Lake Baikal fishing

Region: Russia, Southern Siberia, Baikal Range, Lake Baikal
Activity: fishing, flyfishing in Baikal, small mountain lakes and rivers
Trip Category: special
Difficulty: easy, no need of special skill (kids from 14 years old are allowed).
Dates: May-October.

     For the Russian people Lake Baikal is not just a lake, but natural treasure. Located in Siberia not far from the Mongolian border and surrounded by mountains, forests and wild rivers, Baikal is an immense and breathtaking area of natural beauty. Baikal holds twenty percent of the earth's fresh water and harbors more endemic species of plants and animals than any other lake in the world. Fed by 336 rivers and streams including the Angara, Barguzin, Selenga, Turka and Snezhnaya, the lake holds fifty species of fish including bullhead, sturgeon and omul. The surrounded mountain rivers and small lakes are inhabited by taimen (Siberian sturgeon), kharius (grayling), lenok (Siberian trout) and many others. Baikal is world's deepest lake: the maximal depth is 1,620 m. Baikal's volume, at 23,600 cu. km, is greater than any other fresh water lake. If you could drain Lake Baikal, it would take the Great Lakes of the U.S.: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario to refill the empty basin!
     A glimpse into the lake's clear water is enough to convince anyone that nature not only exists in Siberia, it flourishes. The lake's surrounding wild mountains and rivers make the Lake Baikal region an ideal area for engaging in an array of outdoor activities including hiking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, backcountry and alpine skiing, birdswatching, fishing, hunting and nature photography. There are also many regional cultural attractions. Today, as in the past, Baikal remains a crossroads of cultures where native Sayats still graze reindeers and Buryat people maintain many of their old traditions.

     In 1996, Lake Baikal was included in UNESCO World Heritage List.

     Lake Baikal area is considered as a real fishing paradise. You can fishing in Lake Baikal itself and in surrounded mountain streams and small lakes. Despite the fact you can enjoy your fishing virtually everywhere on the lake, including Irkutsk suburbs, the best places are situated at the Northern part of Baikal area, and Frolikha river and lake on the North-East shore then Kurkula river gorge (Baikal Range) on the North-West are considered as the best of the best, so we recommend go there. The 1st area involves very few hiking but the 2nd is a bit more adventurious (in fact it is trekking+fishing option). As a bonus, you can try hot spa on Cape Khakusi (Frolikha area) and on Cape Kotelnikovskiy (Baikal Range area).

Variant 1. Frolikha lake and river (8 days, short easy grade hiking included).

Cost: for an offer.

Included. Meeting, seeign off and transfers in Irkutsk, airfare Irkutsk-Nizhneangarsk, transfer Nizhneangarsk-Severobaikalsk, motoboat for Severobaikalsk - Aya Bay and Cape Khakusi-Severobaikalsk sailing, Severobaikalsk-Irkutsk hydrofoil tickets, 1 night hotel or guesthouse accommodation in Severobaikalsk, 2 nights hotel accommodation in Irkutsk (***DBL BB), trekking and fishing guide, 3 times a day hot meals and tent (2 person tents) accommodation on active part, all permits and local fees.

Not included. Visa fees, airfare or railroad (Transsiberian) to/from Irkutsk, meals at the cities, personal gear.

Options. Visa support, gear rental, SGL accommodation, excursions in Irkutsk (Baikal museum and Mineralogical museum in Sludianka are recommended).

Variant 2. Kurkula river and mountain lakes (11 days, with medium-grade trekking).

Cost: for an offer.

• you can combine both trips into one (2 weeks trip). us for an offer! ;
• you can arrive to Severonaikalsk and departure from it via railroad (4 days railway trip from Moscow via Transsiberian railroad and BAM (Baikal-Amur Railroad), or 2 days railroad trip from Novosibirsk via BAM);
• any tailor-made trips are possible! Just us for an offer!