Festival of ice sculptures on Lake Baikal

At the beginning of February, on the ice of the largest lake in the world - Baikal - a traditional festival of ice sculptures “Crystal Seal – 2009” will take place. This year, the festival will be held for the fourth time, and its theme will be "Music of Lake Baikal." More than 50 sculptors from around the world will take part in the competition. Here, near the village Listvyanka, close to the hotel «Mayak» a colorful ice village will be constructed, in which the residence of Ded Moroz, ice-hole pool, huge ice skating rink with various attractions will be located. Guests will have a chance to stay in a room of an ice hotel and have a dinner in an ice restaurant. Festival will last for a week, summing up and closing ceremony will take place on February 14. But even till the end of March, tourists will have a chance to enjoy exotic ice splendor.

The goal of this festival is to promote tourism business in the Irkutsk region. A special economic zone is planned to be created at Lake Baikal, on the territory of which 28 ethnic hotels, spa-hotels, an aqua park will be located and a developed tourist infrastructure will be established. Already there are unique tours available for fans of extreme and exotic vacations. Thus, in the warm season on the western shore of Lake Baikal on one of the best sandy beaches a yurt camp was opened, where guests are offered to stay in a four-person yurt. The program of the tour includes familiarization with the culture of ancient kurykan, their shamanistic rituals and even the opportunity to participate in them, as well as visit to the famous deposit garnets - Sarminskaja Valley, a trip to Kurminskie Lakes and Tsagan-Hushun Cape.

A new exciting tour opened in March 2008 for lovers of water tourism - rafting on an ice floe on the Angara. You are invited to an unforgettable trip down the river on a huge block of ice, have a picnic at the «ice floating restaurant», and even play a wedding on the ice floe, made in the form of heart.