Olkhon（Russian: Ольхо́н ahl'-KHOHN)YesBaikalThe largest island, tooSiberiaOne of the real gems. This island has amazing diverse landscapes and vibrant culture that even the Soviets can’t suppress. This island is actually a place to look for on your Siberian route.
learn
Olkhon Island is the largest of the 27 islands in Lake Baikal. It is called the "Heart of Baikal". To the east is the deepest part of Lake Baikal (about 1642 meters). She is more than 200 kilometers away from downtown Irkutsk, and there are fewer than 2,000 residents on the island. The sun shines almost all year round, only a few dozen days are cloudy, and the precipitation does not exceed 140 mm.
The name of Olkhon Island is derived from the word "small forest" in Buryat. The island has a high vegetation coverage (forests occupies about 1/3 of the area of the island), and there are rugged mountains, gentle slopes, and stretches. There are many landforms such as vast flat grasslands, and there are sand dunes and strange-shaped rocks on the banks.
There are not many records about Olkhon Island in history. Due to its relative remoteness and inaccessibility, Olkhon Island is the residence of the evil spirits of Baikal in Buryatia’s myths and legends. In the era of Genghis Khan, it became a refuge for Mongolian shamanism; later, due to the spread of Buddhism among Buryats, it also became a refuge for Buryat shamanism. To this day, Olkhon Island is still a must-choice place for shamanistic ritual activities.
Olkhon Island has not yet been deeply developed, the main means of transportation is cars, and you can also choose to walk (the terrain is more rugged, the higher the terrain is to the north).
Language
The archipelago is sparsely populated, mainly including Buriyat, the Mongolian in the north, and one of the largest ethnic minorities in Russia. Buryat is an independent language, but it is related toMongolian(And like in Mongolia, written in Cyrillic), but it has been integrated into Russia, and the difference is no longer big.
city
- Huzhier Village,The main village of the island has a population of about 1,500 people.
Its "capital" Khuzhir (Хужир / Khuzhir) is the larger village on the island, and also a concentration of restaurants and accommodations. After passing the town of Huzhier, you can see the famous landmark of the island-the shaman stone at a glance. After arriving on the island, most travelers will take a "Northern Route 1 Day Tour" to the northernmost Cape of the island (МысХобой / Cape Khoboy). There are several other small villages (listed from north to south): Usuri, Pescanaja, Chalgaj, Charancy, Mal. Khuzhir (near Khuzhir village), Jalga.
arrival
Bus 
Irkutsk Bus Terminal has buses to Olkhon Island every day. The departure time is from 9:00 to 14:00. The journey takes about 5 hours and the price is about 500 rubles. There are more bus trips in summer, and there will be adjustments to bus schedules in winter. You must go to the station at least one day in advance to buy tickets. You can go to Lenin Street 17 (улиуа Ленина, 17) for consultation and ticket purchase, or go to the Irkutsk Visitor Center for transportation information. If you have booked a hotel or homestay on Olkhon Island, you can book a pick-up service directly from the hotel or homestay.
Soviet minibus
There are minibuses to Olkhon Island every day from the Irkutsk Bus Terminal or Central Market, about 5 times a day in summer, and every day at 10:00 and 15:00 in winter. The journey takes about 5-7 hours. The price is about 800 rubles (may fluctuate according to the season).
Passenger ship 
In summer, you can take a boat from the Rocket Terminal in Irkutsk to Olkhon Island. The voyage takes about 5-8 hours and the price is about 3200-4000 rubles. In winter, due to the cold weather and freezing of the lake, the boat schedule will be cancelled.
transportation 
There is no public transportation on Olkhon Island, and the main modes of travel on the island are chartered cars or bicycles.
Chartered car
You can sign up for a 1-day tour of staying in the hotel, of which the Northern Line is the most popular route. It should be pointed out that, except for the section from the southern end of the island to the town of Huzhier, there are no other roads on the island, which are relatively bumpy.
bike
If you go to Olkhon Island in summer, it is recommended to rent a bicycle and ride around the island. For specific cycling routes, please consult the bicycle rental office. Maps are provided in the store.
go sightseeing
Travel route
Northern Line 1 day tour route
The northern route mainly goes from the west bank to the northern end of Olkhon Island, and is the most classic tour route on the island. Starting from the town of Khuzhir (Хужир / Khuzhir), walking along the west bank of Olkhon Island, you will see the diverse natural scenery of Siberia-the grassland suddenly turned into a pine forest, and the white sand dunes near the sandy bay are dazzling gold Beach. Travel about 80 kilometers all the way to the northernmost Cape Khoboy (Мыс Хобой / Cape Khoboy) on Olkhon Island, where the famous Three Brothers Stone stands.
Then proceed along the east coast of Olkhon Island and arrive at Падь Узур, the most beautiful fjord on the east coast (the weather station is built here). Continuing along the east coast, you will reach two "most" points-the highest point of Olkhon Island, Ижимей Mountain and the deepest point of Lake Baikal. After that, travel from the east bank to the west bank and return to the town of Khuzhir. Along the way, you will see the harmonious beauty of mountains, forests and fields.
Southern Route 1 day tour route
From the town of Khuzhir along the west bank for about 24 kilometers, you will arrive at the second largest lake on Olkhon Island-Lake Ханьхой, which is very suitable for swimming and fishing in summer. The lake is surrounded by a large grassland, and there is a natural sandy beach between the small sea (the Baikal Lake to the west of Olkhon Island), and there is a tomb on the shore about 500 meters southeast.
Then proceed to the southeast in the direction of the West Bank and arrive at Падь Ташкиней. Surrounded by mountains and steep mountains, there is an ancient ruin in the southeast that dates back to the Iron Age. After the tour, return to Huzhier Town.
Activity
Summer cruise
You can book cruise tours through the hotel, and the tour time for each route is more than 6 hours.
- Visit Xiaohai (6 hours),The Lake Baikal (small sea) on the west side of Olkhon Island is close to the shore and has a high safety factor. You can basically see the main scenic spots on the southern line of the island.
- Visit North Point (8 hours),Take a boat trip to the northern part of Olkhon Island and have the opportunity to meet the pups that are unique to Lake Baikal.
Shopping 
Dining 
Nightlife
Accommodation 
Safety and precautions
- There is no signal in many areas on the island, even the local mobile phone operator cannot receive the signal.
- Prepare sufficient cash in advance. There are no banks or ATMs on the island, and there are few shops where you can use your card to make purchases.
- Try not to go to sparsely populated areas.