Things to see and do Île Island (Ольхон)

If there's one place that sums up the beauty of Olkhon Island, it's here. You will marvel at the view of Lake Baikal from the top of the sharp cliffs. In summer it is a refuge for butterflies. In the sea you may see seals playing leapfrog. At the end of the peak, a shamanistic totem pole is erected like a lighthouse. Don't forget to leave an offering there otherwise the revenge of the shamanic gods can be terrible: breakdown, flat tire... And given the state of the road, a 4x4 is indispensable.

Of course, the attraction, well established, is a bit of a summer camp (dozens of UAZs follow and cross each other), but don't miss it: you'll be amazed! Usually, the tour is organized in six main stops, interspersed with a snack (fish soup-sandwich-tea). Here are a few explanations, as the drivers are not talkative. Stage 1: Kharantsy and its fabulous bay. Stage 2: Pichianka beach. Stage 3: Cape Khoboï, with a 1 hour break. You walk towards the cape and walk through its forest, covered with offerings; you quietly meet your group for lunch. Stage 4: Cape Shunte, or Cape of Lovers. Its two rocks represent a couple. In the background, you can see the Sviatoïe Noz peninsula (Nez-Sacré, in bouriate), in the distance, on the left, the archipelago of the Ushkani islands which shelters a colony of nerpas (excursions are proposed by boat). On your right, close by, Mount Juma, home of Baikal. Stage 5: Sagaan Khushun or Cape of Three Brothers, a white marble cap covered with reddish lichen. From there, you drive through a steppe with a relief, interspersed with larch forests, deserted hamlets and hordes of semi-wild horses. Stage 6: the mystical (and extraordinary) bronze sculpture of Dashi Namdakov The Guardian of Lake Baikal (famous Buryat artist born in 1952).In Buryatia, a large dead tree embodies the spirit of an ancestor. Inhabited, it is the object of offerings, prayers and rituals, especially if it is located at the top of a hill...

Today's village, with a population of less than 100 inhabitants, was once an important fishing port. The traces of the old installations have disappeared. If Kharantsy is the first stop on the great northern tour in UAZ, it is quite possible to get there by bike (or on foot. Be careful, the road is long). You will find several accommodations: campsites (with yurts) and guesthouses. Up there, expect a 360-degree heavenly landscape, on a land peeled by the sun and wind. You can explore the coast by bike or on foot, go down to the water's edge, unpack your picnic, enjoy an unlimited space. You can also try to discover the shamano-Buddhist oratory hidden in the forest... Opposite is the small island of Kharantsy. It is very popular in winter for its superb ice cascade (accessible by boat in summer). Also, several scenes from the film In the Forests of Siberia were shot there. Continuing north towards the village of Ulan Khushin (Улан Хушин), you can admire an extraterrestrial landscape, strange shaped trees on a sandy perimeter and wild thyme fields as far as the eye can see. Be careful, uneven track and increased difficulty. It is here that Pribaïkalsky National Park opens, recognizable by its forest checkpoint: it is perfectly authorized to enter it alone, subject to paying the entrance fee (300 RUB per day and per person). Entry by vehicle is only possible if the vehicle is off-road.