Olkhon is the most beautiful place of Lake Baikal, according to reviews of many tourists. Is it worth going here on vacation in the summer of 2021? Let's find out! We will tell you about the prices on the island, the best recreation centers, excursions and ways to get there.
What is Olkhon
The huge island stretches between the Small Sea and the main water area of Lake Baikal for 73.4 km. It is 15 km wide and is separated from the mainland by the Olkhonskiye Vorota strait.
Olkhon is the largest and only inhabited island of the 26 islands of Lake Baikal. It is included in the protected area of the Pribaikalsky National Park. On the territory of Olkhon there are 9 villages, in which about 1700 people live, 1350 of them are residents of Khuzhir. The Malomorsk fish factory once worked in this village. Today it houses the main infrastructure for tourists.
The climate on Olkhon is continental. Winters are long and relatively warm, while summers are short. Sandy beaches are found only on the west coast. From mid-July to mid-August, the lake warms up to + 18 ... + 20 ° С. In shallow areas, the water temperature reaches + 23 ° C.
How to get to Olkhon
By bus and car... From Irkutsk to Olkhon there is 289 km of land route. In summer, buses run to the island, and in the off-season - only shuttle maxi. Bus number 507 leaves at 8:00 from the bus station on the street. October Revolution, 14. On an asphalt road, tourists reach the free ferry in the village of Sakhayurt. Motor vehicles and passengers are transported across the strait from May to October from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. Three ferries run at intervals of half an hour. Taxis and buses are served out of turn. When one ship breaks down, the crossing is delayed for an hour. A gravel road is laid from the strait to the village of Khuzhir - 45 km. The return bus leaves at 8:45. The road between Irkutsk and Khuzhir takes 5-6 hours. A bus ticket costs 450 rubles. Baggage is paid separately. One way trip by minibus is 800-1000 rubles, and by taxi - 6000 rubles.
Some tourists go on vacation to Olkhon on the boat... It runs from Irkutsk twice a week from June to September. The motor ship departs from the Raketa pier in the Solnechny microdistrict at 8:30. The road to the island takes 6 hours. The fare is 3,500 rubles. On Olkhon the ship makes two stops - in Khuzhir and Zagli Bay.
Accommodation prices
For recreation on Olkhon, most tourists stop in Khuzhir. The village offers overnight accommodation in camp sites, hotels, yurts and guest houses. Many campers camp on the coast. Budget recreation centers are especially popular on the island. The tourist centers, where interesting excursions are organized, leave a good impression.
We advise you to search and book holiday camps, hotels and other accommodation only on reliable Hotelluk and Airbnb sites. There you can read real tourist reviews and find out the pros and cons of each option.
What are the prices for recreation centers on Olkhon in the summer of 2021? A double room costs from 1300 rubles per day. In this case, the amenities will be in the yard. For rooms with a private bathroom, they ask from 2500 rubles, and for elite apartments - from 5000 rubles. If a room costs more than 3500 rubles, breakfast is usually included in the price.
See the 7 best recreation centers in Khuzhir.
Find out how much it costs to go to Lake Baikal - we compared the cost of an economical and beautiful vacation.
The best recreation centers and hotels
Cozy wooden houses... An inexpensive option where you can stay for a vacation on Olkhon Island. The camp site has excellent reviews and a high rating. Guests like good value for money, landscaped grounds, neat houses, cleanliness and friendly staff. A double room costs from 1800 rubles per day.
Olkhon pearl... The recreation center on Olkhon is located near the shore of Lake Baikal. Tourists are accommodated in wooden houses, which stand in a beautiful green area. The recreation center organizes excursions around the island and offers bicycles for rent. Guests enjoy delicious homemade breakfasts and friendly staff. Price - from 2000 rubles for a double room.
Baikal View Hotel... An excellent three-star hotel on Olkhon, in the village of Khuzhir. There is a spa, bar, restaurant, laundry. Guests love the friendly staff and the lake view from every room. To the shore of Lake Baikal 5 minutes on foot. Guests consider the cuisine in the hotel restaurant to be the best on the whole Olkhon Island. A double room costs from 9000 rubles per day.
Paradise island... The new hotel in Khuzhir has several types of rooms: budget rooms with a shared bathroom cost 2,500 rubles, family rooms with a lake view - 3,500 rubles, a whole house - 5,000 rubles, a suite - 7,500 rubles.
Nagaimar Manor... The popular recreation center is located 700 meters from the beach, close to shops and cafes, with a beautiful view of Cape Burkhan. Tourists are accommodated in solid wooden houses. There is a possibility of living in dorms for 5 people and in separate rooms. There is a dining room, Turkish bath, playground, fireplace, barbecue and parking.
Tourist base Baikal-Babr... This is one of the best recreation centers on Lake Baikal, according to tourists! Rating: 9.8 out of 10 - very few hotels and bases can boast of this. Located on Olkhon Island. Comfortable and cozy yurts are offered for living. The base is very neat, well thought out, and homely. The guests liked the hospitable hosts of the camp site. A wonderful, secluded place for complete relaxation and wonderful rest! A family room with a lake view costs from 4500 rubles.
