rental points on the shore.
3. Feel the beauty of winter fishing
Perhaps there is nothing tastier than omul, fresh from the smokehouse, in one of the Baikal cafes. And if you catch the fish yourself, the taste will become even richer. The Baikal fishing season begins in January. Spearfishing is perhaps the most common activity on Lake Baikal. In January, perch, sorog, pike and dace are pulled out of the lake-sea.
In February, the ice becomes even thicker, and you can safely go to the “open sea”. Professional fishermen can count not only on huge perch, but even on burbot, grayling or the famous Baikal omul. Although Irkutsk residents say that the best time for fishing is March and early April, because the sun is already warm and the ice is still quite thick.
Photo: fanatbaikala.ru
4. Drive a car along the lake
A car ride on the ice of Lake Baikal will leave an unforgettable impression. The ice is only a meter thick, but that’s enough. The impressions of a trip on the deepest lake will be remembered for a lifetime. The ice is so strong that during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904, railway lines were built on it. 65 steam engines and 2,300 loaded carriages successfully traveled along the surface railway.
Today, the official ice road of Baikal, along which transport runs, is regularly checked. It is not safe to drive anywhere outside this zone. It should be said that the ice of Lake Baikal is not only a natural attraction, but also a solution to logistics problems. There are few roads around the lake; in summer, the journey from Severobaikalsk to Ulan-Ude takes at least a day by train. In winter, locals simply cross Baikal diagonally.
5. Soak in the hot springs
A suitcase packed for a trip to winter Baikal must include a swimsuit or swimming trunks. The Baikal region is famous for its open-air hot springs. Lying in the “fresh milk”, watching fluffy flakes of snow fall to the ground, is an unforgettable experience.
All thermal springs are located on the territory of Buryatia. Dzelinda and Goudzhekit are the most accessible hydropathic centers; they can be reached from Severobaikalsk by train. You can come here either for a couple of hours or with an overnight stay: rent a house and rent skates and skis here.
Those looking for a secluded resort should pay attention to Khakusy. You can get to it in winter only by ice from Severobaikalsk. There are much fewer tourists here and taking a steam bath will be more comfortable.
6. Look at the island of shamans
Baikal is also called the “Place of Power”. And not only because unity with nature occurs instantly, but also because here is the center of shamanism of the northern world – Olkhon Island. In July, shamans from all over the region come here. Tales and legends, beliefs and rituals will accompany the tourist both on Olkhon and throughout the Baikal region.
Local customs are rooted in the heritage of ancient peoples, which are intertwined with ancient shamanic and Buddhist rituals, and some rituals have been preserved by local residents in their original version.
The most famous landmark of Olkhon is the Shaman Rock. One of the nine shrines of Asia, the most revered holy place where cult sacrifices were made to the master spirit of Olkhon Island and beyond. Nearby there is a cave of shamans, in which rituals and vows were also made since the first settlements appeared here.
As a keepsake of the magical component of the region, they bring dolls of Buryat shamans and small masks made of wood, leather or straw. Such a souvenir is then placed in houses to protect against evil forces.
Photo: Sergey Pesterev, www.tpoty.com
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Even Hollywood director James Cameron was captivated by the charm of the region. While preparing for the filming of Avatar, he dived to the bottom of Lake Baikal as part of a research mission.
You can book a hotel room on the website or in the OneTwoTrip app.
