Olkhon Island is rightfully considered the main tourist center of Lake Baikal. It is not just the largest lake island, but a place of immense power and beauty where the most iconic and picturesque attractions are concentrated within a relatively small area. It is often called the "heart of Baikal."
Khuzhir: The Capital of Olkhon
The heart of the island is the village of Khuzhir. This is not just an administrative center, but also the ideal starting point for travel. The uniqueness of Khuzhir lies in the fact that some of Olkhon`s main wonders are literally within walking distance from its outskirts.
The main one is Shaman Rock at Cape Burkhan. This is not just the landmark of Olkhon, but one of the most recognizable symbols of the entire Lake Baikal. The rock is a marble cliff covered with bright red lichens, with two peaks.
Its main feature is the Shaman Cave, a through cavity that passes from one side to the other. For centuries, this place was the most revered sacred site in the Central Asian region. Shamans performed rituals here, and Buryat lamas took oaths and prayed. Only a shaman could pass through the cave; ordinary people were forbidden to enter. Today, standing before Shamanka Rock at sunset, one can feel that ancient, almost tangible energy that has attracted people here for centuries.
Gems of the Western Coast
To the north of Khuzhir, within walking distance, stretches Saraysky Beach — a 3-kilometer strip of perfect fine-sand beach, framed by a pine forest and whimsical sand dunes. It is an ideal place for swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Maloye More (Small Sea) and for meditative relaxation.
Cape Tataysky is a picturesque cape in the village of Khuzhir, considered one of the best places on Olkhon to watch the sunset. This rocky outcrop on the middle part of the island`s western coast, bounding the Khuzhir Bay from the north, forms a natural cove with gentle sandy slopes, facing the open expanses of the Maloye More.
Cape Bogatyr is a majestic rocky cliff located between Cape Burkhan and Cape Tataysky. This impressive rock massif, towering above the waters of the Maloye More, forms a unique natural ensemble together with the neighboring capes, which tourists can explore on foot during a walk along the shoreline.
Journey to the North of Olkhon
An excursion to the north of the island is a journey into its wildest and most authentic part. Along the way, tourists visit:
Cape Kharantsy — this is the first stop on the northern Olkhon tour route. Stone islands are located opposite the cape. Kharantsy Island, situated just 200 meters from the cape and connected to it by an underwater sandbar, gave its name to the entire cape.
Cape Sagan-Khushun, better known as "The Three Brothers", is one of the most impressive rock complexes on the northwestern coast of Olkhon. Its steep cliffs, riddled with grottos and caves, look especially dramatic against the backdrop of the blue water.
The culmination of the north is Cape Khoboy. Located at the northernmost point of the island, it is a powerful rock outcrop resembling a sharp fang (which is what "khoboy" means in Buryat). A panoramic view of the open Baikal opens from its summit, and in good weather, nerpa (Baikal seals) can be seen here. This is a place of incredible energy, where the full power and scale of Baikal can be felt.
Further, the path leads to the eastern coast, where the Cape Shunte-Left is located. This is a realm of dense taiga, cliffs, and secluded coves. Here, near the village of Uzury, is the famous sculpture "Guardian of Baikal". A view of Baikal opens from the high cliff here. It is in these very places, not far from Uzury, that the deepest point of the entire Lake Baikal is located — 1,642 meters. Thus, the "Guardian" stands watch over the secrets of the deepest lake on Earth.
The Steppe South of Olkhon: Another Planet
While the north of the island is covered in forests, its southern part is an endless steppe, more reminiscent of Mongolian landscapes. Here you can see:
• Salt lakes, pinkish from artemia crustaceans.
• Herds of grazing horses against the backdrop of endless hills.
• Remnant rocks and cliffs of whimsical shapes, created by the wind.
• The majestic panorama of the Primorsky Range on the opposite shore of Baikal.
The south of Olkhon is a place for solitude, contemplation, and feeling the boundless expanse. The ferry crossing in the Olkhon Gate Strait, which connects Olkhon Island to the mainland, is also located here.
Thus, Olkhon is a whole world in miniature. It has everything: from sacred power places and sandy beaches to the harsh northern cliffs and endless southern steppes. This is a place where everyone can find their own magic of Baikal.
