Ski-touring near Baikal lake, Siberia
Mont of the year: november - march
Duration: 9 days
Scheduled departure: consult Avalco Travel
Baikal is the largest lake in Russia, located in central Siberia, amidst magnificent forests and abundantly snow-capped mountains from October to May. South of the lake extends the Khamar-Daban mountain range, over 300 km long, not far from the border with Mongolia.
In this remote area we offer a week of ski touring in the Mamay valley with accommodation in a hut and daily ski trips. The best time is from November to February, as to enjoy the superb powder snow of this particular location.
Ski runs take place between an altitude of 800 m and about 1600 m, partly in the forest and partly on open slopes, with the possibility of making multiple ascents and descents during the day, and one or more traverses.
The forests are inhabited by many wild species, including brown bears, wolves, red deer and roe deer, red foxes, hares and moose.
This is definitely an adventure that cannot be missing in the travel palmares of the great powder enthusiast.
Challenge: FITNESS 2 TECHNICAL 2 ADVENTURE 2
Accomodation: hotel, lodge or hut
Local transfers: minivan, snowmobiles
Services included: visa support; special border zone entry permit; all local transfers as per programme; hotel (double room) in Irkutsk on last day; accomodation in the valley in a mountain hut or lodge (multiple rooms, shared bathroom, full board); banya (siberian sauna).
Optional services: russian visa; flights; insurance; assistance of an Avalco tour leader or mountain guide; single room where available; variations and extensions of the programme.
Special notes: To enter Russia a visa is requested; to get one you need the invitation letter from a local agency (at our care); for the whole visa procedure consider 3-4 weeks to stay on the safe side.
DAILY PROGRAMME
day 1
Arrival in Irkutsk by internal flight from Moscow. Transfer with private minivan to Vydrino (about 3 hours), a small village on the southern coast of Lake Baikal. Continuation on skis to the hut while the luggage is transported by snowmobile.
day 2 – 7
Day trips from the hut. For those looking for virgin lines, there is only the limit of the imagination. The hut is rather isolated, heated, with dormitories, shared bathroom and banya (russian sauma).
day 8
In the morning: relax or last short ski trip. In the afternoon: transfer to Irkutsk. Overnight at Hotel and farewell dinner.
day 9
Transfer to the airport and internal flight to Moscow.
N.B. The final program will be established according to the needs of the group, and will be adapted to the environmental conditions on site.
*** POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS OR VARIATIONS TO THE PROGRAM ***
-> multi-day raid with ski and pulka, bivouac in tents;
Other trips with similar characteristics:
> ski touring in Luzhba (Altay Mountains)
> Arctic ski mountaineering in the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk, Russia
> ski touring with yurta camp, Kyrghyzstan
Other trips (to the Altay region):
-> Expedition in skiing or trekking to Belukha 4506 m, the top of Siberia
-> Ski mountaineering expedition to the glaciers of Tavan Bogd, Southern Altay, Mongolia
Contact us for more information or to request a customized trip
REQUEST INFORMATION FOR
Ski-touring near Baikal lake, Siberia
Trip code: SP18077
Key Definitions
Trip dates, Duration, Departure
The period of time given in the trip description sheet is indicatively the most recommended for optimun conditions for the planned activities. Different periods are possible, especially during season with special climate situations. Duration is referred to the “standard” programme as per description sheet, however it could change according to the local conditions and/or the team’s requirements. If the trip is included in the Scheduled Trips list (yearly planner), the departure date is the one given in the planner; otherwise it will be decided according to the requests we have received. In any case we suggest to contact us for more precise information. In customized trips, departure date and duration are established according to customer’s request
Challenge scoring
By means of the scores given in the trip decsription sheet we wish to provide an indicative assessment of the challenges to be expected, divided in the following three categories:
FITNESS
Grade 1: adult performing a minimum sport activity (4-8 hours/week), or teenager in medium fitness conditions
Grade 2: adult performing sport activity (8-16 hours/week) or teenager in good fitness conditions
Grade 3: adult performing regular sport activity (16-20 hours/week) or teenager in very good fitness conditions
Grade 4: adult only, regularly performing sport activity and intense training (more than 20 hours/week)
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Grade1: no prior experience in the activity is required, just a natural predisposition
Grade 2: prior experience in the activity as beginner to medium level
Grade 3: prior experience in the activity at medium to high level, with regular practice since min. 3-5 years
Grade 4: excellent technical skills with long experience in the activity (more than 5 years)
ADVENTURE:
Grade 1: no prior experience in adventure travel id required, just a positive attitude to adapt
Grade 2: prior, yet limited, experience in adventure travel, with a strong attitude to adapt and determination
Grade 3: prior experience in adventure travel including remote area and wilderness, or extreme wheather, or uncertainty in route finding
Grade 4: prior experience in adventure travel including remote area and wilderness, or extreme wheather, or uncertainty in route finding, strong determination to overcome unforeseen events
Accomodation
The type of accomodation as planned is indicated in the trip sheet (hotel, lodge, tents, etc..).
Transfers
The means of local transfers are indicated as planned (flight, bus, 4WD vehicle, ferry, etc.). Some changes are possible in relation to the actual availability on site and/or the terrain and wheather conditions.
Service included and Prices
We do not have a price list. Quotes are sent on request only. Details of services included, excluded, or optionally available, will be specified in the quote and confirmed at the time of booking. Prices depend on number of participants and on the specific requirements of the group. They will be definitely set at the time of booking after definiton of all trip details and confirmation of dates. Special prices can be granted according to number of participants, and/or for pre-established groups, clubs and associations, guides with own clients, active athletes, tour operators and travel agents, journalists, physicians, rescue operators, schools, staff of organization running an humanitarian or research project.