Prices for food on Olkhon
There are no supermarkets on the island, only small grocery stores. Food on Olkhon is 1.5-2 times more expensive than in Irkutsk. Many eat at camp sites or in cafes, some cook themselves. The local catering looks without any special frills, but the food there is delicious. Guests are offered dishes of Russian, Siberian and Buryat cuisine. The average check for lunch is 300-400 rubles.
Here are the prices for food in a cafe on Olkhon (in Khuzhir):
- borscht - 140 rubles;
- buhler - 180 rubles;
- sagudai, 100 g - 190 rubles;
- mashed potatoes - 90 rubles;
- cutlet - 50 rubles;
- meat pies - 45 rubles;
- tea - 25 rubles;
- fruit drink - 45 rubles.
Prices for excursions and entertainment
All excursions on the island are guided. If the program is more than half a day, the price includes lunch. During a vacation on Olkhon in 2021, the following are popular:
- sightseeing tour of the island - 500-600 rubles;
- boat trip to Cape Khoboy - 1600 rubles;
- a walking tour from Cape Khoboy to the Uzura valley - 1100 rubles;
- a trip to Lake Shara-Nur - 1100 rubles;
- boat trip at sunset - 900 rubles;
- a trip to the Hatha pad - 850 rubles;
- horseback riding tour along the shores of Lake Baikal - 1800-4400 rubles;
- evening walk around the islands of the Maloye More - 1000 rubles;
- seal rookery - 2,450 rubles;
- boat trip to Ogoy Island and springs - 1800 rubles.
Fishing enthusiasts are taken on a fishing trip for 2400-2500 rubles. Rent of ATVs costs 500 rubles per hour.
What to see on Olkhon
Olkhon has clean air, silence and various landscapes. Pine forests alternate with steppes, and sheer cliffs with dunes and sandy beaches. On your own and during excursions, we advise you to see:
- Zagli Bay is the sunniest place in the Irkutsk region.
- The Kobylya Golova Peninsula is a picturesque rock of the Khorin-Irgi Cape separated from the main massif by a sheer crevice 4 m wide.
- Cape Khorgoy with the ancient Kurykinskaya wall. On the southern tip of Olkhon it is shallow, the water warms up more, so tourists like to swim here. The protective wall 185 m long and 2 m high was built by the Kurykans - the ancestors of the Buryats and Yakuts who lived on the island in the 6th-11th centuries.
- Cape Burkhan with Shamanka Rock is one of the sacred sites of Asia.
- Sandy beach of Saraisky Bay.
- Peschanoe tract - picturesque dunes 20 kilometers from the village of Khuzhir.
- Cape Sagan-Khushun is a rocky ledge made of white marble.
- Lake Khankhoi is a freshwater reservoir where large fish are found - soroga, perch and pike.
- Lake Shara-Nur is a reservoir with yellow mineral salt water. In this lake you can take a medicinal bath.
- Cape Khoboy is the northernmost cape of Olkhon.
- Mount Zhima - according to Buryat legends, is the ancient abode of spirits and deities.
In Khuzhir there is a museum of local lore with finds from the sites of ancient people, as well as a collection of minerals, objects of religious worship and materials about the flora and fauna of Olkhon. The ticket costs 100 rubles.
In Maly Khuzhir there is an ethnographic complex "Buryat Village". A trip from Khuzhir there costs 1200 rubles. Get to know the folk crafts and the way of life of the Buryats. Watch a concert program, performances of wrestlers and taste delicious national cuisine.
See also our selection of beautiful places on Lake Baikal.
Travel Tips
Book rooms at tourist centers as early as possible, preferably 2-3 months in advance. In summer they are in great demand.
Highest house prices in July and August. It's cheaper to live in the off-season.
Most of the tourists are from May to mid-August. The queue for the crossing should be taken in the morning, then by evening you will move to the island or from the island.
If you enjoy bike rides, take them with you. Renting a two-wheeled transport on Lake Baikal is not cheap - 100 rubles per hour and 500 rubles per day.
There are no ATM machines on the island, so stock up on cash in advance.
Internet quality is poor.
There are no gas stations on Olkhon. Carry a supply of fuel in cans.
Baikal weather is changeable. Even for a holiday on Olkhon in the summer, take warm clothes, raincoats and waterproof shoes.
Reviews of tourists about the rest on Olkhon
The impressions of tourists about Olkhon are mostly good. If you do not count on a high level of comfort, you can spend three to four days and even the whole vacation here.
Pros:
- Beautiful nature, clean coastline and magnificent sunsets.
- Olkhon is good for outdoor enthusiasts: the island is explored on foot, by water, by bicycles, cars and horses.
- An opportunity to get acquainted with the culture, traditions and sacred places of the Buryats.
- The entire territory is within the coverage area of mobile communications.
Minuses:
- Prices for holidays on Olkhon in 2021 are high.
- Budget accommodation is inconvenient for tourists. Almost everywhere there are toilets in the yard.
- Minor repairs are not available on the island. Shoes, clothes and any equipment cannot be repaired.
- There are no laundries and washing machines in the village and inexpensive tourist centers, so you have to do the washing yourself.
