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The first day will begin with a reception in Irkutsk, followed by one-hour transfer to the settlement of Listvyanka, where the Baikal Mushing Centre is located. In the centre, you will get to know dog sledge riders a.k.a. kayur and the dogs. Your instructor will walk you through the basics of mushing, after which you will sledge to Krestovaya Valley.
The ride will take you through the cleavage of the valley with its smooth climbs, icebound passages, slopes, and turns. As we ride through the Black Passage (2nd category of difficulty), you will sit in the sledge driven by a kayur.
After the ride, you will have light lunch at an eatery and take off for a three-kilometre trip along the western coast of Baikal to Bolshie Koty settlement. There, you will stay the night at a guest house.
Bolshie Koty has a long history. Long ago, people came to the settlement to mine gold, it had its own glass factory, and has an active biological station. Bolshie Koty is especially proud of its Baikal museum and Institute of Biology’s public aquarium.
The day will end at the guest house, where you will spend the night.
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After breakfast, you will head towards Baikal. The path will take you through ice piles and crevices, snow hills and black ice, leading you to the 105th meridian. This spot on the famous route from Tankhoy to Listvyanka is named after its location: it sits on the 105th meridian east of Greenwich.
There, you will accommodate yourself in a stationary tent, have dinner, and set up an ice camp for the dogs. The tent comes with cots, a heater, a table, chairs, and winter sleeping bags. At your disposal will be outdoor amenities — a biotoilet made of Baikal ice.
You will wrap yourself up in a sleeping bag and spend the night on Baikal.
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Once you’ve had breakfast and fed the dogs, you will leave the 105th meridian and travel back to Listvyanka. Stunning nature of Baikal with its sparkling ice, snow hills and wide open spaces covered with transparent blue ice will fill your ride with joy and tranquillity.
You will reach the Mushing Centre in the second half of the day. There, you will be presented with the Baikal Kayur Certificate and a memorable gift.
Finally, you will be transferred to Irkutsk.
