Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
Departure dates: on request
Irkut river takes its source from a mountain lake Ilchir that is fed by glaciers of the snow-capped Munku-Sardyk Mount – the highest summit of Eastern Sayan mountains. In the upper stream the river is squeezed in the canyon and its waters are fast and menacing. But in the lower reach it’s peaceful and quiet with just half a dozen of river obstacles.
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Itinerary
Arrival in Irkutsk. Meeting and assistance at the airport. Transfer to Kultuk settlement – a community located on southern most extremity of lake Baikal. From there the road turns south towards the Mongolian boarder to Mondy settlement and further to the confluence of two rivers – Irkut and White Irkut where we’ll set up a tent camp. On the first day of our adventure we’ll take a beautiful hike to the Okinskoye plateau – amazing mountain tundra at the foot of the highest peak of Eastern Sayan mountain range that is the birthplace of some of the mightiest mountain rivers of Eastern Siberia. Free time to relax and take some pictures of the snow topped mountains, the lakes and the blooming alpine fields. We’ll return back to our camp for dinner. Overnight in tents (LD).
After breakfast our guides will introduce you to the basic safety course. This course covers essential information that beginners need to know before setting off on a whitewater trip. Topics include proper dress, equipment, basic strokes and rescues. The head of Irkut river is locked in a narrow canyon with numerous river obstacles. Short sections of quiet water save you some time to stretch your legs. Some arms of the river during the dry season become really shallow so several times you’ll have to jump off the raft and drag it through the shoal. Dinner and overnight in tents right behind Mondy village. (BLD).
This day we are to overpass the toughest and most exciting part of our rafting trip. On a 20 km section with a number of 3-d grade rapids there will be hardly any time to rest. Maneuvering between the rocks requires coordinated teamwork since a late response to a command of your captain can result into a capsize. Fallen tree trunks cause the main danger. It is only in a couple of hours from the start that the river escapes from the narrow canyon and carries its quite waters in a wide picturesque Tunka valley. The following 100 km of the river are really boring that is why we shall take a minivan and drive downstream to the confluence of Irkut and Bystraya rivers that marks the Zirkozunskoye gorge – the starting point of the second part of our rafting adventure. Accommodation in tents. (BLD).
This day the rafting trip lasts for about 3-4 hours *. There will be only a couple of rapids so you have plenty of time for hiking, photography and fishing. Overnight in tents. (BLD)
* The time schedule and the distance that will be covered per day largely depend on the water level, since the speed of the current can change dramatically with rains.
The span of the river between Zubkogan rock to the Big Rapid is relatively smooth. The next part comes more difficult with plenty of chess order rocks scattered in the river. As you approach the Big Rapid you’ll hear that sound of roaring water. After the Rapid is conquered you’ll have lunch and carry on rafting. Dinner and overnight in tents. (BLD)
Rafting to the abandoned Vyguzovo village where you eventually reach the calm waters and find yourselves near Shamanka settlement. Packing up and transfer to Irkutsk City (60 km) on a minibus. (BL)
- Overall route length – 150 km, average category – 3.
- No special training required
- Outfit and gear: tents, life vests, dry bags, rafts.
- Meals are cooked over campfire.
- Climate conditions: Occasional rains and low temperatures at night are possible. Due to the changeable weather the tour itinerary may be altered.
- It is required that customers have waterproof raincoats, warm clothes and footwear to change. Fishermen are welcomed to bring fishing accessories.
- Minimum group size 6 pax
- Cost per pax 28 500 Rubles
- Ground and water transportation as described in the itinerary;
- Accommodation as described in the itinerary;
- All meals described (B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner);
- Rent of tents, rafts, other rafting gear required on the trip;
- Guide services;