HELISKI BAIKAL– ECO LODGE

DAY 1 – SUNDAY – ARRIVAL IN IRKUTSK

The flight we recommend departs from Moscow, landing in Irkutsk (IKT) at 8:30 am on the Sunday.

Our Kamchatka Heliski Team driver will come and welcome you at the airport. He’ll carry a board with the name of your group so you can recognize him.

You’ll then have between 2 ½ – 3 ½ hrs drive to reach the lodge (depending on weather conditions).

Arrival at the lodge and check-in

We’ll give you time to settle in your rooms and discover the lodge before sharing a first drink and dinner.

DAY 2 to DAY 6 OR 7 – MONDAY TO FRIDAY (OR SATURDAY)

The programme is quite basic: heliskiing!

Monday morning: after breakfast we’ll distribute the safety equipment for the week (DVA, shovel, probe and Airbag bag).

All the equipment will be adjusted and tested, with the help of guides.

The security briefing will follow (ARVA search, ski instructions), including instruction from the pilot of safety and precautions around the helicopter.

DAY 6 OR 7 – FRIDAY (OR SATURDAY)

Last day of skiing (Friday or Saturday, depending on the programme you’ve chosen) early afternoon.

After getting back to the lodge you’ll leave around 3 – 3:30 pm for Irkutsk, where you’ll have dinner at the restaurant and spend the night from Friday to Saturday (or Saturday to Sunday), in 4 star hotel (International Hotel Sayen).

DAY 7 OR 8 – SATURDAY (OR SUNDAY)

We’ll organize your transfer back to the airport (according on your flight schedule).

The Alouette III is a very versatile machine.

Used by many armies in combat and search & rescue, this helicopter is often used in the civilian world also, notably for VIP transport flights or for road surveillance. It’s well known by those living in mountainous areas because it continues to be the best rescue helicopter for alpine conditions.

The Alouette can carry four people plus a guide. The helicopters are of recent construction and offer all the requisite safety guarantees. They are overhauled and rigorously maintained according to international maintenance procedures.

Flight time: We prefer to base ourselves on the flight time actually flown – unlike traditional heliskiing agencies which charge flight time based on the vertical drop skied.

Not only is our method of calculation more transparent and more in line with the reality of the costs, but it also allows us complete freedom, adapting to the conditions and giving you the opportunity to explore the best sites.

So, a good day offers us 7,000 to 10,000 metres of altitude drop for the cost of about 2 ½ hrs of flight time!

The trip options’ announced flight time is the average flight time during each trip. When the weather prevents us from using all these hours, we’ll refund the hours not flown.

For your adventure, we’ve selected The Baikal Eco-Lodge (in Novosnezhnaya), a hotel infused with charm and a peaceful atmosphere.

This large, 300 square meter log cabin is an ode to comfort and nature, a cocoon where you’ll feel far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The heart of the Lodge is undoubtedly its cozy lounge, complete with a fireplace and panoramic mountain views.

The large dining room and beautiful kitchen compliment this beautiful lounge, while the spacious rooms will guarantee you a restful sleep.

The 4 spacious rooms offer restful sleep.

For relaxing after a long day of skiing, nothing’s left to chance. The lodge is equipped with a traditional Russian sauna, called a banya.

Breakfast is taken at the hotel. On ski days, we provide picnic lunches based around Baikal specialties. We also provide snacks (energy bars, etc.).

A thermos of warm tea will be available in the helicopter throughout the day.

Bottles of water are available in the helicopter throughout the day.

In the evening, we’ll have dinner in the lodge.

Meals are varied, mostly using local products (omoul – fish from Lake Baikal, soups…), vegetables, dairy products…

Reasonable quality wine (from South Africa or Chile) is available, but the most classic drinks are beer, champagne and vodka.

If the weather doesn’t permit flying, other activities can be considered, however some require an extra charge.

• Skiing in the small resort of Gora Sobolinaya
• Traditional Russian Banya on the shores of Lake Baikal
• Sightseeing: Lake Baikal Museum
• Hiking around Lake Baikal

Suitable skis (fat or freeride skis) that have been properly prepared (edges sharpened, freshly waxed, bindings correctly adjusted, etc.) will ensure you get the best from your trip. In addition to this advice from Marco, we’ve drawn up a list of things you should pack.

The following details are for informational purposes only. The daily flight schedule with Aeroflot can be found in English at the link : https://www.aeroflot.ru/ru-en?_preferredLanguage=en&_preferredLocale=ru

You choose the company you want to fly with and organize your own flight(s). We remind you that your flight details must be communicated to us (for insurance purposes).

NOTE :

If you choose to make the entire trip on Saturday, please make sure that your stopover is long enough (be aware there’s a terminal change for the Irkutsk flight…).

With Aeroflot, ski bags are free of charge (in principle) but you must declare your baggage by telephone at least 36 hours before your departure and then confirm again 24 hours before departure.

FLIGHT TIME :

Geneva – Moscow : approx. 3.4 hrs
Moscow – Irkutsk: approx. 5.45 hrs

Foreigners wishing to visit Russia must first obtain a visa.

To obtain a Russian tourist visa, you must hold a valid passport that will be valid for at least six months after the end of your stay. The passport must have two adjacent empty pages to which the Russian visa will be affixed.

You must also have certification of your repatriation insurance. You can take out this policy directly with Heliski Russia. However, it should be noted that most credit cards already include repatriation insurance if you use the card to pay for your flight ticket and your trip.

We’ll issue to you a voucher (a tourist invitation), which you’ll need for your visa as well as a passport photo of less than 3 months old.

For further information on administrative procedures, don’t hesitate to contact us.

As soon as your reservation is confirmed, we’ll send you a Travelers Booklet with all the information you’ll need to organise your trip.