Olkhon, the jewel of Siberia
Russia , this vast continent often forgotten by travellers... However, Russia has a multitude of things to offer, in addition to Moscow the capital and St Petersburg, Russia remains a very little visited country in its entirety... Yet a mythical journey leads to the most temeral and lovers of large spaces, the Trans-Siberian embarks with him hundreds of Russians and some globe-trotters who came to discover the sumptuous Siberia. From one city to the other or from one end to the other of Moscow in Vladivostok, the Trans-Siberian has been carrying out a well- traced court for centuries but allows to stop on the way to discover, among other things, the gem of Russia, Lake Baikal and its island, the island of Olkhon.
For most travelers, it is a must-see stop, for some visiting the lake without passing through the island of Olkihon would be like visiting Beijing without visiting the Wall of China . So much to say that this island is famous for its beauty!
Lake Baikal known as "Siberia Lake" is the deepest freshwater lake in the world. From 600 km long, Lake Baikal is one of the prides of Russia both by its beauty and by environmental tranquility.
Photo credit: Flickr – amanderson2
In the middle of this lake is the island of Olkihon, you may have seen it in one of the reports of Nicolas Vanier, where this explorer left to the conquest of the North with his dogs puts his luggage after several months of exploration on the island. The island of Olkihon is the only island in the lake, 72 km long. Olkhon is an island where tranquility and serenity are what defines it best. Only a few inhabitants have the charm of the island throughout the year in the unique city, Khoujir .
It is during the summer season that the island becomes a seaside resort for Russian tourists who come to relax on the shores of the lake and swim in its crystal clear waters.
Soon beach, sometimes desert of sand and pebbles, sometimes forest the island is full of treasures! Always in the most complete silence, it is possible to see seals at certain times of the year and to enjoy large spaces as nowhere else.
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Iñaki LLM
The tranquility of this island is unique! To believe some legends, bathing in the waters of Baikal would bring luck to the rest of a life. One thing is certain, it is necessary to be courageous to bathe in these glacial waters, especially since the water is so clear that visibility sometimes reaches more than 40 m of depth, as much as to say that it is not to have vertigo!
It is necessary to know that the island is inaccessible a good part of the year because it is imprisoned by the ice of the Baikal, it is in the month of April that the first tourists can come to discover Olkhon... After several hours of mini van and a small ferry hour from Irkutsk, the travellers will finally reach the Russian jewel, the Siberian paradise!
Lover of large spaces and in search of tranquility, the island of Olhon is for you! A stopover and a change that you are not ready to forget!
Main photo credit: Wikimedia – Cyril Romier
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