Olkhon Island
Olkhon is the largest of the islands in the waters of Lake Baikal, its geographical and sacral center. An aura of mystery has long enveloped this piece of land, which resembles the shape of Baikal itself. The mysterious history, the richest nature, the diversity of landscapes, protected corners, almost untouched by civilization, attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world to the shores of Olkhon Island. In 2019, it was on the list of the best places to travel, compiled by the American newspaper The New York Times.
Video: Olkhon
Contents- Highlights
- History of Olkhon Island
- Tourism Features
Geography - Climate
- Khuzhir settlement
- Interesting places on Olkhon Island
Beaches - Active rest and excursions on Olkhon
- Souvenirs
Where to eat - Where to stay
- Transportation
- How to get there
Highlights
Olkhon Island presents all the diversity of natural landscapes of the Baikal shores. Here steppe expanses neighbor with deciduous forests and relict spruce forests, and wide sandy beaches – with marble rocks lined up along the coast, picturesquely covered with red-brown lichen. These places are a real eden for wildlife lovers, photographers and artists. History and archeology lovers will be interested to see the monuments of ancient Kurykan culture, ethnologists – to get acquainted with Buryat traditions. Olkhon will not disappoint mystics, self-taught psychics and people who want to see shamanic rituals with their own eyes.
.Tourist life is concentrated on the western coast of the island, facing the Maloye More Strait. Here sandy beaches stretch out, and in the shallow bays the water warms up quite well in summer. The rocky shores of the east coast are incredibly picturesque, but difficult to access, so rarely visited by tourists.
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A significant part of the territory of the island is part of the Pribaikalsky Natural National Park. Its visit is paid, and access to some specially protected areas is restricted. Recently, vacationers have faced a number of bans aimed at preserving the biosphere and landscapes of the reserve. And today not all parts of the wide Olkhon beaches allow “savages” to pitch a tent, build a fire and have a good time. At the same time, the reserve offers more and more interesting organized excursions: tourists are invited to go hiking, horseback riding, cruising along the coast and to the uninhabited islands of Baikal.
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